Thursday, 23 April 2020

2003/04





Floodlight fears rejected as sports club given planning permission

NEW floodlights on a sports ground in Watford will be "intrusive" to neighbouring properties and could force residents out of their homes, it was claimed this week.
Residents of Coningesby Drive are concerned eight 16-metre high floodlights on the pitches of the Sun Postal Sports and Social Club in Bellmount Wood Avenue will "light their homes up like Christmas trees".
Many say they will have to have their blinds down permanently to shut out the light.
Mr Paul Green, of Coningesby Drive, said: "My house is literally 26 feet from the pitch itself.
"The lights will be closer to my property and they are going to be intrusive."
The club won planning permission for the floodlights at Watford Council's development control meeting on Monday, March 29.
It has also been granted permission to construct a spectator stand, which will accommodate 100 people, and four ten-metre high floodlight columns on the club's two training areas.
The club said the facilities are needed because it has been promoted from the Herts County Football League to the South Midlands League and its pitches have to meet the standards of the higher league.
It rejected the concerns of residents as its grounds were near to floodlit pitches already used by the Fullerians and Watford Grammar School for Boys.
Conditions in the planning permission mean the lights will not be used after 10pm.
The club said the lights will be designed to minimise light spillage and pollution in the area.
Chairman Fred Lloyd said: "There are already two sets of floodlights on the adjoining fields. I don't see how ours are going to make any difference."
But as well as concerns over light pollution, residents are worried the new spectator stand will mean more supporters coming into the area, adding to congestion and increasing noise pollution.

Tuesday, 21 April 2020


2016/17

Sun Sports await first FA Cup preliminary round appearance

Sun Sports will make their first ever foray into the final preliminary round of the FA Cup this weekend.
A tricky local tie with Northwood is Sun’s reward for their replay win over London Tigers in the extra preliminary round last week, which became their first win in the competition in their history – and now they are looking to make more.
Having reached this stage for the first time, a win against Northwood, who they will host on Saturday, would take them into the first round of qualifying and arguably the biggest tie in their history, against Hayes and Yeading United.
The magic of the cup has already come alive in north west Watford, and needed to do so when only a 92nd-minute equaliser in the first of their two ties with Tigers saved them from exiting the competition at the first time of asking.
The £1,500 they earned through their replay victory is now set to bolster a player budget which currently lies at precisely zero, and will potentially lead to a number of long-overdue improvements to Sun Postal Sports And Social Club.
“The spirit in the camp is really good – everyone loves the cup,” said manager Tim O’Sullivan. “We’re well aware that this is the first time we have been at this stage and we’re excited.
“It’s great for team morale and we are very much looking forward to the game.
“It will be tough, obviously, but that’s the magic of the FA Cup; it’s a one-off game, and if we apply ourselves in the right way, we can make it hard for them.”
It has been a summer of change on and off the pitch with O’Sullivan taking the helm after arriving at the back-end of last season – and he returned for pre-season last month accompanied by only five of the squad from the previous campaign.
Despite that setback, four points have followed from their opening two games, with a 2-2 draw against Colney Heath on Tuesday night coming on the back of an impressive 4-1 win over Broxbourne Borough on the first day of the league season.
Bertie Squires-Adams, Chris Blunden and Dom David were all on target as the Sun got their season off to the best possible start in front of their home fans.
He said: “You’re never quite sure when you go into a new team how people will react, and a fair few of the players didn’t return for the new season.  “There were a few surprises with people saying they would be back, but I couldn’t blame the lads.
“They worked under Hobbsy [Paul Hobbs] for a few years and might need something different now.
“So it’s been a case of evolution, not revolution, since I came in. Many have flown the nest and it’s left me with a lot to do but we’ve made some good signings and had a decent start to the season.”
A £1,920 prize fund will greet the victors of Saturday's clash against Northwood, who play in the Southern League Division One Central, and O’Sullivan believes it would provide a significant boost to the club’s immediate future.
He said: “The first win was a very welcome amount of money and it’s fantastic going forward for the club.
“We’ve got works to do on the ground and we’ve no player budget whatsoever. It would be very big for this football club.
“If we can use it wisely, we can get started on getting improvements under way at the club and that would be brilliant.”
Tickets for the 3pm kick-off, at Sun Postal Sports And Social Club in Bellmount Wood Avenue, are £6.


