Wormley Rovers FC

Wormley were relieved to come away from a difficult visit to Sandridge with all three points thanks to disputed penalty midway through the first half. Wormley always expected a tough game but their task was made even harder by the state of the Sandridge pitch after it had been invaded by horses that had escaped from a neighbouring field, and it was only due to a lot of hard work by their groundstaff that the game was able to go ahead. Despite the difficult surface Wormley should have been comfortably ahead by half time however relatively easy chances were spurned either side of the penalty, which had been drilled home by Jack Bartlett. The worst offender in the first half was the usually clinical Robbie Syrett who sliced his shot well wide with the goal at his mercy. The second half was more even with Wormleys best chance falling to Billy Cunningham who failed to hit the target from eight yards as the keeper could only parry a shot into his path. With only the slender one goal lead there was always a chance that Sandridge could get something from the game and Wormley were grateful for Simon Dent pulling off a couple of smart saves in the closing minutes to protect all three points.

Despite missing a number of players through injury, suspension and in Jack Bartletts case travelling with the Herts County League squad to play the Guernsey League, Wormley were still expected to have no trouble in beating Knebworth from the division below in the Herts Senior County League Aubrey Cup. Despite controlling the first half, which included Mike Dodd hitting the post and the Knebworth keeper pulling off a number of fine saves, Wormley were frustrated to go in at half time after a goalless first half. Whatever was said at half time certainly did the trick as within five minutes of the restart, Robbie Syrett gave Wormley the lead with an fierce shot on the turn from 18 yards, and ten minutes later the same player doubled the lead volleying home from around the penalty spot. The introduction of new signing Richard Howard added even more potency to the Wormley forward line as he created space for himself to set up Mike Dodd for a simple tap in from six yards out. Robbie Syrett completed his hat trick with a superb lob before Mike Dodd wriggled his way in to add the fifth and his second of the game. Wormley now look forward to an away trip to Sandridge or Evergreen in the quarter finals.

Wormley at last made it to their first County Cup Final since 2001 after securing a 3 – 0 victory over fellow Herts Senior County League side Codicote. Codicote took the initiative and penned Wormley back for the first eight minutes, until the home side forced a corner in their first foray into the Codicote half. Simon Bellanca’s corner was met on the edge of the 18 yard box by Mike Dodd who hammered an unstoppable half volley into the top corner of the Codicote net. The stung Codicote back into life and within two minutes a deflected shot rattled the top of the Wormley crossbar. Although Codicote forced a number of corners none produced anything in the way of a clear chance for the visitors. By Contrast, although not dominating the play, Wormley were unfortunate not to extend their lead as twice Jamie Nicholson went close once with a crashing goal bound volley that deflected to safety off a desperate defensive lunge and then with a header from a corner that shaved the far post. As the first half neared its close the Codicote keeper saved well by his near post as Mike Dodd looked to add to his tally and the usually clinical Robbie Syrett should have done better from twelve yards out as a poor clearance gave him a clear sight of goal. The second half still featured Codicote probing for an opening but without any cutting edge and it took them until 80th minute before they found the target but the shot was well gathered by Simon Dent in the Wormley goal. With Wormleys defence holding firm they were content to hit Codicote on the break and with the 90th minute approaching Lewis Gardner blocked an attempted clearance and as the ball bounced loose reacted quickest to head the ball past the despairing dive of the Codicote keeper. With the cushion of the second goal Wormley now started to peg Codicote back, and in the eighth minute of time added on Simon Bellanca waltzed past three defenders before lashing a left footer into the top of the net for a slightly flattering victory.

Despite difficult conditions, Wormley eased their way to a 3 – 1 win away at Croxley and extended their lead over London Lions and Baldock who battled out a goalless draw, with their goals coming from the prolific partnership of Mike Dodd and Robbie Syrett.

After an even first twenty minutes Wormley took the lead; Robbie Syretts cross from the right was headed back across goal by Lewis Gardner, and Mike Dodd applied the finish with a slightly scuffed shot from eight yards out. It took until a quarter of an hour into the second period before Wormley added a second, this time through Robbie Syrett who lost his marker with ease before giving the keeper no chance from ten yards out with his 12th of the season so far. Midway through the half, Croxley reduced the deficit as Wormley failed to deal with a corner and Jamie Nicholsons headed clearance cannoned back of a Croxley attacker and into the Wormley net. Within five minutes Mike Dodd had restored Wormleys two goal cushion, this time cutting in from the left before curling a sweet twenty yarder into the top corner giving the Croxley keeper no chance and taking his tally to 18 goals for season. From then until the end Wormley remained in control and they took home the three points without any further alarms.

Wormley now take on another Herts Senior County League side, Codicote in the semi final of the Herts Senior Centenary Cup after a comprehensive 3 – 0 victory over London Lions fellow County League pace setters. London Lions started the brighter for the first quarter of an hour knocking the ball around comfortably but except for one occasion, well dealt with by Simon Dent in the Wormley goal, failing to set up any goal scoring opportunities of note. After that initial period Wormley stepped up a gear and for the rest of the half took the game to the visitors creating a succession of corners that caused panic in the Lions rearguard. On the 18 minute mark the presence of Lewis Gardner on the goal line made life difficult for the Lions keeper; his poor punch was collected by Jack Bartlett who then saw his goal bound shot ricochet to safety of the unfortunate Gardner. After 23 minutes Wormley took the lead. Robbie Syretts corner looked to be misdirected but he had picked out Jack Bartlett on the edge of the area who rifled home a fierce half volley. Minutes later Mike Dodd tapped home after the Lions keeper had failed to deal with another corner but much to the keepers relief and surprise, he was adjudged to have been fouled by Gardner. Wormleys second goal on 35 minutes owed a little to lady luck as Jack Bartletts free kick from 40 yards out eluded attackers and defenders before bouncing into the top corner of the net. As the half drew to a close more Wormley pressure saw Robbie Syrett turn his defender inside out before beating the keeper with ease. Lions came out for the second half determined to get back into the game but found the Wormley rearguard in uncompromising mood and it took them until the 85th minute before they managed a worthwhile effort on the Wormley goal, but even then they failed to hit the target. In the meantime the home side were content to soak up the pressure and hit the Lions on the break. On one of those occasions second half substitute Simon Bellanca tricked his way through the Lions defence and saw his pin point cross volleyed home by the un marked Mike Dodd who for the second time in the game had a goal ruled out; this time for offside. The only down side for Wormley came in the closing minutes when a badly mistimed tackle from Jamie Nicholson saw the referee pull out a straight red and left Nicholson looking at a five week ban after the first sending off of his career.

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.

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.

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.