In a week that saw a large flock of Seahawks in the New York area, England’s battered cricketers returned from their best forgotten tour down-under (well the male half), there were scenes of mass hysteria on a Mount in SW19 as for the first time since 1935 Great Britain defeated our friends across the ‘pond’ in tennis, the big football transfer window closed with Welwyn Garden City getting their man – a new turn-style operator and credit must go to the groundsmen of those four Spartan South Midlands League clubs who beat the weekend deluge to produce much needed football matches for people to attend and spare them of another Saturday afternoon being dragged around the shops.

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SATURDAY 1^st FEBRUARY 2014

PREMIER DIVISION

The SSML’s ace reporter Bob Flight writes: In one of the few games to beat the wet weather, Ampthill Town overcame visiting Hertford Town 3–0 in an entertaining match to go back to the top of the table. Ampthill got off to a flying start and scored on just 2 minutes when Michael Lyon converted a cross from Phil Draycott at the far post. Hertford fought back and should have levelled minutes later but Tony Anstead shot over the home bar when clean through.  Anstead wasted another great chance by shooting the ball wide with only the keeper to beat. Hertford had most of the play and only a goal line clearance prevented them from scoring. Hertord had several other chances but were foiled by desperate Ampthill defending and some poor finishing. At last Ampthill responded and just on half time scored their second goal. Danny Watson powered another Draycott cross into the Hertford net on 45 minutes. The second half saw Ampthill regain control of the game and Harry Ricketts in the Hertford goal saved well from Watson. From the resulting corner kick, the ball was cleared of the line when Ampthill thought they had scored. The game sealing goal came from Draycott, after good work by Christian Lester, as he ran across the penalty area to score at the near post on 71 minutes. Whilst Hertord tried to get back into the game, they never really threatened the home goal and Ampthill ran out worthy winners in the end. But had Hertford taken their first half chances, the result could have been very different. Oxhey Jets enjoyed a great start when going ahead in the fourth minute of their game at Creasey Park, home of AFC Dunstable, Adam Lowton the scorer in what turned out to be the only goal of the half. After the break Joe Kelly (59m) and Lee Arnitt (71m) secured the points although there was a late scate when James Bishop pulled one back for the hosts with six minutes left. The day’s other Premier Division fixture, which drew the biggest crowd of the day, 121, saw very little to write home about as Tring Athletic were held 0-0 by a resilient visiting Hadley side.

For the record the fourth game to beat the weather came in Bedfordshire where Kent Athletic Reserves defeated St Margaretsbury Reserves 4-3 in the Reserve Challenge Trophy and thus booking a semi-final spot.

TUESDAY 4^th FEBRUARY 2014

HAT TRICK HEROES

The list of hat-tricks increased by two as Harry Hunt (Harpenden Town) and Matt Newman (London Colney) both made claims for a match ball, the latter being a four goal marksman, their efforts takes the seasons tally to 159.

DUDLEY LATHAM MEMORIAL CUP (PREMIER DIVISION)

High drama in the Second Round tie at Holmer Green where the visitors Colney Heath led 4-0 after 33 minutes, the hosts hit back with a goal before the break and added three further goals in the opening ten minutes after the restart. Colney Heath restored their lead after 58 minutes but back came ‘Green’ and two quick goals had them in front at 6-5 before an equalizer 13 minutes from time completed the scoring. With everyone expecting extra time the referee decided the pitch had become too dangerous to continue and it was abandoned leaving the two clubs to try again at Colney Heath. Goals were in abundance at London Colney where the hosts recorded a 7-1 quarter-final win over Cockfosters after leading 4-1 at the interval. Star of the night was striker Matt Newman who bagged a first half hat-trick and added his fourth after the break, Russell Gallagher, Yasin Boodhoo and Jimmy Hill also found their way onto the score-sheet with Bilal Butt netting the consolation for the visitors. The night’s other quarter-final saw extra time required to produce a winner, Berkhamsted finally seeing off Hoddesdon Town 4-2 at Broadwater. Ben Andreos put the visitors ahead after 29 minutes but the lead was to last just two minutes as Jamie Gavin levelled matters, Barrington Brotherton restored the visitors lead ten minutes into the second period but their hopes of progressing were dashed when Lewis Rodriguoe equalized three minutes into stoppage time. The tie was finally settled thanks to goals five minutes either side of the extra time interval, Connor Calcutt and Adam Morrissey sealing a semi-final spot for the hosts.

BEDS SENIOR CUP

Ampthill Town were made to wait until two minutes from time before booking their semi-final place, the solitary goal by Phil Draycott enough to end the hopes of hosts AFC Kempston Rovers.

DIVISION ONE

Sun Postal Sports closed the gap at the top of the table to just two points as they saw off a spirited Amersham Town challenge 3-0 thanks to a first half brace from James Armstrong and a late second half strike from Nathan Pooley. Harpenden Town found goals easy to come by at struggling Stony Stratford Town, two ahead inside the first five minutes through Stefan Geraldes and Harry Hunt they doubled this to four at the break thanks to another from Hunt and one from Mark Hitchcock. After the break jack cartwright made it five just after the hour mark before a quick fire double in stoppage time completed the rout, Hunt completing his hat-trick and Connor Arnold the scorers.

DIVISION ONE CUP

A hard fought quarter-final was settled by the odd goal in three as hosts Risborough Rangers overcame Winslow United. Luke Clark putting the home side ahead after 26 minutes, a lead that was to be doubled by Jake Plumridge-Dell in the 58^th minute with the visitors only reply coming in stoppage time from Tony Fields.

Finally ……………. Eintracht Braunschweig found an innovative way to deal with a waterlogged pitch - calling in a helicopter to blow water off the surface.