Blast from the past

A look back at Blues’ games on August 17^th

In 2011 on this day we had our first ever away match in Conference North with a trip to far away Northamptonshire. The result – a 6-1 defeat to Corby Town in the first game in their new ground was best forgotten so I won’t dwell on it here.

Two years later we returned to Conference South but it wasn’t a welcome home as our first game back saw a 2-1 home defeat against Bath City. Kyle Asante (pictured) hitting the consolation.

A year earlier Staines Town were our visitors for our first home game of the season at Woodside Park. Blues had made a great start with a 2-1 win at Eastleigh on opening day and were looking to continue this form. With Scott Shulton ill, Alli Abdullahi was drafted into the starting line up. We got off to the best possible start as Abdullahi was fouled by Kamara in the fourth minute and when Ming’s free kick from 25 yards was not held by Wells it was Reece Prestedge who put the loose ball into the net to give Blues the lead. However before Stortford could become over confident Staines had equalised in the eighth minute. Scarlett found himself in space 23 yards out and after his first shot was blocked he seized the rebound to score with a low angled shot.

Both teams became more cautious after that start and Stortford had more possession without seriously threatening the Staines goal. Ming came close with a shot from the edge of the area in the 29^th minute and then a looping header from Abdullahi, from a Matt Jones’ free-kick, went close. The latter part of the first half was played in a downpour which may have contributed to Taylor skidding and failing to connect with a good cross for the visitors. Palmer forced a corner for Blues in the 44^th minute but despite some panic Staines managed to clear the threat.

Stortford came out in the second half as if they meant business with Antoine and Abdullahi both forcing saves from Wells in the first five minutes. In the 53^rd minute they got their reward as Ming’s free kick evaded everyone to go in just by the far post – 2-1 to Blues. The home side should have increased their lead as Prestedge long range shot went close and Antoine’s near post header from a Jones’ cross went narrowly over the bar. In the 68th minute Antoine, again was close to netting, when his header from a Prestedge free-kick was just wide of the mark. As the game went on Staines gained control of more possession in a search for an equaliser but Blues defended in numbers and closed the visitors down without too much drama. A close game saw Stortford deservedly take the points.

Two notable debuts on this day were Lee Burns in 1991 in a home Isthmian League Premier Division game against Bognor Regis Town and Roy Essandoh (right) at home to Bedford Town also in the Isthmian Premier Division. Both players went on to play almost 200 games for Blues.

 

2013 BSFC 1 Bath City 2 – Conference South

Cowler, Miller, Herd, Prestedge, McNaughton, Allen, Johnson, Church, Vassell, Cawley, Baker

Subs: Asante, Francis, Sykes Not Used: Milbourne, Wright Scorer: Asante

2011 Corby Town 6 BSFC 1 – Conference North

Wright, Jeffries, Anderson, Abdullahi, Habu, Essam, Cole, Rance, Gayle, Shulton, Bakare

Subs: Prestedge, Dadson, Not Used: Hahn, Calver, Read Scorer: Bakare

2010 BSFC 2 Staines Town 1 – Conference South

Morgan, Jones, Palmer, Lettejallow, Duncan, Angus, Ming, Prestedge, Jackman, Antoine, Abdullahi Subs: Mason, Araba, Not Used: Smith, Jones, Campbell Scorers: Ming, Prestedge

2004 Cambridge City 3 BSFC 2 – Conference South

Young, Allman, Gwillim, Rainford, Riches, Fenton, Howell, Martin, Hakim, Heselton, Forbes Subs: Green, Not Used: Blackwell, Yiadom, Hayes, Langer Scorers: Howell, Heselton

2002 BSFC 1 Bedford Town 1 – Isthmian League Premier Division

Desborough, McGibbon, Riches, Southam, Wolf, Keepence, Hyatt, French, John, Essandoh, Braham Subs: Langer, Taylor Not Used: Allison, Hayes, Hayward Scorer: French

2000 Cheshunt 2 BSFC 0 – Herts Charity Cup 1^st Round

Harman, Fannon, Gibson, Winger, Moss, Foot, Braham, Williams, John, Swaby, Waldron

Subs: Anyeti, Hayes, Dali Not Used: Moylette

1999 BSFC 4 Worthing 4 – Isthmian League Division 1

White, Comerford, Riches, Paxton, Clark, Benstock, Quinton, Witney, Hayes, Flatts, Harding Subs: Oladeji Not Used: Winger, Baillie Scorers: Clark, Witney (2), Hayes

1996 Oxford City 4 BSFC 1 – Isthmian League Premier Division

Kuntz, Wardley, Jordan, Moore, Shuttlewood, O’Sullivan, Forbes, Walker, Cherry, Ridout, Hooker Subs: Hollamby, Sibanda, Cooper Scorer: Hollamby

1991 BSFC 1 Bognor Regis Town 2 – Isthmian League Premier Division

Taylor, Sim, Sailsman, Harrigan, Went, Parnwell, Lawford, Sunshine, Burns, Chinnery, Bedford Subs: Miles Not Used: Smith Scorer: Burns

1985 Stevenage Borough 2 BSFC 1 – Herts Charity Cup 1^st Round

Taylor, Wickenden, Tomkins, Knapman, Hull, Staunton, Hopkins, Smith, Griffiths, Harrison, Nunn Subs: Crossman Not Used: Avery Scorer: Staunton

1976 BSFC 3 Cambridge City 2 – Friendly

Kitson, Harris, Davis, Flack, Clarke, Gough, Leakey, Melvin, Dillsworth, Gaine, Twigg

Sub: Key Scorers: ???

1974 BSFC 2 Leytonstone 0 – Isthmian League Division 1

Moore, Gibson, Coombes, Lawrence, Still, Webb, Leakey, Dear, Bass, Morris, Giggle

Sub Not Used: Scott Scorers: Leakey, Bass

1971 Ilford 1 BSFC 0 – Isthmian League

Cherry, Cooper, Sedgley, Lillington, Neeves, Sharkey, Mitchell, Lawrence, Devaux, Smith, Whyte Sub: Chappell

1968 Southall 2 BSFC 0 – Athenian League Premier Division

Mollison, Hammond, Mitchell, Haggar, Hewitt, Hill, Duggan, Chappell, Gigg, Nisbett, Phillips Sub: ???

1963 BSFC 2 Cheshunt 1 – Friendly