WINCHMORE HILL FOOTBALL CLUB
Season 2005-2006
First XI

Season 2005-2006
If someone had told me in August that I would be sitting here with two cups in the trophy cabinet but disappointed with how the season panned out I would probably have laughed out loud.  However, writing this so soon after the heartbreaking manner in which the league title (and history itself) was wrenched away from us in the cruelest of fashions means that the wounds are still fresh and it is no laughing matter.  Then I quickly remind myself that we did win two cups
including the Holy Grail of amateur football, the AFA Senior Cup, and that we had a truly outstanding season in which the positives by far outweigh the negatives.

The season began with the highly competitive AFA Greenland Cup.  The first XI combined established players with several new faces and the squad had more strength in depth than ever before.  Broomfield and Old Owens were swept aside to set up an enthralling encounter with AFA superpower Old Meadonians in the final.  A 2-0 victory not only gave us our first silverware of the season but also laid down a marker for the remainder of the season that we were a force to be reckoned with.

Further victories in the league over Broomfield and Nottsborough amongst others saw us go on a thirteen game unbeaten run.
Inevitably, early cup success meant that the league had to be put on hold for a while as the team challenged on all three fronts, coming from behind to beat Parkfield and Enfield Old Grammarians to set up a vital AFA Cup quarter final away at West Wickham.  With the game locked at 0-0 and Hill down to ten men things looked bleak but an extra-time winner from the captain Neil Hurst kept the dream alive of winning the much vaunted AFA Senior Cup.

Then, with things all going to plan we suffered our first real setback of the season when a speight of injuries and unavailability to key players threatened to derail the campaign.  The injuries couldn't be helped but the unavailability of one or two were particularly frustrating given the position we were in.  Nevertheless the team redoubled its efforts, often without a recognised striker and despite losing a rematch with Meadonians in the Middlesex Cup semi in extra-time, the team went on to secure a place in the final of 'The Big One' with a ruthless 4-0 drubbing of Birmingham-based Wake Green at HSBC.

Meanwhile in the league we kept in touch with the pacesetters Nottsborough and West Wickham despite the distractions of the cup and the treble was very much on.  Then came the moment of the season when a Ben Penfold goal gave us victory over perpetual adversaries Old Owens to make us AFA Champions for the second time in four seasons and for only the third time in the club's history.  Winning the elite competition in amateur football on Norsemen's ground made victory taste all the sweeter and the team partied long into the night.

The final frontier - winning the league, in the end proved to be a step too far as the team were denied by the finest of margins.  Two games in the final week of the season saw us leading 2-1 in the first game with ten minutes left and 2-1 in the final match with only injury time left on the clock.  On both occasions Old Owens pulled off remarkable comebacks to deny us what would have been a previously unseen SAL title and AFA Cup double.    

Nevertheless I look back with immense pride at the season that was.  Youngsters Rod Beyer, Matthew Knights, Peter Gyles and Chris Davison all grew in stature this season and were among our best and most consistent performers.  New additions Tim Corrick, Rob Ellis, Chung Su Ko and Andy Hingley, who scored 14 goals, all fitted well into the side giving us plenty of reasons to be cheerful for the future.  Then there was the core of the side who remained from the AFA Cup victory in 2003.  Shane Foley had his best season since I have played with him, pulling the strings in midfield while both Neil Hurst and Ben Penfold continued to energise the team's attacking threat scoring 16 and 11 goals respectively and both are fixtures in the AFA Representative side.  At the back Barry Chaters and Ben Willis were outstanding throughout and I speak for the whole team in hoping that Big Ben returns for pre-season and doesn't hang up the size twelves just yet.  Then there was Andy Carter who had a truly brilliant season.  22 clean sheets tell only part of the story of what his presence did for the team in both a goalkeeping and organisational sense.  In a team of heroes he was head and shoulders above the rest.

Thanks to the many of you who followed us all over London in support, to Joe Foley for physio duties and to Bob Gyles for his unwavering support of not just this team but the whole section.  Finally, thanks to Andy Russell whose hard work and commitment is greatly appreciated by the players.  A second AFA Cup in just four seasons was richly deserved for a man who puts his heart and soul into the team.  The league title will follow  

Neil Hurst

AFA GREENLAND CUP REVIEW
A new look First XI captured Winchmore Hill’s first silverware of the season on Saturday, beating AFA Cup Winners Old Meadonians 2 – 0 and in doing so laid down a marker for the season ahead. Playing in this AFA Tournament has provided the team with an opportunity to play high level football before the league season kicks in and the early signs are extremely promising for a side that has added half a dozen new recruits to its squad.

The Tournament commenced with a local derby against reigning SAL Champions Broomfield and in a typically frenetic derby match the Hill took all three points with goals from debutant Andy Hingley and Rod Beyer. This was followed by a convincing 4 – 2 win away at Old Foresters with the final score not really reflecting the Hill’s overall superiority in the match. Goals from Ben Penfold, Hingley, Beyer and skipper Neil Hurst meant that a draw in the final group match against Old Owens would secure a place in the final of a competition that the Hill won back in 2003.

The Owens game was another thriller with both teams spurning good goalscoring opportunities and several penalty appeals being turned down at either end before Rod Beyer’s impressive early season form culminated in a match winning early contender for Goal of the Season when he juggled the ball over an Owens defender before unleashing an unstoppable piledriver into the top corner with his weaker left foot.

With important morale-boosting victories over two of Hill’s arch rivals in the group stage, the next obstacle would prove to be Hill’s biggest challenge to date. Old Meadonians have won the AFA Senior Cup three times in the last four years and have, without doubt, been the best side around for the last few years. With Andy Russell absent from proceedings, Hill’s blend of older, experienced players and young, fearless upstarts were more than equal to the challenge and secured the cup with goals either side of half time from the already prolific Hingley and Lonnie Robinson.

A fine start to the season indeed, but it is only a start and there is a consicuous hunger among the players to go on and achieve bigger and better things come April and May.

Winchmore Hill 1 Broomfield 0
Southern Amateur League
Senior Section Division One
Saturday 24th September 2005

Winchmore Hill's league campaign got off to a fine start on Saturday with a hard-fought victory over local rivals and reigning champions Broomfield. 

A game low on quality but high on commitment was settled in the first minute by a superb strike from Andy Hingley, very much a rose among the thorns in a typically tense and frenetic derby game.  After a defensive slip-up Hingley pounced onto the loose ball in the inside left channel and smashed an unstoppable volley into the top corner to give the hosts a dream start.

Visibly startled, the visitors responded immediately and enjoyed the lions share of possession in the middle of the park but were unable to fashion any noteworthy chances as the Hill back line stood firm.