Watford club Sun Sports set up Northwood clash after winning FA Cup replay

Goals from Alex Ward and Chris Blunden saw Sun Sports beat London Tigers 2-0 in an FA Cup extra preliminary round replay on Tuesday.
Sun had secured the replay in dramatic fashion on Saturday as Tommy Walsh scored with virtually the last kick of the game against 10-man Tigers.
They were in the ascendency throughout the first meeting between the two sides, which ended 1-1, and were once again on top during Tuesday’s match.
It took them until the second half to go ahead, however, and there was an element of fortune about the goal when they did find it.
A deep cross to the back post eluded the Tigers keeper and Ward was on hand to nod home from virtually on the goalline.
A second yellow card for a Tigers player saw them go down to 10 men once again and Sun took full advantage of their numerical supremacy.
They went close to doubling their lead from a corner, but a fine goalline clearance kept Tigers in the game.
Any hopes of a comeback were soon extinguished though, as a clever cross from the left found Blunden in space in the centre of the box.
He wasted no time in dispatching an instinctive effort past the Tigers keeper to put the result beyond doubt.
The win booked Sun’s spot in the preliminary round of the FA Cup where they face Northwood at home on Saturday, August 20, and kicks off at 3pm.
 

Sun Sports return to form with win over Tring Athletic

Sun Sports saw their midweek fixture at Holmer Green fall foul of the weather, but enjoyed better luck in their weekend exploits.
A 2-0 win at Hertfordshire rivals Tring Athletic leaves them three points off the top half of the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division table, after bouncing back from their 4-1 humbling to Wembley.
Athletic began the stronger of the sides and Chris Stapleton could have put them ahead as early as the first minute, but his tame effort was easily saved by Matt Evans.
Sun came inches from opening the scoring when Deji Ikusemori’s header, from Ryan McMahon’s free-kick, came back off the post.
But they would lead soon after through Kyle Johnson, who slotted beyond Jack Hopwood following a slide-rule pass from Andy Brennan.
The hosts nearly levelled through Chris Vardy before half-time and kept up their pressure after the interval but bar Chris Stapleton’s free-kick causing momentary panic, there was little to threaten Sun’s fragile lead.
And they sealed all three points when Brennan was brought down inside the box with five minutes to go, and Kerran Lataille smashed the ball low down the middle.


Manager of Watford club Sun Sports reflects after historic FA Cup success over Northwood

Sun Sports boss Tim O’Sullivan is on cloud nine after his club reached the FA Cup first qualifying round to face Hayes & Yeading United.
The Spartan South Midlands Premier Division side made club history on Saturday as they beat Northwood 2-0 in the preliminary round.
But O’Sullivan is aware of the scale of the task ahead when they play Hayes on Saturday, September 3, as they sit two leagues above them.
“It was a fantastic result against Northwood, they were not at the races,” O’Sullivan said.
“It was a bit unexpected as they are a league higher than us, but the lads worked so hard and we got our just rewards in the end.
“As a club we are looking forward to the next game.”
The Bellmountwood Avenue club saw goals from Tommy Walsh and Dom David seal their victory against a lacklustre Northwood side, for whom former Sun player Louis Bircham came on as a substitute.
O’Sullivan said: “I am extremely proud that we have created history, it is new territory for us and we are just going to embrace it and enjoy the experience.
“I guess that is the magic of the cup as there are always unexpected stories and we are hoping the story continues for us.”
Hayes & Yeading were relegated from National League South last season and were in the National League, the top flight of non-league football, as recently as 2012, but the Sun boss is looking forward to the challenge.
“You just have to give it a go, it is a tough draw and we have got a small chance to go through as they are a big outfit and made for big things,” said O’Sullivan.
“They have just had a new stadium done so they are geared towards success.
“For us it is a small chance of progressing but I think we will go into the match the way and try to find a way through to the next round.
“They are the heavy favourites of the tie so for us it is a chance to embrace the experience.
“But it is the FA Cup and it is a one off game so you never know, anything can happen.”
Sun received £1,500 from their victory over London Tigers in the extra preliminary round as well as £1,925 on Saturday and a win in the next round would see a further £3,000 heading their way.
O’Sullivan stressed: “At the end of the day there is no real expectation of us as we are just treating it as a game at a time.
“And the longer the story goes on, the better it will be and that is where we are at the moment as we have created a little piece of history.”
The match against Hayes will kick off at 3pm and in the event of a replay this will take place at the SKYex on Tuesday, September 6.



