St Neots 3 Stotfold 3 (League Cup, St Neots win on penalties) (5/12/07)

Stotfold will try to forget this game and make sure that they do not feel so charitable in the future. The game should have been over in the first half, with Stotfold hitting the post 3 times and cross bar twice at one end and Jack Farmer hardly having to make any saves on the other. Stotfold should have been 3-4 goals up and game won, but instead Stotfold went for half time break with nothing to show for. And they paid for it. St Neots started the second half as the team wanting to win, and twice went ahead due to bad mistakes by Stotfold's goalkeeper. The first goal was from 35-40 yards - speculative high ball from a touchline and Farmer watched it float into the top corner, and 1-0 to St Neots. Stotfold managed to equalise ten minutes later, when Taylor lost his marker and scored at the near post from lovely corner kick by Bickerstaff. Stotfold kept missing their chances, with both Butina and Taylor having the goal at their mercy, and then St Neots struck again. Their left winger produced a shot straight across the goal, and what initially looked as a good safe by Farmer, turned out to be a spilled ball and the grateful St Neots striker just needed to tap it in and lead of 2-1. Stotfold laboured and kept sending high balls into the 18 yards box, and in the dying minutes of the regular time, the excellent Stuart Clarke managed to get the header over their very good goalkeeper, 2-2 and extra time. Although Stotfold managed to get ahead in the first half of extra time, with a great header by Ash Payne, it was St Neots controlling the game and in the last couple of minutes of the game, they equalised from a corner kick that Stotfold failed to clear. Penalty shootout resulted in two misses by Stotfold (Lee and Clarke, with Bickerstaff, Howard and Payne scoring theirs) while St Neots scored all their penalty kicks sending Stotfold out of the League Cup. The one player for Stotfold who stood out throughout 120 minutes and kept the team going was Stuart Clarke, coming to his best form after a lengthy injury last season.

Team: Farmer, McColl, Lee, Sandhu, Williams, Hedley (Payne 70), Bickerstaff, Clarke, Fajobi (Fitton 70), Taylor and Butina (Howard 85)

Godmanchester Rovers 0 Stotfold 7 (28/11/07)

While Stotfold won comfortably, it was Godmanchester that had a glorious chance to take the lead in the first minute of the game. An innocent looking long ball, wind assisted, went over the heads of Lee and Sandhu, but the Rovers forward's attempt to lob the advancing keeper, Tom Farmer went just over the bar. It took 20 minutes for Stotfold to sort out how to play under cold and windy conditions and when Sam Williams put through Josh Butina, he rounded the goalkeeper and got that all important first goal. Ten minutes later, Rowan Hedley's miss kick on 20 yards nicely set-up Ash Fitton who scored a lovely goal for 2:0. From that moment on, it was a question of how many goals will go in. Rovers were pushing their defensive line further up the field, with the wind behind, but it was Stotfold's midfield that were winning the ball and putting through balls to the two fastest forwards in the league, Louis Taylor and Butina. On 35 minutes, Taylor got through and scored for 3:0. The fourth goal was result of good individual effort by Joshua Bickerstaff, taking the ball from a short corner and after getting around one defender had a clean run towards the goal and coolly finished from a difficult angle for 4:0. Stotfold brought on all 3 substitutes at the start of the second half, slightly reshuffling the formation but still kept the pressure on Rovers. After several 1on1 with the goalkeeper that were not converted, Taylor picked up the ball on 40 yards and this time managed to round the excellent goalkeeper and 5:0. On 55 minutes, Taylor got his hat-trick with an excellent shot from 25 yards and 6:0. Ten minutes to go, Dami Fajobi picked up the ball near the opposition's corner line and somehow managed to find a bit of space in a very crowded 18 yards box and scored from the close range for the final score of 7:0. Stotfold were the most successful team in the league for November and accumulated a +19 goal difference with Buntingford in the second place with +7. Both teams have the best points per game ratio so far and will meet for the first time in two weeks.

