18th March 1927 - Football - Standon Villa v. Aspenden

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Football

Standon Villa v. Aspenden

These two teams met in a friendly match at Standon on Saturday last, to play for a new football given by Mr Dixon, president of the Standon Club, and after a clean and sporting game, resulted in a win for visitors by two goals to nil.

The game opened rather fast, both goal-keepers saving in fine style, but the ground getting very slippery, made accurate shooting and skillful football impossible, and play was chiefly confined to midfield.

After having hard luck with a fine shot, H. Parker scored from close range to give Aspenden the lead at the interval.

Aspenden pressed on the resumption and missed narrowly on several occasions, one shot hitting the upright and returning into play, before K. Rayment increased the lead. The Standon forwards tried several breakaways, but were well held by the visitors' defence.

The referee was Mr J. Totman, of Buntingford.

After the match both teams were entertained by Mr Dixon to a meat supper, where he presented the football to the Aspenden Captain, and said that he hoped the Aspenden team would have the same success when playing with it as they had done that afternoon. (Cheers).

The Aspenden captain then thanked Mr Dixon for the good time he had given them, and called for three cheers which were heartily given, followed by "For he's a jolly good fellow."

11th March 1927 - Football - Greg Cup Semi-Final

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Football

Greg Cup Semi-Final

Buntingford 4. Stevenage 2.

Considering the weather and the treacherous state of the ground, the match between Buntingford and Stevenage, played on the town ground on Saturday, was quite a good one.

There was a moderate attendance when the teams lined up several minutes later than the advertised time of starting.

Stevenage, who kicked down the slope for the first-half, were soon away, but were repelled by Thorogood, whose long kick sent H. May away on the left wing; after beating the visitors right back, May sent in a fine shot which went over the bar.

The visitors' quintette then got away, and through a misunderstanding between the home backs, the ball came across the mouth of the home goal with six or seven players after it; a melee followed, and from this Leech pushed the ball into the corner of the net to give Stevenage the lead. A few minutes later further pressure on the visitors' left wing caused the home defence a good deal of trouble, one shot skimming the goal-post.

Following a run by Wallis and Birkett, the latter shot at goal, and the ball, striking the visitors' left back, turned into the net.

In the second-half E. Moule put in some excellent work, one of his efforts being remarkably good. E. Hatchett and Rayment were also in the picture with some fine passes, which were turned to good account.

By this time the rain, which continued to fall heavily, had made the ground in a treacherous state, the players finding it very difficult to keep their feet. A break through by Stevenage resulted in Leech scoring with a fine shot. The next goal came from Wallis, who scored for the town from close range.

During the ensuing exchanges, the Stevenage defence was seen to advantage, but their goalkeeper was eventually beaten by W. May, who sent in a beautiful shot from 20 yards out. There was considerable excitement when the visitors were pulled up for an infringement on the touch line, but the resultant free kick, taken by E. Hatchett, went wide. A few minutes from the end, Birkett added another goal for the Fords by driving the ball through a crowd of players and into the corner of the net.

The two teams kept their tempers better than their feet, and it was noted that the only free kicks were for offside or an infringement on the touch line. As the ground was in such a bad state, it would be unfair to comment on the play of the individual members of the town team, but one word of praise must be voiced by E. Moule, who again proved himself a fearless, clever and speedy winger.

As Hitchin Imps won their match on Saturday they meet Buntingford in the final on Easter Monday. It is unlikely that the match will be played at Hitchin.

22nd April 1927 - Football - Greg Cup Competition

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Football

Greg Cup Competition

Buntingford v. Hitchin Imps

A good deal of talk about Thorogood's form during recent matches has been exploded by the excellent game he put up on Easter Monday, when the Town met Hitchin Imps in the final of the Greg Cup competition, at Royston.

The weather conditions were ideal, and there was a gate of over 700, some 200 supporters of the Fords' journeying from Buntingford by charabanc, motor car, motor cycle and cycle.

It is perhaps not generally known that the handsome silver cup for this competition was given by the late Mr T.T. Greg, of Coles, in 1910.

The ground conditions were fairly good, and there was no advantage from winning the toss as there was no wind. On the run of the play Buntingford should have won, but it happened that Thorogood and R. Moule saved the game at a time when the supporters of the Imps were mustering round the platform, from which the cup was to be presented. 

