Stotfold 3 S&L Corby 2. New Season, New management, Lots of new Players and a winning start.
Carl Drew opened the scoring on 15 mins with a powerful header down into the bottom corner, with good work on the right setting up Adey Bascome for a superb second on 37 mins. 5 mins into the new half and the two previous scorers between them set up Wayne Mills to make it 3. Corby's Chris Caswell pulled 1 back for the visitors 6 mins later and Derek Simmons's volley on 88 mins made for an anxious last few moments.

Wootton 1 Stotfold 2
Despite good possession in the first half the breakthrough didn't come until Adey Bascombe was tugged back in the box at the end of the first half. Carl Drew calmly slotted the penalty away past Matthew Jones in the Wootton goal. The start of the second half saw the home team pushing more and they got their reward 5 mins in when Ben Chambers flicked in a corner at the near post. A goaline clearance from Dean Chapman shortly after kept the score even and in the last 20 mins Stotfold peppered the home teams goal. 3 good chances for Carl Drew, Gareth Cottenden with a header tipped over and Adam Turner shot just wide before the 88th minute when sub Jermaine Daley delivered a low ball in to the box for Adey, only for Wooton's Tom Hole tip past his own keeper at the near post.

FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round. Bowers & Pitsea 2 Stotfold 2
Carl Drew's opener on 32 mins is cancelled out 4 mins later from the penalty spot and after plenty of attempts Leon Cashman slides in for what should be the winner on 81 mins but a lapse of concentration allows Bowers & Pitsea to score from the restart.
All back to ours on Tuesday!

FA Cup Replay Stotfold 2 Bowers & Pitsea 2. Aet 3-3 Stotfold win 4-2 on penalties
Stotfold flew into the first half with Carl Drew and Adey Bascome both kept the visiting defence busy. But it was the Bowers who took the lead on 33 mins when Nigel Blower spilt a corner and Adam Swindell was in the right place to knock the ball over the line. 7 mins later and the visitors were 2 up after Nigel Blower's clearance on the edge of the box was charged down, Adam Swindell placed the the ball into the top corner of the goal from the left. With Stotfold pushing more in the second half what look to be the breakthrough came when keeper Matthew Davis brought down Carl Drew. It seemed as if we were out of luck after the penalty had been parried for a corner, But Adey Bascome headed in at the near post on 61 mins. More pressure and chances followed with Jason Blackett having his shot saved from close range before Adey,on 81mins chased down the keeper, nabbed the ball as he went down and placed the ball into the far corner of an empty net from a tight angle. Bascome had two other shots tipped wide and a goalmouth scramble that seemed to last forever, before the 90 mins were up. Both periods of extra time were evenly matched with Bowers having the best chance in the first 3 mins when Stuart Fergus chipped Nigel Blower but the ball bounced just wide. Bowers broke on the right 5 mins before the end and the ball into the box met the unchallenged head of Fergus who headed what could have been the winner. But the best was saved til last with Jim Benton and Carl Drew linking up to release Gareth Cottenden on the left, who buried his shot low into the far corner with 25 seconds to go. The visitors had their 3rd penalty saved and the fourth skimmed the wrong side of the crossbar which left Gareth to place the winner past Matthew Davies and give us the home game this Saturday against Clapton.

FA Cup Preliminary Round, Stotfold 1 Clapton 2
After Darl Drew's opening header on 21mins, Stotfold looked in control. But a harsh handball decision allowed Issac Alobi to bring Clapton back into the match from the penalty spot. After the break Stotfold had a few half chances before half Jason Thomas received a red card for a late tackle and after this pressure on the defence forced the error that let in Richard Lewin on 75 mins to shoot past the keeper and give Clapton the away tie with Cogenhoe.

Stotfold 0 Woodford United 4
Lets hope we don't have too many more performances like Saturdays, this season. A header at the far post on 15 mins for Woodford's Russ Dunkley and a minute later Neil Champlovier was let in to make it two. 8 mins into the second half and a ball over the top found Nick Gordon in the right place to lob Nigel Blower and Gordon grabbed himself a second on 76 mins just to make sure there was absolutely no way back.
The Second XI had a good result in their 1st match of the new campaign, beating last seasons champions Yaxley 2-0. Sub Adam Willard grabbing 2 goals near the end.

Stotfold 2 St Neots 4
Stotfold started brighter this evening with Carl Drew having his header down just wide and Moussa Rattab's cross clipping the top of the crossbar in the first 5 mins. But it was the visitors that took the lead on 21 mins through Nick Hurst's header from a corner. It was 8 mins later when Stotfolds' reply came after a long ball from Adam Turner allowed Adey Bascombe to run at the St Neots goal and stick his low shot past Stefan Shamilan. After Mark Philips had hit the side netting and Adam Turner had headed wide the visitors took the lead after a goal mouth scramble that eventually saw Craig Reynolds blast the ball into the net 3 mins before the break. The second half saw the Saints manager Steve Khune come off the bench and it was him that grabbed the 3rd on 72 mins when he found himself with space centrally just outside the box and chipped the ball over Nigel Blower after a back pass from wide on the left. With Stotfold chasing the game again it wasn't until the 90th minute when another ball from the right found Khune's head to make it 4. This was an improvement on Saturdays game but there is still a couple of areas that need tightening up.

