Post by Hatboy on Dec 23, 2014 17:24:23 GMT
Hemel Hempstead (H) Preview
Written by Jake Ellacott
We welcome Hemel Hempstead to Clarence Park this Boxing Day, ahead of what promises to be a festive feast of football. This is first match between the two sides since April, and with that game ending in a 0-0 draw at Vauxhall road, local bragging rights are up for grabs, until the reverse fixture on New Year’s Day, that is.
City and Hemel were both promoted at the end of last season from the Evo-Stik Southern Premier League. The Tudors won promotion automatically, while the Saints defeated Chesham United 3-1 in the play-off final to secure their place back in the Vanarama Conference South after a three year absence. This will be the first time that we have taken on our neighbours at this level, and demonstrates just how far local non-football has progressed in the past decade.
Our visitors today have, like the Saints, adjusted to life at this level in a relatively impressive manor, having secured 28 points from their 19 opening matches, compared to City’s 28 points from 20 games. A large percentage of Hemel’s points up to this point have come in the past two months, with three victories on the trot in November setting the Tudors up for an important festive period.
In their past five league outings, Hemel have won two, drawn one, and lost two. A 5-1 victory over struggling Staines Town, and an entertaining 4-3 victory against Basingstoke have been the highlights for Hemel, while disappointing defeats at the hands of Bath City, who the Saints recently defeated, and also Chelmsford City have put a slight dent in the positivity which can be seen at Vauxhall Road in recent weeks.
The Tudors’ last outing saw Dean Brennan’s men hold sixth placed side Havant & Waterlooville to a 1-1 draw at Vauxhall Road. New signing Nicke Kabamba gave the home side the lead, but a long range strike from Scott Donnelly after the interval secured a point for the South Coast club.
The Saints, meanwhile, came away from a trip to Bromley with nothing to show for an impressive performance against the division’s second placed side. A match which was very much dictated by a poor playing surface, eventually saw the hosts secure the win in the 77th minute, when a good ball over the top caught City out, and Moses Ademola was on hand to fire past Welch. Newly appointed captain James Comley was unlucky not equalise at the death, as his block of a clearance from the Bromley goalkeeper bounced off the top of the woodwork and away.
At Clarence Park, however, the Saints have recorded back to back league victories. A 1-0 win over Havant & Waterlooville, followed by another 1-0 win, this time against Bath City, means that Jimmy Gray’s men go into Boxing day's match looking to continue their good run of form at home.
Jimmy Gray and Graham Golds will be without midfield duo Steve Wales and Charlie Gorman, who are both serving suspensions, and will also be looking to fill the gap left by Ben Martin, who joined Boreham Wood before the Bromley match, following a sit-down between the management team and the defender who had played over 200 games for the club prior to his departure. However, they have been boosted by the news that Ian Gayle’s loan with the club has been extended for another month, and are hopeful of securing one or two further signings in the coming days and weeks.
It should be a Christmas cracker of a match this Friday, as we once again renew rivalries with the Tudors.
Less than seven miles separates the two clubs, but much more than just three points is up for grabs.
Come On You Saints!
Written by Jake Ellacott
We welcome Hemel Hempstead to Clarence Park this Boxing Day, ahead of what promises to be a festive feast of football. This is first match between the two sides since April, and with that game ending in a 0-0 draw at Vauxhall road, local bragging rights are up for grabs, until the reverse fixture on New Year’s Day, that is.
City and Hemel were both promoted at the end of last season from the Evo-Stik Southern Premier League. The Tudors won promotion automatically, while the Saints defeated Chesham United 3-1 in the play-off final to secure their place back in the Vanarama Conference South after a three year absence. This will be the first time that we have taken on our neighbours at this level, and demonstrates just how far local non-football has progressed in the past decade.
Our visitors today have, like the Saints, adjusted to life at this level in a relatively impressive manor, having secured 28 points from their 19 opening matches, compared to City’s 28 points from 20 games. A large percentage of Hemel’s points up to this point have come in the past two months, with three victories on the trot in November setting the Tudors up for an important festive period.
In their past five league outings, Hemel have won two, drawn one, and lost two. A 5-1 victory over struggling Staines Town, and an entertaining 4-3 victory against Basingstoke have been the highlights for Hemel, while disappointing defeats at the hands of Bath City, who the Saints recently defeated, and also Chelmsford City have put a slight dent in the positivity which can be seen at Vauxhall Road in recent weeks.
The Tudors’ last outing saw Dean Brennan’s men hold sixth placed side Havant & Waterlooville to a 1-1 draw at Vauxhall Road. New signing Nicke Kabamba gave the home side the lead, but a long range strike from Scott Donnelly after the interval secured a point for the South Coast club.
The Saints, meanwhile, came away from a trip to Bromley with nothing to show for an impressive performance against the division’s second placed side. A match which was very much dictated by a poor playing surface, eventually saw the hosts secure the win in the 77th minute, when a good ball over the top caught City out, and Moses Ademola was on hand to fire past Welch. Newly appointed captain James Comley was unlucky not equalise at the death, as his block of a clearance from the Bromley goalkeeper bounced off the top of the woodwork and away.
At Clarence Park, however, the Saints have recorded back to back league victories. A 1-0 win over Havant & Waterlooville, followed by another 1-0 win, this time against Bath City, means that Jimmy Gray’s men go into Boxing day's match looking to continue their good run of form at home.
Jimmy Gray and Graham Golds will be without midfield duo Steve Wales and Charlie Gorman, who are both serving suspensions, and will also be looking to fill the gap left by Ben Martin, who joined Boreham Wood before the Bromley match, following a sit-down between the management team and the defender who had played over 200 games for the club prior to his departure. However, they have been boosted by the news that Ian Gayle’s loan with the club has been extended for another month, and are hopeful of securing one or two further signings in the coming days and weeks.
It should be a Christmas cracker of a match this Friday, as we once again renew rivalries with the Tudors.
Less than seven miles separates the two clubs, but much more than just three points is up for grabs.
Come On You Saints!