Sunderland Road

Sandy Colts 0-3 Elsenham

Alfie Alabaster 2, Chris Swain.

A lively start from Elsenham had this game won in the first 20 minutes. Playing with skill and determination we attacked Sandys goal.
Alfie opened the scoring with a bullet header from a corner. He soon added a 2nd with another header, this time finishing a neat passing move involving several players. Chris scored our 3rd with a well struck shot.
Sandy came close to pulling a goal back, but we knew this was not going to be their day when they missed some easy chances.
For the 2nd half the message was to keep it safe. Elliot and Matt played well in defence whilst Nick held the midfield together, allowing others to venture forwards in search of more goals. No more goals came, but that suited us fine.

Holland Tour

Lee Bowie 2, Alfie Alabaster, Olly R.

Our 1st tournament was at DSV61. We arrived at thier sportpark to find as usual in Holland wonderful facilities. After recent bad weather it was decided the matches would be played on thier artificial fieldturf pitch. We had 3 games lost 2 drew 1. Missed loads of chances but enjoyed the experiance of playing dutch opposition.
The 2nd tournament at VV Oene was cancelled due to bad weather. Luckily for us we was saved from going home without playing any more football by another local club ZVV56, who decided to invite a few clubs over to thier fantastic facilities for a mini tournament. Snow covered the ground when we arrived but had mostly melted away by the time we began. We continued to miss loads of chances in these games and ended up with 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss.
Thanks to Chris and all at ZVV who got these games on for us at very short notice.

Elsenham Rec

Elsenham 12-1 Rickling AFC (friendly)

Jack Dixon 3, Joe Baker 3, Nick Rains 2, Alfie Alabaster, Elliot Nicholls, Sam Southgate,Chris Swain.

Just a friendly against a new local team. Experiance, skill and fitness showed. It would have been a worry if it didn't. Well done.

Elsenham Rec

Elsenham 4-1 Baldock Crusaders

Jack Dixon 2, Sam Southgate, Charlie Hibbert.

Can we play you every week? Not because we managed to get a win but because this was a match between 2 very sporting sides that just enjoy playing football.
Baldock turned up for this match with only 10 players while we had 11. Elsenham had the majority of play in the 1st half but Baldock defended well and still managed to create some chances on the break with thier lively forwards. Sam Southgate was moved from midfield into attack as he could not run with an injury, even so we still had the advantage as 1 of thier players also carried on with an injured ankle.
Low on confidence after recent results, we still needed to play the same way and hope we could take our chances in the 2nd half. After a few missed chances we took the lead with a volley from the edge of the box by Jack Dixon. Worryingly Baldock equalised after rearanging thier team. Sam Southgate scored a header despite hardly being able to move. Then Jack scored his 2nd and Charlie Hibbert added another after some goalkeeping errors.
Well done to the 11 that turned up today, all played well . Jack Dixon scored his 1st 2 goals for the club, Sam Bye showed great determination and man of the match Elliot nicholls kept breaking from defence to make our extra man count.

Peartree Park

Bedwell Rangers 5-3 Elsenham

OGs 2, Charlie Hibbert.

Very poor defending in the 1st half saw Bedwell race into a 3-0 lead.
Bringing on Charlie at half time and going 3 at the back was hoped to get us back in the game in the 2nd half, only for Bedwell to add another 2 goals. We finally got some goals when Alfie and Sam played as forwards and rattled thier defence so much that they scored 2 own goals before Charlie scored our 3rd with a well taken shot.
Well done to thier manager who has got rid of thier biggest trouble maker and was always willing to stop any flare ups that might have got worse without him.

Elsenham Rec

Elsenham 0-3 Broadhall

This quarter final tie was always going to be a tough game for us, as Broadhall had already beaten us twice in the league.
The 1st half was evenly matched as both teams worked hard for possesion of the ball and played some good football once they had it. Broadhall eventually scored the 1st goal, a header after some good team play which started when Liam was on the floor injured and we struggled to cover his position. Nick and Russ worked very hard in attack but couldnt find an opening and Nick was fouled in the box but no penalty given.
The 2nd half was just the same 2 teams battling hard but fair and lots of good football in between. Thier 2nd goal came with about 15 minutes to go , a tap in after Dan Smith had made a great save from the 1st shot. Alfie and Chris worked hard in the middle throughout. Matt and man of the match Elliot played brilliantly in defence. Near the end as we pushed forward it opened up for Broadhall and they had several chances. The 3rd was all too easy for them when the lad raced past our defence with ease and finished well.
Good luck to them in the next round.