Blisworth 0 Stotfold 3.
But this scoreline could have been the other way round in the first 20 mins with the home team missing 3 good chances before Mills shot low to the far post from the right of the box on 23 mins. An almost identical setup and finish gave Mills his second in stoppage time of a first half that Blisworth were unlucky to be behind in. The second half saw Stotfold control the game and Gareth Cottenden grabbed himself a cheeky 3rd when he slid in for a challenge on keeper Bob Anderson just wide of the goal and flicked the ball into the back of the net whilst still on the floor. A great double save after a free kick 3 mins from the end gave us our first clean sheet of this season and an away tie with Bourne.

FA VASE 1st Qualifying Round Tring Athletic 1 Stotfold 1
Two good chances for Adey Bascome in the first 5 mins were denied first by the upright and then by the keepers feet, with Gareth Cottenden having his chipped shot come off the crossbar and Wayne Mills' free kick parried wide, meant the teams went in level at half time. The second half had barely kicked off when Adey made a good run down the left and crossed for Jason Blackett to stoop down and head in. Despite the first half chances and domination the home team levelled on 61 mins when Liam Meenan latched onto a deflected free kick and fired home. Shortly after this a second yellow saw Stotfolds Michael Gonlague sent off. Tring couldn't make the extra man count and it was Stotfold who had the better chances in extra time with Wayne Mills' shot cleared off the line and Adey having a shot blocked by the keeper and shooting wide after a one on one.

FA Vase Replay Stotfold 2 Tring Athletic 0
The match started well after Jason Blackett was tugged back by David Foskett at the byline, the referee gave Wayne Mills the opportunity to open the scoring from the penalty spot, which he did on 3 mins. Adey Bascome forced a good parry from Tom Vincent in the Tring goal 15 mins later, but Vincent didnt stand a chance with the second goal after Joe Philbin's shot was blocked and fell to Jason Blackett who's strike was cleared off the line, Saturdays red carded defender, Michael Gonlague blasted the ball through the crowded box into the back of the net on 22 mins.Wayne Mills teed up a good chance for Gareth on 33 mins only for for his curling to be blocked by Foskett. The best second half effort came from Adey whos curling shot from the edge of the box was well parried by the keeper almost to the oncomming Dean Chapman. The gloss was slightly taken off the win after Carl Drew received 2 yellow cards in the space of 2 mins after comming on for Jason Blackett 10 mins earlier. We will now face Gorleston in the next round in a couple of weeks time.

Stotfold 5 Long Buckby 0
Saturday saw a good move in the right direction for Stotfold with better football being played all over. Joe Philbin opened the scoring on 19 mins before Jason Blackett knocked in Wayne Mills' free kick 3 mins later. Blackett headed his second 5 mins after the break and after Buckbys Darren Harmon was sent off for foul language on 58 mins there was no way back for the visitors. Philbin grabbed his second after Jay Thomas' shot on 85 mins and Adey Bascombe capped it all off with a header with a couple of mins to go.

Raunds 1 Stotfold 1
Not a great deal of shots on target for either team in the first half with the best chances for Ryan Frater, first from a free kick which bounced off the keepers chest and the second shooting wide after Wayne Mills' free kick. The game sparked into life midway though the second half when Jason Blacketts shot came back off the crossbar and Nigel Blower pulled off a great save from Jed Ainge's curling shot from distance. The home team took the lead after a free kick conceded just outside the D was lobbed over the wall and Blower on on 78 mins. Stotfold's pressure paid off when on 86 mins Jay Thomas delivered a ball across the face of goal for Adey Bascombe to pop in at the far post. On another day we would have had 3 points here but well done to all the players for their first card free game against a strong physical side.

FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round Stotfold 1 Gorleston 4 Aet
Without playing too well Stotfold looked the better team in the first half and took the lead after Adey Bascome worked the ball well to square it to Jason Blackett to knock in on 38 mins. The visitors from the Ridgeons league grabbed an equaliser on 55 mins when a defensive slip let Gavin Coe in to shoot into an empty net on 55 mins. A great stop from Nigel Blower just before the beckoning extra time gave us a good chance to win the tie but Oliver Savage made the task harder 6 mins in to extra time with his tap in at the far post. A second yellow card for Michael Gonlague shortly after made the uphill task a bit of a mountain. With 3 up front and a defender in the dressing room we were a little exposed and Adam Ferguson took advantage 7 & 8 mins into the second half of extra time.

Stotfold 2 Bourne 3
Wayne Mills opened the scoring on 21 mins after a great ball forward from Gareth Cottenden allowed him to run onto the ball and shoot low past the Bourne keeper. A harsh handball desicion right on the edge of the box allowed the visitors back in after Michael Stevenson fired a rocket, Stevenson, rocket, Geddit? into the top corner 7 mins before the break. Another good strike, this time from Miles Mason, put Bourne on top on 52 mins after breaking quickly from a Stotfold free kick. With few chances following this late subs Leon Cashman and Dean Whittaker combined to grab what looked to be a deserved point on 89 mins with Cashman providing a deep cross for Whittaker to head in at the far post. But with 1 min of stoppage time left Nigel Blower dropped what should have been a comfortable catch and Bourne's Richard Hutchinson was there to tap in and take all 3 points.