Andy Russell was then forced to make changes to his line-up and formation as hamstring injuries to Hingley and Chris Davison saw the introduction of Lonnie Robinson and Rod Beyer, leaving Neil Hurst to fight a lone battle up front.  Moments before the interval Winchmore Hill had two glorious opportunities to put the game out of reach but both Ben Penfold and Robinson squandered good goalscoring opportunities meaning the half-time score remained 1-0.

The second half was equally as tense and Broomfield went in search of an equaliser and had claims for a penalty waved away much to their annoyance. However, despite the constant probing, Ben Willis and Barry Chaters formed an impenetrable axis in front of home keeper Andy Carter who was later called on to make a superb save from Jimmy Jacobs' bicycle kick.

Three points from the first league game against one of the title contenders to go with a successful Greenland Cup campaign makes for good reading for the Hill, but they will need to play better as the season progresses if they are to achieve the ultimate prize of the league title itself.

Next week sees Hill entertain Old Salesians and the manager will be hoping that the sudden spate of injuries abates when Saturday comes.  

Winchmore Hill 4 Old Salesians 0
Southern Amateur League
Senior Section Division One
Saturday 1st October 2005

Winchmore Hill's perfect start to the season continued on Saturday with an impressive 4-0 drubbing of 2002/3 SAL champions Old Salesians.  The victory was all the more encouraging given the sudden spate of injuries which meant that Strouts, Gyles, Davison, Knights, Robinson and Hingley were all missing from Saturday's starting line-up.

After an abnormally brief warm up caused by Hingley and Rob Ellis' (aka Dumb and Dumber) failure to bring the kit with them Hill took a while to get going against a side who over the years have always looked to play good football.  The pitch was again in immaculate condition with the pre-kick off rain shower giving the surface an extra zip to it which made for a game conducive to slick attacking football.

After a relatively benign opening fifteen minutes Hill went in front when Ben Willis' crossfield pass found the marauding Ben Penfold who guided his shot over the stranded visiting goalkeeper.  One soon become two when the irrepressible Penfold stormed down the inside right channel beating two players before unleashing a venomous shot into the top corner.

Salesians responded immediately only to be denied by some astute defending from the in-form Joe Hackworthy, Barry Chaters and Willis.  In goal summer signing Andy Carter's handling was impeccable. 

The talk at half-time was to retain possession and look for a killer third goal but after a lively restart from the visitors it was again the hosts who looked the more likely scorers and went further in front when Shane Foley's cross/shot sailed over the keeper's head and nestled into the far corner. Hill were buoyant, Salesians beaten.

Skipper Neil Hurst then joined the ever-increasing injury list with a recurrence of a calf injury but Hill were unaffected and driven on by the steel and determination of Tim Corrick and Rob Ellis in midfield and the flair and skill of Rod Beyer and Penfold up front the hosts were soon four up.  Ellis finished off the move of the game by slamming home Beyer's effort which came back off the post after yet another swashbuckling run from man-of-the-match Ben Penfold.

Six points from six with no goals conceded puts Hill in third place and gives Winchmore the ideal platform to mount a championship challenge.  Their title credentials will be put to the test over the next fortnight with massive games against the two sides above us in the table, Civil Service and Nottsborough.

Civil Service 0 Winchmore Hill 2
Southern Amateur League
Senior Section Division One
Saturday 8th October 2005

Winchmore Hill made it a magnificent seven victories in a row in West London on Saturday with a typically resolute and tactically astute victory over last season's arch nemesis Civil Service.  Maximum points in the league without conceding a goal make for good reading on paper but matches and ultimately, league titles, are not won on paper.  Hill know they have merely scratched the surface on what will hopefully be the season that the championship is delivered.

The day started well when the Chuckle Brothers (Ellis and Hingley) managed to find their way to the ground on time and without the need to contact Captain 118 who was kept busy all week with the rest of the team's attempt at wit, or was that half-wit?  Anyway, the team lined up in another newly hatched Andy Russell formation eager to exact revenge on a team who had beaten Winchmore home and away last term.

The early exchanges went territorially with the home side who have enjoyed a splendid start to the new season but alarm bells were soon ringing in the home defence when Hingley was sent clear on goal only to be denied by a brave stop at the Hill striker's feet.  Moments later Civil went behind when a defensive error allowed Ben Penfold the chance to give Hill the lead and he made no mistake with a smart finish.  

Civil became rattled and tried admirably to get back on level terms as soon as possible but shot themselves in the foot again on the half hour mark when goalkeeper and defender got tangled up on the edge of the box and the loose ball was chipped majestically into the empty net for a debut Hill goal for new signing Tim Corrick.

At half-time the hosts would have felt hard done by to be two goals down while Hill regrouped knowing that only half the job had been done.  As expected Civil looked to take the game by the scruff of the neck and started at a high tempo employing three centre forwards with their playmaker enjoying a free role.  However, for all their huff and puff, Service were unable to blow the Hill house down, despite an enforced reshuffle that saw Rod Beyer playing at left back and Corrick pressed into emergency striker duties when both Hingley and Davison suffered recurrences of their hamstring injuries.

In midfield Hurst, Ellis and Shane Foley combined well, establishing a foothold on proceedings in the middle of the park whilst also dangerously counter-attacking when the opportunity arose.  When called into action Andy Carter's handling was again superb and with only minutes remaining he pulled off a stunning reflex save when a wayward shot was deflected goal bound which finally knocked the stuffing out of a spirited home performance.

On reflection Hill were worthy winners but know they can play better. However, beneath the clinical and hard-working performance lies a growing momentum in terms of confidence, will-to-win and team spirit.  More of the same please boys.

Winchmore Hill 1 Nottsborough 0
Southern Amateur League
Senior Section Division One
Saturday 15th November

Ingredients: Take a few seasoned old pros, add in a handful of youthful exuberance. Leave to warm up for 6 weeks over the summer then bring to the boil.  Chuck in a miserly defence, some attacking flair and pace, dressing room banter and dash of luck for good measure.  Result: 8 wins from 8 competitive games.

Nottsborough left the Paulin Ground on Saturday with a distinctive bad taste in their mouths after an enthralling top-of-the-table clash that the visitors can count themselves unfortunate to have finished empty handed from. 

Nonetheless, it was yet another gritty, determined display by league leaders Hill whose talented squad is being stretched to its limit at the moment as injuries continue to strike.

Andy Russell used Genevieve for this weeks selection and formation lottery and she promptly decided that Ben Penfold was this weeks lucky winner of the bonus centre forward shirt while Hill's other striking options missed out through a variety of reasons including a hamstring strain and being the drummer in a Danish rock band on tour!

