NEWS ARCHIVE

League Gets Tighter 6th May 2008 Haddenham United's lead at the top of the ADL Premier Division was cut again on Saturday 3rd May when their away match against Bucks CC ended in a 0-0 draw. With two games in hand, Bierton can now move to within 2 points of Haddenham at the top of the table, meaning Haddenham are in desparate need of points from the their last two games against Aston Clinton - home and away - with two victories securing the title. The match against Bucks CC was always going to be a tough fixture for Haddenham, having lost to the same opponents in the League Cup, and it proved to be a frustrating game, with goal scoring chances hard to come by and poor finishing proving costly for both teams. Haddenham had the better of the match, asking the most questions of the opposing defence, and both Paul Alleyne and Ben Moses could of found themselves on the score sheet with a mixture of clear cut and half chances, and Bucks CC nearly nicked it late on but for a last ditch slide and clearance off the line by Haddenham defender Matt Wakelin. So Haddenham are now left to sweat it out with two crucial matches against Aston Clinton within 2 days of each other. Meanwhile, Haddenham Reserves played out their last match of the season with a 3-1 home defeat to Mandeville Old Boys in Division 1. Will Smail grabbed Haddenham's goal, taking his tally to 18 for the season.

Held to a Draw 27th April 2008 Haddenham United were held to a draw by St. Johns at home in the ADL Premier Division on Saturday 26th April 2008. It was a frustrating game and result for Haddenham, who were much the better team throughout the 90 minutes, but missing the strike force of Paul Alleyne and Ben Moses, failure to convert chances proved costly for Haddenham, with St. Johns grabbing a share of the points with 15 minutes of the match remaining. After a goalless first half, Haddenham eventually went ahead when Steve Newell beat the offside trap and poked home past the St. Johns 'keeper 10 minutes into the second period. Minutes later, Haddenham midfielder Nando Perna seemingly walked his way through 3 challenges inside the box and was presented with a somewhat easy chance with just the 'keeper to beat, but unfortunately the ball bobbled just as Perna struck his shot and the ball sailed over the bar. The missed chance would sum up Haddenham's game, and to add insult to injury, St. Johns capitalised on a bizarre refereeing decision at a throw in to then win a free kick, from which they worked an equaliser with their only real chance of the match. Haddenham now find theirselves 10 points clear of Aston Park at the top of the league table, but Aston Park have a game in hand to potentially cut the lead to 7 points with three matches remaining.

Reserves in Heavy Defeat 25th April 2008 Haddenham Reserves crashed to a heavy 12-0 defeat at home to high-flying Hale Leys in the ADL Division 1 on Thursday 24th April. As well as Hale Leys riding high in the league table, and even giving the first team a close game in the Field Shield earlier in the season, Haddenham Reserves were under-strength and missing a few key players, and the result was a dominant away win. Haddenham got off to a bad start when James Ward was adjudged to have fouled in the area, and with the penalty converted, Hale Leys romped off to a 5-0 half time lead. The second half proved to be a similar affair, with Hale Leys adding a couple of goals shortly after the half time break and then scoring a flurry of goals late in the match to end up 12-0 winners. Hale Leys were without doubt the better team, but Haddenham could be admired for how they never gave up, kept running and tried to play football, despite constant mickey taking from the opposition and the sidelines as the game went on, when it would have been all too easy for Haddenham to drop their heads.

9 Points Clear 23rd April 2008 Haddenham United went 9 points clear at the top of the ADL Premier Division league table with a 4-2 win over Walton Court Wanderers at home on Tuesday 22nd April 2008. Played on a mild early summer's evening, Haddenham were always the better team in terms of possession, chances and attacking territory, but after taking the lead through Nando Perna, Walton Court struck back to lead 2-1 at the half time break. However, Haddenham regained control of the match in the second half with substitute Paul Alleyne putting Haddenham level with a low shot at the near post, and minutes later a Darren Gascoyne finish from a wide angle to the left of goal put Haddenham back in front. Ben Moses then secured the win when he met a Stuart Barr cross with a powerful header, and it was a job well done for Haddenham, who now have just four leagues matches left to play.

First Team March On 21st April 2008 Haddenham United continued their march for the ADL Premier Division title on Saturday 19th April 2008 with a 5-1 away victory against Bedgrove Dynamos. Against the wind in the first half, Haddenham found it a little difficult to mount any real pressure on the Bedgrove goal, with Bedgrove enjoying a fair share of half chances, but it was eventually Haddenham who found the net first when Antony Dawson side footed home from 10 yards. However, no sooner had Haddenham gone in front, Bedgrove converted a 25 yard free kick to draw level, but in another twist, Haddenham broke on the counter-attack immediately before the half time break, with Antony Dawson and Ben Moses combining for Moses to eventually strike the ball past the Bedgrove 'keeper and regain Haddenham the lead. The second half saw Haddenham dominate, with the wind now in their favour and Darren Gascoyne coming on to freshen the midfield. And Gascoyne was soon in the action as his long range shot was only parried by the Bedgrove 'keeper, and an alert Aaron Rogers capitalised to beat the 'keeper to the rebound and give Haddenham a 3-1 lead. Rogers then turned on the style and got Haddenham's fourth when he received the ball in midfield, looked up and sent a thunderous shot in to the top right hand corner of the net from 30 yards. The game was now well and truely won, but Dawson made sure with his second goal of the match 15 minutes from time, converting from wide on the right hand side of the six yard box. Haddenham are now 6 points clear at the top of the league table, and also with a game in hand over second placed Aston Park.

Midweek Win 18th April 2008 Haddenham United extended their lead at the top of the ADL Premier Division on Thursday 17th April 2008 with a 3-2 away victory over Aylesbury Dynamos. Two goals from Ben Moses and a single goal from substitute Steve Newell gave Haddenham the victory.