Beds Senior Cup R1 Bedford Town 2 Stotfold 0
Despite the scoreline we put in a positive performance against last years cup winners. Craig Grieve's cross from the left deceived everyone, including Nigel Blower when it curled into the net on 15 mins but we had created some good chances before this and only a superb point blank save from Dean Whittakers' header kept the home team ahead just before half time. The second half didn't have the same flow as the first and a couple of good stops from Blower kept Stotfold in touch, but the second goal came after a good parry from Blower and a short scramble saw the ball eventually come to Andrew Phillips to knock home 7 mins before the end.

Bourne 1 Stotfold 1 League KO Cup Round 1
After Nigel Blowers' late howler last Saturday two penalty saves see us through to the next round.
With Stotfold playing 3 at the back it didnt take long for the home team to take the lead after Chris Gray worked the ball past 2 at the back and squared the ball to Tommy Horwood to score on 9 mins. The change back to 4-4-2 at half time had immediate effect when Wayne Mills and Gareth Cottenden combined to set up Dean Whittaker to place his shot past Mick Hurst 2 mins into the second half. With neither team able to find a winner in normal or extra time penalties came and with Nigel saving the first Bourne kick the pressure was on the home team until Gareth had his stopped, but Nigel saved the fourth allowing Jason Thomas to calmly slot in the winner.

Hinchingbrooke Cup Blackstones 6 Stotfold 2
2 goals in the first 8 mins, from Robbie Blowers and Gareth Williams, gave us a bit of a hill to climb and Adam Scotcher's shot on 20 mins didn't help either. But after Richard Pringle was brought down by the keeper and converted the spot kick, two behind at the break gave us some hope. Dean Whittaker's header 3 mins into the second half gave us the start we needed but some strange refereeing 2 mins later gave Blackstones a penalty and put us 4-2 behind. After Phil Pateman had been sent from the dugout for voicing his opinion to the ref, Jamie Gilsenan grabbed himself 2 goals, to add to the penalty, on 74 and 85 mins and took Blackstones through to the next round against Godmanchester Rovers.

Woodford United 0 Stotfold 0
Despite looking well out of the game for the first quarter of an hour it was Stotfold who had the best chance of the first half on 20 mins after Gareth Cottenden headed a corner towards goal and Adey Bascombe flicked header was somehow palmed away at point blank range by Woodford's Matt Finlay. A run towards goal 15 mins from the end, from Scott Rennie, produced another good save from the Woodford keeper who reacted well again to block the second shot when the parry fell to Richard Pringle. 8 mins before the end the home team had the chance to steal the points when Ben Milner's shot looped over Nigel Blower and off the cross bar.

Stotfold 2 Newport Pagnell 3
The opening goal came from a Pagnell corner on 10 mins with 2 of the visitors getting headers on the ball before Vinny Shrieves side footed in at the far post. Stotfold got one back 9 mins later after Wayne Mills' low corner was flicked in at close range by Richard Pringle. 6 mins later the visitors had the lead again after some poor closing down gave Lieban Abdi the room to strike into the top corner from distance, Gareth Cottenden had the best chance to level shooting just wide of the top corner just before the break. A couple of mins into the second half and Jason Blackett almost levelled with his low shot comming off the bottom of the upright but it was Pagnell who scored next after a high ball into the box from the right found Vinny Shrieves again who squeezed his header in at the far post on 65 mins. A chance for Blackett, header tipped over, and Whittaker, free kick onto crossbar, followed before Dean Chapman's sweet strike round the wall from a free kick on 75 mins brought us closer to some points. But in the remaining minutes it was Newport Pagnell who came closest with Abdi having a free kick deflected onto the crossbar.

Stotfold 9 Harrowby United 0
Don't let this scoreline fool you into thinking this was the performance of the season, Harrowby are currently having a bit of a crisis and had conceded 74 goals in 15 games before making their long trip to Roker Park on Saturday. The floodgates opened up on 6 mins when Wayne Mills was brought down in the box and belted the penalty into the top corner. Dean Chapman made it 2 in the next minute with a low shot from distance, and Jason Blackett got the 3rd, a low shot on the turn into the bottom corner on 13 mins. Blackett was brought down on 20 mins to give Mills his second penalty which he duly put away. Feeling left out of the goal feast Dean Whittaker decided add his name to the list and grabbed a hat trick in 8 mins before the break with 2 well placed shots and a header from Mills's freekick. The second half saw Nigel Blower make a good tip over the bar from a Harrowby freekick just before new boy Jonathon Barnet goal on 68 mins. The last goal of the day went to Richard Pringle who hit a good low strike past the Harrowby keeper after Richard Beckett's header forward put him clean through.

