2014/15

Sun Postal Sports bounce back in convincing fashion against Ampthill Town

Sun Postal Sports overcame the setback of an opening day defeat at AFC Dunstable to secure their first ever Premier Division win by beating Ampthill Town in convincing fashion on Tuesday night.

Following promotion last season, Sun were beaten 5-3 at Dunstable on Saturday but returned to Bedfordshire just three days later to claim their maiden victory in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division.

After a nervy start, Sun took the lead when James Armstrong won a penalty following a corner.

From the resulting spot kick, Armstrong dusted himself down to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and put Sun ahead.

Simeon Fearon missed a good chance before the break and Scott Bonner saw a point-blank header well saved by the home side’s goalkeeper.

A second goal arrived after the intervals when Ashley Lewis cut in from the left and beat several challenges before firing low into the bottom corner.

The points were Postal’s when Bonner nodded home from an in-swinging Nathan Pooley corner to complete a comfortable win.

On Saturday, Paul Hobbs’ side were given a stark reminder of the step up in class following promotion.

Trailing 4-1 inside half an hour, a change of formation to 3-4-3 paid off and goals from Craig Lynskey and Steve Noonan restored some pride for Sun.

Hobbs’ side are next in action when they host Hertford Town on Tuesday.

Sun Postal Sports came from behind on three occasions to secure a 3-3 draw against Hertford Town

Sun Postal Sports came from behind on three occasions to secure a 3-3 draw against Hertford Town on Tuesday in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division. 

Sun got off to a poor start and were behind in the ninth minute when imposing centre-back Tommy Wade headed home a free kick.

Steve Noonan then equalised for Sun and the game was level at the interval.

Wade put Hertford back in front in the second period but once again the lead was short-lived as James Armstrong netted.

Leigh Rose took advantage of poor defending to put Town ahead in the 58th minute but Ashley Lewis bundled the ball over the line soon after to earn the home side a share of the points.

 

Sun Sports 3 Potton United 0                                                                       FA Vase Preliminary Rd

Sun Sports claimed their first ever win in the FA Vase after beating Potton United 3-0 on Saturday and will now face Harefield United in the first round proper.

In 2007, Sun reached the second qualifying round but only by virtue of the fact Sawbridgeworth were disqualified from the competition for fielding an ineligible player in the previous round.

Paul Hobbs’ side began slowly and struggled to test the Potton goalkeeper, going in goalless at the break.

That changed after half-time, and following an excellent double save from Ross Hampton, Sun took the lead when James Armstrong crossed for Ashley Lewis to nod home.

A second followed when Richard Pearce converted from a Simeon Fearon cross, before Armstrong got the better of his marker and crashed home a third via the upright to seal Sun’s progress.

On Tuesday, Sun Sports beat Hertford Town 2-1 to move up to second in the Premier Division.

Tommy Wade handed hosts Hertford the lead shortly before the half-an-hour mark, but Sun replied in fine style and Armstrong levelled in the 37th minute following Elton Scarlett’s defence-splitting pass.

Twelve minutes into the second half, Fearon scored what proved the winner, following in after his strike partner’s header bounced down from the underside of the crossbar.

Sun host Leverstock Green on Saturday.

Ashley Lewis turns down bigger clubs to lead Sun Sports' title charge

Sun Sports' unlikely emergence as a force in the South Midlands League Premier Division was further underlined when their captain turned down the chance to move to a higher level.

Ashley Lewis, 23, has attracted interest from Northwood and Kings Langley this year and was last week the subject of a seven-day approach from Ware, who are in the top six of Division One of the Isthmian League.

But the former St Michael's School pupil, who is good friends with heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, told Sun manager Paul Hobbs he is going nowhere and wants to continue to spearhead the club's title charge.

The centre midfielder took his impressive tally for the season to seven in the league on Saturday with a snapshot that arrowed into the bottom corner.

Richard Pearce scored an even better second as Sun won 2-0 away at Colney Heath and went top of the table after Berkhamsted's shock loss at home to AFC Dunstable.

Sun take a break from league action this week when they host Harefield United in the first round of the FA Vase.

Former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur player Mickey Hazard praises Sun Sports' sportsmanship

Sun Sports moved into the Premier Division Cup quarter final on Tuesday night but their 3-1 win against Hadley will be remembered for a “wonderful sporting gesture”.

