NEWS ARCHIVE

First Team Unlucky Against Thame Town 27th April 2009 Haddenham United were on the wrong end of a 5-2 scoreline at home against Thame Town in the ADL Division 1 on Saturday 25th April 2009, but despite the somewhat convincing scoreline, the match was a lot more finely balanced, with the game capable of going either way midway through the second half. Kicking with the wind in the first half, Haddenham struggled to get on the end of through balls and at the other end, Thame managed to gain themselves a three goal half time lead. The second half saw Haddenham play better against the wind, and minutes after the restart Haddenham had pulled a goal back through David Sidor, who pounced at the near post following a low cross from substitute Brady Natale. Minutes later, Natale did the scoring himself when he cooly slotted home from 10 yards after tricking the Thame 'keeper out of position. The match was now finely balanced and the next team to score would probably go on to win, but unfortunately for Haddenham, after having a penalty appeal turned down for a foul on Luke Fisher, the next team to score was Thame, who then extended their lead with a fifth goal in the final minutes to take all three points. Meanwhile, Haddenham Reserves played their last game in their ADL Division 3 Subsidiary Cup group away at Sparta Royals, and needing a convincing win to have a good chance to go through to the knock-out stages, got the win with a 5-1 victory. A hat-trick from James Essex, and single goals from Alan Lewis and Jonny Nunn earned Haddenham the win, and they must now wait until next week's match between Lugershall and Aylesbury Park Rangers to find out if they go through to the semi-finals, with Lugershall 3 points behind in the group table and equal on goal difference.

Defeat for Reserves 24th April 2009 Haddenham United Reserves were on the losing end of a 3-1 scoreline when Stone Magnets visited Haddenham in the ADL Division 3 Subsidiary Cup on Saturday 18th April 2009. Craig Bryson got his first goal of the season to score for Haddenham, but it wasn't enough in reply to Stone's three goals, leaving Haddenham joint second in the group table.

Trio of Games 14th April 2009 It was a busy Easter Bank Holiday weekend for Haddenham United, starting with a first team match away at P & IC Utd on the Thursday night, and ending with two home games on the Saturday afternoon, with the first team taking on Downley in the league and the Reserves facing Lugershall in the Division 3 Subsidiary Cup. Thursday night's game proved to be a frustration from when the fixture was announced right up to the final whistle. It was a big ask for Haddenham to field a team on a midweek evening as far away as P & IC Utd, especially when Haddenham had a free Saturday the week before, and having turned up with a makeshift line up to fulfil the fixture, sadly had to surrender to a 7-0 defeat for their efforts. The first team's Saturday fixture saw a more even match, with a competitive game ending in a narrow 2-0 win for the visiting Downley Albion side, and the following Reserve team match saw a very entertaining 4-4 draw, with youngster Brady Natale stealing the show, helping Haddenham come back from 3-1 down to score all four goals.

Victory In Subsidiary Cup 7th April 2009 Haddenham Reserves won their first ADL Division 3 Subsidiary Cup match on Saturday 4th April 2009 with a 4-3 win away at Aylesbury Park Rangers. It was the third time Haddenham had beaten the same opposition this season, with 4-2 and 3-2 wins in the league, and another high scoring game saw Haddenham take the spoils again. A hat-trick from Brady Natale and a single goal from Joe Farnell earned Haddenham the win, but 3 goals in reply made for a tense finish.

Reserves in Home Defeat To Wingrave 31st March 2009 Haddenham Reserves fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Wingrave Reserves at home in ADL Division 3 on Saturday 28th March 2009. Having gone a goal up through youngster Brady Natale, Haddenham were in complete control in the first half, and should have been more than one goal to the good at half time had it not been for a fine series of saves by Wingrave's goalkeeper. The second half saw Haddenham continue to ask questions of the Wingrave 'keeper, but he always had an answer, pulling off save after save to keep Wingrave in the match, and this proved to be valuable when Wingrave capitalised on two Haddenham defensive mishaps to steal two goals and end up 2-1 winners. It was a game Haddenham should have won comfortably, and at least deserved a draw, but up against a great goalkeeping performance, Haddenham unfortunately failed to get anything from the match.

Disappointing Defeat 28th March 2009 Haddenham United fell to a disappointing 3-0 home defeat at the hands fo the Dairy Maid in an ADL Division 1 fixture on Saturday 21st March 2009. In a match that saw two goalkeeping injuries force Haddenham in to having three different goalkeepers during the 90 minutes, it was a game to forget for Haddenham. Despite beating the same opposition in the reverse fixture, it was a game Haddenham struggled to make their mark in, and the Dairy Maid left with a 3-0 victory.

