Wormley Rovers FC

For twenty minutes it was difficult to decide who was second top and who was second bottom as Wormley entertained Evergreen at a blustery Church Lane . The home side gradually started to introduce more urgency into their play and at last started to create chances. On 24 minutes Mike Dodd had the ball in the net but was narrowly adjudged to be offside. The reprieve for Evergreen was shortlived, as five minutes later they failed to clear a corner, Billy Cunningham headed the ball back across goal and Lew Gardner applied the finish. Despite putting the Evergreen defence under more and more pressure the scoreline remained at one nil for half time. In the second half Wormley now had the wind at their backs and it seemed only a matter of time before they added to their tally, but somehow Evergreen managed to hold out. Although the visitors from Watford looked totally inept whenever they reached the last third it was still felt that a second goal was required to seal the win. When the goal; arrived it came from the most unlikely source. In the 76th minute Simon Dent the Wormley keeper launched a huge kick up field a combination of the swirling wind and an error of judgement saw the ball bounce over the Evergreen keeper and into the net. If the Evergreen keeper had thought his day couldn’t get worse, in the eighty-first minute Robbie Syrett then saw his in swinging corner elude everyone in the area and hit the back of the net. After this setback the visitors heads went down and in the closing minutes debutant Nick Marsh headed home at the far post to complete an emphatic 4 – 0 victory.

Wormleys recent run of good results ground to a halt in the Anagram Records Trophy as they were undone by a resilient Broadfields Utd from the Middlesex County League. Broadfield started brightly and twice in the first ten minutes Simon Dent in the Wormley goal had to be alert to prevent the visitors from taking the lead. Gradually Wormley took control and on the half hour mark Jack Bartlett burst through down the right and crossed for Billy Cunningham to head Wormley in front. Five minutes later Robbie Syrett had the chance to double the lead but the Broadfields keeper managed to clear with his legs. The remainder of the half continued with Wormley probing for a further opening, whilst Broadfields looked to hit them on the break. At halftime Wormley had to replace flying winger Simon Bellanca who had caused the Broadfield rearguard endless problems in the first half. This change appeared to upset Wormley as Broadfields now took the game to them and in the seventieth minute a looping header from a far post cross had levelled the score. Five minutes later Broadfields took the lead as forward struck the post and was first to react to bury the rebound. Going behind stung Wormley back into life and the last fifteen minutes was spent with Wormley looking to get back on level terms. Despite four presentable opportunities Wormley failed to trouble the visiting keeper and Wormley were left to rue their below par performance.

Wormley continued their winning run with a comfortable 4 - 2 win at Lemsford in the Herts Senior County League. Wormley were initially bemused by the Lemsford formation but as soon as they decided to let their football dictate the course of the game they began to create chances. Fifteen minutes into the game a powerful header from Russell Green was somehow tipped over by the Lemsford keeper. It was only a temporary reprieve as five minutes later Jack Bartlett gave Wormley the lead with a blistering left foot volley from the edge of the area. On the half hour mark, Jack Bartlett saw his penalty brillianty saved by the lemsford keeper but fortunately Lewis Gardner was alert to the situation and fired home the loose ball. Lemsford reduced the deficit just before the interval as sloppy defending allowed a header from a corner to squeeze just inside the post. Ten minutes into the second half and Mike Dodd had restored Wormleys two goal lead as he latched on to a through ball and tucked the ball past the advancing keeper. With Wormley comfortably in control, it was rather a surprise that further lax defending allowed another header from a corner to give Lemsford a glimmer of hope of rescuing a point withy five minutes remaining. the goal only served to sting Wormley back on the offensive and with time ebbing away Tom Welch released Mike Dodd to repeat his earlier feat of beating the keeper in another one on one and Wormley went home with all three well deserved points.

Wormleys ten men just squeezed past Cuffleys nine in the Herts Centenary Cup as bookings took their toll with Mark Brennan and Jamie Vine getting their marching orders for Cuffley and Simon Bellanca off for Wormley. It was obvious very early on that change in personnel on management and players wasn’t going to make Cuffley a pushover, and for the first ten minutes they totally dominated with Tom Glover giving them a deserved lead slotting home from the edge of the area after Wormley failed to clear a corner. The goal stung Wormley into life, and within two minutes they were level as Jamie Hoy hauled back Lewis Gardner in the area giving Jack Bartlett the opportunity to score from the spot. The rest of the half was even with few chances for either side. As the second half wore on the pressure of the occasion began to take its toll, with firstly both sides being reduced to ten around the eighty minute mark and Cuffley to nine five minutes later. From then on Wormley went into the ascendancy with Lewis Gardner having opportunities to kill the game in normal time first being rightly adjudged to be offside and then being foiled by Sam Bayliss in the Cuffley goal. In extra time Womley continued to dominate with Lewis Gardner twice being denied by the Cuffley keeper and again netting from an offside position. Meanwhile, Cuffley were looking to hit Wormley on the break, mainly through the pace and predatory instincts of Michael Jarrett; on one occasion having a shot pushed on to the outside of the post and away for a corner. With five minutes remaining the pressure on Cuffley began to tell as Nico Nigrellis chip over the keeper hit the underside of the crossbar and Lewis Gardner headed the ball home through a melee of players on the goal line