Cup Final Defeat 15th April 2008 Haddenham Reserves saw their hopes of a ADL Reserve Cup Final win dashed on Monday 14th April at Tring Athletic's stadium, losing a closely fought encounter against Aston Clinton Reserves. Haddenham started the better team, attacking down the hill in the first half and constantly troubling the Aston Clinton 'keeper, but unfortuntely for Haddenham, the opposition number 1 proved to be the Man of the Match and kept his side in it with some fine saves. Nil-nil at half time, Haddenham were to attack up the hill in the second half, but still looked comfortable and the better team. However, the turning point was an injury to defender Crispin Satchell, who pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced on the hour mark. The disruption to Haddenham's back line proved costly, with Aston Clinton taking the lead minutes after the substitution, despite good work by Haddenham 'keeper Glenn Paul in keeping out the first effort in lead up to the goal. Haddenham never really recovered after this, and having committed more players forward in search of an equaliser, fell to two more goals and ended up on the wrong end of a 3-0 score line. It was rough justice for Haddenham, who deserved more from the game and definitely didn't deserve to lose with their dominant passing football, in contrast to Aston Clinton's one dimensional long ball football and feeding their speedy right winger. In was a proud performance by Haddenham though, who can hold their heads up high for having been the better team and battling right until the end, and on a different night it could have been all so different a result.

Double Bill, Double Victory! 15th April 2008 Haddenham United played host to another double bill on Saturday 12th April 2008 with both teams again playing league matches at home, one after another. In contrast to last week's double defeat, this week proved to be the opposite with both teams winning their matches with convincing ease. The first team were up against the Black Horse in the Premier Division, and goals from Paul Alleyne (3), Stuart Barr, Ben Moses and Ben Lazaruk earned Haddenham a 6-2 win, and with it, three valuable points. The reserves then took on Oving, with goals from Dave Sidor, James Hawes, Michael Carnell, Will Smail and Dave Hawes helping to clinch a 5-1 victory, and the three points do well to ease Haddenham's position towards the bottom end of the Division 1 league table.

Double Bill, Double Defeat 7th April 2008 Haddenham United played host to a double bill on Saturday 5th April when both the first team and reserves played league matches at home, one after each other. But it was to be a miserable day for Haddenham, with both teams losing 1-0 in their respective matches. The frist team were up against Aston Park, who are rivalling Haddenham at the top of the league table, and despite Haddenham dominating the match from start to finish, somehow they weren't able to find the back of the net, and in contrast, Aston Park grabbed all the points by scrappily converting the one chance that fell their way. It was a blow for Haddenham, but they are still in a commanding lead at the top of the table, and several regulars were missing through injury and suspension, with tonight's Field Shield Final against Bierton at the back of most player's minds. The Reserves may have also had their minds on their Reserve Cup Final as they fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat against Quainton. This was a more even affair and neither side really did enough to deserve all three points, but Quainton snatched the points with a single goal when a draw would have been a fair result.

Through to Reserves League Cup Final 31st March 2008 Haddenham United Reserves put in a fantastic performance at home to Bucks CC Reserves on Saturday 29th March 2008 to win through to the final of the ADL Reserve Cup with a 3-1 victory. Despite having lost to their opponents in the previous league fixture, Haddenham dug in and turned the tables to go through to the final on Monday 14th April 2008 at Tring Athletic. Played in wet and windy conditions, Haddenham attacked with the wind in their favour for the first half, spending the majority of the half camped in and around the Bucks CC penalty area and plugging away at goal. Veteran midfielder Alan Lewis opened the scoring for Haddenham when he received a short corner on the left wing, cut inside and unleashed a powerful curling shot over a crowded penalty area and in to the top right hand corner of the net. This gave Haddenham all the confidence they needed, and the lead was then doubled when Gavin White struck home a free-kick from 30 yards with one of his trademark powerful missiles. The second half saw Haddenham have to defend their lead, with the visitors enjoying the wind advantage, but despite Bucks CC pulling a goal back 15 minutes in to the half with a header from a corner set piece, Haddenham held firm at the back, and the match was won when a counter-attack by forward Will Smail saw the youngster jink his way in to the box and score with a powerful shot at the near post. It was a much deserved victory for Haddenham, but the game was somewhat marred by the changing rooms being broken in to midway through the first half. Luckily, all the players and officials had locked away their valuables and nothing of any note was taken. Haddenham's Man of the Match was the energetic Will Smail, who chased and harried all game long and got his reward with the winning goal, and injury news for Haddenham saw James Ward have to be replaced in the first half after injuring his back and Michael Carnell suffering a cut and bruised cheek bone after a clash of heads late in the second half.

Changing Rooms Break In 31st March 2008 Haddenham Reserves' superb win over Bucks CC Reserves in the semi-final of the ADL Reserve Cup on Saturday 29th March 2008 was unfortunately overshadowed with the break in of the Haddenham changing rooms. The break ins were discovered by Haddenham player, James Ward, who had suffered a back injury and had to be replaced 15 minutes in to the match, meaning the break ins must have taken place just after kick off. All three changing rooms were locked, with all three doors kicked in to gain access to the rooms. Despite all three changing rooms being locked, with such low life scum unfortunately present in our society, luckily all the players and officials had still taken out all of their valuables, and nothing of any note was taken. Therefore the desparate thieving individuals responsible will have seen their efforts go to waste, in a victory for the innocent law abiding citizens, and the thieves only solace can be that the club now has three doors to repair. The incident has been reported to the Police, and if anyone has any information or saw anyone suspicious around the club between 1.30pm and 1.45pm, please contact the club.

Through to Field Shield Final 26th March 2008 Haddenham United won through to the final of this season's Field Shield with a dominent 5-0 victory over Bedgrove United at home on Saturday 22nd March 2008. In a game that was twice disrupted for hail storms and snow, it was Haddenham who booked their place in the final with goals from Paul Alleyne (3), Ben Moses and Criag Faulconbridge. With the strong wind on their side for the first half, Haddenham needed to build a lead in preparation for being against the wind in the second half, and an impressive first half hat-trick from Paul Alleyne and a poachers goal from Ben Moses gave Haddenham a 4-0 half time margin. As luck would have it, the wind died down for the second half and Bedgrove failed to have the wind as an advantage, making for an even second half with just a powerful 20 yard strike from substitute Craig Faulconbridge adding to the scores to make the final score 5-0 in Haddenham's favour. With Bierton beating Aylesbury Dynamos 5-1 in the other semi-final, Haddenham will take on Bierton in the final on Monday 7th April 2008, with the final being held at Tring Athletic - kick off 7.45pm. Haddenham Reserves also enjoyed a victory with an impressive 2-1 victory over Thame Town in the ADL Division 1. Goals from Alan Lewis and James Ward secured the victory, and with Thame Town riding high in the league table, it was a valuable 3 points to help move Haddenham away from the bottom of the table.