Sun Sports switch focus back to Spartan South Midlands league after their FA Cup exit

SUN Sports boss Tim O’Sullivan credited Hayes & Yeading United’s professionalism as they beat his side 2-0 in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday.
Goals from Adam Everitt and Melford Simpson were enough to knock out O’Sullivan’s side as Hayes & Yeading moved into the next round to face Worthing.
But the Sun Sports boss was keen to stress his side would not dwell on their cup exit and will use the confidence they gained in their future matches.
“It was a fantastic experience reaching the first qualifying round of the cup,” said O’Sullivan.
“It was great for the lads and it was fun but our focus is now back on the league.
“Like I said to the lads, you have created a little bit of history.
“We also have the FA Vase competition so we are looking forward to that as that is another big one.
“But we have to get our form back in the league and start pushing up the table.
“I thought we acquitted ourselves very well as we were definitely in the game.
“I thought we gave it a good go against Yeading.
“But they were very professional, they did an incredible job and they were very strong in defence.
“They were a real class act.”
The side will next face Wembley FC away in the league tomorrow afternoon.
The Spartan South Midlands Premier Division side have won one as they beat FC Broxbourne Borough 4-1, drew 2-2 with Colney Heath and lost 2-1 to Stotfold in their August fixtures.
O’Sullivan added: “We are so focused on that game.
“It is very important for us to build up momentum.
“So we need to get our league form right and that starts at Wembley on Saturday.”
With the FA Vase trophy beginning this month, all eyes will be on how Sun progress in the competition and where they finish in the league this season after building a new squad.
He added: “There are no real predictions this year.
“This is a brand new squad for us and the way the squad has formed we could easily finish in the top ten.
“That is our aim and then we can see where we go from there.”
He added: “And we have the ability of the players to push on from there.
“In terms of the FA Vase trophy, it is a good competition for us as in a way you haven’t got the higher level teams in it.
“Everyone is more or less around the same level in this competition.
“We will take every game as it comes and one game at a time but once again it is great for us to be involved in another big trophy.
“I’m sure it will be a tough game whoever we play next month.”
It was the first time in their history that the Watford club had reached that stage of the FA Cup.


Sun Sports were frustrated following their 4-4 draw with Wembley at the weekend after they were leading 4-1 into the second half.
Nathan Pooley, a Chris Blunden double and Gary Wallace goal accounted for Sun’s quartet of goals but Wembley staged a fine comeback after they had gtone into the break 3-1 down.
They scored three in 25 minutes to ensure they shared the spoils and Sun now sit 16th in the league and will face top-of-the-table London Colney this weekend.
Sun’s Tuesday night game with Leighton Town was cancelled due to Town’s 3-3 draw with Bracknell Town in the FA Vase.