Nottsborough started the game well and looked much more like the side of a few years back after an indifferent season for them last term.  Much of the early running went with the visitors who looked sharp and up for the battle.  With less than ten minutes on the clock 'Boro should have gone in front when a cross from the right wasn't dealt with and only a poor finish by the Notts' attacker saw the ball drift over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Hill's inability to keep any meaningful possession meant that most of the first half an hour was spent keeping Nottsborough at bay in a match where chances were at a premium.  All too often Penfold was isolated alone up front as the hosts struggled to connect midfield to attack although Neil Hurst's pace gave AFA centre half Mark Grove plenty to think about with Hurst's ankles coming off worst in this sub-plot to the main theme of the game itself.

A half-time reshuffle saw Hill looking to impose themselves on the game more and the more attack-minded formation enabled Hill to establish a foothold on the game.  Suddenly, Lonnie Robinson, Penfold and Hurst came more and more into the fore and the game became more stretched, adding to the spectacle.  At the other end Hill's back line continued to stand firm as the tricky Nathan Violet and substitute Jimmy Elliott looked to unlock a defence high on form and confidence at the moment.  However, moments later Lady Luck shone on Hill's side when first post, then crossbar denied the visitors a priceless opening goal against a defence that every fantasy league manager should be picking his team from so far this season.

With twenty-five minutes remaining the deadlock was broken when Hill won a hotly disputed penalty after a scuffle in the penalty area.  To add insult to injury one of the Nottsborough players took his opinion a little too far resulting in a straight red card for foul and abusive language.  Up stepped the unflappable Penfold after a lengthy delay to slot home his fourth goal in three games.  Advantage Hill.

The remainder of the game was end-to-end stuff with tackles flying in but neither side was able to fashion any real chances as Hill made it four league wins from four and supplanted Nottsborough at the top of the SAL table.

Nottsborough will play worse and win, Hill will play better and might lose but Winchmore go into a two week break from the league (for cup football) knowing that they have created the foundations on which to build from for the remainder of the season.  

Winchmore Hill 3 Latymer Old Boys 0
Amateur Football Alliance Senior Cup
Qualifying Round
Saturday 22 October

Winchmore Hill reignited their love affair with the much-vaunted AFA Senior Cup on Saturday with a clinical 3-0 victory over near neighbours Latymer Old Boys.  In a repeat of the 2003 semi-final it was clear that Hill had gained momentum in the past 24 months whilst the Old Boys seem to have lost their way under new management - their loss is Australia's gain.

With several players again missing, team veteran Shane Foley has doubled up as the team physio in recent weeks and he managed to tape various parts of peoples bodies together in time for Hill to start the game at a high tempo.  With 15 minutes on the clock the hosts had the ball in the net only for Andy Hingley's effort to be ruled out for offside.  Undeterred, Hill continued to mount pressure on the visitors and the Latymer keeper had to be at his best to keep Hill at bay.

Winchmore continued to probe down the flanks with Neil Hurst and Ben Penfold featuring prominently while Tim Corrick and Rob Ellis pulled the strings in the middle of the park.  Eventually the pressure told when Hurst broke free on the left and skipped past 3 challenges before squaring to Hingley for a simple tap in.

Ten minutes into the second half the game was over as a contest when Foley and Chris Davison combined well down the left before the latter delivered a pinpoint cross onto the head of Hurst who finished well.

The visitors then fought gallantly to get back into the match but the Hill back line was again at its miserly best.  Ten minutes from time Hill scored a deserved third when Penfold converted a penalty after he was felled whilst bearing down on goal.

And so the Hill juggernaut continues apace - Old Foresters come to the Paulin Ground on Saturday as the only side to have scored a goal against Winchmore Hill this season (in a 4-2 loss in the Greenland Cup).  Hill will be looking to make it ten wins in a row before getting back to the business of league football.  

Winchmore Hill 6 Old Foresters 0
AFA Middlesex/Essex Senior Cup
Saturday 29th October 2005

The bean counters and marketing men at The Paulin Ground would have enjoyed their Sunday fry-up on a weekend that not only saw the Hill win in the first round of the Middlesex/Essex Cup but also unveil a money-spinning (or was that head-spinning?) third strip and a South Korean debutante which should ensure vast shirt sales in the lucrative Far-East consumer market.

When you try and recruit a new player I guess you look for three key attributes: excellent playing ability, potential commitment to the club and a good character in the dressing room.  Step forward Chung Su Ko who managed to tick all three boxes in one day with an impressive debut performance.  On the pitch he was fleet of foot, comfortable on the ball and positionally astute.  Off the pitch with the help of a Belgian friend called Stella he showed initial promise but was ultimately found wanting at the back.  A commendable effort nonetheless - welcome to Winchmore Hill.

Anyway the match.  Hill started well, despite the fact that sky and navy blue shirts mixed with purple shorts was a definite fashion faux pas.  Foresters were well aware of Hill's superb start to the season and would have been looking for a solid opening period to the game.  Not so.  Hill had other ideas and immediately asked questions of the visiting defence.  With less than ten minutes on the clock the deadlock was broken when Andy Hingley took time out from being an extra on 'Eastenders'/snogging one of 'The Honeyz'/bickering with his 'special friend' Rob Ellis/generally not being on this planet to turn home Ben Penfold's cross.

The lead soon doubled when Neil Hurst released the mercurial Chris Davison down the left and his pinpoint centre was blasted home by Hingley.  Two then became three when Hurst drilled home a low drive from just inside the area after more good approach play from Pete Gyles and Davison.  3-0 and surely a case now of how many.

A word here for the visitors who having lost their goalkeeper to injury could almost have been forgiven for throwing in the towel, yet in spite of the three goal deficit and a makeshift goalkeeper they continued to try and play and almost pulled a spectacular goal back only for Andy Carter to pull off yet another fine save to add to his growing portfolio.

Paul Strouts was withdrawn at half time after sustaining a nosebleed from one lung-busting foray up the pitch, which saw him reach the thus far unchartered territory of the opposition penalty area.  Nothing that a couple of shots of Kryptonite can't fix though.  This brought about a historic moment for the Hill though when Chung Su Ko became the clubs first ever Korean player.  There was nothing lost in translation here though as the athletic full back settled into the Hill back line as though he had been there all his life.  A very exciting prospect for the club.

After a relatively uneventful start to the second period, which served only to confirm that Hingley certainly didn't have the word 'pass' in his vocabulary, Hill eventually added a fourth.  After spurning chances when he chose to ignore the better placed Hurst and Tim Corrick preferring to feed his seemingly insatiable appetite for goals, Hingley duly completed his hat-trick after a superb through ball from Gyles.