First Team Deducted 3 Points 17th March 2008 Haddenham United will be deducted 3 points in the Aylesbury District League Premier Division, following the fielding of Mark Wiltshire in the match away at Aston Park on 10th November 2007. Wiltshire was ineligible to play after playing more than 3 games for Aylebsury Vale between August and September, making him a senior player and unable to play in the Aylesbury District League. Aston Park brought up the matter with the ADL committee, despite however signing Wiltshire's signing on form prior to the match, which enabled him to play in the match.

Mixed Fortunes 17th March 2008 Haddenham United had mixed fortunes on Saturday 15th March 2008 with the first team winning away at Wingrave in the Premier Division and the Reserves losing at home to Wendover in Division 1. The first team powered on in their quest for the league title with a convincing 8-1 victory over lowly Wingrave with goals from Ben Lazaruk (2), Stuart Barr (2), Paul Allenye (3) and Darren Gascoyne. One of Ben Lazaruk's goals was the pick of the bunch, scoring just 10 yards in to the opponents half with a powerful looping shot over the standed Wingrave 'keeper. Haddenham Reserves put in a good performance against Wendover, but a bad last 10 minutes of the match saw Wendover earn a 3-0 win. With the score level at 0-0 for 80 minutes of the match, Wendover eventually took the lead, then quickly added a second and third for what looked like a convincing victory on paper, but Haddenham Reserves were arguably the better team and were unlucky not to have taken the lead at 0-0 when Will Smail's shot smacked off the crossbar.

Three Match Weekend 10th March 2008 Haddenham United had three matches in the space of one weekend, with the first team taking on Long Marston away in the ADL Premier Division and the Reserves taking on Bucks CC at home in Division 1 on the Saturday, and the club's Oving Cup side taking on Steeple Claydon in the semi-final of the Oving Village Cup on the Sunday. The first team were victorious in their league match at Long Marsdon, with Darren Gascoyne (2), Ben Moses, Nando Perna, Aaron Rogers and a cooly taken penalty from Matt Wakelin earning them a 6-1 win. A negative from the match was the sending off of Haddenham's Stuart Barr and Jemal Thomas, both for two bookable offences, although both decisions were very harsh and not in fitting with the nature of the game. The Reserves struggled against a Bucks CC Reserve side and fell to a 5-2 defeat. The scorers were level at half time, with Michael Carnell grabbing Haddenham's goal in a 1-1 scoreline, but Haddenham didn't have a good second half, and despite another goal from Will Smail, ended up pointless. The Oving Cup match on the Sunday proved to be a one sided affair as Haddenham crashed to a 9-0 defeat. Despite playing some good football, Haddenham's make shift side couldn't compete with Steeple Claydon's speed and strength, and it is the North Bucks side that go through to the Easter Monday final.

Field Shield Shoot-Out Victory 4th March 2008 Haddenham United edged through to the next round of the Field Shield on Saturday 1st March 2008 with a penalty shoot out victory at home to ADL Division 1 side Hale Leys. Despite being lower league opposition, Hale Leys put up a good fight and made for a very closely fought match, played in the right spirit and tense right to the death. Haddenham striker, Ben Moses, gave Haddenham the lead after 20 minutes when he cleverly took a quick free kick from just outside the box. The Hale Leys defence were still arranging their wall when Moses spotted the gap and calmly side footed the ball home inside the left hand post. The fierce cross pitch wind made for a scrappy game for large periods, and Haddenham looked comfortable with their lead, but with 10 minutes remaining, the Hale Leys right winger cut inside and found the bottom right hand corner to level the scores. Extra time couldn't separate the teams so a penalty shoot out was required to settle the tie. Ben Moses stepped up first for Haddenham and found the net confidently, and 'keeper Ashley Jenkins then saved Hale Leys' first kick to give Haddenham an early advantage. However, Jemal Thomas missed Haddenham's second penalty and the socres were level again. Nando Perna, Darren Gascoyne and Antony Dawson then scored all their penalties, and with the last Hale Leys spot kick sailing over the bar, Haddenham were victorious, and they now go through to the semi-final to meet Bedgrove United on Saturday 22nd March 2008. Meanwhile, Haddenham Reserves travelled away to play the Dairy Maid in the ADL Division 1, and despite an even contest up to half time, the end to end wind proved to be Haddenham's downfall, with the Dairy Maid capitalising on the wind advantage in the second half to run away as 6-2 winners, with James Hawes grabbing both of Haddenham's goals.

First Team Lose First League Game 23rd February 2008 Haddenham United lost their first game in the ADL Premier Division with a 1-0 home defeat against Bierton on Saturday 23rd February 2008. With Bierton having won their last 10 matches, the game was always going to be a tough one for Haddenham, and a single goal 10 minutes from time was enough to give Bierton the win. Haddenham had the better of ht egame, constantly attacking and asking the most questions of the two defences, but a somewhat lucky goal turned the game Bierton's way. A right wing cross was missing by several Bierton forwards, which threw 'keeper Ashley Jenkins, and the ball continued it's path in to the back of the net at the far post. It is a blow for Haddenham, who were looking to go through the league season without a defeat, but the loss doesn't do much to dent Haddenham's hopes of lifting the league title at the end of the season. Haddenham Reserves also slipped to a defeat in the ADL Division 1 with a 4-2 loss away at Fairford Leys. After going 2-0 down early on, Will Smail pulled a goal back for Haddenham before half time, but Fairford Leys extended their lead to 4-1 in the second half, and a late goal from Scott Phillips could only act as a small consolation goal.

Reserves Through in Reserve League Cup 18th February 2008 Haddenham Reserves had a positive result in a cup competition for the second successive week, getting through to the semi finals of the ADL Reserve Cup with a victory against Fairford Leys Reserves. Adopting a change in formation, Haddenham produced one of their best all round team performances, dominating the game in terms of possession and chances with the only surprise being the small winning margin of 2 – 0. Patience proved to be the main theme of the afternoon with a succession of chances being created in the first half, which, in keeping with the rest of the season, were either wasted or well saved by the Fairford Leys keeper. In contrast Haddenham keeper Glen Paul was the coldest and loneliest player on the pitch, only having to make one smart save in the first 45 minutes. The second half continued in the same manner as the first with Haddenham camped in the Fairford Leys half. There were occasional signs of anxiety as Haddenham hit the woodwork 5 times, had the ball cleared off the line on 3 occasions and numerous other chances went begging. However the team kept their shape and concentration and the frustration was finally relieved when the hard working Will Smail scored a well deserved goal at the end of a typical flowing move. Despite having control of the game there was always the spectre of previous undeserved losses from winning positions so it was relief all round when evergreen Alan Lewis popped up with a goal a few minutes from time to seal the tie. Haddenham first team played host to Aylesbury Dynamos, and despite having 5 players away on a stag weekend, dominated the match and were 3-1 victors. Stuart Barr, Paul Alleyne and Steve Newell got Haddenham's goals, helping to secure the club's position at the top of the Premier Division table.