Sun Sports through to FA Vase first round proper

Sun Sports put the Spartans Midland Premier Division to one side as they picked up a morale-boosting win to progress to the next round of the FA Vase.
Sun, who have endured a slow start to the league season, were 4-2 winners in the second round of qualifying at Bedfont and Feltham – who had appointed a new manager only that morning –
An all-action opening half-hour saw Sun race into a 4-0 lead inside 28 minutes, but the hosts grew into the game and Jamal Ramsey pulled a goal back before half-time.

After the break, Hicham Abdellah halved the deficit, but Sun Sports never looked in danger of losing their lead and could even miss a late penalty but still progress.
Manager Tim O’Sullivan said he hopes the club, which will travel to Peterborough Northern Star in the first round on October 22, can now enjoy a run in the Vase and get further than their their best-ever season, when they reached the second round in 2014.
He said: “It’s always great to have a run in the Vase if we can, and we will do the best we can and see where we can go with that.
“We came out of the blocks well and gave ourselves a good start; we blasted them early, but they are a team in transition with a new manager and had some players taking part in their first game too.
“It can go one of two ways, it either galvanises them or we can catch them out. After our start they were shell-shocked but they grew into the game and got better as it went on.
“That said, once they pulled it back to 4-2, we killed the next 10 minutes dead and after that we never really looked in any danger at all, and we could have won more comfortably had we scored the late penalty.”
Sun have only won one of their five league games so far, and no side in the Spartan Premier has played fewer games – down in large part to the club’s success in the cups.
O’Sullivan called the competitions a “welcome distraction” but admitted the club needed to improve its bread-and-butter league form, starting this weekend when they will host ninth-placed Hoddesdon Town.
“Our form needs to improve and it’s not great so far, or where we want to be in the table,” he said. “I don’t want to be too pushy because we have got a lot of new players and it will take a bit of time to get into them.
“Obviously we still have games in hand but I would rather have the points in hand. With a couple of wins hopefully we can push on up the league.
“We’ve played Hoddesdon already, in our first game of the season, and they won 4-0 so I’m hoping we can overturn that and get our season going in the league.
“It’s great having runs in the cups, but there’s no way I’m going to use that as an excuse.”
 
 

 

 
Sun Sports went through to the next round of the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division Cup after they defeated Hadley FC on penalties on Tuesday.
The game had to head to extra time after it ended 1-1.
Sun opened the scoring late on in the second half as Jack Johnson broke the deadlock.
But they did not hold onto their lead for long as nine minutes later Tyrone Mulholland equalised to take the game into penalties.
Hadley’s Harry Sedgley’s shot was saved by the Sun keeper which allowed Sports to win the game 5-4 in the shootout.
In the Buildbase FA Vase, Sun Sports progressed to the second round after they beat Peterborough Northern Star.
Dom David scored two with Chris Blunden also getting on the scoresheet as PNS scored a mere consolation goal.


Sun Sports win big in the FA Vase

It has been a great week for Sun Sports after they created a little piece of history by defeating Biggleswade Town 5-4 on penalties in the FA Vase following a 1-1 draw on Tuesday night.
The second round tie had to be replayed after Saturday’s initial tie had ended in the same scoreline.
George Hobson was the man to open the scoring for Sports but Biggleswade found the equaliser just before the hour mark.
Sports went down to 10 men but they were the ones to emerge victorious and progressed into the third round for the first time in the club’s history.
Their reward is a tie at home against fellow Spartan South Midlands Premier Division side Hoddesdon Town on Saturday, December 3.
Sun travelled to Biggleswade at the weekend and once again were the team to gain the first goal.
Dom David found Gary Wallace unmarked at the near post and his header found the back of the net after a period of pressure from the visitors.
Sun should have made it 2-0 after Damien Cruickshank crossed into the six-yard box but no one was there to meet the ball.
Biggleswade did not give in and immediately put the pressure on Sun from the off in the second half.
Sun had the first real attempt on goal when Andy Brennan was given space to put in a looping shot which was tipped over the bar by the keeper.
But United’s pressure paid off when a free-kick was floated into the area and a forward headed in the equaliser.
Matty Evans kept his side in the tie at the death, making a vital save to prevent United from scoring the winner.
But it was Sun who should have had the last hurrah in extra-time as Wallace headed a corner goalbound. This was deflected by the keeper and the ball had to be cleared off the line by a defender.


