Next up – Stotfold
Tuesday, 25th November at New Roker Park, Arlesey Road, Stotfold, Beds SG5 4HE
Pitching in Southern League, Divison One (Central); kick off 7.45pm.
Admission
Adults £10, Concessions £7 (over 65, Students on receipt of a Student Card), Age 12 to 17 £3, Under 12 £2 (accompanied by a paying adult), U5 free (accompanied by a paying adult).
Our opponents
Wikipedia tells me that football was played in Stotfold from at least 1904. The current club however was not founded until 1946 and joined the South Midlands League in 1951/2. A rapid rise to the premier division was followed by decades at that level though sometimes in the United Counties League (whose championship was won in 2008) before a return to the now Spartan South Midlands League. A brief period in division one was followed by promotion and a second place in the premier divison which led to their arrival at Step 4 for season 2023/4.
Form guide
Last season’s seventeenth place in the table was followed by a slow start to this campaign. That has changed and following a revision of tactics they have won eight of their last ten games. As a result they are now one place above us in the table, equal on points but with a better goal difference. They have yet to draw a league match. Henry Snee’s name pops up regualrly amongst their scorers whilst in defence they have the services of Lewis Thomas who left us earlier this season.
After five consecutive away wins Ware are now on a run of three defeats on their travels. We weren’t quite good enough (or lucky enough, take your pick) to get any points from the preceding visits to Barton or Biggleswade so the hope is that things will change in this game.
Previous Meetings
Our first meeting was in the East Anglian Cup on 22nd October 1981, a 1-0 home defeat. We had revenge in the same competition the following season. A 2-1 away win with goals from Jim Rackley and Chris Brooks. Defeats followed in a friendly and then the FA Vase both in 1999 before we started meeting in league games of which this will be the sixth. Without wishing to tempt fate we have yet to lose a league game against Stotfold with last season’s double by an aggregate 8-1 standing out. This season’s home game was much closer, a 5-4 success that could have gone either way. Our scorers on that August evening were Caiden Remy-Dee with two whilst Sam Mayuma, Theo Ofori and Josh Okotcha registered one each.
Commentary
Unfortunately there will be no commentary from this match. We wish Pete (or is it Symon?) a speedy recivery from illness. They will be back for Saturday’s home game with MK Irish.
Match officials
The match officials are referee Christopher Walton and assistant referees Paul Mihalache and Kieron Hawthorn.