Team: Farmer, McColl, Lee (Clark 45), Sandhu, Williams, Fitton (Fajobi 45), Bickerstaff, Hedley, Payne, Taylor and Butina (Pink 45)

Stotfold 6 Godmanchester Rovers 0 (15/11/07)

That was one of the most one-sided games so far. Stotfold started with 3 players up front and even before all the supporters took their places in the freezing conditions, Stotfold were already 1-0 when the goalkeeper dropped the ball for Louis Taylor to tap it in. A few minutes later, Stotfold's star utility player, Mike Payne, playing this game in the centre of midfield, made an individual run and scored the best goal of the season so far - top corner from 25 yards, and 2-0 to Stotfold. Payne was again on target from a good corner kick by Ashley Fitton, this time heading the ball for 3-0. There should have been at least another 3-4 goals in the first half but Stotfold wasted chances, even an empty goal from 4 yards. Godmanchester managed only a single shot towards the goal in the first half, but it went wide and posed no threat to Jack Farmer. Second half was the same, attack after attack, with chances wasted. On 50 minutes, Max Howard converted one of his many chances for 4-0, followed by a good run by Josh Bickerstaff and good finish for 5-0. In last 5 minutes Stuart Pink managed to get at the end of the good cross by Sam Williams and scored to give a final score of 6-0.
Stotfold are on the road for the next two games, away to Blackstones next week and then visiting Godmanchester in the last week of November.
Team: Farmer, Lee (Davis 50), Sandhu, Williams, Fitton (McColl 55), Bickerstaff (Syme 55), Payne, Fajobi, Pink, Taylor and Howard

Stotfold 4 St Neots 0 (8/11/07)

Stotfold took on the current leaders of the West Division, St Neots, and by producing one of the best first half performances totally outplayed St Neots and won the game in the first half. It took only 15 minutes when a lovely pass by Josh Bickerstaff found Dami Fajobi who coolly placed the ball into the top right corner and gave Stotfold a 1-0 lead. It was not only the total dominance by Stotfold, but the great passing game that had St Neots defending with most of their team confined in their own half. A couple of minutes later great interplay between Ashley Fitton and Josh Butina found Butina free down the corner line but his pass across the goal that beat the goalkeeper somehow was missed by both Louis Taylor and Fajobi and ended up as the throw for Stotfold. After a few more chances that went begging, it was again great back heal pass by Bickerstaff that set-up Fitton for a top corner goal and well deserved 2-0 lead. In the last minute of the half, Taylor ran into the box and with a slight deflection from the defender brought 3-0 to Stotfold. Second half was very different affair, with St Neots throwing everyone into attack and playing most of the second half in Stotfold's half of the pitch, with bit of help by a slight wind, but even more help by poor passing from Stotfold. However, the Stotfold back four, especially excellent Jaz Sandhu, kept the game safe and one of the counterattacks by Stotfold breached St Neots' back four and Taylor ran through and converted a one-on-one against the goalkeeper and increased Stotfold's lead and the final score to 4-0.
This is only the third league game for Stotfold (St Neots played 10!) mainly due to a very good run in FA Youth cup, and have 3 more league games awaiting during November, twice against one of the bottom teams and an away game to Blackstones in couple of weeks time, team who are currently in second place.

Team: Farmer, McColl, Lee, Sandhu, Williams, Fitton, Bickerstaff (Davis 75), Hedley, Fajobi (Payne 60), Butina (Pink 46), Taylor

Stotfold 5 Burnham Ramblers 2 (EJ Cup, 1/11/07)

Stotfold continued their winning ways after a slight hiccup at R&D two weeks ago. However, it was Burnham playing the better game for the first 15 minutes while Stotfold had to make first substitution on 17 minutes with an injury to Max Howard, bringing in Stuart Pink to partner Joshua Butina up front. Stotfold started to take control in the midfield and an accurate pass by Rowan Hedley found Butina just inside the box and a good finish for 1-0. Three minutes later, a great run by Ash Fitton released Butina again and another good goal from difficult angle for 2-0. Stotfold were in full flight by now and on 30 minutes a great long pass by Stephen McColl found Pink wide on the right who somehow managed to lob the keeper from an almost impossible angle for 3-0 to Stotfold. A few minutes later, the Burnham goalkeeper had to come outside the box to clear the ball, but Dami Fajobi managed to intercept the ball, Butina was quick to get the rebound and only had to beat defender guarding the goal line and 4-0 to Stotfold. From one of the rare corners Burnham managed to get the ball over the goal line and reduce the deficit to 4-1. However, in the last minute of the first half, Pink found Fitton on the edge of the box who skilfully cut inside and 5-1 to Stotfold.
With Stotfold making two changes at half time and changing the formation and Burnham throwing everything into attack, it was Stotfold doing most of the defending during the second half. Stotfold survived a couple of one-on-one against Jack Farmer, the ball hitting the post twice and a header going just wide. Stotfold threatened only on a couple of occasions, with Fitton and Pink getting close and it was some justice done when the Burnham forward fired a great shot from 18 yards into the top right corner for the final result 5-2 to Stotfold.
During November, Stotfold will finally start to play league games hosting the league leaders (St Neots) next Thursday.
Team: Farmer, McColl, Davis, Lee (Sandhu), Payne, Fitton, Bickerstaff, Hedley, Fajobi, Butina (Phillips), Howard (Pink)