Sun Sports were on the wrong end of a 2-0 defeat to Hertford Town on Tuesday night, as their pursuit of a top-half finish took a blow in north east Hertfordshire at Hertingfordbury Park.
Hertford led from the 11th minute when a cross from the right was nodded in with a bullet header from Phil Lowen.
The hosts had started brightly and continued in that vain, doubling their lead a minute before the break when Ramone Cassidy-Sinclair finished off another cross.
Sun provided little in the way of hope that they might reduce the deficit and get themselves back into the game, and now sit 12th, two points off the top half of the table.
On Saturday they played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Edgware Town at Silver Jubilee Park.
A 30-yard stunner from George Hobson opened the scoring for the visitors, but Town levelled the scores through Ethan Mooney.
Two minutes after half-time Sun re-took the lead, with another fine finish from Hobson, this time direct from a free-kick.
Dennis Maharjan again equalised before Edgware went ahead for the first time, but Scott Bonner secured a share of the spoils late on with a close-range finish.
 
 Sun Sports 5 Oxhey Jets 1                                                                        SSML Prem
Oxhey Jets fell to a 5-1 defeat over Easter weekend at the hands of Sun Sports in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division.
Jets went one down after just a few minutes when stand-in keeper Dave Jacks got his hands to a shot but saw the ball hit the post and into the net.
Three goals soon followed which Jets will not want to watch back, as they fell four goals behind in the first quarter of an hour to leave a tough remaining 75 minutes.
However, the Hertfordshire side managed to pull themselves together and whilst not a serious threat to the result they pulled one back through John Smith in the second half.
Tim O’Sullivan’s Sun side scored a fifth in stoppage time to seal a miserable afternoon for Jets.


Sun Sports recorded back-to-back wins in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division last week.
In their mid-week fixture Sun saw off Tring Athletic in a 1-0 scoreline.
Kyle Johnson scored the only goal of the game.
On Saturday, Sports came away from Lowfield with three points after winning 3-1 over Hoddeson Town.
The home side gained the first clear attempt on goal with their shot bouncing off the crossbar.
The game did not go ahead without any drama as in the same incident Sun’s Tom Gibson was taken off the pitch with concussion and was replaced by Deji Ikuesmori.
Chances came from both sides but it was to no avail and the half ended 0-0.
Soon after the restart Jamie Speer found space in the box and let rip.
The shot deflected off of a Hoddesdon defender and the ball rolled over the line.
Sports soon made it two when Kyle Johnson beat the offside trap.
He went one-on-one with the keeper and held his composure to lob the ball over him to make it 2-0.
But the away side did not give in and rallied together to pull one back from a free-kick on the edge of the box.
But before the Lillywhites could try and gain an equaliser, Dom David coolly passed the ball to Johnson who slotted the ball home past the Town keeper.


Berkhamsted ended their league losing streak on Monday after defeating Sun Sports 3-0 away from home as both sides played their final game before Saturday's FA Vase ties.
Ashley Lewis came back to haunt his old team by scoring two in the second half after Steve Hawes had put Berko in front with an early goal.
Hawes won possession ten minutes in and struck a shot from just outside the area. Matt Evans got a hand to the ball but it escaped his grasp and went over the line for the opening goal.
Evans soon made amends for his mistake when he made a great save to keep out a header from Lewis.
Ashton Campbell played in Lewis with a well-worked cross to almost double their lead but the latter could not get onto the end of the ball.
The visitors established clear daylight 10 minutes into the second half when Tom Carter crossed the ball into the penalty box for Lewis to score.
He added his second with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining with Carter once again the provider for his teammate to tap the ball home for the Comrades’ third.
Tasker had to make one good save at the end of the match but Berkhamsted already had the victory secured.