Oving Cup Victory 11th February 2008 Haddenham United progressed through to the next round of the Oving Village Cup on Saturday 9th February 2008 with a 2-1 victory at home to Wingrave. Due to the cup's player restrictions, Haddenham's Village Cup team is essentially made up of regular Reserve Team players, and the team did the club proud with a good win. David Hawes got Haddenham's first goal after just 5 minutes, and with Wingrave drawing level, Josh Rose stepped up to score the winner with a powerful shot late in the second half. With the Oving Cup match scheduled as a Reserve Team fixture, Haddenham's First Team were also in action and they bounced back from last week's League Cup defeat with a dominent 5-1 victory over St. Johns in the ADL Premier Division. Youngster Rob Smail got Haddenham off the mark after just minutes of the start and the score was still 1-0 at half time. However, Haddenham turned on the style in the second half and goals from Craig Faulconbridge (2), Paul Alleyne and Ben Moses secured the win. Faulconbridge's second goal of the match was the goal of the game, meeting a cross with a powerful volley.

Both Teams Out of Cup 4th February 2008 Haddenham United had a bad weekend in the Tom Sparkes League Cup when both the first team and the reserves crashed out in their respective matches on Saturday 2nd February 2008. The first team suffered only their second defeat of the season, and their first in the Aylesbury District League domain, falling to a 4-2 defeat against ADL Premier Division rivals Bucks CC. It was a defeat that was hard to take but Bucks CC were worthy of the win, despite a make shift Haddenham defence, with the influential Matt Wakelin missing from the center of defence. Bucks CC took the game to Haddenham right from the kick off, against the wind, but Haddenham held firm and then took the lead when Paul Alleyne volleyed home his 35th goal of the season from the edge of the box. With the wind in their favour, the 1-0 half time lead was worryingly not enough and this proved to be so as Bucks CC proved to be more of a threat in the second half when it was their turn to have the wind in their favour. An equaliser came when the Bucks CC number 10, who had constantly fouled all game and somehow evaded the referee's book, ran through the Haddenham defence and slotted home. Minutes later Bucks CC took the lead when their nippy left winger broke free and smashed home past 'keeper Ashley Jenkins, and just as Haddenham looked to get back in the game, Bucks CC converted a free kick that gave them a 2 goal advantage, although the free kick was allowed to be taken a lot closer to goal than the actual offence. Haddenham still went forward in an attempt to get back in the game and Craig Faulconbridge made for a tense last 5 minutes when he headed home to make the score 3-2, but with Haddenham pushing forward and short in numbers at the back, Bucks CC were able to capitalise and grab a 4th goal to put Haddenham finally out of reach. It was a disappointing defeat, but in a way, it may be just the defeat Haddenham needed to cut short any complacency, with recent performances suggesting a defeat was on the cards. Haddenham Reserves also crashed out of the League Cup when they suffered a last minute goal to lose 3-2 against Bedgrove United. Alan Lewis and Will Smail grabbed Haddenham's goals, but unfortunately they weren't enough to avoid the cup exit. In what was an even match, the late goal was harsh on Haddenham, but unfortunately this pretty much sums up the reserves' season so far.

Both Back in Action! 28th January 2008 After 3 weekends of waterlogged pitches, Haddenham United finally got back in action on Saturday 26th January 2008 with the first team victorious in the Field Shield and the Reserves falling to a defeat in the ADL Division 1. The first team travelled just along the road to play St. Johns in the Field Shield, and after a shakey start, ended up worthy 4-2 winners. A mistake from 'keeper Ashley Jenkins presented St. Johns with the opening goal after 20 minutes, but Haddenham then started to find their feet and press for an equaliser. A somewhat blatent penalty appeal was turned down as Nando Perna was tripped int he box, but minutes later, a just as blatent appeal after a foul on Paul Alleyne did see the referee point to the spot. However, Antony Dawson saw his penalty kick saved in what was Dawson's first ever penalty miss. Haddenham kept plugging away though, and after another Perna foul and penalty appeal, Darren Gascoyne settled any anxiety by side footing home an equaliser just before the half time break. The second half saw Haddenham take the lead within seconds of the kick off. The impressive Craig Faulconbridge broke through on the inside left channel, beat the 'keeper to the ball and Paul Alleyne was on hand to force the ball home on the line with his head. Alleyne then got his second when he calmly placed a shot past the 'keeper in to the right hand corner of the net, and Haddenham were firmly in control. Despite St. Johns continuing to press and grabbing a goal back, Haddenham still looked comfortable and Criag Faulconbridge setting the match with the goal of the game, taking the ball down from a corner kick and blasting home on the volley. Haddenham Reserves travelled away to Mandeville FC and fell to a 6-0 defeat, which is a somewhat disappointing result considering the Reserves' recent good run of form.

Kelman to Take Training Session 25th January 2008 First Team Manager, Kevin Poole, is glad to announce that he has arranged for ex-Wycombe Wanderers Manager, Jim Kelman, to come down and take a training session for the club. Jim is currently the Berks & Bucks County Coaching Representative, and he will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, some of which will hopefully rub off on the players during the session. The session is to take place on Wednesday 6th February.

Still Washed Out! 23rd January 2008 The wet weather continues to cause disruption to the fixture schedule, with the latest round of Haddenham United fixtures again failing victim to waterlogged pitches, despite being confident that the first team game at St. Johns would go ahead and beat the weather. It is now three weeks worth of washouts, and the ADL are now struggling to juggle the fixtures in an attempt to get the schedule back on track.

