Blast from the past
Andrew Cornell looks back at Blues’ games on April 24th
Historically this would be a very early finish to the season for Stortford and so most of the previous games played on this date were not the final game of the season but late season games. In 1999 we started a run of three games in three years on this date with a visit to Heybridge Swifts. 1999 was a relegation year and marked a year and a half of Blues playing as nomads with no home after Rhodes Avenue had been sold.
The visit to Heybridge was a vital relegation battle and Stortford gave themselves a lifeline with a great performance. In the first half Heybridge were well on top and King was called into action twice in the first 10 minutes, to hold a shot from Miyoba and then to tip over a header from McLean. Later Simpson hit the bar and then King did enough to put him off in a one on one situation and his shot went just past the post. The second half was completely different as Blues were playing great one touch football. First Comerford shot wide and then Hayes had a shot deflected for a corner. Another chance followed from Benstock and then on 70 minutes after two successive corners the ball came to Fannon on the edge of the penalty area and he powered a shot past Banks to give Stortford the lead. Five minutes later from another corner the ball came to Comerford and he scored from an acute angle. Although Adock scored for Heybridge Blues held on for a vital 3 points, which were in the end not enough to save them from relegation.
One year later and a win over Harlow Town on Easter Monday made Stortford safe from a second successive relegation. In front of a crowd of 775 Vinnie John had the first chance but saw it saved by Trigg in the Harlow goal. Tucker had to save with his feet but Stortford got on top as the first half wore on with Trevor Paul twice having good chances only to be let down by his final touch. As so often happens Harlow then scored against the run of play as Falana headed home to give them a half time lead. The visitors gained confidence from this and on the hour came the turning point as they missed two good chances. First Falana just failed to connect with a cross and then Tucker saved desperately with his legs before Bowen hacked the ball away. Once again there was a goal against the run of play as Comerford took advantage of a mistake in the Harlow defence to equalise with a shot just inside the post. The game now swung back Stortford’s way but they seemed unable to get the vital winning goal until John finally headed home in injury time to make Blues safe.
Another year on and in 2001 Blues were playing a vital promotion game at home to Thame United. A massive downpour had put the game in jeopardy but two hours of solid work ensured the game went ahead on a sticky pitch. Both sides had chances in the first half with Perna shooting wide for Thame and then forcing Desborough to tip one round the post. At the other end Paul hit the bar with one shot and found the net with another before being ruled offside. Brain made a save from Martin Hayes in the 25th minute and then Cort hit the Stortford bar with a header. No score at half time and the second half saw Blues getting more and more dominant until in the 72nd minute Southam set up John who hit the post. Luckily Paul was on hand to bury the rebound and give Stortford 3 vital points. There were 4 more league games after this one and Blues narrowly missed out on promotion in the end.
Two big names from the past played their last games for BSFC on this date. In 2004 Micky Desborough signed off at home to Harrow Borough after 182 games while in 1982 John Radford played his last game at home to Sutton United, finishing with 85 games and 28 goals.
2012 BSFC 2 Leverstock Green 1 – Herts Charity Cup Final