Watford club Sun Sports excited ahead of biggest game in club's history against Bromsgrove Sporting in FA Vase

Sun Sports boss Tim O’Sullivan is on cloud nine heading into his side’s first ever match in the FA Vase round of 32 at home against Bromsgrove Sporting on Saturday.
The Watford club have so far defeated Hoddesdon Town, Biggleswade United and Peterborough Northern Star to get to this stage of the competition.
The cup run has certainly been the main highlight of the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division club’s season to date and they hope the dream run can continue.
“For me personally it is unreal,” said the Sun boss. “I think it is a great honour at the moment and we are really enjoying it all.”
O’Sullivan is not the only one in his element with the players taking each cup tie in their stride.
“They are all really excited and looking forward to the game. It truly is brilliant and definitely something we can’t wait for,” said O’Sullivan.
“It is also great for the club for it to gain more recognition.”
If Sun’s fairytale run is to continue into the last 16, they will have to get past tough opponents from Midland Football League Division One.
Bromsgrove currently sit top of their table on 47 points, three above second-placed Leicester Road.
When asked how they have been preparing for the game, the Sun manager said: “It is a bit different to any other we have played before.
“We cannot say it isn’t. It is the biggest game in the club’s history. We will be mentally and physically prepared.
“They are bringing down a big crowd from Birmingham, around 350 people I think. So it will be a great atmosphere, great for the club and for the lads.
“But I think what is most important is to be mentally prepared for the match.”
The two sides have never met before but O’Sullivan has kept a close eye on Bromsgrove’s progress.
The Sun boss was also keen to stress that he did not believe there were any big differences between the two teams.
He added: “My coach went up to see them on New Year’s Eve. He was treated really well and they gave him a pass for the whole ground.
“They are geared towards bigger things. It is good for us, the club and for the cup as well being in the last 32.
“I said to the players, they are only one tier below us. They are top of their league and they have not lost all season.
“As I mentioned, they are geared towards bigger things. I do not think there is a massive difference between us, it would be silly to think otherwise.
“They are better at what they are doing now and they could easily be in the league above in their respective Premier Division.”
With the final being played at the home of football, Wembley Stadium, it would be easy for any team to get carried away.
But O’Sullivan is determined his players’ feet will remain firmly on the ground.
“We are taking each round as it comes,” added the manager. “That is the aim. It is a one-off game and we will take it as that and we will see if we progress.
“Wembley is obviously the dream but there are a lot of great clubs left with bigger budgets than us but we will continue with it each game at a time.
“But it would be amazing if we made it to the last 16. For us just to get there would be incredible.
“We hope this can help the club build and get more recognition from this. All the players and I are working hard and if we can get anything from it, it would be fantastic.”
Fellow SSML top-flight sides Berkhamsted and Tring Athletic have also made it to the last 32.
The Comrades and Tring both have an away trip to face Hinkley AFC and Sporting Khalsa respectively tomorrow.
“All three of us are cheering each other on,” O’Sullivan said. “It is a great achievement for the league that there are three of us left.
“We are rivals in the league but it is different in the Vase. And what a great advert it is for the Premier Division.”
Admission to Saturday's tie at Sun's Bellmountwood Avenue ground is £6.


Sun Sports put league defeat behind them with emphatic cup win

Sun Sports bounced back from a league defeat with a resounding cup win.
Saturday saw Sun fall to a 3-2 loss against London Tigers in their Premier Division clash as goals from Jack Johnson and Joe Gallagher proved inconsequential.
With defeat still fresh in their minds, Sun headed into Tuesday night’s Premier Division Cup tie hoping to bounce back.
They did so in emphatic fashion as Johnson added to his strike at the weekend with a hat-trick to lead his side to a 4-0 win over Welwyn Garden City.
Kyle Johnson scored Sun’s other goal in a win which sets them up nicely for a league meeting with a Colney Heath side who sit two places and two points behind them tomorrow.