Pixmores

LGCE Yellows 3-2 Elsenham

Sam Southgate, Charlie Hibbert

A good game against a good team had everyone watching wondering why we are bottom of the league. Letchworth went ahead and had us under pressure most of the 1st half . Sam Southgate hit a powerful right footed shot from the edge of the box to level the scores at half time. Letchworth went ahead in the 2nd half with a weak shot that trickled over the line. All this after we had worked so hard to keep them out, none more than Dan Smith who made lots of great saves against this team for the 2nd time this season. Quickly we equalised again when substitutes Steve Watts and Charlie Hibbert combined to give Charlie a tap in. The winner as usual went to our opponents as our back 4 was caught flat footed. To be fair they might have scored a few more but most agreed we deserved a draw for our efforts.

Barnston fc

Barnston (friendly) 4-1 Elsenham

Nick Rains

Thanks to Barnston for having us over today and well done to them for beating us, although we have never played so bad.

Elsenham Rec

Elsenham 2-3 Biggleswade

Joe Baker, Charlie Hibbert

A disaster of a week saw us go to bottom of the table, not because we lost but due to Austin Arrowheads pulling out of the league. This meant not only do we lose 6 points for our 2 wins against them but they disapear from bottom and Sandy go above us.
Today was the same old story, great match, unlucky, lost.
We arrived for todays match determined to get off the bottom of the league. We started ok but was caught out from our own free kick that Biggleswade cleared and broke through our defence to score easily. The next goal for them soon followed after another defensive mistake allowed them to keep the ball in play, cross and tap in. Instead of crumbling we kept at it and Joe Baker playing as a striker for the 1st time ever pulled a goal back for us before half time.
The 2nd half saw chances at both ends but as usual the visitors scored the next goal. Still we attacked and had them pegged back in thier own half for most of the remainder of the match. Alfie, Nick and Chris dominated the midfield with Sam Southgate yet again running rings round an opposition right back, before coming off injured for Charlie Hibbert to come on. Alfie, Chris and Lee put them under pressure on thier left side stealing the ball that Lee crossed and Charlie headed in. We continued to attack and create chances but did not take them. An appeal for a penalty was also turned down as Jack Dixon was pulled back as he ran with the ball towards goal. Sam Bye and Matt Camp also deserve a mention for giving strong determined performances in defence.
In an age group that now only has 15 teams in total we can still take many positives that we are still going, big towns such as Bishops Stortford, Hitchin, Royston, Letchworth, Baldock, Biggleswade and Sandy only have 1 team each and Stevenage only 2, . In the years we have been playing over 20 teams from the league, mostly below us have dropped out. We can and have given most of the rest good games, recently beating 4th placed Royston in a cup match. I feel now we are bottom we are the best team that has ever been in this position and we are determined not to finish the season there.
BRING IT ON!

Elsenham Rec

Elsenham 2-5 Weston Youth

Alfie Alabaster, Sam Southgate.

Weston scored in the 1st minute then again in the 2nd minute as we struggled to get into the groove. Slowly we began to get going but then let in another soft goal. Then we started to play, putting weston under lots of pressure but not taking our chances. Until Sam Southgate crossed, Jack Dixon laid the ball back for Alfie Alabaster to controll and slot into the net. We started the 2nd half much better now playing 3-4-3 in search of goals. Sam Southgate beat everybody down thier right side time and time again. He eventualy won a penalty when his shirt was pulled back inside the box as he skipped round them yet again. Sam also took the penalty scoring to the keepers right. We was now in with a big chance as openings were created at both ends. We didn't take our chances and Weston managed to score a good goal that finshed us of before adding another.

Takeley FC

Takeley (friendly) 3-4 Elsenham

Alfie Alabaster 2, Chris Swain 2.