Northampton Spencer 5 Stotfold 0
Despite Stotfold having a good first half Spencer took the lead with a hint of offside through Darren Frost's chipped shot on 38 mins. 10 mins into the second half and the home team were 2 up after Scott Coleman found himself clean through on goal and shot past Nigel Blower. The next 3 goals came in a 6 minute spell after Richard Beckett turned a cross into his own net at the near post on 69 mins , Nigel then brought down Tom O'Brian on 73 mins for Coleman to get a second from the spot, and a well worked free kick 2 mins later was headed in by defender Jerry Moss. The next few fixtures won't get any easier with an away trip to Cogenhoe on Tuesday before two games in 4 days at home against Yaxley.

Cogenhoe 1 Stotfold 1
After a good start Stotfold found themselves a goal behind after 6 mins when Robert Goldring slipped in behind Dean Chapman and rounded Steven Graham, standing in for the injured Blower, to tap in from the right hand side. Despite this early setback we still pressed and were rewarded when Paul Harrington's high corner was knocked into the back of the net by Adey Bascombe's knee and boot. The home team had the best chance to take the lead in the first half but Ryan Nash was denied by a great stop from Graham on 38mins. At the start of the second half Richard Beckett came close heading just wide from another corner, but it was Cogenhoe that had the best opportunity of the half when James Lemasurier low shot from the left skimmed the far post on 59 mins. This was a well earned point against last seasons champions.

Stotfold 0 Yaxley 2
On Saturday Stotfold were by far the better side in the first half passing the ball around well and putting pressure on the visitors at every opportunity. Good chances came for, Richard Beckett and Richard Pringle both just missing the target in the first 15 mins. Yaxley did start to come into the game near the end of the first half but were denied by 2 great stops from Nigel Blower. The break through for the visitors came when Mark Paul wriggled his low shot past Blower on 75 mins. A dubious second yellow card for Dean Chapman meant Stotfold were reduced to 10 men 2 mins later and the final push for some points allowed Mark Kingston in on 90 mins to squeeze his shot in from a tight angle.
We will be playing Yaxley again this Tuesday at Roker Park in the 2nd round of the League Knockout Cup, where we hope for a more favourable result.

League KO Cup Stotfold 2 Yaxley 4
Stotfold didn't dominate the first half like Saturdays game and went behind on 11 mins when Simon Acton slid in at the far post to knock in Dale Watkins's cross. Richard Pringle had a couple of good chances but the the visitors had the best opportunities with Mark Paul's curling shot coming off the upright and Simon Acton heading wide and having a good shot stopped by Blower before Mark Paul ran through the middle of the defence and slotted in a low shot in 1 minute before the break. Stotfold responded well in the second half and got their reward when Dean Whittaker put Richard Pringle through who pulled his shot low to the keepers right on 65 mins. After a good save from Blower on 70 mins the resulting corner put Stotfold 2 behind again after Matt Parrott headed down from close range. 7 mins later and Stotfold were given another chance to get back into the game when Ryan Frater headed a corner back across goal for Adey Bascombe to side foot home, But 3 mins later what looked like a scuffed shot from Mark Paul crept in to take Yaxley through to the Quarter Final.

Stotfold 3 Blackstones 1
It looked as is it was going to be another bad day at the office when Blackstones Jamie Gilsenan fired his shot in off the post on 9 mins but Stotfold responded well and could have grabbed an equaliser on 42 mins when Richard Pringle was pushed by keeper Ian Flavell for a penalty. The kick, taken by Pringle, was stopped but we didn't have to wait too long for the equaliser after Pringle put Jason Blackett through to lob the keeper in 1st half stoppage time. 3 mins into the second half and Stotfold took the lead when Paul Harringtons cross was cleared to the well placed Blackett who fired a fantastic volley into the top corner. The 3rd came after Adey Bascombe cut the ball back for Pringle to slot in on 73 mins. Todays victory was slightly dulled by Jason Blacketts sending off for two yellow cards in 2 mins with 5 minutes remaining, equalling Carl Drew's record set in the FA Vase game against Tring earlier this season.

Stotfold 3 St Ives 1
A dominant first half for Stotfold wasn't rewarded until the 41st min, after the ref had played the advantage after an injury to Adey Bascombe, Jason Blackett was brought down by Dan Pilsworth for a penalty. Blackett had his spot kick parried by keeper Arron Bannie but did well to fire in the rebound at chest height. The visitors started the second half well and scored a minute into the restart when captain Will Fordham poked the ball in at the far post after it had been flicked on from a corner. St. Ives' John Lee placed a shot wide and Richard Pringle had a header pushed away both on 58 mins, before Jermaine Daleys free kick was flicked on by Pringle to Blackett who got his foot in front of the last defender to poke the ball under the keeper on 65 mins. Stotfold and Blacketts third came when ex Swindon Town player Darren Dykes' header was parried to Jason who reacted well to shoot past the keeper on 85 mins. This was an excellent win aginst a team who are 3rd in the table and had won their last 7 games.

