Blast from the past
Andrew Cornell looks back at Blues’ games on October 3rd
A recent game on this date was a league match away to Welling United. We were just above half way in the table at this time while Welling were struggling just above the relegation zone.
The game opened at a fast tempo with Stortford winning two corners within the first two minutes and Welling having the first attempt on goal as Tom Whitnell’s long range effort was comfortably claimed by Nicky Eyre. Danny Harris was unlucky not to beat Charlie Mitten in the Welling goal after an excellent move on the right involving Tom Champion, Ben Nunn and Lewis Smith. Shortly after this, Ben Bowditch landed awkwardly after a 50-50 ball and was stretchered off of the pitch with a knee injury to be replaced by Danny Green.
Stortford remained the stronger team without creating any clear chances, with Welling restricted to a low shot from Tony Finn that was easily gathered by Eyre. A mistake from Andy Sambrook in the Welling defence allowed Charlie Sheringham to capitalise and set Lewis Smith into space, but the striker spent too long on the ball and his shot was charged down. However, Stortford took the lead minutes later in the midpoint of the first half when Smith flicked a great ball for Tom Champion in the penalty area. Champion’s shot was blocked by Mitten but Charlie Sheringham was able to smash the ball into the net from an acute angle.
Blues continued to pressurise, with Mitten being forced to punch off the line after a flurry of shots, and Sheringham hitting the post from a pinpoint Ben Nunn cross. Welling’s best effort of the first half came when Finn made a good run down the Welling right and Parkinson’s header went just over the bar. lues were then given the perfect boost just before half-time when Nunn made an excellent tackle to dispossess the Welling midfield and the ball fell to Ashley Nicholls, who played Sheringham through behind the defence. Sheringham controlled the ball well before selecting his spot and making it 2-0 to Stortford, much to the chagrin of the Welling supporters who felt that Sheringham was offside.
Welling brought on the experienced Lee Protheroe at right-back for the second half, and this appeared to give Welling some added energy but the home side’s passing lacked focus and the Stortford defence was able to soak up the pressure. Eyre was forced to punch Protheroe’s long range shot clear on the hour, before the Welling substitute set up a good opportunity for Stone, who shot wide. Paul Goodacre made an important clearance on the goal-line and the impressive Nunn charged down Parkinson’s shot from a corner kick.
At the other end, Smith was set in space from a counter-attack after a good pass from Danny Green but his shot was deflected wide. In the last twenty minutes, the referee’s performance became more and more erratic, with both teams being denied clear penalties – Stortford when Champion was tripped after being put through on goal by Sheringham, and Welling after Whitnell appeared to be pushed in the area. Eyre again had to act sharply to save from
a King header, while Bertie Brayley saw a long-range shot go wide from the edge of the area before Parkinson put Welling’s final chance of the match high and wide.
2015 BSFC 0 Maidenhead United 2 – Conference South
Lovelock, Vanderhyde, Smith, Johnson, Lee, Allen, Bywater, Church, Buchanan, Sheringham, Fanimo Subs: Merrifield, Labonne, Walsh Unused: Herd, Ekim
2009 Welling United 0 BSFC 2 – Conference South
Eyre, Nunn, Patterson, Champion, Goodacre, Cooper, Harris, Bowditch, Smith, Sheringham, Nicholls Subs: Essandoh, Green, Brayley Unused: Angus, Jones Scorer: Sheringham
1995 BSFC 3 Haverhill Rovers 0 – Eastern Floodlight Competition
King, Wardley, Jordan, Hollamby, Moore, Parratt, Walker, Paxton, Braithwaite, Cooper, Parkyn Subs: Forbes Unused: Edmonds, Dear Scorers: Moore, Braithwaite, Cooper
1992 BSFC 1 Molesey 2 – Isthmian League Division 1
Mallett, Jordan, Sedgwick, Das, Hopkins, L Burns, Pritchard, White, Fortune-West, Dance, Walker Subs: Petrou Unused: T Burns Scorer: Own Goal
1989 Kingstonian 6 BSFC 0 – Isthmian League Premier Division
English, Boyce, Bumfrey, Hopkins, Went, Forey, Bedford, Ryan, Bennett, Dobson, Petrou
Subs: Hardwick, Fearey
1987 Wokingham Town 1 BSFC 0 – Isthmian League Premier Division
Taylor, Nunn, Goodchild, Hull, McCayna, Hoddle, Hopkins, Weddell, Gayle, Zacchau, Smith Subs: Cassidy Unused: Barker
1981 Bromley 0 BSFC 1 – Isthmian League Premier Division
Moore, Blackman, Baldry, Smith, Bradford, Avery, Worrell, Knapman, Radford, Simmonds, Sullivan Sub: Clarke Scorer: Own Goal
1979 Hertford Town 1 BSFC 1 – Isthmian League Division 1
Carrick, Blackman, Bradford, Smith, Brame, Coakley, Eason, Worrell, Carvill, Coote, Smith Sub: ????? Scorer: Own Goal (Dillon)
1974 BSFC 1 Tottenham Hotspur 2 – Centenary Match
1972 BSFC 2 Walthamstow Avenue 2 – Isthmian League
Moore, Davenport, Lawrence, Hill, Still, Smith, Leakey, Francis, Dear, Merrifield, Bunker Sub: ??? Scorers: Smith, Bunker, own goal
1970 BSFC 1 Grays Athletic 2 – Athenian League Premier Division
Mollison, Lawrence, Mitchell, Pannell, Neeves, Sharkey, Whyte, Allaway, Devaux, Chappell, Clarey Sub Unused: Gough Scorer: Neeves
1964 BSFC 3 Aylesbury United 1 – Athenian League Division 2
Cherry, Rolph, Atkinson, Gough, Neeves, Duley, Taylor, Welsby, Baker, Saggers, Francis Scorers: Baker (2), Saggers
1959 BSFC 0 Hertford Town 2 – FA Cup 2nd Round Qualifying
D Cook, Rolph, Atkinson, P Cook, Newman, Wilson, Holman, Yates, Butler, Horton, Francis
1953 Cheshunt 3 BSFC 2 – FA Amateur Cup 1st Round Qualifying
S Sullivan, Lloyd, Giles, Holmes, W Carter, E Carter, Hobson, Bye, Feasey, Yates, Williamson Scorers: Hobson, Yates
1942 BSFC 8 Army XI 3 – Friendly
1936 Enfield 1 BSFC 0 – FA Cup 1st Round Qualifying
Parker, Springham, Brooks, Polybank, Ship, Hill, Clark, Elliott, Halls, Ring, Sambrook
1931 BSFC 1 Finchley 0 – FA Cup 1st Round Qualifying
Vasey, Spring, Freeman, Piper, Chapman, H Lawrence, Badcock, Braithwaite, Little, Underdown, Mayes Scorer: ?????