I would not usually enter a report on a friendly fixture but this was so much a better way to end the year than last week.
When we were invited to play on Takley's nice ground with thier wonderful facilities we soon accepted this match. Then when we arrived we was determined to give them a good match. Our back 4 of Liam, Ben, Sam B and man of the match Matt Camp held out Takleys lively attack. This allowed us to go forward with confidence, so when Alfie Alabaster linked well with Sam Southgate we moved up the pitch and Sam provided a testing cross that Alfie met with a great leap at the near post to head in. Alfie then said he attempted a Tommy Rosicky and added his and our 2nd with a long range shot over the keeper.
Takley put us under constant pressure in the 2nd hallf with some quality passing and pulled a goal back with a deflected shot. We responded well with Russell and Nick Rains giving thier defence a hard time. When Nick took a shot accross the goal it looked to have missed but Chris Swain popped up on the back post to guide it in.Takley then dominated the game but found it difficult to get passed Dan Smith in goal who had been making great saves all day. Eventually he spilled one and they was back in the match. With about 5 minutes to go they equalized. Now instead of sitting back we tried to be more positve and when the ball was driven accross thier goal again it found Chris who drove it in from a tight angle.
Well done to the whole team including those that didnt get a mention Joe, Lee and Elliot.
Playing good sides is definatly bringing out the best in us and Takley are a good team so thanks to them for the invite.

Elsenham Rec

Elsenham 0-3 Hormead Hares

When we played this team back in september we played very bad and got a 4-1 beating, today we also played very badly and got a 3-0 beating. Why? Perhaps because our keeper decided to go to work instead of play. Perhaps because our defenders could not meet a cross with their heads which gave Hormead an early 2-0 lead. Perhaps because any wide players could not make a tackle when being passed by one of thier players with the ball. Perhaps because our cetral midfield players went missing from the centre of the pitch and could not be found. Perhaps because when we did get some good scoring chances the ball was hit with less power than the under 8s were using on the next pitch and perhaps because we were 2nd to every ball. Then in the 2nd half Hormead played with only 10 players after thier big defender had somewhere else to go. Still we conceded another goal without reply. Perhaps we just had a bad day.
man of the match Nick Rains for going in goal yet again.

Meridian School

Royston Town Colts 0-4 Elsenham

Ben Powell, Sam Southgate 2, Russell Stonehouse.

At last I don't have to say we played well but didn't get the result. This was the week we did get the good result we deserved.
Playing against a team who are 4th in division 1. We knew we would have to be at our best to get a result. We started well in difficult circumstances, the strong wind blowing towards our right back gave Liam Mccullaugh plenty to do. When we did get the ball out of the corner the passing and movement was very good. Our 1st goal came from Ben Powell who smashed it home after a neat lay off from Elliot Nicholls. The 2nd was created down the rght wing, Lee Bowie looked as if he was stuck by the corner but produced a magnificent peice of skill with an amazing turn and then put in a perfect cross for Sam Southgate to powerfully head in.
Half time came and Dan Smith in goal said I've got to go to work now. The rest of the lads were quick to persuade him to stay.
In the 2nd half we had the wind with us and soon took advantage Liam passed Nick who passed to Russell Stonehouse who controlled it on his chest the next touch took him away from 2 defenders before he cooly put it past their keeper into the far side of the goal. Every time we attacked after that Royston found it difficult to get the ball back out of thier half. Steve Watts replaced Russ and came close to scoring. Chris Swain was winning the ball in the midfield and anything that got past him was dealt with by Alfie Alabaster and Matt Camp. The 4th goal was again scored by Sam Southgate Nick rains flicked on and Sam belted it in.
Well done. We are now in the quarter finals but most pleasing is we now believe in ourselves.

Elsenham Rec

Elsenham 0-2 Broadhall Youth

Today was another close game, this time against a team who are top of the league. The 1st half was evenly matched our defence had to work hard against thier quick forwards. Nick Rains came close to opening the scoring for us a couple of times never giving anything up. Also the midfield played very well Joe Baker and Alfie worked well in the middle with Lee giving them lots of problems down our right side. Only for last weeks man of the match Dan in goal to make a couple of mistakes and we found ourselves 2-0 down.
The 2nd half was also evenly matched but in the end we ran out of ideas to crack open Broadhalls very good defence.