Wormley eased into the 2nd Round of the Anagram Records Feeder League Trophy at the expense of three times winners White Ensign from the Essex Olympian League. The defining moment of an even first half, devoid of clear goal scoring opportunities, arrived in the closing minutes of the half. With Mike Dodd closing in on a through ball the White Ensign keeper misjudged the bounce and used his hand to divert the ball away from the Wormley forward. As he was outside his area, the referee had no option other than to produce a straight red. As is the norm, a team of ten tend to up their game whilst still in with a chance, and the second half followed the same pattern of the first with both sides initially cancelling each other out. Around ten minutes into the second half both sides spurned opportunities to take the lead, firstly Mike Dodd lifted the ball over the crossbar when it looked easier to score and then a White Ensign forward missed out in a one on one with Simon Dent in the Wormley goal. Gradually Wormley started to open up the visitors defence and in the 73rd minute a pinpoint cross from Nico Nigrelli was powered in of the head of Lewis Gardner. Within five minutes Wormley had doubled their lead; this time Simon Bellanca broke free on the right and his near post cross was diverted in by Mike Dodd. From then on it was a case of seeing out the final twelve minutes which Wormley managed with ease keeping White Ensign on the back foot for the remainder of the game. Wormley now host Broadfields United from the Middlesex County League in the next round.

A crowd of around 70 people saw Wormley enjoy a hard won 3 – 0 victory over local rivals Cuffley in the HSC League Premier division. Cuffley dominated possession for the first quarter of the game but had little in the way of shots on target to show for it. As Wormley raised their game they started to put the Cuffley back line under pressure and 20 minutes in, a cross across the Cuffley six yard box just eluded Lewis Gardner. Shortly after, Lumko Majiyezi had an opportunity for Cuffley, but shot high over the bar from 20 yards out, just prior to being clattered by Simon Dent the Wormley keeper. On the half hour mark Wormley made their break through; Billy Cunningham released Robbie Syrett who gave Sam Bayliss no chance with a fierce shot from 15 yards out. Later in the half, Wormley had two further opportunities to extend their lead, both from corners that were headed over by Jack Bartlett. The first twenty minutes of the second half were evenly matched with no clear chances until hard working Lewis Gardner won the ball from the Cuffley back four then released Robbie Syrett who saw his low shot tipped onto the outside of the post and away for a corner. Wormley had to wait until the closing stages of the game to confirm their victory, firstly Jack Bartlett was needlessly bundled over as he was looking to shepherd the ball out for a corner. He then sent the Cuffley keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot. In time added on Michael Fantis rose at the far post to direct Robbie Syretts corner into the top corner. Cuffley now have only a short wait to exact their revenge, as both sides are due to meet again at Wormley, next weekend (31st Oct) in the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy

Wormley went into the last league game of the season with a practically unchanged side from their heroics wednesday night in the floodlit cup ,the only change being Danny Evans coming in for Bobby Gilpin due to work commitments.
Wormley started well , passing the ball about and getting forward at every opportunity but just lacking that little bit of luck in front of goal.

The game seemed to be relatively even with some decent passing football from each side , until a lack of concentration in the Wormley defence allowed the ball to fall to P.S.V centre forward to finish an easy chance.

Needing an immediate response from the home team, Wormley heads seemed to drop and then appeared to be chasing the game , with P.S.V forcing pressure on the Wormley defence with long balls over the top , a rare joint clanger involving Jamie hoy And Darryl Mills led to Jamie looping a homeward header over the advancing Darryl into the empty net.

The second half was more positive from Wormley with introductions to the game for the young Matt Ellis and Charlie whytock, followed by the much awaited return of Tom Welch , Wormley bagan passing the ball about more positively and delivering more balls into the box but were unable to capatilise, with the game finishing 2:0 to P.S.V , Wormley turn all their attention to the semi finals of the south midlands floodlit cup on 28th April away to oxey jets.

Wormley reach south midlands floodlit cup semi final after disposing of a strong Biggleswade town side 3 : 0 on wednesday night.

After thumping Hoddesdon Town in the last round 5 : 3 back in october, Wormley have had an up and down past 6 months. Losing many influencial players through injury and suspensions we entered this game looking to retain as much pride as possible and to give Biggleswade a hard time.

We started at pace , knocking the ball around well and closing there posession down quickly to stop them playing , With excellent counter attacking and shear effort all round we went in half time 3 : 0 up, with goals from Tommy Wade and 2 from called up Doddy.

Starting the second half as we finished the first, we settled the game down, stopped them in the centre of midfield which lead them to long ball tactics which the Wormley back line dealt with easily. After a second 45 minutes of decent football and a couple of chances from us the game ended 3 : 0 with us advancing to the semi finals, reminding sides from higher divisions, you dont come to Worms and get an easy ride !.