The new Hitchin Sunday League season kicked off with eight new teams in the league.
In Division Three it was a baptism of fire for one of the newcomers, Rovers 49, as they faced another of the new sides in AFC Squirrel.
A well disciplined and efficient Squirrel side took an effortless 7-0 lead into the break with a cricket score looking like being on the cards.
But the visitors made changes at the break and were able to spend more time in their opponents half, forcing several chances.
History was made despite the severely one-sided outcome when Tom Hills became the first Rovers goal scorer with a coolly-taken penalty 15 minutes from time.
The game though ended 8-1 to AFC Squirrel.
All Saints United kicked off their first campaign against Ashwell.
For the first 15 minutes All Saints retained the ball and were working as a team, moving forward as a unit and trying to let the ball do the work.
They kept pushing and prodding at Ashwell to try and get the upper hand but Ashwell got through a few times beating the defence and had a few one on ones with All Saints keeper Ben O'Leary, who stood up well to deny them several scoring opportunities.
However, a few sloppy passes between the midfield and defence meant that All Saints couldn't contain Ashwell who took a 3-0 lead going into the break.
Despite being behind All Saints went into the second half with high hopes that they could turn things around and with some substitutes coming on were doing well for the first 15 minutes.
The play was back and forth with the two teams cancelling each other out, until some sloppy defending from All Saints let to Ashwell’s fourth goal which O'Leary couldn't do much to prevent.
He was injured late on, putting Brian in goal, and despite making some brilliant saves including a penalty he couldn’t prevent Ashwell from scoring two further goals to make the final score 6-0.
Although the result was disappointing overall it was a good positive day for All Saints and it's the first stepping stone in the right direction for the weeks and months to come in getting better fitness and also enjoying the experience of being in the league for the first time.
Buffs won 4-0 at home against Lads Speak Out while the other game in the division saw two new teams face each other as a youthful VFC Rovers squad faced a BOCA side which boasted a range of experience.
After a close fought opening 20 minutes, a penalty and a goalmouth scramble saw BOCA take a 2-0 lead.
Luke Deller managed to pull one back for VFC but BOCA hit back with two goals, sending VFC into the half-time break 4-1 down.
A header from Lawson Farley brought it back to 4-2 but a poor second half from VFC and some clinical finishing from BOCA saw the game finish 7-2 in their favour.
In Division One AC Malone kicked off their season with a home game against Troll Campbell.
Malone have moved back to their original home pitch at Ransoms Recreation Ground in Hitchin but they went behind early on following a great header into the far corner.
Troll’s lead didn’t last long though as Malone replied instantly when Will Payne’s corner was whipped in with pace and beat everyone to fly into the net.
Troll then took the lead again with yet another header with AC Malone falling asleep from a free-kick but they dug in and found an equaliser before the interval when keeper Charlie Middleton’s kick found Payne who in turn found Ben Fairey.
He buried the ball into the corner to level the scores at 2-2.
An end to end second half saw AC Malone take the lead when Kane Stanton’s miss-hit shot fell to Payne to tuck it away, and it quickly became four when Middleton's long kick downfield was brought down unbelievably by Fairey who stuck it to give Malone a two-goal cushion.
Troll again got back into the game with yet another header to make it 4-3 and if it weren’t for a brilliant save from Middleton, they would have snatched a point.
Arlesey Town and Squirrel Taverners shared the spoils and picked up a point each with a 3-3 draw.
Atletico 99 were at home against St Ippolyts but lost 4-2, St Ipps producing a solid performance.
It wasn’t a good start for Coach & Horses in the defence of their title as they fell to a 4-2 defeat away against Sandon.
Newly promoted Hitchin Rovers had a good 2-1 win away against North Baldock.
In Division Two, Down & Under and Cronies faced each other with Cronies winning 5-1.
Feed Up Warm Up and North Herts Hatters picked up a point each following a 3-3 draw while GSS lost 5-1 at home against The Cock.
New team Queens Herts Rangers started life in the league with a point in a 4-4 draw away to Niche in a game that saw both teams trying to play good football.
Luca Khoury, Leon Okuboyejo, Jayden Banks and Lewis Rogers got the QHR goals.
The Chequers lost at home by a solitary goal to Fairfield Park who have returned to the league after a one season absence.
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