Holbeach United 2 Stotfold 3
The home team took the lead on 23 mins after Omar Joof's shot was parried as far as Shaun Keeble who slotted in under Nigel Blower. 2 mins later and Stotfold were level when Blackett was fouled on the edge of the box and Richard Pringle lofted the free kick over keeper Kevin Cross and in off the underside of the bar. Paul Harrington put a great chance wide but made up for it minutes later when he placed his freekick from the left straight on to Adey Bascombe's head on 30 mins. Chances in the second half were few and far between until the last 5 mins when Harringtons ball forward was well run onto by Adey who superbly rounded the keeper and shot from a tight angle on the left. Holbeach grabbed their second when Darren Cundy's shot from a freekick was deflected off Michael Gonzague wrong footing Nigel with 1 minute to go. This was our 3rd win on the trott and a well battled victory at Carters Park that moves us up into 12th place.

Stotfold 1 Buckingham 2
Our little three match winning run was halted by a Robins side who shrugged off a run of poor form to claim their first win in five outings. Dean Chapman gave the Stotfold a 25th minute lead from the penalty spot after Blackett was fouled, but we were pegged back five minutes before the interval, Lewis Reid equalising for Buckingham. Five minutes into the second half Reuben Max-Grant scored the Robins' winner.

Stotfold 3 Raunds Town 1
Stotfold notched up a confidence boosting win over a Shopmates sides on the fringe of the title race. Jermaine Daley scored twice in the first half for the Eagles, opening the scoring after 12 minutes with a header from a James Potter free kick and following up with a second two minutes before the half hour mark, a shot from inside the box with Potter again the provider. Paul Harrington added a third for Stotfold three minutes into the second half after Liam George and Richard Pringle combined. Richard Bailey netted a well taken 75th minute consolation for the Shopmates.

St Neots 2 Stotfold 5
Stotfold were 2 nil down and well out of the game for the first 30 mins after ex Rokerman Gary Walker put the home team deservedly ahead on 5 mins followed by Steve Khune's header on 17 mins. A gift from the linesman allowed Adey Bascombe to pull one back with a good low strike from Darren Dykes's ball forward on 34 mins to give Stotfold a fighting chance for the second half. After the half time team talk a different side emerged in yellow shirts and levelled the scoreline when Darren Dykes pounced on Gary Watts' glancing header to fire the ball in to the far post on 57 mins. Dykes set up Richard Pringle to put Stotfold ahead on 63 mins before sliding in, on Adey Bascombe's low cross, at the far post on 72 mins. 3 mins later and Adey Bascombe was denied his second by a great parry from Steve Young, but then managed to slip the resulting corner in at the near post. St Neots did have 2 shots off the crossbar in the second half, but tonight they were punished by a rampant Stotfold performance.

North Beds Charity Cup Stotfold 2 Biggleswade Utd 4
Stotfold's early cup exit started on 15 mins when Keith Thomas headed in after Nigel Blower parried Martin Grants header from close range. The Visitors were the better team in the first half and after many good chances got their second after Nigel brought down Keith Thomas and Mark Tyler blasted in the penalty 5 mins from the break. With Stotfold pushing forward in the second half, Thomas took advantage and sneaked in to round Blower and pass into an empty net on 57 mins. Biggleswade's 4th was fired in on 72 mins after a good parry from Nigel fell to Robbie O'Dell. 4 mins later and Richard Pringle grabbed one back with a close range header from Bascombe's cross, before taking 3 penalties after keeper Dean Bull barged Jeff Brown in the box. The first was saved by the keeper but disallowed because he came off his line, the second went in but was disallowed for encroaching players and the third finally squeezed in under the Biggleswade keeper on 88 mins.

Bourne 2 Stotfold 4
Richard Pringle opened the scoring on 14 mins by forcing an error from the last Bourne defender and slotting the ball under the oncoming keeper. Adey Bascombe did the hard work on the right hand side of goal for Pringles second after Bascombe's shot was parried to his feet. The home team grabbed 1 back when James Baxter slipped through the defence to flick in on 22 mins, but the 2 goal cushion was restored a minute before the break when Ryan Frater's free kick from the halfway line came to Darren Dykes who, after his first shot was cleared off the line, riflied the ball int the top of the net. After dwelling on the ball and missing the opportunity for his hat trick on 55 mins Pringle was handed the chance when Dykes was fouled in the area on 61 mins and calmly sent Mick Hurst the wrong way from the spot. Bourne's constant 2nd half pressure was rewarded when Mark O'Dea hooked the ball in from a corner on 82 mins. This win takes us up to a respectable 7th in the table and although we may have caught up with our fixtures other teams below us have played less games.

Stotfold 2 Holbeach 2
The first goal of the day came for Stotfold on 13 mins when Richard Pringle held up the ball on the edge of the box for Paul Harrington to collect and fire in low past the Holbeach keeper. Following good possesion and a host of chances, not taken, the visitors drew level on 38 mins through a great looping volley from player manager Shaun Keeble, and almost went ahead from the restart when Tom Fielding shot wide. A good chance for Darren Dykes went inches wide just into the second half but it was Holbeach that took the lead on 60mins when Keeble's cross was cushioned in by the head of Tom Fielding. The equaliser came on 74 mins from a great cross from Dykes on the right to Pringle who layed the ball across for Adey Bascombe to place the ball past Kevin Cross in the Holbeach goal. Much of the rest of the game was taken up on appealing for fouls and about 10 mins of pushing and shoving which saw several players from both sides booked using up time that would have been better used sticking the ball in the back of the net and getting 3 points.