Another Washout 17th January 2008 Haddenham United sat out another week of fixtures after another weekly downpour deemed most of the local pitches unplayable on Saturday 12th January 2008. The home pitch had several puddles that covered the majority of the pitch, and all the council pitches were called off on the Friday. Thanks to the all-weather pitch at Waddesdon though, Haddenham have continued to train in perfect conditions, and with the St. Johns pitch rumoured to be in good shape, the Field Shield match scheduled for Saturday 19th January 2008 is expected to go ahead.

Both Games Washed Out 8th January 2008 Both Haddenham United's ADL League Cup matches were rained off on Saturday 5th January 2008 with the Haddenham and Bucks CC pitches failing victim to the wet weather.

Gascoyne Hat-trick Earns Win 30th December 2007 Haddenham United kept up their 100% winning league record on Saturday 29th December 2007 with a 5-3 home win over Jakeman Sports, Haddenham's 12th straight win out of 12 games in the league this season. The match was only given the go ahead half hour before kick off due to a partially waterlogged pitch, but keen to play the game, the Haddenham players were out on the pitch with garden forks in an attempt to drain the excess water. The drainage worked and despite the worst affected areas in the centre of the pitch, the pitch stood up well to the test. As the game got under way, Haddenham started the better team and immediately set upon the Jakeman defence, despite being against the strong end to end wind. Haddenham had the comfort of lots of time and space on the ball in the midfield area, with Darren Gascoyne, Nando Perna and Craig Faulconbridge bossing the area and playing the ball around. However, despite Haddenham's attacking dominance and half chances, Jakeman were the first team to go close to scoring when a mistake at the back lead to a Jakeman forward rounding 'keeper Ashley Jenkins and hitting the near post from a wide angle. It was a wake up call for Haddenham, and minutes later Darren Gascoyne caught the ball with a sweet half volley and gave Haddenham the lead when the shot found the bottom left hand corner. Jakeman Sports didn't drop their heads though and were level 5 minutes later when another mistake in the Haddenham defence gave a Jakeman forward time to control, turn and volley the ball home from the edge of the area. But Paul Alleyne then restored Haddenham's lead with a fiercly struck shot just before the half time break, and with the wind to be behind them in the second half, it looked like Haddenham would make the scoreline more convincing in the second period. But despite going 3-1 up early in the half with Darren Gascoyne's second goal of the match, Jakeman pulled it back to 3-2 to stay in the game, and even when substitute Ben Lazaruk put Haddenham 4-2 up, a controversial penalty awarded against Haddenham's Matt Wakelin for handball enabled Jakeman to pull it back again and stay within touching distance at 4-3. The game could really have gone either way at this stage, with both sides looking dangerous on the attack, but with no more goals until stoppage time, Paul Alleyne was brought down for a penalty kick, and Darren Gascoyne got his hat-trick with the last kick of the game. It was a far from convincing performance and result for Haddenham, but the boggy and windy conditions were perhaps a leveller for what should have been an easier match for Haddenham on paper. The 3 points see Haddenham finish 2007 8 points clear at the top of the ADL Premier Division, with a game in hand over nearest rivals, Aston Park.

Faulconbridge Makes the Difference 27th December 2007 Haddenham United travelled away to Elmhurst on Saturday 22nd December 2007 in the ADL Premier Division and another solid performance earned a 3-1 win. After the fiery clash between the two teams back on 17th November, which ended with a closely fought Haddenham win and Elmhurst being reported for inproper conduct, the match was a high profile affair, but thankfully the game passed without any notable instances, with the only real talking point being the referee turning down a late clear cut Elmhurst penalty appeal. Elmhurst started the better of the two teams and mounted much of the early pressure, but Haddenham slowly started to find their feet and put together attacking moves of their own. However, it was Elmhurst who took the lead when a right wing cross was met acrobatically with a scissor kick that found its way past Haddenham 'keeper Ashley Jenkins. Haddenham were only behind for a few minutes though when a Nando Perna corner kick eluded everyone in the box and went in direct from the corner. With the scores level at half time, Haddenham just had to keep plugging away in the second half and after a few half chances, Haddenham had the perfect opportunity to take the lead when right winger Gavin Way was brought down in the box by the Elmhurst 'keeper for a penalty. Up stepped Craig Faulconbridge, the ex-pro centre forward whose previous clubs included Middlesborough, Wrexham and Wycombe Wanderers, and the 29 year old wasn't going to miss from 12 yards. Faulconbridge then showed his class by extending Haddenham's lead with a close range header from a long Ben Lazaruk throw in, and Haddenham looked to be cruising. But Elmhurst didn't lie down and a late charge should have seen them awarded a penalty of their own to get back in the game, although the referee waved play on and the game ended with Haddenham 3-1 victors, leaving Elmhurst to question the referee about the penalty appeal as he walked from the pitch. Haddenham's man of the match was the defensive rock of Sam Buckle, who commanded the back four and made life very difficult for the Elmurst forwards, and his performance helps Haddenham keep their 100% record in the league for this season. Haddenham Reserves failed to pick up any points in their home match against Cheddington. The visitors proved to be too good, although Haddenham were ahead 2-1 at half time with goals from Michael Carnell and Mike Gladwin. The Reserves couldn't hold on to the lead though, and Cheddington drew level before finishing the better team and making for a convincing scoreline.

Winter Training 21st December 2007 Haddenham United have been maintaining their fitness levels during the cold and wet December weather by moving their training location to the all weather surface at Waddesdon School. The state of the art facility has a 'fake grass' surface similar to the pitch that England recently played on in their away game at Russia, and with the Haddenham training area being boggy, the Waddesdon location has allowed for perfect training conditions.

