Issuu

Issue 5

DERBY

Saturday 26th September 15:00 KO

v Rushden & Higham United Anco Stadium MK45 2HX

DAY

AMPTHILL LADIES

Another massive couple of weeks for the Ladies has seen them face Hitchin Belles twice in as many weeks. Both matches have been close and had nothing to separate them in, the first, a league match ended 4-3 to Hitchin with a lastminute goal taking all the points in a game that could have gone either way with some really good goals being scored on both sides and an early penalty save from Charlie Payne in the 1st half. The second game, the Women’s FA cup 2nd rd. qualifying. What a match that was too. Nothing to separate them in the 1st half, the Belles take the lead into the 2nd half and Amps Ladies then start their onslaught to find the equaliser, several chances go by buit in the 96th minute a crossed ball from Shauna Cole evades two Ampthill Players to be volleyed home via a back heel flick from Maisy Howard at the back post. The final whistle comes 1 minute later and the dreaded penalty kicks. Despite two good saves from Charlie the unlucky Amps Ladies go out 4—3 in sudden death.

It’s been a rollercoaster start to the new season for the Ladies, many new faces, team still trying to gel but sometimes it just clicks and there are big things coming for this team. Watch this space. COYA.

TALK OF THE TOWN Eric Turner Esq.

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen and welcome to today’s game against Rushden and Higham and we extend Autumn greetings to the players officials and supporters from Hayden Road. At long last we play our first league home weekend fixture and it comes at the end of a largely successful two months at the start of term. We stand third in the table with our winning sequence coming to an end ten days ago The Amps drew 2-2 with a well-organised Letchworth side and we had to score a late leveller to secure a point. The Eagles fired an early goal before Kelvin Osei-Addo replied instantly only for the visitors to restore their lead with a 25 yarder before the break. Ampthill tested the away defence during the second period but had to wait until the dying minutes before Sam Holmes made it all square. The draw cost us our place at the the table but we have games in hand on our rivals and have to get back to winning ways and consistency in the short term. The Amps were in Gladwish Trophy action at Division 2 side Codicote on Tuesday and again had to thank Mitch Howe who produced two wonderful saves after a goalless draw for a 4-2 spot kick win which gives us a trip to Harpenden in round two. We go to Stotfold on Tuesday to end our month but October has plenty of football here in cup and league with Langford paying a visit next weekend quickly followed by Huntingdon making the journey on Tuesday. Then on October 10 we have the FA Vase home match with Dunstable of the Premier section. Town have had excellent results in the competition at Broadfields and Cranfield to get to the first round for the second year and we will be looking to extend our run. It promises to be a tough test against the Creasey Park club but if we

play to our capabilities we can produce a result in another Beds. SML derby After that is the Harpenden game and our only away trek is to Buckingham on Oct 17th. Stotfold come here in midweek for a Div 1 cup tie before we end October with a league home match with Cranfield on Sat 24th. So there is no respite for the lads in a hectic month the like of which we normally see late in the season. There were few surprises in the first round of the Trophy with AFC Welwyn losing at newcomers Redborne while Sun Sports beat Irchester. Ampthill have a good record against Rushden and will be looking for a victory after their disappointing draw against Letchworth. We beat the visitors three times last year with two 2-1 wins in the league and overcoming them on penalties in the Vase after a 2-2 draw. They have yet to win in six league games and their only points come in two 3-3 draws at home to Leighton and at Royston. Our u18 side have made a good start in the SCYFL and won all three games with their next match at Bedford Town on Wednesday while our Ladies team went out of the FA Cup to Hitchin Belles on penalties. With so much football to watch your support is welcome home and away COYA

THE LANKIES Although Rushden & Higham United was officially formed in 2007, the club can trace its roots back well over a century. Higham Town were formed in 1876 following a meeting at the Griffin in Higham Ferrers, making them one of the oldest football clubs in the area. The club joined the Northamptonshire League in 1897 and enjoyed its most successful period during the early 1920s. Following the First World War, Higham Town returned to football in 1920–21 and immediately enjoyed a remarkable run of success. They won the Northamptonshire FA Junior Cup before gaining admission to the Northants League, which they won at the first attempt. The following season they retained the league title, won the Northamptonshire FA Senior Cup and lifted the Maunsell Cup to complete a memorable cup treble. The 1922–23 season also saw Higham Town make their mark in the FA Cup. They travelled to Football League side Chesterfield and produced a memorable 4–4 draw before narrowly losing the replay 1–0 at home. The club were the highestscoring side in that season’s FA Cup. Higham Town continued to compete successfully in local football over the following decades, eventually winning the United Counties League Division One title in 1997–98 — their first league championship for 75 years. The modern club was born in 2007 when Higham Town merged with Rushden Rangers, a youth club founded in 1978. The merger created Rushden & Higham United, with the new club taking up residence at Hayden Road and continuing the tradition of senior football in the two towns. Since its formation, the club has continued to compete in the local non-league pyramid, while retaining the nickname “The Lankies” and its strong connection with the Rushden and Higham Ferrers communities. Today, Rushden & Higham

United carries forward more than a century of local football history, from the early days of Higham Town to the modern grassroots game at Hayden Road.

HELLO FROM HARVS Chris Harvey - 1st Team Manager

Hello and welcome back to the Anco Stadium for todays league match against Rushden and Higham Utd, always a good encounter and always a difficult match whether Home or Away. Well, the lads keep delivering results, sometimes we don’t deliver the performance that has been asked for, but they have so far always delivered a result, and the last week is no different. Finding ourselves behind twice against a very good Letchworth side we came back into the match and pushed for the result. There is a never say die attitude with this team and long may it continue. They cup tie was an opportunity to rest some player and give other some much-needed game time with starts for many and a first appearance for Charlie Scott in “Blu n Yellow”. A difficult match against a good opponent on their patch and Infront of a good crowd was always going to be difficult but the lads stuck to the task. The stalemate of the game being settled by Mitch Howe and another great display in the shootout and through we go to the next round against Harpenden Town. Today we face Rushden and Higham Utd, a very good team and good club, led by their talisman Jory Mann, talented older head with an eye for goal from any range. This is a match we will be looking to bounce back into form and get back on the score sheet as we strife to make sure we stay in the top half of the league and our goal of promotion to the Premier Division. Once again, thank you for your support both Home and Away, lets hope we can get the result both you and this club deserves. Best Regards vChris Harvey, COYA.