Penfold then notched his seventh of the campaign after Hurst squared to him after good build up play from Rod Beyer, the returning Matty Knights and Shane Foley.  There was still time for a sixth goal when Barry Chaters long ball was deftly flicked on by Hurst releasing Hingley clear through on goal with Penfold in support.  There was only to be one outcome here though as Hingley smashed home his fourth to cap a superb display of clinical finishing.  Hill has yearned for a twenty-five goals a season striker and on this evidence it appears they have found their man.

Hill resume league duties next Saturday with a tough home fixture against perennial Paulin party-poopers Old Actonians.  A fifth league win in a row would make for a wonderful first quarter of the season.

Winchmore Hill 2 Old Actonians Association 0
Southern Amateur League
Senior Section Division One
Saturday 5 November

Winchmore Hill maintained their 100% start to the season on Saturday with an impressive performance over a beleaguered Old Actonians team who can thank some wayward Hill finishing for a relatively flattering two goal difference.  Hill made one change to their side with Rod Beyer coming in for Tim Corrick but with Paul Strouts and Neil Hurst picking up injuries Andy Russell was thankful to be able to name three quality substitutes against a side who have caused Hill trouble over the years.

Having lost at home to the West Londoners in successive seasons Hill were keen to lay the hoodoo to rest but it was the visitors who started brightly shifting the ball quickly through midfield and looking to pressurise the Hill defence early on.  That was easier said than done though as once again the back four were in outstanding form,  Barry Chaters in particular.

After a relatively uneventful opening ten minutes Hill eased through the gears and were soon up to full speed with Ben Penfold and Chris Davison causing problems down the flanks.  Indeed it was Davison who featured prominently in Hill's first attack of note, delivering a superb cross to Hurst whose powerful header was saved well by the impressive Acton goalkeeper.  The hosts now had the bit between their teeth and came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock moments later when Rod Beyer, Hurst and Davison combined well to send Andy Hingley through on goal but his well struck shot just missed the upright.

Hill continued to dominate and time and again found themselves in the attacking third of the field only for the final pass or shot to let them down.  However, that magical missing ingredient soon arrived in stunning fashion when Chris Davison cut in from the right and jinked past a couple of challenges before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner to give the league leaders the advantage.

Acton responded immediately and although they didn't really create any chances of note, some stern words were had in the home dressing room at the interval for allowing Actonians too much time and space on the ball and for failing to capitalise on Hill's dominance in the opening period.

Hill started brightly in the second half looking to score a second and kill the game off and were rewarded on the hour when Chung Su Ko capped an impressive display by winning a penalty after linking up well with Beyer and Shane Foley.  Penfold duly slotted the spot-kick away despite a gallant effort from the keeper.

The rest of the game was one-way traffic but Hill were unable to extend their lead with Davison, Penfold, Hingley, Pete Gyles and the impressive Matty Knights all going close. 

In goal Andy Carter was at his imperious best when called upon behind a Ben Willis marshalled defence that have now kept nine clean sheets in a row and ten in eleven games overall.

With a quarter of the league season now gone, Hill can reflect on a job well done so far.  However, the players know full well that there is a long way to go and many tough challenges ahead.  With confidence high and team spirit bubbling Hill will be looking to emulate the successes of 2003.  The foundations have been built - the rest is down to the players.

Winchmore Hill 4 Parkfield 1
AFA Senior Cup
Saturday 12 November

Hill's defensive resolve was finally broken after thirteen and a half hours on Saturday but the unbeaten run remains very much in tact.  Parkfield of the AFC Premier League were the visitors to the impeccable green pastures of the Paulin Ground this weekend hoping to exact revenge on a Hill team that had beaten them 4-1 at the same stage of this competition last year.  In the end all that was exact was the scoreline - again in Hill's favour.

The hosts suffered an early setback when skipper Neil Hurst was forced to pull out in the warm up and it was a rather lethargic looking Hill team that played out the opening exchanges of the game which the opposition were clearly up for.  On ten minutes Parkfield did what no team had done since September 3rd against Winchmore Hill when a free kick was deflected into the path of a grateful striker to give the visitors a shock lead and silence the healthy home support.

However, this setback proved to be the catalyst for a much improved Hill performance and goals from Rod Beyer and Andy Hingley meant that Hill went into the break in the ascendancy if not fully in control.

The second half proved to be a much more one-sided affair as the SAL league leaders launched wave upon wave of attacks on the visitors goal.  On the hour two became three when Andy Hingley finished superbly after some impressive build up play.  In midfield Rob Ellis was everywhere making all the runs that Shane Foley couldn't (or wouldn't) as the wily old Australian linked the play nicely in the middle of the park keeping things ticking. The introduction of Matty Knights and Tim Corrick gave Hill some added impetus and both were soon heavily involved as Hill continued to press for more goals.  With five minutes remaining three became four when Ben Penfold capped a superb performance with a rare headed goal after a nice move down the left involving Chris Davison and Knights.

With one trophy in the bag already and challenging on three fronts in the main competitions these are exciting times in N21.  Competition for places is tougher than it has ever been which can only be good, not just for the team but for the club as a whole.

Next week Hill make the short trip up the road to play Wood Green Old Boys in the Middlesex/Essex Cup before resuming the title challenge with a visit to Kingston to face fellow title contenders Nottsborough.

Wood Green Old Boys 2 Winchmore Hill 4
Amateur Football Alliance Middlesex & Essex Senior Cup
Saturday 19 November

Winchmore Hill advanced into the last eight of the Middlesex/Essex Cup on Saturday after a scrappy affair against a workmanlike Wood Green side who will wonder how they managed to keep the visitors down to just four goals on a day when so many more could and should have been scored.  That said, the hosts scored two themselves and caused Hill some problems with their robust approach and cabbage patch pitch.

This had all the makings of a potential giant-killing and the usual clichés like 'potential banana skin', 'the magic of the cup' and 'remember Ronnie Radford?' were being bandied about before the game began.  After a delayed kick-off (no oppo, no nets rendering Mad Dog Carter slightly more demented than usual in his rigorous pre-match routine), Hill were soon into their stride and making the best of the surface before it inevitably churned up.

Chances came and went for Andy Hingley, Ben Penfold and Neil Hurst before Chris Davison struck the woodwork with a fierce drive and Hurst's curling free-kick also struck the upright.  Was it going to be one of those days?  Hurst's header ruled out for offside suggested as much.  Spurred on by this good fortune the hosts enjoyed their best spell of the match and came close to breaking the deadlock themselves when a header glanced the Hill crossbar.

At this point the game became rather disjointed as the pitch deteriorated, tackles flew in and the referee decided to allow many of these to go unpunished.  Nonetheless Hill eventually made the breakthrough when Shane Foley stole in behind enemy lines to direct a looping header over the busy but admirable Old Boys goalkeeper.

