Tuesday 19th April 2022
UHLSPORT UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE-PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
POTTON UNITED 2-1 BIGGLESWADE UNITED
Biggleswade went into this game knowing a win would ensure their step five survival, but local rivals Potton hit them with two first half goals to make that very difficult. Sam Willis opened the scoring after 12 minutes and George Brinkman added a second on 21, but Taylor Rhiney pulled one back for the visitors ten minutes into the second half to make this interesting again. Kye Andrews had judged the bounce well inside the box and fed Rhiney to slot home, but despite the goal and really taking the game to the Royals, United just couldn’t find that vital equaliser.
Wednesday 20th April 2022
UHLSPORT UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE-PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
COGENHOE UNITED 1-3 O.N CHENECKS
With Biggleswade losing 24 hours earlier, Chenecks still had it all to play for in this local derby and they pulled themselves to within one point of safety to take it to the final game of the season. The Northampton team fully deserved their 3-1 win at Compton Park with a determined performance and took a 3-0 lead in the second half before Will Bates grabbed a consolation goal for the Cooks with a low drive from the edge of the box deep into stoppage time. Lewis Irwin had opened up the scoring from close range after some great work by Emmanuel Annan on 55 minutes, then 60 seconds later the scorer turned supplier as he set up Gokhan Ulker for a simple finish against one of his many former clubs. The theme continued as Ulker sent in a great free-kick that Mitch Sharpe arrived unchallenged to head home on 70 minutes as Chenecks controlled the second half to make it a crucial final day in the relegation battle on Saturday.
NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN 2-0 BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS
The Swans kept up their hopes of a third-place finish with two second half goals at home to mid-table Bugbrooke. Ben Ford opened the scoring with a spectacular shot from 35-yards out that looped over the keeper on 50 minutes and Jake Watkinson added a second seven minutes later after being played through by Kieran Barnes.
Saturday 23rd April
UHLSPORT UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE-PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
BIGGLESWADE UNITED 2-0 BUGBROOKE ST MICHAELS
A few months ago Biggleswade surviving relegation seemed almost an impossibility, but today’s 2-0 win over Bugbrooke means that they have only gone and pulled it off. Taylor Rhiney put the Beds team ahead on 27 minutes and Charlie Black added the vital second ten minutes from the end. This was Bugbrooke manager Jamie Forrest’s final game in charge before he moves on to O.N Chenecks and ironically this result means he will now be taking the reins of a step six club.
COVENTRY SPHINX 3-0 ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS
Callum Stewart’s first half hat-trick ensured a fourth place finish for Sphinx in their debut season in the UCL. He opened the scoring on 15 minutes as he finished off a one-touch move and he struck again a minute later from Jack Downes pass. His third came on 32 minutes as the prolific striker took his personal tally beyond the 40 mark in all competitions.
DESBOROUGH TOWN 0-2 O.N CHENECKS
Chenecks made it two wins in four days with a 2-0 success in Desborough, but it wasn’t enough to keep them up as Biggleswade also won today. Mike Smith put Chenecks ahead on 72 minutes and Lewis Irwin doubled their advantage on 85, but it will be the Spartan South Midlands League Division One for them next season as it stands.
EASINGTON SPORTS 5-2 GODMANCHESTER ROVERS
Easington gave the fans something to cheer about as the put five past Godmanchester to finish the season in 14th. Luke Swann (2), Harry Walters, Alfie Dunn and an own goal counted for the Banbury club. Unfortunately Goody hadn’t made their scorers public by the time I needed to publish this round-up.
EYNESBURY ROVERS 1-3 COVENTRY UNITED
Coventry United end the season in 8th spot, one place but a whopping 21 points above Eynesbury. Joseph Agunbiade put the visitors ahead on 14 minutes and Renato Prifti doubled their advantage on 34. Romaine Walker pulled one back for the hosts after 66 minutes, but Stewart Ndlovu made the points safe for the Red & Greens a minute from time.
LONG BUCKBY 3-3 HINCKLEY LRFC
Hinckley LR would finish second whatever the result today and they had to settle for a point in an entertaining 3-3 draw at mid-table Long Buckby. Liam Read put the visitors in front on 13 minutes from Tom Smith’s cross and Buckby were reduced to ten men on 28 minutes for a ‘last man’ foul. Matt Langham made it 0-2 from close range from a Danny Jenno header five minutes before the break leaving the ten men with a massive task on their hands, but within ten minutes of the restart they had pulled it back to 2-2. Max Johnson slotted home from the edge of area inside the first minute of the second half, then Max Proudlock brought the Bucks level on 55 minutes. Leo Stone scored a superb goal on 70 minutes to complete an amazing turnaround, but Hinckley fought back to earn a point five minutes later through Callum Earls free-kick.
LUTTERWORTH TOWN 1-4 COGENHOE UNITED
It wasn’t the send-off Lutterworth wanted to give their long serving manager Josh Dixon as he took charge of the Swifts for the final time, but he was all smiles at the end as the team and supporters clapped him off the field for the final time. The Cooks were deserving winners on the day, even though they fell behind to a 37th minutes goal from Marshal Keenan, but they were level within a minute when Tom Wakley’s shot looped up off a defender and over the keeper’s head. The second half was largely Cogenhoe’s and Wakley got his second on 55 when he hooked the ball over his own shoulder to beat Warren Butlin from the centre of the box, then 18-year old Luca Iaciofano took Archie Elmore’s pass in his stride and fired a low shot across the keeper and into the far corner from the right of the box with 72 minutes played. Elmore was again the provider for the fourth goal eight minutes from time when Ryan Archer met his cross with a bullet header as the Cooks put their recent poor form behind them.
NEWPORT PAGNELL TOWN 2-2 HARBOROUGH TOWN
Harborough got the point they needed to clinch the championship trophy at Vase finalist Newport Pagnell as the teams shared four goals. Paul Malone volleyed the opening goal from the edge of the box after just four minutes, but the Swans drew themselves level five minutes before the break when Jake Watkinson rounded the keeper to slot the ball home. Newport went in front on 57 minutes when Christian Smail latched on to a cross successfully, but Nat Ansu sealed the championship trophy for Harborough when he burst into the box and fired home with 76 minutes gone. Congratulations to Mitch Austin and his team and good luck in the Northern Premier League next season. Also good luck to the Swans on May 22nd when they take on Littlehampton Town at Wembley.
POTTON UNITED 1-2 RUGBY TOWN
Rugby Town finish third after this win in Bedfordshire, but they left it as late as is possible to do so. Dave Parkinson put the home team in front with a good finish from 12-yards out and they deservedly took this lead into the break. Time was running out for the Valley when Loyiso Recci headed home from a James Hancock corner and there was still time for Hancocks to drill in another corner that Josh Thomas converted as the late drama continued as Rugby struck twice in stoppage time. Potton finish tenth in their first season back in the UCL and I’m sure they will be quietly happy with that outcome, if not today’s result.
Header photo taken from the Harborough Town Twitter feed. Thanks to whoever was behind the camera.