Reserves Impress 17th December 2007 Haddenham United Reserves put in a good performance to edge out Fairford Leys at home by 4 goals to 2 on Saturday 15th December 2007. The Haddenham pitch managed to recover from last week's waterlogged state and Haddenham made the most of it to bag all the three points on offer, with goals from Michael Carnell (2), Mike Gladwin and Rob Godolski. Haddenham started the better side but never really created any clear scoring chances early on, whilst Fairford Leys struggled for possession but mounted quite a few counter attacks on the Haddenham goal. It was Fairford Leys who eventually broke the deadlock when a long range effort beat the Haddenham 'keeper, and Haddenham went in a half time a goal behind. The second half saw Haddenham attack the 'Kop' end, and the goalscoring touch was suddenly discovered. Michael Carnell got Haddenham back on level terms when he beat the office trap to 'dink' the ball over the sliding 'keeper, and minutes later Mike Gladwin put Haddenham in front when he raced clear and poked the ball past the on coming 'keeper. Fairford Leys claimed off-side for both goals, but with their unenthusiastic linesman static on the sideline and only raising his flag to the players' shouts, the referee rightly wasn't willing to acknowledge him. However, Fairford Leys quickly got back on level terms when a mix up in the Haddenham defence allowed for an easy tap in, and it looked as though Haddenham's hard work in getting back in to the game and taking the lead had been in vain. Michael Carnell wasn't going to let it go to waste though, and with 15 minutes left, he didn't need any second invitations in calmly slotting the ball home from 12 yards, restoring Haddenham's lead. Then with just minutes remaining, a Haddenham corner kick resulted in the goal of the game. A short corner from Alan Lewis saw a one-two with Carnell, a jinking run in to the box by Lewis and winger Rob Godolski tapping in at the far post from Lewis's by-line cross. The game was now won and Haddenham were worthy victors. The win sees Haddenham climb away from the bottom of the Division 1 table to just below half way.

Oving Cup Washout 10th December 2007 Haddenham United's Oving Village Cup clash against Wingrave was postponed on Saturday 8th December 2007 due to a waterlogged pitch. With the Haddenham pitch virtually unplayable towards the end of last week's game against Steeple Claydon, and with more rain during the week, it wasn't surprising to see the pitch covered in standing water on the morning of the game.

Haddenham Youth FC Training 4th December 2007 In an attempt to bring the senior and youth football clubs closer together and bridge the gap between progressing through the youth teams and in to the senior sides, Haddenham United First Team Manager Kevin Poole and two first team players, Steve Newell and Sam Buckle, went along to HYFC training to take the session and put a few age groups through their paces. The sessions went down very well with both the kids and the watching parents, and HYFC Chairman Paul Thres was especially pleased, "Please pass on my many thanks to Kev, Steve and Sam who’s offer to help out at the Youth Football training session last Saturday was gratefully received." "Kev took the U14’s while Steve and Sam helped out with the U9’s. I have had nothing but positive feedback from both the age group managers and in fact a number of the U9 parents also commenting on what a good idea it was, along with how well the session went." "In an indifferent season results wise, the U14’s won their game on the following Sunday 7-0!!! What ever Kev did…. I have been asked 'Can he do it again?'" No doubt Kevin and a few other players will be taking more sessions throughout the season.

Out of Berks & Bucks 3rd December 2007 Haddenham United's run in the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup came to an end on Saturday 1st December 2007 with a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Steeple Claydon, in what was the first team's first competitive defeat of the season. The match proved to be very close fought, with Haddenham's full strength side making for an even match in terms of possession and goal scoring opportunities. However, the match was dominated by the very wet and windy conditions, which both teams struggled to deal with, and the match even had to be temporarily halted for a vicious hail storm! Claydon took the early advantage when a mix up in the Haddenham defence allowed a visiting forward to side foot the ball home from 20 yards with Haddenham 'keeper Ashley Jenkins out of position. It should have been two-nil minutes later when Steeple Claydon broke the Haddenham offside trap and Jenkins brought down the forward as he was rounded. But Jenkins made amends with a fantastic save to his left and kept Haddenham in the game. Haddenham survived another scare before the half time break when a Claydon header hit the underside of the bar and bounced down on the line and Haddenham went in at half time lucky to be just the one goal down. With the wind with them in the second half, Haddenham put in a good second half performance and really pushed for the equaliser. Several half chances were created before substitute Craig Faulconbridge eventually found the net with a close range header from a Nando Perna right wing free kick. The game could have gone either way from here on but Steeple Claydon almost immediately scored a wonder goal to go back in front, and try as Haddenham might, another equaliser couldn't be found in the remaining 15 minutes. The defeat brings Haddenham's Berks and Bucks run to an end, but with realistic chances of winning the cup being slim, perhaps it is a blessing in disguise to get the cup out of the way and now concentrate on the ADL leagues and cups? Haddenham Reserves continued their good form with a 4-3 away victory at Oving in the ADL Division 1. Two goals from Michael Carnell and another two goals from Will Smail earned Haddenham the win, although Dave Sidor saw red for two bookings and will now face a suspension.

Bucks CC Defeated 25th November 2007 Haddenham United powered on at the top of the ADL Premier Division with a 3-1 home win over mid-table Bucks CC. A poor start from the Aylesbury based opposition resulted in Haddenham taking an early two goal lead. Nando Perna was blatently fouled in the box and stepped up himself to convert the penalty kick to give Haddenham the lead after 10 minutes, and minutes later, a Haddenham corner lead to a Bucks CC player heading in to their own net. With Haddenham not dropping a point so far this season, it was a head start which Bucks CC could not afford to give them, and despite having missed a couple of good goalscoring chances before the half time break, Bucks CC trailed 2-0 at half time. The second half saw Haddenham appear too relaxed and unable to find the dominent grip they desired, and as a result, the visitors went in search of getting back in to the game. It was a search that did eventually see Bucks CC find the net with a well worked move, and the game was to be finely balanced from here on in. Bucks CC continued to press for an equaliser whilst Haddenham looked to break on the counter-attack, with Haddenham's Mark Wiltshire having a powerful shot hit the left hand post and then seeing a shot central to goal go wide of the goal. Nando Perna also tested the Bucks CC with a snap shot which the keeper palmed on to the post, and it was left to goal machine Paul Alleyne to secure the points for Haddenham when he got Haddenham's third with roughly 5 minutes remaining. It was the case of another game and another 3 points for Haddenham, but the warning signs are there as the past three league games have now seen close scorelines, albeit against teams high up in the league table. There was also a win for Haddenham Reserves when they travelled away to play Waddesdon in Division 1. Having lost their last three matches, Haddenham got back to winning ways with an impressive 3-1 win, with goals from Will Smail (2) and Michael Carnell. However, with Waddesdon's goalkeeper putting in a man of the match performance with many fine saves, the winning margin could have been a lot more.

