Herts Senior County League

Division 1

Saturday 19th January 2019

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.03

Aldenham 1 Lemsford 4, attendance 4

42’ 1-0

47’ 1-1

55’ 1-2

63’ 1-3

86’ 1-4

@ Sun Postal Sports & Social Club, Pitch 2

Bellmount Wood Avenue

Watford

WD17 3BN

No Admission or Programme.

I had visited Sun Postal Sports & Social Club before, having seen Sun Postal Sports beat Ampthill Town 1-0 in a Spartan South Midlands League, Division 1 Cup, 2nd Round match on Wednesday 13th October 2004. That was played on the main stadium, which is still as it was, despite the club, now just known as ‘Sun Sports’, plying their trade lower down the pyramid, in the Herts Senior County League, Premier Division.

With Aldenham now also playing here, albeit listed as a different pitch, it was an ideal time to visit today, as Sun Sports were also at home (2nd bottom v bottom) versus Evergreen, so there was no chance of the Aldenham match taking place on the stadium pitch, or so I hoped. It is always risky visiting these venues when there is only one match taking place as there is always the chance that they will just play on the stadium pitch, which according to one of the substitutes, has happened a couple of times.

All seemed to be going to plan, as each pitch had two teams warming up, but around half an hour before kick off it became apparent that the Referee for our match hadn’t arrived, but at 13.39 he arrived pitch side, already kitted out. Apparently he was local and had just misjudged the traffic en route.

Aldenham started the day in eleventh place in the league table, whilst Lemsford were bottom. The visitors only had the bare eleven players at kick off, but said that a substitute would be along later, once he had finished work. The game was very even and due to some poor finishing looked like it might be goalless as we neared halftime. Lemsford then got an injury to a player, which was bad enough for him not to return to the action, and within a minute they conceded the opening goal to give Aldenham a 1-0 lead at the break.

During halftime, the Lemsford substitute had arrived, so they were back up to full strength. Within two minutes of the restart it was 1-1 and the game completely turned. Just after the hour mark Lemsford went 1-3 up and totally overran the hosts. To be honest, the 1-4 score line totally flattered Aldenham. Lemsford look far too good to be propping up the table, especially after their performance in the second half and must have been disappointed to find out that Hatfield United, who were just one point ahead of them, had also won today.