At half-time the main objective discussed was to the need to be more clinical in front of goal and within moments of the restart Hill doubled their lead.  Hurst released Penfold down the right flank who in turn found Hingley and when his shot was blocked, Hurst was on hand to delicately chip the ball over keeper and defender to make it 2-0.

Further chances went astray before Hill made it three when Ben Willis' towering header from a Davison corner sailed into the top corner.  A rare goal for the big man showing the others how finishing should be done.  

Rod Beyer, Matty Knights and Tim Corrick all came on to add some fresh legs and these three, together with the tireless Rob Ellis continued to drive Hill forwards to give the score line some semblance of reality.  However, moments later Hill conceded a penalty when Barry Chaters was harshly adjudged to have handled and the hosts were back in the game.  Although haphazard in front of goal, Hill continued to pour forwards with the impressive Pete Gyles linking well with Knights and Hingley and the three goal lead was soon restored when Hurst fired in from close range after Hingley's shot was again saved by the home custodian.

There was still time for a late consolation for Wood Green who fought gallantly throughout which left a bad taste in the mouth and Hill know that their performance, in front of goal in particular, will need to improve in the vital league encounter at Nottsborough next week.

Nevertheless the 100% record remains in tact and Hill will look forward to a return to the cut and thrust of league football knowing that it will take a great performance to beat them based on form so far this season.

Nottsborough 2 Winchmore Hill 1
Southern Amateur League
Senior Section Division One
Saturday 26 November

They say that all good things must come to an end.  They also say that the sign of true
champions is not just about winning but about reacting to defeat.  Whoever 'they' are; they are right.  Winchmore Hill's thirteen game unbeaten run came to and end in a stirring encounter in wintry South London on Saturday as Nottsborough gained revenge for their defeat at the Paulin Ground back in October.

Then, like now, the game was shrouded in controversy with the visitors feeling hard done by on both occasions.  Hill will look to the penalty (for a blatant trip on Chris Davison) that never was and a winning goal that looked offside.  Nottsborough will suggest what goes around comes around.  Either way this was a superb advert for AFA football as both sides went hammer and tongs at each other for ninety minutes.

Nottsborough started well looking to take the attack to Hill's miserly defence.  On ten minutes the hosts were rewarded for their high tempo start when poor marking allowed Alex Ewin to head home unchallenged in the six yard box.  This visibly shook Hill into action and the next ten minutes saw the pace of the game quicken even more as both teams competed for possession. 

Finally Winchmore Hill sprang into life and they equalised with a stunning counter attacking move on the half hour.  Rob Ellis found Ben Penfold in space out on the right and his low cross was smashed into the bottom corner by skipper Neil Hurst much to the delight of the healthy travelling support.

Suddenly Hill were energised and another sweeping move this time involving Davison and Hurst almost resulted in a goal for Penfold.  The game continued to ebb and flow with both sides enjoying some dominant spells but the half-time score of 1-1 was a fair one.

The second period was every bit as frenetic as the first with Nottsborough enjoying more possession but Hill creating more chances and the home custodian was the busier of the two keepers.  First he kept out Andy Hingley with a smart save from a one-on-one and then he denied both Hurst and Davison from well struck free-kicks.

At the other end Nottsborough continued to probe with Nathan Violet causing Hill's defence some difficulties.  With twenty minutes remaining it was still anybody's game and it was at this point that Hill felt hard done by when Davison's mazy dribble was brought to an abrupt and clumsy halt by a home defender.  Surely a penalty?This time however Lady Luck had deserted Hill as the referee waved play on.

With four minutes remaining Lady Luck turned out to be an overpriced two-bit hooker who nicked your wallet whilst you were asleep as again the referee ignored Hill's claims (this time for offside) and home substitute Matt Kerr fired in the winner.

A bitter pill for Winchmore Hill to swallow but a terrific game nonetheless.  Nottsborough are to be applauded for the way they set about making amends for the opening league encounter between the sides and will unquestionably be involved in the shake up as the season reaches its business end.

Hill must look ahead to the next stage of their season.  They have played their closest rivals to date twice and still have two games in hand on them.  There are plenty of other stern encounters on the horizon and it is on these that Hill must focus.  If the team retain the same work ethic and togetherness that have been the features of the campaign so far, there is no reason why the championship shouldn't return to N21 after more than twenty years.

Enfield Old Grammarians 1 Winchmore Hill 2
Amateur Football Alliance Senior Cup – Round 3
Saturday 3 December

Winchmore Hill progressed to the last sixteen of the prestigious AFA Senior Cup on Saturday after an almighty scare against local AFC rivals Enfield Old Grammarians.  After going behind inside ten minutes, Hill remained in arrears for much of the match only to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and in doing so set up an all SAL Division One tie in the next round at home to Old Esthameians.

That summary merely scratches the surface on what was an enthralling cup tie played in front of a large, vociferous crowd on a pitch that got progressively worse as the match wore on.  Hill made one change to their starting line up with Tim Corrick replacing Pete Gyles meaning a reshuffle in midfield.  After talking up the importance of the cup itself and how effective an early goal against supposedly inferior opposition would be, Hill proceeded to concede an early goal themselves and in doing so galvanised both the opposition players and supporters into a stirring performance.

Despite the early setback Hill passed the ball well on an appalling surface but consistently let themselves down in the final third.  Grammar on the other hand had a spring in their step and although they conceded much of the possession to their opponents the hosts looked lively on the break and were buoyed on by a superb performance by their goalkeeper.

On the half hour things went from bad to worse when Ben Penfold's penalty was well saved.  More chances came and went to leave the half time score 1-0.  A thousand thoughts rushed through the mind in the Hill dressing room.  Did the players have the stomach for the fight?  Had Hill underestimated the opposition?  Was its one of those days?  Was Paul Strouts really going to wear that tweed jacket out on the team social to Brighton later that evening?

The overriding theme though was not to panic.  Twenty-five minutes into the second period the score line remained the same and now the game was becoming disjointed.  The Old Boys understandably took every opportunity to waste time and often broke Hill's rhythm, sometimes legally, most of the time not.  As the rain clouds darkened and the heavens opened the outlook for the 2003 AFA Cup winners looked bleak.

With twenty minutes left Hill equalised at last.  Strouts' quickly taken throw released Penfold on the right and his superb cross was headed home majestically by Old Ignatian Neil Hurst who seemed intent on continuing school rivalries that finished for him a decade ago. 

Suddenly the Old Boys legs had gone.  Hill were now intent on wrapping the game up inside ninety minutes and poured forwards in order to do so.  Moments later the winner arrived when Chris Davison's crossed free-kick eluded everyone and snuck into the far corner.  A little harsh on the home keeper but well deserved for Hill.