Buckingham Town 3 Stotfold 2
Saturdays match at Ford meadow saw one of Stotfold's best performances of this season, but we somehow managed to come away without any points. Richard Pringle gave us the lead heading down at the far post from a Paul Harringon corner on 25 mins but for the the rest of the half and the first 20 mins of the second half we didn't finish the Robins off. Bilal Hassan turned in Lewis Reid's parried shot on 69 mins, and the home team took the lead 6mins later when Nigel brought down Hussain in the box to give Ruben Max Grant the chance to slot in the penalty. Stephen Blower recieved a yellow card for his penalty protests and Adey Bascombe got a straight red for his. When ex Stotfold player Ian Trott fouled Richard Pringle for another penalty on 85 mins it looked as if we were going to get a least a point but Trott made up for his earlier error by heading in the winner with a minute to go.

Potton United 1 Stotfold 0
This Boxing day fixture has been highly anticipated, since many of last seasons players migrated to Potton at the start of the season and they are currently flying high at the top of the league. But the match overall was a rather dull affair and won in the 91st minute with a John Coley strike

Stotfold 0 Northampton Spencer 3
Stotfold's miserable holiday programme saw them suffer a third defeat over the festive period as second placed Spencer moved to within eight points of pacesetters Potton with three matches in hand. Defender Ross Harris gave the Millers the lead after 18 minutes and Tom O'Brien added a second a minute before the half hour. Spencer sealed victory eight minutes from time with a third goal from Pete Gregory.

Yaxley 3 Stotfold 2
Despite Stotfolds good start to the match, Yaxley took the lead with a fierce Mark Paul strike into the top corner on 26 mins, and a deflected clearance off the referee, set up Mark Paul for his second 5 mins later. The second half saw an immediate response with Richard Pringle grabbing one back with a slight deflection off a Yaxley defender on 47 mins but a penalty conceded for a foul was put away for Mark Paul's hat trick 10 mins later. Stotfold fought back well for the rest of the half and got their second from superb curling shot from the left foot of Richard Beckett on 75 mins. Good pressure followed until the end of the match but the home team held on to take all 3 points.

Harrowby 1 Stotfold 5
Richard Pringle started the scoring 10 mins into the game with a glancing header at the far post from Paul Harringtons corner, the second came from Adey Bascombe with a superb diving header from Leon Cashmans cross from the left 5 mins before the break. 10 mins into the second half and Pringle made it 3 with a tap in after Harrowbys keeper could only parry Jermaine Daley's freekick to his feet. The home team, who have strung a points together recently, were given the opportunity to grab one back when Daley wrestled a Harrowby defender in the box and Daryll Chappell squeezed the spot kick under Nigel Blower on 68 mins. Paul Harrington got the last two goals on 82 and 88 mins, the first a superb free kick from the right hand corner of the box curling into the far top corner of the net and the the second after closing down the keeper and chipping in from a tight angle.

St Ives 1 Stotfold 2
Stotfold took the lead on 14 mins after Leon Cashman broke past two players to release Jason Blackett who squared the ball for Adey Bascombe to knock in at the far post. The home team equalised 10 mins into the second half through Graham Thackery but St. Ives' defensive errors throughout the game proved to be their downfall when on 78 mins Jermaine Daleys ball into the box was cleared by a defender, standing in front of his goalkeeper who was ready to collect it, to Paul Harrington who blasted it past the defenders on the line into the back of the net. We played well and fully deserved all the points but like too many games this season the edge was taken off the win with the dismissal of James Potter and Jason Blackett within 5 mins of each other at the end of the game.

Blackstones 3 Stotfold 2
In a poor first half Stotfold found themselves 3 goals down in the first 30 mins, the first shot got a deflection off the outstretched boot of Dean McElroy to lift it over Nigel Blower 10 mins in. Ash Stevens got the home teams' second on 25 mins with a good low strike when he left 2 defenders on the edge of the box and Miles Mason made it 3 on the half hour mark with a looping shot from wide on the left. Stotfold's relentless pressure in the second half finally paid off on 61 mins when Paul Harringtons corner was put back into a crowded box by Leon Cashman and the poor Blackstones clearance was volleyed in by Dean McElroy. The second followed shortly after when Jason Blackett was scythed down on his way towards goal by Darren Glover, which could have been seen as a denying him a clear goalscoring opportunity, and while Blackett was off the field getting treatment, Harrington confidently blasted in the penalty. A couple of good chances fell for Adey Bascombe in the remaining minutes but we couldn't find the 3rd goal for a deserved point.

Hunts Premier Cup. St Neots 3 Stotfold 1 AET
Two yellow cards (both for descent) in the space of 5 mins for Jermaine Daley gave a good advantage to the home team on 25 mins. Damien Matthews headed in from a free kick, conceded by Daley before he left the pitch, but the other Stotfold players performed well for the rest of the 90 mins and often made St Neots look as if they were a man short. Our reward came with one of the last kicks of normal time when Adey Bascombe rounded Steve Young to knock the ball in from a tight angle on the right. In extra time St Neots looked the more likely to score and 8 mins into the second half a chipped ball into the box found Steve Khune waiting to head the ball in. 5 mins later and Khune set up Kevin Ashby to dash any hopes we had of silverware this season.