Still Undefeated 19th November 2007 Haddenham United came up against an agressive and intimidating Elmhurst side on Saturday 17th November 2007 and justice was done with a hard fought 2-1 league victory. With no score at half time, Haddenham were the better side with a couple of efforts cleared off the line, but the game was to come to life in the second half. Elmhurst players and supporters became increasingly frustrated with what they saw as biased refereeing decisions against them, when in fact the general concensus was that the refereeing performance was very good and fair, and Elmhurst's real anger was sparked with 20 minutes to go when the referee awarded a penalty to Haddenham after a foul on Paul Alleyne. Antony Dawson struck the penalty kick home to give Haddenham the lead, and with Elmhurst failing to threaten the Haddenham goal for much of the game so far, the penalty looked to have sealed the win. However, Elmhurst hit back straight away with an equaliser and the game was to be finally balanced for the remainder. But then enter youngster Rob Smail, who came on as a substitute and ended up as the match winner for Haddenham when he got on the end of a left wing cross and superbly volleyed home. Wild celebrations followed, with Smail being mobbed by his team mates and the home crowd roaring with delight. The win sees Haddenham further cement their position at the top of the table, still not having dropped any points so far this season, and the Haddenham team must be appauded for not reacting and getting involved in any of Elmhurst's intimidating tactics. The whole team just got on with the game and made football the winning way. Haddenham Reserves failed to turn around their current poor run of form when they travelled away to Cheddington in Division 1 and returned with a 3-0 defeat. Haddenham's task was made all the more difficulty when Alan Lewis was sent off with the score at 2-0.

Top of the Table Triumph 11th November 2007 Haddenham United took on league rivals Aston Park in a first versus second clash in the ADL Premier Division on Saturday 10th November 2007 and Haddenham came out worthy 3-1 winners. In a match that was exposed to the blustery conditions, the play from both teams wasn't pretty, and Aston Park probably enjoyed the greater possession during the match, however Haddenham had the clinical touch in front of goal to take all three points and keep up their 100% record at the top of the table. Paul Allenye was again Haddenham's saviour, scoring twice inside the first 25 minutes of the match to put Haddenham in command, with the second goal featuring great build up play from new signings Mark Wiltshire and John Gilbert. The score stayed at 2-0 until the 75th minute, when it looked like a penalty for a Matt Wakelin handball would give Aston Park a way back in the match, but Haddenham 'keeper Ashley Jenkins made a great save to keep the two goal margin. Haddenham then punished Aston Park for the miss by extending the lead to 3-0 when another well worked goal saw Wiltshire power home, and it was left for a last minute headed consolation goal from Aston Park to round off the scoring. It was a good victory for Haddenham, as despite not playing particularly good football, Aston Park failed to create many goal scoring opportunities whilst still grabbing goals at the other end to win the match. One negative from the game though was young midfielder Aaron Rogers going to hospital with torn ankle ligaments, which will keep him out of action for 4 weeks. Haddenham Reserves were up against Bletchley Town in the Berks and Bucks Junior Cup second round, and despite their best efforts, fell to a heavy 7-1 defeat. David Hawes got Haddenham's goal early on in the match, and James Ward missed a penalty whilst the score was 3-1, which could have got Haddenham back in the match, but instead Bletchley powered on and ended up worthy winners, despite also missing a penalty of their own along the way.

Berks & Bucks Success 6th November 2007 Haddenham United edged through to the third round of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup on Saturday 3rd November 2007 with a hard fought 2-0 home win over Lavendon Sports. With the opposition putting in an impressive performance, Haddenham did well to earn the win. Lavendon were arguably the better side in terms of possession and goal scoring opportunities, but Haddenham's killer instinct saw them convert their chances and win through to the next round. Defender Rob Easton got Haddenham off the mark with a first half headed goal, and then Mike Gladwin secured the win late in the second half when he tapped home after the 'keeper had parried a Paul Alleyne shot. Haddenham Reserves failed to continue their good cup form when they fell to a 4-2 away league defeat against Bedgrove United. Phil Heggie grabbed both of Haddenham's goals but they weren't enough to add to the Reserves' league points tally.

Double Victory 29th October 2007 Haddenham United enjoyed a double win on Saturday 27th October with the first team winning away at Jakeman Sports in the league and the reserves winning at home against Cheddington Reserves in the ADL Reserver Cup. The first team continued their dominance with a 6-1 winning scoreline. Two goals apiece from Paul Alleyne and Darren Gascoyne gave Haddenham a 4-0 lead at half time, and despite Jakemans pulling a goal back early in the second half, Haddenham made sure with further goals from Aaron Rogers and Antony Dawson. The reserves advanced in the ADL Reserve Cup with an excellent 5-3 win over Cheddington Reserves. Haddenham started brightly and took the lead after 5 minutes with the first of many flowing moves that were a feature of the game. Gavin White crossed deep into the box from the right where the ball was headed back by Jake Rea to debutant James Hawes who coolly picked his spot giving the keeper no chance. Regular followers of the reserves will know that a confident start and early lead can only mean one thing and sure enough Cheddington followed the script perfectly. A free kick from 35 yards out was pumped speculatively in the general direction of the goal evading defenders and attackers alike before gently brushing the back of Captain James Ward and nestling in the goal. Cheddington soon added a second from what had now become a fairly scrappy performance from both teams and there was a real feeling of déjà vu as the game wore on. Undeterred the team dug deep and another flowing move that started on the left ended with Rob Gadowski delivering a precision cross from the right which was met by Hawes making a perfectly timed late run, heading home his second goal and putting Haddenham back on equal terms. Thoughts of getting to half time on equal terms were soon dispelled when just before the break Cheddington broke free and scored a well taken goal to restore their lead at the interval. The second half saw Haddenham really take control of the game. Within minutes of the restart Hawes completed his well deserved hat trick when he calmly placed his shot into the corner of the net following a save from a fierce Dave Sidor shot. We had to wait another 25 minutes for the goal that broke the deadlock. Rea won the ball on the edge of the Haddenham area and delivered a defence splitting pass to the hard working Will Smail who finished superbly. The game was wrapped up 5 minutes later when Dave Sidor latched onto a through ball from Rea and smashed the ball past the keeper to cap a very good second half performance. This was a well deserved win for the reserves that saw a great debut by James Hawes, a return to fitness and form for a number of players as well as a really good all round team performance. The hope now is that the same team will be available next week (which will be a first this season!) and that this form can be translated into 3 points next Saturday.