Elsenham Rec

Elsenham 0-1 Letchworth Yellows

As we all know Letchworth produce some very good football teams and our visitors today were no exeption. The 1st half saw us kicking towards the park with the wind behind us. We played some nice passing football creating chances as well as some long balls which sailed over Letchworth defenders heads to give us more opportunitys in front of goal. Letchworth also had some chances but our back 3 of Matt, Ben and Sam B were to all have very good games today.
The 2nd half was to be a different story Letchworth did most of the attacking. Dan pulled off some outstanding saves in a man of the match performance. The whole team battled for every ball and for all thier effort deserved to get something from this game. Failing to deal with a corner saw Letchworth score with only a few minutes left and although we played well against a good team we again pick up no points.

Weston Rec

Weston Youth 3-1 Elsenham

Lee Bowie

Today we took the lead when Jack Dixons good work down the left gave Lee Bowie an easy chance which he took with a cool finish. Although there was chances at both ends Weston scored the next 3 goals.
Yet again a good all round team performance, unfortunatley no points to show for a good effort.

Elsenham Rec

Elsenham 5-2 Austen Arrowheads

Sam Southgate 2, Lee Bowie, Russell Stonehouse 2.

Another windy day at the rec made it difficult to play good football. 4 players being away gave us a chance to give 2 players thier debuts for the club, Ben Powell who was impressive at the back and Lee Bowie who worked hard and got himself a goal up front.
We took the lead after some shots had been blocked, Sam Southgate showed how it should be done blasting in from just inside the box. The 2nd goal was Lee's debut goal a powerful header. Austin pulled one back from a penalty before Russell Stonehouse got his 1st from close range. Sam Southgate added his 2nd from a penalty in the 2nd half after he had been brought down in the box. Austin scored from a breakaway. Russell Stonehouse got our 5th which was similar to our 1st firing in after several other shots had been blocked.
Thanks again go to Nick Rains for going in goal when Dan Smith is away. And well done to all others especialy Sam Bye who put in a man of the match performance today.

Peartree park

Broadhall Youth 8-1 Elsenham

Alfie Alabaster

Despite many new signings we still only managed to have 11 players for todays game. With Dan missing our top scorer Nick had to go in goal. Russ also away meant Alfie and Jack played as the front 2. Sam S and Chris in midfield with Steve and Charlie out wide. Sam B partnered Matt as centre backs with Liam and Els fullbacks. The whole team played very well in the 1st half and went in for half time only 1-0 down. We even started the 2nd half quite well but once Broadhall scored we found it difficult to get back into the game, and a good team like theirs was quick to take advantage scoring again and again. We switched some possitions and was playing some good football again by the end of the match. Alfie scored our only goal from a penalty after he was brought down in the box.
With many players in unfamiliar roles it was good to see who could cope and although we were well beaten today I can feel optomistic that we will improve for the rest of the season.

Elsenham Rec

Elsenham 0-1 Bedwell Rangers Phoenix

With Bedwells usual manager unable to attend this match thier boys thought they would be naughty little children. From the begining they would push and kick every time the refs back was turned. As the game progressed they became more open with thier late tackles and foul play. Soon they started mouthing off at our supporters and even mums watching from the sideline. Eventually a fight broke out and thats about all that happened in the 1st half.
In the 2nd half we dominated the match hit the post a couple of times, had loads of chances but were just unable to score today. Bedwell had 1 clear chance and scored with just a few minutes to go. We went straight up the other end, Russel Stonehouse hit a super shot which hit the bar and clearly went in before bouncing out. Of course no goal was given, the linesman claimed he was too far away to see it.
Sometimes in football you dont get the result you deserve. But anybody involved players, parents, supporters and coaches can feel proud to be part of this squad and glad we are not part of the other lot that visited today.