Rearranged Fixtures 20th March 2009 Contrary to the previously reported fixtures for Saturday 21st March 2009, Haddenham United will be taking on the Dairy Maid in an ADL Division 1 match at home, and the Reserves were due to play their League Cup match against Bierton. However, the Reserve match is now cancelled, due to Haddenham not being able to field a side. Luck would have it that many players are unavailable for selection, coupled with many other players cup tied for the Reserves, having played for the first team in previous rounds of the same competition. The cancellation sees the end of the Reserves' impressive cup run, but up against Premier Division leaders, Bierton, the Reserves would have been hard pressed to progress any further.

Victory Over Quainton 19th March 2009 Saturday 14th March 2009 saw Haddenham United travel to Quainton for a ADL Division 1 game that both sides had to win. Carrying on from the previous weeks good performance, Haddenham started the brighter and created three excellent chances in the first 15 minutes and it seemed only a matter of time before the opening goal would be scored. On 15 minutes the breakthrough came when Skipper James Hawes scored his fourth in four games with a wicked dipping free kick from 40 yards that the stranded goalie could only wave at as it passed him on its way into the net. Haddenham continued to press forward but couldn’t capitalise on their superior possession and the last 10 minutes of the half saw Quainton gradually coming back into the game. Half time discussions were about keeping it tight and raising the level of play to ensure the opposition, who were now playing with the wind, weren’t given any early encouragement. Naturally this meant that within 10 minutes of the kick off Quainton were on level terms after a careless pass was intercepted in midfield and the resulting run and cross from the right wing was met unchallenged in the box and headed into the Haddenham goal for a well taken equaliser. A few months ago this would have signalled a collapse but the growing resilience of the team meant this is not the case anymore. Neat passing and good movement saw the Quainton defence opened up time and again with Haddenham’s efforts getting their just rewards when Dave Sidor latched onto Hawes’s through ball on 65 minutes’ and finishing coolly to make it 2 - 1. Quainton responded well and had Haddenham penned in their own half with a succession of corners and free kicks for a 10 minute spell but the much improved defensive qualities of the team and Crispin Satchell and Jake Rea in particular stood firm and dealt with everything that came their way. Having weathered the storm Haddenham took the upper hand and the remainder of the game was played out in the Quainton half. Meanwhile, Haddenham Reserves took on Lugershall at home in the ADL Division 3. A bad start saw Haddenham go 3-0 down within the first 15 minutes, but a good fight back saw Andrew Lambie, Mark Faul and Nathan Coleman grab the goals to get Haddenham back on level terms before the end of 90 minutes. Haddenham 'keeper Glenn Paul was Haddenham's Man of the Match, keeping Haddenham in the game with several fine saves, and Lugershall nearly grabbed the win in the last 10 minutes of the match when they saw a shot hit the cross bar.

Reserves Earn Great Win 9th March 2009 Haddenham Reserves earned a great win away at Bedgrove United Reserves on Saturday 7th March 2009, defeating the ADL Division 3 league leaders by two goals to nil with goals from youngsters Jonny Nunn and Andrew Lambie. Had Bedgrove United Reserves taken victory from the fixture, it would have sealed the league title for them, proving the greatness of Haddenham's win, and it was a well deserved win, with Haddenham the better side throughout the 90 minutes. Haddenham took control of the game within the first few minutes of kick-off, with a backwards header from a Bedgrove defender going towards his own goal, hitting the inside of the post and rolling across the goal line for right-winger Jonny Nunn to tap in for an easy finish. This spurred Haddenham on to a solid first half performance, albeit wind assisted, and the half time lead should have been more than just the one goal, with Gonzarlo Goy hitting the bar with a long range shot and Andrew Lambie forcing the Bedgrove 'keeper in to some drastic action to prevent Haddenham extending their lead. The second half was a continuation of the first half, with Haddenham battling against the wind but still maintaining their periods of possession and dominance. The wind did see Haddenham 'keeper Glenn Paul called in to action more than the first half, but he rarely had a decent shot to save. At 1-0, as in any game, the score is never enough to fall back on, and it was important that Haddenham grabbed a second to put the game beyond Bedgrove, and with 15 minutes to go, Andrew Lambie was unselfishly put through by Brady Natale inside the penalty area, and a cooly placed Lambie shot from the right hand side of goal nestled inside the left hand post to cap a fine Haddenham victory. The remainder of the game saw temperatures rise as frustration set in from the home side, but the game ended without any real incidents and Haddenham were left to celebrate a well earned 3 points.

