Squirrel Taverners And Sandon Win The Last Two Cup Finals.

There are just four games to catch up on for the final round up of the season.

On Sunday 4th May there were two games played. The Final of the Division One cup took place at Arlesey Town between St. Ippolyts and Sandon. The game had everything from ten goals, two missed penalties, a disallowed goal to two red cards. It was the worst possible start for St Ippolyts who went down to ten men within two minutes of the kick off following a red card being issued. From that point on it was always going to be difficult for St Ipployts to compete. A goal for Sandon soon followed but within minutes St Ippolyts thought they had equalised only for it to be ruled out because the ball had gone out of play from the cross. There were a further three goals for Sandon before the interval plus a further red card for St Ippolyts just before the break reducing them to nine men for the remainder of the game. Credit must be given to St Ippolyts who could have quite easily just capitulated in the second half but in fact they kept fighting to the very end. Both teams managed to score three goals after the break but Sandon arguably had the better of the second half having the cushion to be able to afford to miss two penalties, both of which went high and wide. Getting the goals for Sandon were Bobby Wilcock with a hattrick, who also put in a player of the match performance, and there was one each for Owen Haynes, Ollie Mitchell, Paul Morris and Aldi Taylor.

There was also one game played in Division Two where Queens Herts Rangers were at home against Niche and the result would decide which team claimed the runners-up spot. As it happens the game finished in a 2-2 draw so both teams picked up a point. The draw means that Niche claimed the runners-up spot and Queens Herts Rangers moved up one place to finish third in the table.

On Wednesday 7th of May Squirrel Taverners faced AC Malone in the final of the Carl Couzens Challenge Cup at Arlesey Town. This was a very competitive game between two equally matched teams playing some good football. There were good chances created at both ends in the first half but they were not converted so the scores remained level at the half time interval. The game certainly had the feel of either ending in a nil-nil stalemate and having to be decided by a penalty shoot-out or there being just a solitary goal to separate the two teams. In the end it turned out to be the latter with Squirrel getting the only goal of the game in the second half albeit from a scramble in the AC Malone penalty area with the ball eventually being put into the net by player of the match Sam Heron. So Squirrel Taverners retained the cup that they won last season.   

The final game of the season was played on Sunday 11th May when Rovers 49 faced AFC Squirrel in Division Three. It was a disappointing end to Rovers 49s one and only season going down to fellow newcomers AFC Squirrel who scored three times in each half. With mustering just a bare twelve players for the game it was always going to be a huge ask from the home side, although having nine weeks between this game and their last competitive outing on March 9th interest was always going to be stretched to it’s limit, with players drifting off to do other things. That said, those that did turn out put in an incredible shift, doing the club proud, battling through to the very final whistle. The centre-back duo of Max Hills and Ryan Gray performed miracles, keeping the score under double figures while midfield workhorse Cameron Bridger covered almost every inch of the pitch and linked up well on numerous occasions with Tom Hills and Charlie Clee to create chances. A word of praise too must go to striker Ali Mouatassem who ploughed a lone furrow upfront and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. Six wins, nineteen points and a seventh place finish in the table was less than the club had hoped for in it’s first season but they will take the positives and learn the lessons to use going forward as they become Kimpton Rovers Community Football Club for the 2025/26 season.

Match reports, scorers etc should be E-Mailed to : daverush99@yahoo.co.uk

Any teams interested in joining the Hitchin Sunday Football League for the 2025/26 season should contact the League Secretary Bob Cleverley :

email : bob.cleverley@ntlworld.com

Tel : 07966 237256 or 01462 622371.

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The Hitchin Sunday League would welcome any new referees wishing to join the league. Alternatively if you are not qualified as a referee yet but would like to take the referees course please get in touch.

Contact Peter Parkins, Referees Secretary at : peterparkins@msn.com