Baker's Close

Baldock Town Crusaders 7-4 Elsenham

Nick Rains 3, Chris Swain

Fell behind early,then took control of the game to lead 3-1 by half time. 2 goals from Nick Rains and a 1st ever for Chris Swain. Sam Southgate was again our main creator as we bossed the midfield. Unfortunatley we thought the match was over despite throwing away a similar lead to these a couple of seasons ago. One Baldock player number 11 was to have a fantastic game constantly running past our defence and scoring 5 goals. We found this much harder to defend than the boy who just tried to kick everybody. We can give Nick another hat-trick after his shot went in off a defender.

Canterbury Way

Austen Arrowheads 1-7 Elsenham

Nick Rains 2, Sam Southgate, Russell Stonehouse 3, Joe Baker.

A fine all round team performance gave us what in the end turned out to be a comfortable win. Nick Rains started the scoring with the only goal in the 1st half, beating a defender and the keeper to a through ball. As we came in for half time a call from Austen said they didn't deserve to be behind, this only made us more determined to show our class in the 2nd half. Sam Southgate began the scoring after the break smashing in Mark Collars pass. Nick Rains headed in Charlie Hibberts corner. Russell Stonehouse fired in our 4th with plenty of power. Austen never gave up and pulled one back before Russell Stonehouse got his 2nd meeting a near post cross. Joe Baker got on the scoresheet for the 2nd week running heading in a corner. Sam Southgate won a late penalty as he skipped through their defence. Russell then won his game of rock, paper, scissors with Nick to see who would take the penalty and complete his hat-trick. He sent the keeper the wrong way for our 7th and his debut hat-trick. Well done to the whole team from Dan Smith in goal who still made some fine saves, a solid back 4. A hard working midfield with man of the match Sam Southgate creating like Cesc Fabregas, and 5 goals between our 2 strikers.

Elsenham Rec

Elsenham 5-2 Sandy Colts

Alfie Alabaster, Nick Rains 3, Joe Baker.

Our 1st home game of the season, on a windy day in Elsenham. Sandy scored first after a break down our left side, their forward struck a shot high into the top corner of the goal. We had to wait until just before half time for an equalizer. Alfie hitting a hopeful shot from 40 yards ,which bounced over their keeper into the goal. We started brightly in the 2nd half. With the wind now behind us we soon took the lead. A quick throw in to Steve who crossed the ball for Nick to beat the keeper at the near post. A breakaway goal levelled the scores again, even though we felt we should have been further ahead by then. Sam southgate had to come off the pitch with an injured knee. We played with just 10 for a while as we had already used our sub Joe on for Elliot. The fitness we had been working on now began to tell as we still looked the stronger team. Joe scored as Nick and the keeper tangled. Sam came back on injured. Nick then played the ball wide ,got to the return controlled and shot into the goal. Nick again with our 5th racing onto Sams header to fire into the left side. Great to see the fitness back. A well deserved hat-trick from Nick. Very good on the wings Charlie and Chris. An all round better performance from a team determined to win. Well done!

The Meads

Hormead Hares 4-1 Elsenham

Steve Watts

Today we got exactly what we deserved, a 4-1 beating. Well done Steve Watts scoring our only goal for the second week running. Well done to everyone else for your second half efforts after a very poor first. With Dan coming off after a knock on the head and then replacing Sam who had a knee injury, we played most of the half with 10 players. No excuses though, we lost the game before Dan went off, we managed to scored with him off. Well done to the referee who was very fair even though he had to ref his old team mates.

Fairfields

Biggleswade United 4-1 Elsenham

Steve Watts

With only 13 players signed on so far this season, the last thing we needed was for our new goalkeeper Dan to break his finger the day before our first match. Nick had to go back between the sticks, even though he and all of us where looking forward to him now playing as a striker.
Biggleswade United's Fairfields ground was the venue for this our first game.
A hard contested first half saw us go in 1-0 down, just an own goal by Liam separated the sides. Joe made his debut in defence and Matt played as a forward.
We were soon level early in the second half, a good passing move cooly finished by Steve. Just as quick we were behind again. Failing to make a proper tackle cost us this time. Matt sliced into his own goal for the next, before Biggleswade added a fourth.
A lot of bad luck with injuries and own goals could easily be blamed for this defeat, but we all know our fitness must, and will, improve. Also, we must be more confident and show more desire to use our ability to win games like this.