The last five minutes was more thrilling than the remainder of the match. Through the ineffectiveness of Hatchett, who it must be admitted, is nothing like his former self on the field, the Imps were leading by two clear goals when Thorogood ran through to score a splendid goal.

Although the spectators were heartened by this turn of events, there appeared little hope of any further goals, and the Buntingford players and supporters consoled themselves on the fact that it was better to lose 4-3 than 4-2. With the players waiting for the final whistle, the ball when out to E. Moule, who should really have been receiving attention off the field - so badly did he get kicked. He took the ball up the right wing, and running in, smashed it into the far corner of the net.

Spectators ran onto the field and congratulated him, and the crowd on all sides were full of enthusiasm and excitement - four goals all, and two minutes to play!

It has been claimed that if the forwards scored a goal away from home, they could not be blamed for losing the game; the onus was then upon the defence. Similarly however, it should be claimed for the defence that if they keep out the visiting forwards the onus for success rests with the forwards.

They had, however, no reason for urging their claim on Monday, for on the whole the Imps' forwards mastered the two defence, their right wing putting in some excellent work. Reed, in the town goal, played his usual game, and it was through no fault of his that four goals were scored against his side; two of the goals were from the penalty spot, one Hatchett inadvertently kicked through his own goal in a desperate attempt to clear, and the other was headed through by Pledger when he jumped to a high ball.

In the half-back line, Howlett played well, but he was too well covered to be very effective. Birkett shone at times, but Rayment who came into his brother's position seemed rather nervous, owing perhaps to the fact that he had an excellent man against him. It could not be said that that the line as a whole were masters of midfield.

Of the forwards E. Moule was easily the best. He was too speedy for the opposition and showed really fine control. Much of his success was due to Thorogood who supplied him with some good passes. Little fault could be found with the rest of the forwards - W. and H. May and Pledger - they often had the Imps goal in danger and a little more luck with some of their shots would have won their side the honours of the game.

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Other Football Results

Good Friday - Buntingford 5 v. North Road 1.

Saturday - Buntingford 3 v. Walsworth 3.

Easter Monday - Buntingford 2 v. Wellington Athletic 7.

3rd June 1927 - Cricket - Wyddiall v. Mr T. Pledger's XI

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Cricket

Wyddiall v. Mr T. Pledger's XI

A match between these teams was played on Saturday last, Wyddiall winning by an innings and 50 runs.

Mr Pledger's XI batted first, and were quickly dismissed for 27 runs, Cooze being the only batsman to reach double figures. Cooze, however, was rather lucky - being bowled with a no-ball the first ball he received.

Wyddiall very promptly passed their opponents score, and after making 100 runs for 6 wickets declared their innings closed.

With 73 runs to get to avoid an inning's defeat, Mr Pledger's XI fared even worse than at their first attempt, scoring only 23.

Score:

Mr T. Pledger's XI

S. Oakley, b H. Pledger - 0

H. Parker, c F. Hatchett, b S. Pledger - 4

T. Pledger, b H. Pledger - 0

W. Neale, b H. Pledger - 7

J. Holmes, b S. Pledger - 0

W. Cooze, b S. Pledger - 12

A. Martin, c H. May, b S. Pledger - 0

- Dowler, b H. Pledger - 3

W. Leathers, not out - 0

- Rayment, b H. Pledger - 0

J. Martin, b H. Pledger - 1

Extra - 1

Total - 27

Wyddiall

W. Hatchett, b Holmes - 1

H. Pledger, b Neale - 29

E. Bonfield, lbw, b Pledger - 8

R. Reed, b Pledger - 16

H. Hatchett, not out - 14

F. Hatchett, c Oakley, b Pledger - 2

H. May, c Holmes, b Pledger - 17

C. Hatchett, not out - 7

S. Pledger - did not bat

C. May - did not bat

S. Reed - did not bat

Extras - 6

*100

*Innings declared closed.

Mr T. Pledger's XI

T. Pledger, c R. Reed, b Bonfield - 2

H. Parker, c W. Hatchett, b Bonfield - 5

J. Holmes, stumped H. May - 5

W. Neale, b Bonfield - 5

W. Cooze, b Bonfield - 1

S. Oakley, b C. Hatchett - 1

W. Leathers, b H. May - 0

A. Martin, not out - 5

- Rayment, did not bat

- Dowler, c S. Pledger, b C. Hatchett - 0

J. Martin, c E. May, b C. Hatchett - 3

Extra - 1

Total - 23