Stotfold 1 Deeping 1
In a rather uneventful first half the better of Stotfolds' chances fell to Jason Blackett who forced a good parry from keeper Dan Bircham 20 mins in. After the restart it was Deeping who took the lead, after being denied 10 mins earlier by the woodwork, Ross Nicholls found the back of the net with a superb curling shot on 60 mins. Not to be outdone Blackett struck an equally great ball from just outside the box to level the scores on 64 mins. The visitors hit the woodwork again on 72 mins after a defensive error let Bobby Lewsam in, and in stoppage time Dean McElroy nicked the ball off Lewsam's feet to keep the scores level.

Ford Sports 1 Stotfold 1
Both Saturdays goals came within 5 mins of each other in the first half. The home team took the lead first in the 34th minute when Martin Jennings volleyed in from a well worked free kick. 5 mins later and Jason Blackett after recieving the ball from Nigel Blowers' goal kick, turned and blasted the ball past the static Ford Sports keeper from just outside the D. The Motormen had the better chances in the second half forcing some great saves from Nigel with Blackett having our best chance denied by their keeper 4 mins from time.

Stotfold 2 Wootton 2
The third draw on the trot for Stotfold but we should have had more after a persistent second half. After Adey Bascombe had hit the bar in the 3rd minute it was the visitors who took the lead when a good ball across the park found Craig Daniel on the right whose scuffed shot wrong footed Nigel on 26 mins. Wootton found themselves 2 goals up shortly after when Scot McGregor's weak shot from the edge of the box was met by the outstretched boot of Darek Jozwiak on 32 mins. Jim Benton grabbed one back with his first goal of the season meeting Paul Harrington's low ball across the face of goal at the far post. Jason Blackett had a couple of good chances to level the scores before the break both were denied by visiting keeper Mat Jones. Two mins into the second half and it looked as if Richard Beckett had found the equaliser when he tapped in Harringtons corner, but the referee had somehow seen Adey Bascombes' jump in front of the keeper as obstruction. A glancing header from Blackett went just wide and Harringtons freekick clattered the crossbar in an excellent second half performance that wasn't rewarded until the 90th minute when Wootton's Neal Bedeau was judged to have handled Harringtons cross to give Paul the chance to get a fully deserved point which he did by hammering the penalty into the bottom corner.

Long Buckby 1 Stotfold 2
In recent seasons we haven't come away from Long Buckby with any points and Saturday should have been the same. With the bitterly cold wind behind them the home team took the deserved lead when Lewis Pilgrim knocked in a loose corner on 34 mins. The returing Jason Thomas linked up well with Blackett to get an equaliser on the stroke of half time slotting in Blacketts saved shot from close range. The second half should have seen Stotfold pile on the pressure but Nigel Blower found himself the busier of the 2 keepers until the 85th minute when Paul Warneki made a double save from Thomas parrying the second to Jason Blackett to give him his 14th goal of the season.

Stotfold 1 Desborough 3
The less said about Saturdays performance the better, despite players being suspended and injured, in the first half we looked the more likely to score until the 35th minute when a cross from the left was headed back accross goal and met by the head of Chris Logan to give the visitors the lead. A ball over the top gave Brian Hardie the opportunity to lob Nigel to make it 2 just before the break. Jason Thomas grabbed one back with a little chip and volley after some work on the right from John DeSouza just after half time but few chances followed and on78 mins after losing out to to Jamie O'Neill on the left Dean Chapman conceded a penalty after tackling from behind as O'Neill ran into the box. Brian Hardie stepped up to fire in the kick for all 3 points and a deserved win for Desborough.

Newport Pagnell 1 Stotfold 1
The first half of this game rivalled last weeks match for quality, or lack of it, but after the home team had the better of the first half Stotfold took the lead 2 mins into the second half through Jason Thomas getting a nice flick on Darren Dykes' free kick from the left. The only other chances for Stotfold came to Michael Gonzague with a blocked header followed by a shot into the side netting and two shots from distance over the bar from Darren Dykes. The home teams equaliser came on 73 mins when Geoff Hansen's shot from the left was met at the far post by Vinnie Shrieves. Pagnell could feel a little hard done by after they had the better of the chances but couldn't find a second even after Gonzague was sent off 5 mins from the end for a second yellow card.

Deeping Rangers 1 Stotfold 1
Stotfold took the lead on 21 mins when new boy Dwane Grant was fouled right on the edge the penalty box and a sweetly struck left footed ball from Steven Blower curled over the wall and onto the top corner. Chances for the rest of the half were fairly even with neither keeper being too troubled. Deepings equaliser came inthe second half when a ball forward into the box for Jarrad Smith to strike, was well parried by Nigel out to John Duncliffe who knocked the ball back in to Smith for him to turn and shoot low past Nigel on 60 mins. With the wind in their sails the home team pressed and were denied 2 decent chances by Nigel pulling off some good saves. Their best chance came in stoppage time when sub Steven Colanglo saw his shot come off the crossbar.