Nunn Fires Reserves to Cup Victory 2nd March 2009 Haddenham United Reserves continued their impressive ADL League Cup run on Saturday 28th February 2009 with a well earned 2-1 home victory over Long Marston Reserves. Veteran Steve Nunn, whose son Jonny also plays in the side, earned the Man of the Match reward for the two goals which sent Haddenham through to the next round. With the scores level 0-0 at half-time, Haddenham had to defend for the majority of the first half and did well to keep the score sheet blank, but an improved second half performance saw Haddenham turn the tables and look like the team who would open the scoring. And it was Steve Nunn who did eventually break the deadlock when he stretched to poke home from a tight angle on the left hand side of goal, with the Long Marston 'keeper frustratingly seeing the ball squirm underneath him and in to the net. Haddenham' lead was short lived though, as Long Marston found an equaliser 10 minutes later to put the match finely in the balance, and just when it looked like the match would go to extra time, up stepped Nunn again to grab a dramatic last gasp winner direct from a corner kick. Long Marston appealled for a foul on the 'keeper as the ball sailed in at the near post, but the reality was that the 'keeper had simply missed the ball, and the goal stood, sending Haddenham through to the next round. Following the disappointment of last week’s performance, Haddenham United First XI were looking to bounce back with three valuable points away at Tring Corrie Colts. The game started brightly with both teams playing open attacking football and chances being created at both ends. The Tring keeper was kept busy making a string of outstanding saves including an athletic triple save preventing Richard Surnam scoring when put through one on one by a defence splitting pass by James Hawes. Just after the half hour mark we witnessed two minutes of action that summed up the game. Haddenham had a lucky escape when a quick counter attack from Tring ended with a long range effort rebounding off the post with keeper Jamie Avery left stranded. The ball was cleared from this near miss and Haddenham immediately counter attacked, putting Luke Fisher through with just the keeper to beat. Once again the Tring keeper proved his value to the team by pulling off a fantastic double save, clearing the ball quickly up field and setting up another attack. This time Tring took full advantage of their opportunity and scored the first goal of the match, holding on to finish the half leading 1-0. The second half saw Haddenham tighten things defensively and push for the goal to get on level terms, creating several good chances in the first 10 minutes. After 20 minutes a forced change in formation, as Haddenham lost their second left back in the game due to injury, saw youngster Brady Natale come on to make his debut in a five man midfield and have an immediate impact showing confidence and invention in his play. The pressure on Tring was growing and eventually paid off with the ref giving a penalty for handball. Up stepped James Hawes to score his third goal in three games smashing the ball past the outstretched hand of the keeper. The game continued to be very open although Tring’s chances were more limited than in the first half. It was beginning to look like Haddenham would have to settle for a hard fought point when with 3 minutes left Natale made his most telling contribution to the game. Picking the ball up in his own half he raced forwards, spotted the Tring keeper off his line and scored an audacious goal from just over 40 yards with a sweetly stuck shot that left him no chance. The performance was just the response that the manager had demanded and while overall a draw would not have been an unfair result it was great to see the team battle to the end and get a reward, and 3 precious points, for their efforts.

League Defeat But Success in the Cup 27th February 2009 Haddenham United crashed to a disappointing defeat against Bedgrove Dynamoes in the ADL Premier Division on Saturday 21st February 2009. Looking to return to their pre-Christmas form, the team failed to come to terms with what is probably the tallest team in the league and the effects of not being able to play or train in recent weeks. Bedgrove controlled the game and used their significant height advantage well throughout and through a combination of good play and individual errors were deservedly two up within 20 minutes. Haddenham skipper James Hawes provided one of the few highlights of the game for Haddenham with a superb individual effort. Picking up the ball in his own half he beat four players before coolly finishing from the edge of the box giving the Bedgrove keeper no chance. This should have settled the team but some quick thinking by Bedgrove, and poor discipline by Haddenham, saw the home side take a 3 -1 lead into half time after exploiting a quickly taken free kick while Haddenham were still organising themselves. The second half saw an improvement from a defensive point of view although not many chances were being created. With about 10 minutes remaining Bedgrove took advantage of the space being left as Haddenham tried to push forward and scored their fourth and final goal, deservedly winning the match by 4 goals to 1. Haddenham Reserves enjoyed success when they travelled away to Tring Corrie Colts in the Tom Sparkes League Cup, winning 3-1 and setting up a tie against Long Marston Reserves in the next round. Haddenham lead 3-0 by half time with 2 goals from Joe Farnell and the other from Johnny Nunn. Tring got a goal back in the second half but Haddenham deserved to have won by a much greater margin as there was only one team in it.