HUFC Babe Sponsorship 25th October 2007 Haddenham United is proud to announce that Aylesbury based tyre fitting company, Total Tyre Solutions, are sponsors of the HUFC Babes page on the website. To mark the launch of the partnership, popular HUFC Babe and villager, Tracy Kiss, visited the Total Tyres workshop for some promotional pictures. The Aylesbury based tyre, exhaust, brakes, batteries and general servicing specialists have a fully equipped workshop on the Broadfields Industrial Park, situated next to the Drive-Thru McDonalds, and Tracy had fun posing with two racing motorbikes that Total Tyres also sponsor, as well as also jumping in the middle of a stack of tyres! Please show your appreciation for Total Tyre's support by considering them for all your tyre and general servicing needs in the future.

New Article - So Far So Good 25th October 2007 Haddenham United First Team Manager, Kevin Poole, takes time out for another monthly article, with his view on how the season is panning out and his thoughts for the future. Visit the articles page to read the article.

Close Win 22nd October 2007 Haddenham United secured a narrow 2-0 victory over Bedgrove Dynamos in the ADL Premier Division on Saturday 20th October 2007 thanks to late goals from Kevin Poole and Paul Alleyne. Fielding a somewhat weakened side, Haddenham found Bedgrove hard to break down for the majority of the match, but Player Manager Kevin Poole finally broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to go when he poked home in a crowded penalty area. Paul Alleyne then made the scoreline a little flattering when he broke in to the box and finished from a wide angle in the last minute to secure the 3 points. It was a scare for Haddenham, as Bedgrove had arguably had the better chances in the match, and but for better finishing, should have got more from the game. However, Haddenham keep up their 100% record in the league and still sit in second place, a point behind Aston Park who have played a game more than Haddenham. Haddenham Reserves had a tricky away fixture at Hale Leys United. With Hale Leys placed second in the league table, and Haddenham propping up everyone at the bottom, it was always going to be a tough match for Haddenham to get anything out of, and indeed this was the case as Haddenham fell to a 6-2 defeat. Going 1-0 down early on, Haddenham equalised when a low Jake Rea corner was deflected in to the net by a Hale Leys defender, but Hale Leys regained the lead to be ahead 3-1 at half time. The second half saw Hale Leys continue to extended their lead, going 6-1 up before the goal of the game saw Darren Gascoyne find the top corner from the centre circle. It was little consolation though and Haddenham still look to find a consistent run of results to move themselves away from the bottom of the league.

HUFC Babe in Nuts 19th October 2007 Haddenham United have again been featured in Nuts Magazine, the popular weekly lads mag. HUFC Babe, and villager, Tracy Kiss, is seen sporting the club's warm up t-shirt in a photo from her HUFC Babe shoot last season. Tracy has just given birth to her first child - a daughter, Millisent Teresa Grace Kiss, but despite being a little bit out of shape following her pregnancy, she will be back in the colours of Haddenham United sooner than you'll think! Watch this space!!! Congratulations to Tracy on her new arrival, and also a big thanks to her for helping to promote the club through her work.

First Team Survive Scare 15th October 2007 Haddenham United survived a minor scare in the Aylesbury District League Premier Division on Saturday 13th October 2007 when they came from 2-1 down to eventually beat the Black Horse 7-3. With the Black Horse just behind Haddenham in the league table, the game was to be a good test, and the first 20 minutes of the match backed this up, with both teams matching each other. However, Haddenham's Nando Perna was brought down in the box for a penalty midway through the half, stepping up to convert the penalty himself, and giving Haddeham the lead. The Black Horse got back on level terms before the half time break though when their first shot on goal managed to sneak its way past Ashley Jenkins in the Haddenham goal. The second half then saw Haddenham concede again to go 2-1 down, and doubts were setting in as to whether Haddenham would be dropping their first points of the season. The pressure was eased when Denal Thomas got a headed equaliser, and then Nando Perna scored the goal of the game minutes later when he ran through from midfield and cooly finished. Haddenham were now back in charge, and a delicate goal from David Champ put Haddenham 4-2 up, and despite the Black Horse making things interesting again by getting back to 4-3 with 5 minutes left, Haddenham put on a later goal surge when Rob Smail, Paul Alleyne and Darren Gascoyne all netted to give Haddenham a good victory. It was good news for Haddenham Reserves too, as they got their first competitive win of the season with a 4-2 home victory over Quainton in the ADL League Cup. Will Smail was the star of the show with a hat-trick, with Guy Currie making up the scoring, and the victory was more than well deserved. The Reserves now hope that this win gives them the confidence to go on and get the victories their performances deserve.

HUFC Holly! 12th October 2007 Another big name in the world of modelling has taken time out to pose in the royal blue kit of Haddenham United, this time in the form of Holly McGuire. Aside from her modelling, Holly is probably best known for her acting role in ITV's Footballer's Wives series, but she has of course now topped this by becoming a HUFC Babe!

Win at Wing 8th October 2007 Haddenham United won through to the second round of the Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup on Saturday 6th October with a dominant win over North Bucks side Wing Village. With the two sides being closely match in the past, from when both clubs used to play in the ADL, the match was due to be a good test for Haddenham's new look side, and it was a test that Haddenham came through with flying colours. After starting the game the better team in terms of attacking posession, Haddenham were the first to find a break through when David Champ did well to get on the end of a left wing cross and direct his header back and inside the near post. Goalscoring machine, Paul Alleyne, then quickly added a second goal, and Haddenham maintained their two goal lead until the half time break. The second half saw Haddenham continue from where they left off, and winger Shoehi Yamakashi made it 3-0 when he broke through and calmly finished. Aaron Rogers then saw his cross deflected in for an own goal to make the score 4-0, before the goal of the match saw left winger Ben Lazaruk power home a thunderous left foot drive from 20 yards in to the top left hand corner. Wing grabbed a late consolution goal when the referee somehow saw an off the ball push, but the match was aloready well and truely tied up for Haddenham, and minutes later the final whistled signalled Haddenham worthy winners. Haddenham Reserves continued their poor run of results when they lost in the league at home to Thame Town. After finding themselves 3-0 down after just 25 minutes, Haddenham were facing an uphill struggle to get anything out of the game. But as Haddenham pushed forward in search of a reply, extra gaps were left at the back and Thame capitalised to extend their lead to 5-0 before the end of the game and end up convincing victors.

Eleven Heaven