Sun Sports fell to a 3-2 loss at the hands of league champions London Colney on Tuesday night.
Kerran Lataillie and an own goal saw Sports get themselves back into the game but it ended up not being enough.
Sports had shared the points in a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Leverstock Green three days previously.
Green managed to extend their unbeaten run to six games and took the lead in the 11th minute when Curtis Donaldson played in Brima Johnson, who drilled the ball across goal for Jonathan Lacey to side-foot home his 29th goal of the season.
Leverstock were unlucky not to double their lead in the 24th minute when Lacey ran in behind the Sun defence to get on the end of a through pass from Lewis Davis. He did everything right as he took the ball past keeper Matt Evans and directed it towards the empty net, but was denied by a superb clearance from former Green defender Damion Cruickshank.
The scores were level nine minutes later as Andrew Brennan chipped a pass through to Karl Penny, who took it down and hit an unstoppable shot past Liam Jahn.
Sun forced a save in the opening minute of the second half but again it was their opponents who looked the more likely to score as the game progressed.
Having been on top, the visitors fell behind in the 65th minute when Jack Johnson netted from the pebnalty spot against one of his former clubs to put his side 2-1 up.
However, their lead lasted less than three minutes as a well-worked move involving Donaldson and Lacey ended with Ross Adams shooting home the equaliser.


Sun Sports are through to the semi-finals of the St Mary’s Cup after defeating Oxhey 3-1 on Tuesday.
Two goals from Kyle Johnson and one from Karl Penny were enough to send their side through.
But the same joy was not experienced in the league after a well-organised Welwyn Garden City claimed a 3-1 victory on Saturday.
Things went wrong for Sun from the start as Yasin Boodhoo scooped the ball over the line following a free-kick in the first minute.
Luke Robins doubled City’s lead in the 18th minute from a simple tap-in, in what was a carbon copy of the first goal.
City made it three before the break as the Clarets netted with a volley.
Sun had to make a change in the second half and Penny came on for only his second appearance of the season.
The home side had to wait until the 67th minute to reduce the deficit through George Hobson but it was to be a mere consolation.


Sun Sports crashed out of the Herts Senior Cup at Lowfield courtesy of a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Hoddesdon Town.
Sports started off well as Kyle Johnston tried a cheeky 40-yard lob, catching the Town keeper off guard, but it smashed off the crossbar.
But the ball fell to Dom David, who volleyed the ball into the back of the net in the first minute of the match.
Their joy was to be short-lived though, as the Lillywhites were soon level as Joss Lillis scored by lobbing the ball over Matty Evans.
And a few minutes later things went from bad to worse for the boys in yellow as Louis Bowen headed at Evans but he failed to hold onto the ball and Bowen kneed it into the back of the net.
Changes were made in the second half but Hoddesdon quickly broke Sun’s hearts as they scored from a breakaway when Jordan Watson and George Hunt combined with a one-two to put Watson clear with only the keeper to beat.
Sun had fared better at the weekend as they defeated St Margaretsbury 2-1 in the Premier Division, with Chris Blunden and Liam James getting the goals.


Sun Sports enjoyed a good week, recording back-to-back wins over London Tigers and Edgware Town.
Goals from Dominic David, Liam James and sub George Hobson were enough for the Sun to record their second victory in four days on Tuesday with a 3-2 win at Tigers.
David also shone on Saturday as he scored a hat-trick against Edgware with Chris Blunden and Gary Wallace adding to the scoreline.
Adem Ali scored for Town but it was their only goal in the 5-1 defeat.