Stotfold 4 Crawley Green 1 (Beds U18 Floodlit Cup, 25/10/07)

Stotfold dominated this game from the beginning and long pass from Mike Payne (playing as left back) found Louis Taylor who slid the ball into the net. On 42 minutes, it was Ash Fitton's pass from the right that saw Max Howard scoring a good goal for 2-0. However, in the last minute of the first half, Crawley Green scored from the set piece and first half ended 2-1 to Stotfold. In the second half, Butina replaced injured Taylor, and Stotfold continued to threaten. 15 minutes into second half, it was Howard again, taking the through ball into the box and 3-1. Howard completed his first hattrick when he took Tommy Hull's pass and scored a very difficult goal to give a final score of 4-1 to Stotfold.
The next game in this cup will be quarter-final against The 61 (Luton) at home.

Team: Farmer, McColl (Syme), Hull, Davis, Payne, Fitton, Bickerstaff, Hedley, Fajobi (Lee), Taylor (Butina), Howard

Stotfold 6 Huntingdon Town 0 (FA Youth Cup, 12/10/07)

Stotfold's U18s progressed to the next round of FA Youth Cup with a comprehensive win over Huntingdon but the result didn't do justice to the opposition. For the first 30 minutes it was Huntingdon playing the better game, passing the ball around and causing all sorts of problems for the Stotfold back four. At the same time, Stotfold's midfield could not put 2 passes together and the two front men hardly received any service. On 25 minutes it was totally against the flow of the game when Joshua Bickerstaff's corner went straight into the top corner and Huntingdon could not believe that they are 1-0 down. Ten minutes later, a free kick by Stephen McColl from 40 yards was headed by Stuart Clarke across the goal, collected by the excellent Dami Fajobi who powered the ball into the goal for 2-0. A few minutes later, Joshua Butina was brought down just outside the 18 yards box and Bickerstaff scored from the free kick, courtesy of the Huntingdon goalkeeper who placed only 3 players in the wall! Huntingdon went for the half time break wandering how they could be 3-0 down while playing such good football against the team playing without too much imagination that resorted mainly to long balls forward. However, Stotfold woke up in the second half, started to play their usual passing game and the pressure was building against the excellent Huntingdon defence marshalled by the tall and strong centre half. Ten minutes into the second half, Clarke played through Butina who placed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and 4-0 to Stotfold. By now, Butina and Stuart Pink were hurting the opposition's defence and one great run by Butina along the corner line and pass across the goal for Pink forced the defender to pull Pink down but referee did not see the offence. A few minutes later a great individual run by Pink and powerful shot from 18 yards that was destined for the top corner forced an outstanding safe by the goal keeper. The last ten minutes of the game saw two great goals by Butina. First one by rounding the goalkeeper, following a perfect long pass from Sandhu, and the second the result of a great individual run beating 3 defenders and powering the ball into the goal for a final score of 6-0 and Butina's first hattrick of the season. The only thing that spoiled the victory were the yellow cards that referee showed to both teams, with Fitton and Bickerstaff collecting single each, while Hedley saw red (two yellow cards) and will miss one of the forthcoming games. Dami Fajobi had an excellent game down the left wing and was definitely the most influential player especially in the first half when Stotfold struggled to keep possession of the ball.

