Herts Senior County League

Premier Division

Tuesday 16th May 2023

Kick Off 18.45 Actual 18.50

Hinton 0 Chipperfield Corinthians 1, attendance 49

52’ 0-1

@ Hadley Wood Sports Trust

Barnet Lane

Barnet

EN5 2DN

No Admission

£2 Programme, 4 pages. (Sold copy to someone who’d missed out)

With Hinton’s normal home venue unavailable due to sharing with cricket, this game was moved to the railed off grass pitch at Hadley Wood Sports Trust, a venue I had previously visited in July 2018, when I saw Hadley lose 0-3 to Redbridge, in a friendly that was played on the adjacent 3G pitch.

I’m not sure if it was the lure of a programme that attracted about 20 ‘hoppers for this one, or the fact that the game had something on it for both teams. It was the last game of the season for Chipperfield. They were second in the table, two points behind leaders Bush Hill Rangers, who still have two games to play, as well as having a better goal difference, so nothing short of a win would be enough for Chipperfield, and even then, they would still be unlikely to win it. Hinton needed the points for a different reason. They are currently in the relegation zone, but could still avoid the drop if they win one of their last two games, starting with tonight.

It was a very tight game and Hinton really made Chipperfield work for the three points. In fact, on the evidence of tonight’s performance, it was hard to believe that Hinton were struggling near the foot of the table.There were plenty of chances at both ends, but only one was converted. It was enough to win it for the visitors and came seven minutes into the second half, when a ball in from the wing went straight across the face of the goal, before being put in at the far post.

Due to their superior goal difference over Hoddesdon Town Reserves, who are one point above them, having completed their games, a draw at home to Buntingford Town on Thursday will see Hinton survive the drop.