News

PRE-SEASON FIXTURE SCHEDULE COMPLETED

note changes in red

Borough will be playing 6, hopefully 7,  pre-season matches, all at Coles Park, and all bar one against Step 4 opponents.   The games will kick off at 3pm on Saturdays and 7.45pm on Tuesdays and all bar one of the opponents  play in the Isthmian (Ryman) League or the Southern (Calor) League and  are:-

Saturday 12 July v ROYSTON TOWN (Calor Division One Central)

Tuesday 15 July v WINGATE & FINCHLEY (Ryman Premier Division)

Saturday 19 July v AFC HAYES   (Calor Division One Central)

Tuesday 22 July  v  HARLOW TOWN (Ryman Division One North)

Saturday 26 July  v  FFC HARINGEY  (Middlesex County League) not  Leighton Town as   previously shown

Tuesday 29 July  v  REDBRIDGE   (Ryman Division One North)

Saturday 2 August - BEACONSFIELD SYCOB have pulled out of the fixture previously scheduled for this date.  Alternative opponents are being sought

First competitive fixture - details as yet unknown - will be on 9th August

NEW SEASON TRAINING TO BEGIN ON 1st JULY

Pre-season training will take place on the Perth Road Rugby Field in White Hart Lane  (immediately opposite the White Hart Lane Community Centre - postcode N22 5QW -  and a short walk from the bus stop on route W3 at the junction of Perth Road and White Hart Lane)

It will be from 7.30 to 9pm on the follwing dates (others may be added later)

TUESDAYS JULY  1st  8th  and  15th

THURSDAYS JULY 3rd   10th  17th  24th  31st        AUGUST  7th  14th.   

League matches will start on Saturday 9th August

TRIALLISTS

Please note that anyone seeking a trial with the Club should NOT turn up unannounced at any of these sessions.   Contact should first be made with our coach - DAVID CUMBERBATCH -  phone 07904 830771   e-mail   haringeyborofc@mail.com

Please bear in mind that we field only one team which plays at Step 5 of the National Game Pyramid.

A BRIDGE TOO FAR

Boroughs unbeaten run had to end sometime but ideally not in a Cup Final as was the case when at the 24th hurdle they went down to Hullbridge Sports by the only goal of the game in the Gordon Brasted Trophy Final at Burnham Ramblers Leslie Field Stadium, having turned in a performance way below the standard of which they are capable.   Already depleted by injuries further disruption was caused by travel difficulties with two intended starters not even arriving before the kick off time which had already been put back by 20 minutes.   A fast, young and determined Hullbridge side made few chances but were gifted one midway through the first half by a dreadful series of defensive blunders and defended their lead stubbornly against the later Borough pressure which failed to produce any clear cut chances.

....................meanwhile at Coles Park Borough Women were giving themselves a fighting chance of avoiding relegation, which had seemed certain until their late season revival, with a 6-1 win over visitors Leverstock Green.

SAFELY INTO THE FINAL

A somewhat jaded Borough safely negotiated the semi-final hurdle of the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy with a 4-2 win over London APSA at Coles Park which extended their unbeaten run to 23 games.  The Final will be played on Tuesday 13th May at the Leslie Field Stadium of Burnham Ramblers FC against  Hullbridge Sports who beat  Sawbridgeworth Town 2-0 in the other semi-final.  In fact Borough were only spared the unwanted exertion of extra time through second half goalkeeping mistakes as  the visitors put up a spirited display which, with more composure in their finishing, could well have seen them go through.   Borough led at half time through Stephen Obeng's 10th minute goal but APSA's perseverance brought them a second half equaliser although parity lasted onl six minutes until Joe O'Cearuill's cross deceived the keepr and floated into the far top corner.  APSA battled back and forced home a 76th minute equaliser only for Richard Worrell to head Borough back in front from point blank range a minute later. Four minutes later the 'keeper completely misjudged what looked like a simple collection of Lee Allen's long shot and Borough's lead was never seriously threatened again.

SEMI FINAL BERTH SECURED

A week ago Borough comfortably defeated Takeley in their final League game and although meeting the same opponents in the Quarter Final of the Gordon Brasted Trophy this win was distinctly uncomfortable although it extended their unbeaten run to 22 games with the last 17 all won.  And it took a penalty to end Borough's run of six clean sheets.  Fortunately Borough were two up by that time thanks to a 4th minute strike by top scorer Anthony McDonald and a hooked finish by Charles Douse in the 21st minute.  But the loss of McDonald to a  clumsy challenge shortly afterwards, which has probably ended his season, unsettled Borough and in the second half their understandable tiredness took its toll and a livelier Takeley looked quite likely to turn the game round and would have done so but for some fine goalkeeping by Austin Byfield.   Borough could have eased their nerves but missed some clear cut opportunities until Richard Worrell angled a precise header back across goal into the far top corner to settle matters ten minutes from time. The semi-final opponents will be London APSA nand victory would pit Borough against Hullbridge Sports or Sawbridgeworth Town in the final at Burnham Ramblers ground on Tuesday 13th.

ANOTHER SECOND HALF GOAL FEAST.............

.....coupled with a sixth successive clean sheet saw Borough sweep into the Quarter Finals of the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy at the expense of League Champions Great Wakering Rovers.  After an even first half in which few clear cut chances were made Darrell Cox made an early breakthrough after the interval with Rakim Richards adding the second before a brace by Dean Fenton, with the final goal coming in the 88th minute, wrapped up the 4-0 win.   Takeley will visit Coles Park on Saturday 3rd May in the quarter final and the winner will play at home to London APSA in the semi-final

SECOND HALF GOALS SECURE RUNNERS UP SPOT

After a goal-less first half in which Borough missed some fine chances Darrell Cox scored a hat-trick for the second consecutive match to bag the points needed to defeat visitors Takeley and  pip Enfield (1893) for 2nd place.   Had Great Wakering Rovers not also won at Basildon United Borough would have been champions but missed out by one point despite winning their last 15 games and recording their 5th consective clean sheet.

LEAGUE CUP FINAL TO BE PLAYED AT COLES PARK

The Essex Senior League Cup Final will be played at Coles Park on Bank Holiday Monday - May 5th - with a 7.30pm kick off.     Competing teams will be Sporting Bengal United and Great Wakering Rovers.