Team: Farmer, McColl, Sandhu, Payne, Williams (Phillips), Fitton, Bickerstaff, Clarke (Hedley), Fajobi, Butina, Pink (Howard)

Witham Town 0 Stotfold 5 (Eastern Junior Cup, 3/10/07)

Stotfold produced by far the best game of the season so far, but it was spoiled by a terrible foul that stopped the game for 20 minutes and required ambulance to take Callum Davis to the hospital.
Stotfold started the game in full attacking mode and on 5 minutes, Stuart Clarke headed Ashley Fitton's free kick into the net for 1-0 to Stotfold. Ten minutes later, Fitton was again involved, crossing the ball for Stuart Pink to head Stotfold's second goal. A few minutes later, Bickerstaff's corner kick was rebounded into Louis Taylor's path who placed the ball at the bottom left corner for 3-0 to Stotfold. During that period, Stephen McColl was outstanding running forward while Stuart Clarke was coming to his best following the lengthy injury at the end of the last season. However, during the next 15 minutes we witnessed the most brutal game by Witham players trying to get back into the game by hurting the Stotfold team in any way they could. Elbows, studs-up slides and verbal abuse were flourishing while the referee completely lost the control of the game. Stotfold's manager and the coach pleaded with the referee to control the game but without success. This approach by the Witham players culminated when on 35 minutes, Callum Davis went for the header while a Witham player went with his head at full speed into Davis' face. An ambulance was called and the game was stopped for over 20 minutes. During the stoppage, the referee surprisingly chose not to speak to the Witham player. Restart of the game was low key affair for all, and half time break used to calm the players. The second half started slowly, but the two substitutions made, changed all that. Rowan Hedley replaced Bickerstaff and Joshua Butina came for Taylor and Stotfold picked up the pace again. With Hedley and Clarke taking total control in the middle, Fitton passing the ball on the right side at will, and Butina running through the defenders with ease the chances to increase the lead went begging. A long ball over an advancing Witham defence by Fitton forced their goalkeeper to come forward but he was beaten to it by Butina who lobbed the him from the edge of the box to score from difficult angle. Typically, Witham's goalkeeper slid through into Butina who fortunately managed to jump over the tackle and avoid an injury and at last, the referee produced a yellow card but only on the insistence of the linesman. Moments later, outstanding Hedley intercepted the ball and played a sublime pass for Butina who ran between two defenders, rounded the goalkeeper and completed his brace and a final score of 5-0 to Stotfold. However, after such a fantastic performance by the whole team, the atmosphere after the match was subdued and all thoughts were on well being of Callum and hopes that he will be back soon. Next Thursday, Stotfold are at home in the 3rd round of FA Youth cup against Huntingdon.
Team: Farmer, McColl, Sandhu, Davis, Williams, Fitton, Bickerstaff (Hedley), Clarke, Fajobi, Pink, Taylor (Butina)

Stotfold 1 Leighton Town 0 (FA Youth Cup, 26/9/07)

Stotfold's U18 team progressed to the next round of FA Youth Cup, with a 1-0 win over Leighton Town. The match was played under wet and windy conditions, with Stotfold dominating the game but game was far from free flowing and good to watch. While Stotfold dominated the game and played mostly in the opposition's half, the only way into the box was by aerial route which the tall Leighton defence dealt with easily. First real chance came to Stuart Clarke on half an hour, the high ball played by Michael Payne, but the header from 6 yards went over the bar. A few minutes later Stephen McColl played a lovely ball from the right side and across the goal, but Clarke was late to connect. Diligent runs by Taylor and Butina produced several corners and couple of free kicks, but the score at the half time remained 0-0. Ten minutes into the second half, Butina was brought down 25 yards from the goal and Joshua Bickerstaff scored a superb free kick to give Stotfold a well deserved lead. Stotfold kept pushing for more goals but the game ended at 1-0 to Stotfold who will play Huntingdon in the next round at Roker Park
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Farmer, McColl, Hull (Sandhu), Lee, Williams, Hedley, Bickerstaff, Clarke, Payne (Fitton), Butina (Pink), Taylor

Deeping Rangers 1 Stotfold 4 (19/9/07)