Archer, R Jones, Milton, Craig, Francis, Anderson, Gayle, Johnson, Pavett, Prestedge, Melaugh Subs: Redgrave Not Used: Abdullahi, Lampe, Dadson, Lettejallow Scorer: Gayle (2)
2010 BSFC 3 Weston super Mare 0 – Conference South
Greenwood, R Jones, Llewellyn, M Jones, Duncan, Angus, Shulton, Prestedge, Jackman, Sellears, Simpson Subs: Docker, Antoine, Hahn Not Used: Sackey, Chick
Scorers: Shulton, Jackman, Sellears
2007 Eastleigh 1 BSFC 1 – Conference South
Young, Jones, Gwillim, Porter, Goodacre, Gillman, Essandoh, Champion, Pearson, Midson, Martin Subs: Fuller Not Used: Turner, Morgan, Mason, Wright Scorer: Essandoh
2004 BSFC 1 Harrow Borough 1 – Isthmian League Premier Division
Desborough, Allman, Riches, Rainford, Cooper, Barnett, Howell, Southam, Renner, Bunn, Martin Subs: Wiltshire, Haniff, Kyriacou Not Used: Tillotson Scorer: Southam
2001 BSFC 1 Thame United 0 – Isthmian League Division 1
Desborough, Risley, Hercules, Taylor, Fannon, Kyriacou, Hayes, Southam, John, Paul, Braham Subs: Langer, Wolf Not Used: Endersby Scorer: Paul
2000 BSFC 2 Harlow Town 1 – Isthmian League Division 1
Tucker, Fannon, Kimble, Sedgwick, Bowen, Foot, Comerford, Williams, John, Paul, Braham Subs: Leary, Waldron, Hayes Scorers: Comerford, John
1999 Heybridge Swifts 1 BSFC 2 – Isthmian League Premier Division
King, McDonald, Williams, Benstock, Paxton, Fannon, Braham, Woolley, Cooksey, Hayes, Comerford Subs: Willock, Snowden, Winger Scorers: Fannon, Comerford
1993 BSFC 3 Leyton 3 – Isthmian League Division 1
King, Jordan, Comerford, Edmonds, Hopkins, Harrigan, Das, T Burns, Walker, L Burns, Ingielewicz Subs: Baxter Not Used: White Scorers: T Burns (2), L Burns
1990 BSFC 5 Hendon 0 – Isthmian League Premier Division
Taylor, Risley, Tamblyn-Jones, Hopkins, Harrigan, Jackman, Bedford, Young, Neill, Ryan, Manderson Subs: Gayle, Went Scorers: Young (3), Neill (2)
1982 BSFC 0 Sutton United 4 – Isthmian League Premier Division
Moore, Blackman, Baldry, Smith, Bradford, Avery, Worrell, Knapman, Radford, Simmonds, Sullivan Sub Not Used: Bailey
1980 BSFC 0 Sportklubben Vard 0 – Friendly
Henry, I Smith, Bradford, M Smith, Knapman, Blackman, Coakley, Simmonds, Bass, Worrell, Mitchell Sub: Coote
1972 Hitchin Town 1 BSFC 3 – East Anglian Cup 4th Round
Moore, Sedgley, Lawrence, Smith, Still, Sharkey, Mitchell, Merrifield, Devaux, Duggan, Whyte
Sub: King Scorers: Devaux (2), Whyte
1969 Hitchin Town 2 BSFC 2 – Herts Charity Cup Semi-Final
Mollison, Mitchell, King, Hill, Gough, Nisbet, Duggan, Hammond, Haywood, Chappell,
Petchey Sub: ??? Scorer: Gough (2)
1965 BSFC 3 Edmonton 1 – Athenian League Division 2
Cherry, Rolph, Atkinson, Gough, Neeves, Duley, Taylor, Baker, Smith, Saggers, Francis
Scorer: Saggers
1959 BSFC 2 Harrow Town 1 – Delphian League
D Cook, Lloyd, Atkinson, P Cook, Hanley, Wilson, Wacey, Yates, Phelan, Horton, Francis
Scorers: Wacey, Yates
1954 BSFC 2 Hemel Hempstead Town 1 – Delphian League
S Sullivan, Lloyd, Hardy, T Sullivan, W Carter, Atkinson, Ewers, Yates, E Carter, Johnson, Burridge Scorer: Johnson (2)
1951 BSFC 1 Histon Institute 3 – Spartan League Division 1
Cracknell, Wilkins, Bradford, Lambert, Hoy, Giles, Bayford, Barker, Brown, Atkinson, Ellis Scorer: Barker
1948 BSFC 2 Metrpolitan Police 3 – Spartan League Premier Division
Sullivan, Beatty, Bradford, Elliott, Cook, Giles, Jordan, Yates, Verimiglio, McLauglan, Page Scorers: Page, Verimiglio
1937 BSFC 2 Apsley 5 – Spartan League Division 1
Parker, Springham, Day, Polybank, Ship, Woods, Clark, Haylock, Mytton, Frost, Haynes Scorers: Frost, Mytton
1926 Thorley Works 3 BSFC 1 – Herts & Essex Border League
Scorer: Bass
1920 Burnt Mill & Netteswell 1 BSFC 3 – Stansted & District League
Boxall, Mills, Smith, Pettit, Flux, Chapman, Clarke, Thurgood, Wright, Walker, Brazier
Scorers: Wright, Walker, Flux
1912 BSFC 1 Clapton Orient 7 – Friendly
Scorer: Langley
1905 BSFC 4 Marlborough London 2 – Friendly