Stotfold 4 Cogenhoe 2
Junior George opened the scoring after winning the ball in the middle of the park and latching onto Paul Harringtons return ball into the box on 4 mins. A great reaction save from Blower kept the visitors at bay immediately after but a poorly defended corner allowed Rob Goldring to head in an equaliser on 27 mins. Stotfolds lead was restored 2 mins later when Harrington's free kick from the right was headed into the right hand corner by Ryan Frater at the far post giving him his first goal of the season. Cogenhoe drew level again though Goldring on 37 mins with a tap in at the far post after a cross from the right. 12 mins into the second half, and a hoofed ball up field from Dean Chapman, allowed Jason Thomas to beat the offside trap for the first time and slot a low ball under Pete Earl in the visitors goal. Apart from a few long range efforts Nigel wasn't too bothered in the Stotfold goal and 3 mins from time sub Dwane Grant was fouled in the box and allowed Dean Chapman to step up to give us our 1st win at Roker Park since the 3rd of Decmber and our first win over Cogenhoe in 10 years!

Stotfold 1 Boston 1
Choosing to play with the wind behind them, the visitors went ahead on 25 mins when Dean Mc Elroy, trying to shield the ball out of play was pressurised by John Rowan who's cross into the box was turned into the back of the net by Stotfold's new signing Lance Gentle-King. The equaliser didn't come until deep into stoppage time in the first half when a freekick from the left was headed back across goal by Ryan Frater then up into the air by Jay Thomas for Richard Beckett to blast in from 6 yds out. With the wind behind them in the second half Stotfold still didnt create too many chances and probaly the best opportunity to get another goal came to Ryan Frater who's shot was cleared off the line on 55 mins. This was quickly followed by Bostons Gary Bull going up the other end and having his shot come back off the upright, so a draw was probably a fair result.

Desborough 2 Stotfold 0
Looking to reverse the defeat from just over a month ago Stotfold had good spells at the end of the first half and start of the second. But the home team, who have had some good results recently, took the lead when Michael Byrne ran onto a ball into the box and chipped the ball over Nigel on 65 mins. After a 10 minute break in play when a bad clash of heads saw Desborough's Callum Noble stretchered off, they doubled their lead with 5 mins to go when a poor backpass was run onto by Tom Mills who's shot was well parried by Nigel's feet but only as far as Byrne who tucked his shot from the right under Lance Gentle-King and Blower.

Stotfold 5 Ford Sports 0
All tonights goals came in the second half after Dean McElroy had his flick at the near post bounce back off the upright and Ryan Frater had his header down from a corner, saved on the line in the first half. The visitors also had their chances in the first half, but managed to miss the target most times. McElroy opened the scoring when he calmly slotted a ball, between the keeper and the upright from the right hand edge of the box on 55 mins. Sub Nicky Nolan did the same thing, this time to keeper Roger Leeson's right after Junior George cut the ball back from the byline on 69 mins. A good solo effort from Jason Thomas, running into the box from the right and curling the ball to the far post, made it 3-0 on 72 mins and after Jason Thomas had his shot blocked by the keeper's feet from a tight angle on the right, Junior George was on hand to knock in the loose ball from the edge of the 6yd box. But the best was saved for last when Paul Harrington saw the keeper off his line and chipped the ball in from 30 yds out a minute before time.

S/L Corby 2 Stotfold 0
Despite the scoreline Stotfold created the better chances in the first half with Jay Thomas having a good low strike come off the far post and Steven Blower's long range effort being tipped over the bar. But as has been common this season good chances don't win games and Corby took the lead 7 mins into the second half when failure to clear our lines properly let Sean Brennan deliver a cross for Derek Simmons to take a touch and shoot low to Blowers right. A few mins later Paul Harrington had a good free kick tipped over the bar before Jamie Gilsenan's defence splitting pass allowed Greg McIlwan to run onto the ball on the right and shoot low to the far post on 67 mins.

Stotfold 0 Potton 1
At least this game lived up to the expectation but as with the reverse fixture on Boxing Day, and so many Potton games this season , a last minute goal won all 3 points again. Today their win was more deserved and they proved why the are in the position they are, with their constant battling in the second half. Jason Thomas had a glorious chance in the second minute to put us ahead but the Brad Gillham comfortably collected the ball after it came off his shin. After an even matched entertaining first half the visitors ran the second 45 with plenty of shots from distance and numerous corners. The breakthrough finally came when sub Tom Beech headed in a corner from close range on 89 mins. A frantic goalmouth scramble at the other end a couple of minutes later almost saw an even later equaliser but Junior George's header was denied by a great Brad
Gillham reaction save.

Boston 2 Stofold 1
Boston's veteran strikers scored a goal a piece to give Boston a winning end to the campaign at the expense of the Eagles. Gary Bull's 30th goal of the season, a header from a Jonny Rowan cross after 19 minutes, was cancelled out by Jason Thomas's penalty, awarded for handball by Liam Parker, four minutes later. Thomas was later red carded for a kick out at Rowan and the Poachers won it through Micky Nuttell in the final minute, Bull the provider with a left wing centre.