Stotfold continued their winning ways with YAGA (yet another game away) and playing good attacking football. The first half was dominated by Stotfold despite playing against the wind and against a team consisting of mostly second year U18 player, with their back four playing almost at the half line. Stotfold's excellent utility player Michael Payne was asked to play as right back and was causing problems for Deeping down the right side of the pitch. Taylor and Butina were stretching the opposition's defence but no clear chances in the first half. On half an hour, Deeping got a free kick 25 yards from Stotfold's goal and scored a good goal to lead 1-0 at half time. It took only ten minutes into second half for Stotfold to level when Myles Lee took free kick from middle of the pitch, found Clarke on the edge of the box who scored stunning goal in the top corner. From then on, it was one way traffic for Stotfold, and five minutes later Joshua Butina was awarded penalty after being brought down following a good individual run between two defenders. Joshua Bickerstaff scored from the spot with great assurance. On 75 minutes, an almost identical situation saw Max Howard (who replaced Butina) brought down inside the box after an excellent run and again Bickerstaff sent the goalkeeper the wrong way for 3-1 to Stotfold. Ten minutes later, Bickerstaff's corner was headed by Clarke across the goal and the excellent Payne slotted the forth goal in.
Team: Farmer, Payne, Sandhu, Lee, Williams, Pink (Davies), Bickerstaff, Clarke, Dami (Hedley), Butina (Howard) and Taylor

AFC Kempston 0 Stotfold 2 aet (FA Youth Cup 13/9/07)

While most of the game was played in the middle of the pitch, Stotfold had a couple of half chances early in the first half, with Louis Taylor and than Joshua Butina getting through, but in both cases failing to beat the goalkeeper from very difficult angles. Butina headed the ball into the net but the linesman flagged for the foul on the goalkeeper. Despite the great efforts for midfield pair, Joshua Bickerstaff and Stuart Clarke, to control the game, the Kempston wingers were forcing Stotfold's defence to work extremely hard and limiting Kempston to long range shots at Farmer. In the second half, Butina managed to get through the very good Kempston's defence but his cross across the goal was overrun by two Stotfold players and cleared by a relieved Kempston's defender. Into the last 10 minutes of the regular time it was Stotfold's turn to be lucky. Following some poor defending by Stotfold, Kempston's forward came through and forced Farmer to make great save. A few minutes later, an unmarked Kempston player on 8 yards picked up the ball from a corner kick but somehow he managed to miss the goal. Stotfold was very relieved to finish 0-0 by the time the full time whistle went. Stotfold dominated extra time and fresh legs of Payne (for Pink), Dami (for Fitton) and Sandhu (for Butina) helped Stotfold to threaten and keep the ball mainly in the Kempston's half. Finally, 5 minutes into the second period of the extra time, a great combination down the right side between Stephen McColl and Michael Payne allowed Lee Moulton to drive the ball at the goal and the rebound was put away by Jaz Sandhu for 1-0 to Stotfold. Kempston responded by pushing for the equaliser, but one quick counterattack by Stotfold saw Dami getting through and unselfishly crossing the ball for simple tap-in by Taylor and 2-0 to Stotfold. Next round will pair Stotfold with Leighton Town, in two weeks time at Roker Park.

Bourne Town 2 Stotfold 1 (6/9/07)

The new season started with a tough game against Bourne Town. With a several new players joining the team, Stotfold started in 'fast and furious' fashion and dominated the first half of the game. Sam Williams and Stephen McColl combined well with the two wide men, Ashley Fitton and Stuart Pink. New centre half Lee Moulton and Myles Lee protecting Farmer in the goal, Jaz Sandhu and Joshua Bickerstaff providing support through the middle of the pitch to Louis Taylor and Joshua Butina up front. Several chances for Stotfold went begging, Butina, Taylor, Pink and Fitton all went close but the excellent Bourne goalkeeper kept a clean sheet. Then, when finally Butina went through and scored, the linesman put his flag up for offside - a very bad call.
Second half started with Bourne Town dominating the midfield and especially causing problems through their very fast and strong left winger. After one of their corners they scored the first goal of the match. Stotfold brought in Michael Payne to replace Fitton, and following Sandhu's good run he was brought down on the edge of the box, Payne scored from the rebound that was caused by Bickerstaff free kick. Stotfold made their final substitution, bringing Max Howard for Stuart Pink, and in a very open game that could have gone either way, it was Bourne Town who scored in the last 10 minutes, a very soft goal from a corner and finished winners with 2-1 the final score. Although disappointing for Stotfold that they went away without at least a single point, it was their first league game of the season, with new players settling in and playing against a team that had 8 of their players in the older age group, compared with only 2 players in Stotfold team.