More chances to put the game beyond any doubt were missed but the referee eventually brought and end to proceedings much to Hill's relief.  A valiant effort by the hosts but Hill's obvious class shone through in the end.  All that was left to do was travel on masse for a night on the tiles in Brighton.  What goes on tour stays on tour.................!!!

Winchmore Hill 1 East Barnet Old Grammarians 0
Southern Amateur League
Senior Section Division One
Saturday 10 December

Winchmore Hill went into the winter break at the head of the Southern Amateur League's top table after a 1-0 victory over newly promoted local rivals East Barnet at the Paulin Ground on Saturday.  With Nottsborough dropping points, Hill are now top on goal difference with two games in hand.  A healthy position from which to mount a title charge in 2006.

The likely contenders for the title other than the current top two look like being a resurgent West Wickham side under new management, old foes Broomfield and Old Owens.  Hill have five games remaining against these sides which will go a long way to deciding the destination of the championship come springtime.

It's often said that the sign of a good side is to win when you don't play at your best.  Saturday's encounter with EBOG's was a prime example of this.  Hill never really settled into their rhythm against a decent opposition outfit that showed that they have more than enough in their locker to avoid the relegation trapdoor. 

Much of the opening exchanges were played out in a highly congested midfield battle with neither side really threatening.  As the half wore on it was the visitors who upped the tempo of the match and asked questions of the Hill back line without ever really penetrating it.  Finally Hill got going, albeit briefly, when Neil Hurst released the marauding Rob Ellis down the inside left channel and his inch perfect through ball with the outside of his right foot allowed Andy Hingley to fire Hill into the lead.  1-0 at half-time and still very much all to play for.

The second period was every bit as disjointed as the first with Hill looking threatening on the break but with the visitors enjoying a lot of the possession and territorial advantage.  The closest they came to scoring was from a long range free-kick which bounced awkwardly and almost caught goalkeeper Andy Carter out, but both he and his teammates were relieved to see the ball strike the upright.

Hill changed things around with Chris Davison coming on for Ben Penfold and this saw Hill come to the fore once again but without ever attaining the cutting edge in the final third despite the best efforts of Hingley, Tim Corrick and co.

Not a great performance but three valuable points nonetheless.  January sees Hill on the road in the league visiting Old Actonians and West Wickham and at home in the cups versus Old Esthameians and Old Hamptonians.  Four crucial games in a month.  Come on the Hill!

Squad Xmas Wish List:
A Carter - 'Tim Howard's guide - How to embrace and overcome Tourettes Syndrome'
P Strouts - shooting rifle and new car
P Gyles - a bird that lives in London
B Willis - some plain black boots that suit a 15 stone defender
B Chaters - Sunderland to win a game
C Su Ko - an ability to drink
M Knights - Urban R&B Essentials - Volume II
R Beyer - driving licence
R Ellis - romantic weekend for two in New York
T Corrick - 'The Complete Guide on how to behave in nightclubs'
S Foley - tickets to group stages only of the World Cup
B Penfold - tickets to final stages of the World Cup
C Davison - less exams, more goals
N Hurst - WHFC to pay his mobile phone bill
A Hingley - see R Ellis

Old Actonians 0 Winchmore Hill 2
Southern Amateur League
Senior Section Division One
Saturday 7 January

New Year, same Winchmore Hill.  After a four week break from the cut and thrust of AFA football Hill produced an impressive away performance in West London on Saturday and reaffirmed their intentions for the remainder of the season.

Despite the inclement of weather, festive excesses and a flu epidemic Andy Russell was able to pick from a full squad of players, a luxury he will hope is afforded to him weekly until May.

The match started at a frenetic pace with the hosts high octane, physical approach giving them the ascendancy in the early stages.  Much of the game was being played out in a congested midfield area on a heavy pitch but as the game wore on it was the visitors who started to create the openings with Ben Penfold and Neil Hurst going close.  At the other end Actonians looked most dangerous from set pieces but with Andy Carter's handling impeccable behind an ever reliable back four, Hill were rarely threatened. All square at half-time, much of the talk at the interval was to be patient, get the ball into wide areas and continue to pass it. 

With a vast Old Meadonians contingent among the crowd Hill were keen to put on a show in the second period and began to dominate immediately when the half began.  In midfield Shane Foley and Rob Ellis stamped their authority on proceedings and gave Hill the platform to mount attack after attack. However, the hosts stood resolutely in the face of constant pressure and rode their luck on the hour when Andy Hingley's acrobatic diving header crashed against the inside of the post and bounced to safety.

Undeterred, Hill continued to ask questions as the game became more stretched and legs more weary.  With twenty minutes remaining the deadlock was eventually broken when Chris Davison's inswinging cross was superbly headed into the top corner by Hurst much to the delight of the travelling Hill support.  Ten minutes later the game was put beyond any doubt when Captain Hurst capitalised on some poor defending and broke through on goal before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.  Game over.

All in all a pleasing afternoons work with all the hallmarks of a Winchmore Hill performance.  Miserly in defence, lively in attack and team spirit bubbling.  If the players continue to commit themselves to the cause and stick together as a unit then more great days lie ahead.

Winchmore Hill 4 Old Esthameians 1
Amateur Football Alliance
Senior Cup Round Four
Saturday 14 January

Hill progressed to the quarter finals of the AFA Senior Cup on Saturday with an impressive performance against 2003/4 SAL Champions Old Esthameians and in doing so set up a mouthwatering quarter-final against fellow league title challengers West Wickham.

With Rob Ellis struggling with a rib injury, Andy Russell brought the mercurial Rod Beyer into the starting line up for Saturday's encounter and was also able to name last season's top goalscorer Kris Sonne on the substitutes bench - more of him later.  The hosts were soon into their stride and were denied an early goal after just two minutes when Neil Hurst's effort struck a post and rebounded safely into the goalkeeper's hands.

After a shaky start the Eastenders suddenly found themselves ahead after a well worked set-piece wasn't defended properly by Winchmore Hill.  However, this merely proved to be the catalyst for a stirring home performance and Hill were soon level when Beyer latched onto Ben Penfold's pass and emphatically smashed the ball into the top corner.  Moments later Hill went ahead when Hurst nodded Chris Davison's cross into the path of Andy Hingley and he made no mistake with a clinical finish. 

With the back five looking comfortable Winchmore came out after the interval knowing that another goal would kill the game and thought they had one after 55 minutes when Hurst curled a free-kick into the top corner only for the man in black to rule it out while he sorted out the wall.  Hill were not to be denied though and were in part assisted by the referee for the third goal when a clearance rebounded off of the official and into the path of Chris Davison whose stunning thirty yard drive flew into the top corner. 