Hadley thought they had taken the lead in the contest when Dom Petrucci beat Sun goalkeeper Ross Hampton with a free-kick.

However, the ball slipped through a hole in the net and a goal kick was awarded. Play continued and Sun soon had the lead through Simeon Fearon.

Sports boss Paul Hobbs explained: “I wasn’t aware the ball had gone in, from my point of view I thought it had gone wide.

“Their player went ballistic though, and their bench wasn’t happy at all. So I wandered around the pitch to my goalkeeper and asked him if the ball had gone in.

“He told me it had but by the time I got back to the dugout we had scored. So I called Ashley Lewis over and told him to let Hadley score.”

As their manager had instructed, Sun allowed Petrucci to walk the ball into the net to equalise.

Hadley boss Mickey Hazard, who wasn’t at the game, said: “It was a wonderful gesture from Sun Sports and a credit to the club, the manager and the players. There is a lot of cheating and other things going in football but they can see the bigger picture.”

Sun went on to win the game thanks to a goal from Lewis and a second-half strike from Fearon. James Armstrong’s missed penalty was not costly.

Hobbs’ side have been in excellent form this season and moved to the top of the Premier Division on Saturday.

Richard Pearce and Lewis were on target in a 2-0 win over Colney Heath.

Lewis’ displays for Sun, who face Harefield United in the FA Vase (tomorrow) Saturday, have attracted interest from Northwood and Kings Langley while a seven-day approach was made by Ware, who are in the top six of Division One of the Isthmian League, last week. However, the midfielder has told Hobbs he will remain with he club. 

 

Sun Sports reached the FA Vase second round for the first time ever by beating Harefield United

Sun Sports made history on Saturday by reaching the second round of the FA Vase for the first time in their history, overcoming Harefield United 3-1.

Next up for Sun will be a home tie against Stanway Rovers, to be played on Saturday, November 22.

James Armstrong looked to have scored inside a minute for Sun, but saw his effort disallowed for offside.

Sun were lacking any punch or urgency and were made to pay for their slow start when Harefield took a 20th-minute lead.

After the break, half-time substitute Nathan Pooley quickly dragged Sun level with his first touch, firing past the helpless Harefield goalkeeper with aplomb.

Ashley Lewis then put Sun ahead for the first time, connecting with Simeon Fearon’s cut-back to score.

Substitute Marcel Jones carved out two good chances for Sun, who continued to pile on the pressure in search of a decisive third.

And the win was sealed when Lewis headed into Armstrong’s path and he subsequently finished coolly.

 

 

Ware 4 Sun Sports 1                                                                         Herts Senior Cup 1st Rd

Sun’s eight-game winning streak came to an abrupt end as they exited the Herts Senior Cup 4-1 at the hands of Ware on Tuesday.

Ware will now meet Leverstock Green in the second round.

Craig Lynskey passed up an early opportunity to open the scoring, which had it gone in could have set a course for a different outcome all together, but the Isthmian Premier Division side took the lead with a bolt from the blue on the stroke of half time.

A second-half penalty put the hosts 2-0 ahead and from there on out, they were in control. A third followed, but Jones did pull one back for Paul Hobbs’ side.

The contest was killed off when Ware re-established their three-goal lead with a far-post tap-in.

Sun host Stotfold in the Premier Division tomorrow (Saturday), before travelling to Hillingdon Borough on Tuesday.

Sun Sports keep up pressure on leaders Berkhamsted after thrashing Leverstock Green

Sun Sports are just three points behind Premier Division table-toppers Berkhamsted after enjoying a 5-1 win over Leverstock Green on Saturday.

Simeon Fearon opened the scoring after 38 minutes when he turned and thrashed the ball into the top corner.

Fearon then turned provider for the second, laying the ball off for James Armstrong to cut inside and score against the club for whom he netted 134 times in five seasons previously.

Levy player-manager Dene Gardner got one back for the visitors, but from there it was one-way traffic as Sun took charge.

Armstrong dummied cleverly to release Ashley Lewis for the third, before Fearon grabbed his second and Sun’s fourth following a good team move which involved Lewis, Richard Pearce and Chris McCarthy.

Pearce fired home the fifth; starting and finishing the move which saw Sun score their 36th goal in their last six games.