Sun Sports boss Tim O’Sullivan said ‘things were positive’ after Kings Langley defeated his side in a 3-2 comeback to book their place in the final of the St Mary’s Cup on Tuesday.
Sun started the better of the two sides and a corner was deflected in by a Kings defender for an own goal.
Things got worse twelve minutes later, when a misunderstanding between two defenders and the keeper resulted the ball rolling into the back of the net with no Sun player in attendance.
As half-time beckoned, Jack Waldren seized his moment to reduce the deficit.
He picked the ball in the inside left and unleashed a curling right foot shot into the top corner.
Kings, whose Southern League Premier Division game against Cambridge City was postponed on Saturday, introduced Jerry Amoo after the break and from here on in the game changed in the home side’s favour.
Sun managed to resist the mounting pressure, before Dean Hitchcock’s through ball played in Kieran Turner, whose shot was blocked by Matt Evans.
However, Ryan Plowright was on hand to prod home the rebound.
Turner caused the Sports defence all sorts of problems and was brought down in the box minutes later.
Lewis Toomey stepped up to convert a powerfully taken penalty and move to within four of a century of goals for Kings.
When asked whether he would have to pick his side up after the narrow defeat, O’ Sullivan said: “We started the game brightly and we were fortunate enough to have a 2-0 lead due to the own goals.
“We started to play well and I thought hopefully we can stay two goals ahead at half-time.
“But they pulled one back just before the break and they scored that at the right time to push on.
“I think we were all really positive after the match. We had produced a really good account of ourselves, there was no hard feelings.
“We conceded two goals in the last 10 minutes, but I think we are really proud of ourselves.
“As I mentioned, it was all positive so I don’t think I will need to pick them up. We will move on into the next game on Saturday.”
Next up for Sun is an away trip to Edgware Town tomorrow in a 3pm kick-off.
Having defeated Tring Athletic 2-0 in their last league match. O’Sullivan said it gives them a little boost despite being light on numbers currently.
“Our squad is a bit depleted at the moment, it is that time of year,” said the Sun boss.
“It is that time of year. But the next three games are going to the tough until we get our full squad back.
“We felt against Tring, like Kings, our back was against the wall but we managed to pick up the win.
“That does galvanise you. Our league form has picked up and our first aim for this season was to get 40 points on the board.
“We have done that. Now we can focus on going as far up in the table as we can. We have 16 games left so we still have a lot to play for.”


Sun Postal had a tough time against visitors Hadley on Tuesday night as they fell to a 3-0 defeat.
Laste Dombaxe had given Hadley a 2-0 lead before half-time with a brace.
Dombaxe’s first goal could be considered somewhat fortunate as his shot was mishandled by Sun’s stopper and the ball dropped in to the net.
There can be no doubt about the second of his strikes though, as he hit a screamer from a fair way out leaving the keeper with no chance.
The win was confirmed in added time with a goal from Ibrahim Lukulay after a fractious second half.
Sun have been on a good run of form away from home and on Saturday recorded an impressive 2-1 win over Stotfold.
Jack Johnson opened the scoring with a lobbed effort before Ben L’Honore equalised almost immediately with a superbly-struck free-kick.
An Andy Brennan corner caused havoc in the Stotfold penalty area and, after ricocheting off of a number of legs, the ball crept over the line to give Sun the win their dominance deserved.

Sun Sports celebrate success after second-highest finish in their history

Sun Sports secured 10th spot in the Spartan South Midlands Premier League with a 3-1 final-day win over St Margaretsbury, recording a second-highest finish in the club’s history.
Ryan McMahon set them on their way with a fine early finish off the post.
He finished a move started by Jamie Speer in what was the only goal of the first half, before Saints improved and equalised after the break through Harley Haag.
Sun had left their bright start in the dressing room at the interval but the goal sprung them into life, and they should have retaken the lead after Jack Johnson was felled by the Saints keeper in the box.
Johnson took the spot-kick but struck it at a good height for the visiting stopper, who kept it out.
Kyle Johnson continued Sun’s resurgence when Speers’ perfect cross found him to side-foot home.
Kerran Lataille made it three with a goal-of-the-season contender late on to seal the win.