By now the hosts were irrepressible and playing some fantastic football in front of a large crowd.  Esthameians seemed to run out of energy and ideas in the final third of the game and their cause was not helped when Kris Sonne, scorer of a wonderful hat-trick against them last term, came on for his first appearance of the campaign.  The Great Dane was immediately into the action and scored a typically sublime fourth Hill goal to seal a superb victory.

With quarter-final places booked in both cup competitions Hill switch their attention back to the league this week with a crucial match against high flying West Wickham at Corkscrew Hill.

West Wickham 0 Winchmore Hill 0
Southern Amateur League
Senior Section Division One
Saturday 21 January

Stalemate at Corkscrew Hill in a game high in tension but low on chances. Given the miserly nature of both sides' defences this season you could be forgiven for expecting a no score draw in this fixture. The result however, doesn't really tell the full story of a highly competitive game that was played at a high tempo throughout between two sides that will unquestionably be involved in the shake up for medals when Judgment Day
arrives.

Andy Russell made two changes to the starting line up and shuffled the formation of the side as well giving first league starts this season for both Matty Knights and Kris Sonne.  With a substitutes bench of Beyer, Ellis and Corrick, Hill had strength in depth.  West Wickham, having narrowly escaped relegation for two seasons running are enjoying life at
the other end of the table and Hill knew based on encounters from the past five years that they were in for a tough game.  Indeed it was the Sky Blues who started the better of the two sides employing two speedy strikers in front of a robust midfield five.  Much of the opening exchanges found the visitors soaking up a sustained offensive effort from
Wickham but with Barry Chaters, Ben Willis and Peter Gyles in imperious form, the hosts huff and puff was unable to blow the Hill house down. Wickham looked particularly threatening from set pieces but time and again either the hands of Carter or the head of Hurst kept things on an even keel.

As time wore on Hill began to impose themselves on the match with Hurst and Penfold coming more to the fore and it was a combination of these two on the half hour which saw the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock when Hurst's pinpoint cross was headed goalwards by Andy Hingley. The ball looked to have crossed the line but the benefit of the doubt given to the home keeper was perhaps deserved for an almost Banks-esque circa 1970 save to deny him.

All square at the interval with the hosts having had marginally the better of the play, the second half started at a frenetic pace but this time it was the visitors who were controlling much more of the proceedings.  One small gripe here at the referee who despite having a tough job on his hands proceeded to show the kind of inconsistency of decision (for both sides) that so frustrates players and managers alike.  Tackles flew in and tempers occasionally frayed but in the main this was a game played as it should be and both sides should be commended for this.

As time wore on you got the feeling that the hosts would be happy with a point and although this wasn't a bad result for Hill either, it was they who tried to win the game late on with all three substitutes showing the manager's attacking intent.  It was not to be though and perhaps the most obvious evidence of this was that fact that the games most prominent players were defenders with Freeman of West Wickham and Chaters of
Winchmore Hill outstanding throughout.

With Nottsborough winning again both sides still occupy the spots in the chasing pack but with games in hand, Hill's destiny is still very much in their own hands.  The coming weeks are the most important of the season to date with two cup quarter finals and further critical league encounters to come.  Now is the time for the team to grasp what is in front of them with both hands.  All of the hard work invested so far will count for nothing unless it is replicated in the coming months.

Winchmore Hill 1 Old Hamptonians 0
AFA Middlesex & Essex Senior Cup
Saturday 28 January

Cup fever gripped the Paulin Ground once again on Saturday as a last gasp extra-time winner from Kris Sonne gave Winchmore Hill a place in the last four of the AFA Middlesex/Essex Senior Cup after a pulsating tie against Old Hamptonians.  Hill now travel to Old Meadonians on March 4th for a semi final tie that will have television companies fighting over the rights for.

Scanning the most recent edition of the AFA Record sees Old Hamptonians in second place on the rankings list for the season so far with Winchmore Hill just ahead of them in pole position, giving Saturday's match a little extra edge to it.  Hill though, are proving to be the AFC sides 'bete noire' with this victory completing a hat-trick of closely fought matches over the years.  With some of the star turns of those previous encounters (Hutchings, Gower, Wainwright and Gleave) in N21 to support the 2006 purple vintage the hosts started a little hesitantly.  Hampton enjoyed a good deal of possession without ever really threatening the home side's rearguard.

Gradually Hill started to impose themselves more on the game with Matthew Knights and Rod Beyer causing trouble down the flanks while Sonne was a constant threat in and around the box.  On twenty-five minutes a combination of these three saw Hill strike the upright - the closest either team had come to scoring.  With neither side prepared to give an inch there were some tasty tackles being dished out and the referee was called on a number of times to restore order and he brought an end to the half with the score locked at 0-0.

The second half was a much more open affair with both teams seemingly keen to avoid an extra half an hour.  Tim Corrick and Rob Ellis continued to break up Hamptonian attacks whilst starting Hill ones with Neil Hurst, Ben Penfold and Sonne looking increasingly threatening.  On the hour Hurst's slide rule pass to the Great Dane gave him a superb opportunity to open the scoring but he was foiled bravely at his feet by the onrushing Holdsworth in the visitors goal.  At the other end Hill's back four remained relatively unperturbed save for one lobbed effort with which the Hampton player should have done better.

With the clock ticking away the pressure mounted and Hill went close to scoring again when Corrick's low cross just evaded Hurst's outstretched leg.  Full time and weary limbs were freshened up with the introduction of both Chung Su Ko and the returning Jack Newton for his first appearance in the 1's this season.  The game continued to ebb and flow with both sides battling away admirably in search of a seemingly elusive knock out blow.  However, with penalties now just moments away Hill snatched a dramatic victory when Newton cleverly flicked a header onto Sonne who in turn swiveled on a sixpence and volleyed home.  Elation for Hill, devastation for Hampton.  The very essence of cup football captured in one moment. 

Hill resume league duties next weekend with a home game against Old Lyonians and they will be hoping to welcome back Chris Davison, Shane Foley and Andy Hingley to the fold while Sonne goes off to play in the Scandinavian Nations Cup. 

Winchmore Hill 1 Old Lyonians 0
Southern Amateur League
Senior Section Division One
Saturday 4 February

Winchmore Hill recorded their nineteenth victory from twenty-one games so far this season on Saturday and in doing so reached the half way point in their quest for the SAL League title.  In ten league games Hill have recorded nine clean sheets and conceded just two goals.  Impressive statistics so far but Hill know that the business end of the campaign starts now.

Saturday's encounter against relegation strugglers Old Lyonians was a disjointed affair from beginning to end but ultimately Hill's added class shone through to take the points and keep them on course for that elusive championship.  Lyonians started brightly and passed the ball well in a fashion that belied their lowly league position.  With just five minutes on the clock Hill were indebted to goalkeeper Andy Carter who pulled off a stunning reflex save after a free-kick was deflected goal wards.  Spurred on by their positive start it was the visitors who settled quicker into the game while Hill fought gamely to get a foothold on proceedings.

Gradually the hosts awoke from their slumber and a fine interchange of passing between Matthew Knights and Neil Hurst almost saw the deadlock broken only for Knights to be denied.  Hill were now into their stride with Ben Penfold and Chung Su Ko becoming more prominent down the right flank.  At the other end Carter was again called into action just before the interval once again proving he was up to the task and it was Lyonians who went into the break in the more positive frame of mind.

After some stern words at half-time a rejuvenated Winchmore Hill upped the ante somewhat in the second period, passing the ball better and quicker and constantly asking questions of the Lyonians rearguard.  Surely something had to give?  Knights went close again on the hour when his mazy run opened up space to rifle in a low shot but again the opposition keeper was there to deny Hill. 

In the past Hill may have panicked under the pressure of not capitalising on such opportunities but this set of players are made of sterner stuff and when the deadlock was eventually broken it was worth the wait.  A quickly taken free kick from Chris Davison set Peter Gyles on a barnstorming run down the left flank and after beating one man he kept a cool head to pick out Hurst who made no mistake to finish with his left foot. 

The goal reinvigorated Winchmore Hill who could, and probably should have extended their lead only for chances to go begging although Lyonians continued to battle in vain to salvage something from the match that in the end never materialised.  With three points in the bag much of the afternoon's entertainment was saved for the evening with the referee's stand up comedy proving to be a welcome addition to post match drinks before the troops travelled en masse into town to celebrate the skipper's birthday and a win that sets Hill up nicely for next weeks AFA Senior Cup quarter final at West Wickham.

West Wickham 0 Winchmore Hill 1
(after extra time)
Amateur Football Alliance Senior Cup
Saturday 11 February

The dream is still alive.  Winchmore Hill progressed to the semi-finals of the AFA Senior Cup on Saturday after an epic battle against fellow title chasers West Wickham.  Like the league game on the same ground three weeks previously, the match was tight throughout with both defences again showing their mettle but it was a heroic effort from ten man Hill who prevailed in the end.

Hill made the long trip south without the services of both Andy Hingley and Kris Sonne meaning a first team recall for Paul Ionnton up front. Indeed, it was Ionnton who caused problems for the Wickham backline in the opening exchanges which the visitors dominated without reward.  After a sustained period of pressure Wickham slowly began to impose themselves on the game and suddenly it was Hill's defence who were called into action but with Andy Carter in imperious form in the Hill goal, things, as anticipated, remained very cagey.

After some stern words and team soul searching at the interval, Hill knew that they would need to raise themselves if they were to get anything from the game and retain the hope of recapturing the much vaunted AFA Cup. West Wickham clearly had other ideas though and started the second period as they had finished the first but for all their possession and territorial advantage they were unable to fashion any real chances of note.  Then came the moment which seemed to change the match.  Hill's Shane Foley was shown a straight red card for stamping leaving the visitors with a one man disadvantage.  With the game now reaching boiling point, players were cautioned on both teams but the numbers deficit seemed if anything, to rejuvenate Hill who were now enjoying their best spell of the half and thriving on the siege mentality imposed on them.

The game remained deadlocked though but this time there had to be a winner and extra-time ensued.  After almost two hundred minutes of football between these two sides without a goal you felt that if one arrived, it would be enough.  This was to be the case after the indomitable Ionnton was once again fouled in a dangerous area giving Hill their opportunity. Chris Davison swung a peach of a cross deep into Wickham territory for the skipper Neil Hurst to volley home the winner at the far post.  Jubilation for Hill and their army of supporters.  The hosts rallied in a desperate attempt to force a penalty shoot out but the Hill defensive triumvirate of Ben Willis, Barry Chaters and Carter were outstanding, keeping another clean sheet meaning Andy Russell's team continue apace on their quest for silverware.

Winchmore Hill now play Wake Green of Birmingham in the semi final.

Winchmore Hill were denied the treble in the cruelest of fashions as two goals in injury time broke Purple hearts and sent the league title to Old Owens via West Wickham in amazing 180 seconds of football.  If this report seems a little fragmented or disjointed it is simply due to the fact that I am still a little lost for words and more than a little devastated about the final moments of a truly incredible season.

Where do I start?  Having come within ten minutes of clinching the title on Tuesday night and within four minutes of clinching a draw which would have eliminated Owens from the title race, what happened on Friday was just too much to take.  The game began at a frantic pace in front of a large crowd of Hill, Owens, West Wickham and SAL footballing cognoscenti.  Just ten minutes were on the clock when Hill lost Barry Chaters to a sickening head injury meaning a reshuffle with no like for like replacement available.  On came Chris Davison into a five man midfield and he immediately lit up the game on twenty minutes with a stunning individual goal, jinking past two defenders before rifling home a low shot.  Advantage Hill.  Spurred on by this the hosts continued to threaten with Rod Beyer, Neil Hurst and Ben Penfold linking up well and when Beyer was fouled on the edge of the box after half an hour up stepped Shane Foley to curl in a delightful free-kick.  Destination N21 for the title?

Unsurprisingly Owens roared back into the game and at times shifted the ball around in head-spinning fashion but the Hill rearguard stood firm with Andy Carter and Ben Willis marshalling the defence superbly.  Then, just before half-time came a pivotal moment in the match when a clever Owens move opened Hill up on the inside left channel and the impressive Dave Breeze fired home to give his team a lifeline.  2-1 to Hill and forty-five minutes left to settle an entire season.

Much of the second half saw Owens dominate possession while Hill looked very dangerous on the break.  Carter had to be at his best making a couple of vital saves to keep Hill in front while at the other end Hill went agonisingly close to adding a game-winning third goal with Penfold, Davison and Hurst all having half chances.  Still Owens bore down on the Hill goal but time and again they were matched by the colossal Willis and company.  Time continued to tick away as both sets of fans willed their respective teams on.  Legs were weary.  Then with ninety minutes up Owens forced a corner.  Hill felt harshly done by as they felt Carter was impeded but the quality of the delivery could not be questioned as Steve Forwell rose at the far post to head home an equaliser.  Heartbreak for Hill.  Salvation for Owens.  League title for West Wickham?  For just sixty seconds the team not even playing were champions elect but there was to be a final twist in the tale as Anthony Mann latched onto a loose ball and slotted home a league winning goal deep into extra-time.  The championship had changed hands three times between three teams in as many minutes.  Unbelievable.