More Postponements 19th February 2009 Both of Haddenham United's matches fell victim to the weather again on Saturday 14th February 2009. A heavy frost made the pitches too hard and unplayable, meaning that the first team's match at home to Downley Albion and the reserves' game at Tring Corrie Colts had to be postponed for another day.

Snowed Under 9th February 2009 Not to anyone's surprise, Haddenham United's home match against the Dairy Maid on Saturday 7th February 2009 was postponed due to snow. Snow had fallen several times during the week, causing major disruptions to travel networks, and Haddenham's pitch was no exception to the conditions, finding itself under 2 inches of snow on the Saturday afternoon. Days gone by might have seen a broom used to sweep all the lines and an orange ball, but the sub-zero temperatures meant the snow had turned hard and the pitch was definitely un-playable.

Defeat Against Wendover 5th February 2009 Haddenham United suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Wendover on Saturday 31st January 2009 in an away ADL Division 1 fixture. After Haddenham's previous five games unbeaten run, the defeat was an upset for the form book, and First Team Manager Mike Rea is keen to start another unbeaten run with the visit of the Dairy Maid on Saturday. However, nationwide weather conditions have seen heavy snowfall during the week, with the Haddenham pitch under 3 inches of snow on Thursday morning, so it is unclear whether the match will survive the conditions and go ahead.

Clark Grabs Late Winner 26th January 2009 Another ‘must win’ game for Haddenham United against fellow strugglers Quainton was played on a very heavy pitch at Woodways on Saturday 24th January 2009. Despite some late enforced changes in the starting line-up Haddenham started the livelier of the two teams, controlling possession in midfield and the makeshift defence looking comfortable with stand in keeper Matt Fisher having very little to do. Chances started to come in the first half with Dave Sidor missing two golden opportunities to open the scoring and Jake Rea failing to convert a teasing cross from skipper James Hawes. Frustration started to grow in the Quainton ranks and shortly before half time one of their midfielders saw red after lashing out at James Hawes. With Haddenham unable to turn superior possession and chances into goals the teams reached half time with the scores locked at 0 – 0. The second half started with the home team dominating possession but failing to create any real clear cut chances with Quainton defending superbly and determined to hold on for a valuable point. As the game approached the last 20 minutes Haddenham started to push hard for the goal they needed, committing players forward but coming up against a resolute defence. With 10 minutes remaining substitute Ben Clark (who, but for a traffic jam, would have been playing in goal) was introduced to try and repeat his feat of scoring a late goal as he did against Wendover. With three minutes remaining the gamble paid off when Clark went on a characteristic rampaging run. James Hawes spotted him and delivered a pass with Clark lobbing the keeper to score his second goal in three outfield appearances and earn forgiveness for being late! Overall this was a well deserved but hard fought victory that sees the upturn in results for the young Haddenham first team continue with the whole squad contributing well to the improvement.

First Team Match Bizarrely Abandoned 21st January 2009 Following the recent improvement in results, Haddenham United travelled to Dairy Maid looking to continue their good run. The game started scrappily with both sides squandering possession and the home team creating the better chances as Haddenham struggled to impose any pattern on the game. A period of sustained pressure by Dairy Maid saw a series of dangerous corners delivered from the left and right which in the 25th minute resulted in a goal scored off the post directly from an in swinging corner. This seemed to act as a wakeup call for Haddenham, as immediately from the restart they suddenly remembered how to play, controlling the midfield and putting the Dairy Maid defence under pressure with veteran Alan Cook and Captain James Hawes controlling the central area, and Scott Bryson causing major problems for the home team down the right wing. Ten minutes before half time saw the balance tip further in Haddenham’s favour with a Dairy Maid player receiving a straight red card for a rash challenge on defender Tom Leathers. Taking advantage of their numerical superiority Haddenham pressed forward and got their just rewards with youngster Matt Fisher scoring his first goal for the club (and his first goal since he was 12!) with a well taken shot from 25 yards that left the keeper with no chance. The second half started well with Haddenham taking full control and within 5 minutes took the lead when Jake Rea scored a superb volleyed goal from the edge of the box which again left the keeper with no chance. The game continued in much the same way until the 78th minute when the Dairy Maid keeper saw red. Objecting loudly to a refereeing decision he left the ref with little option but to show him a straight red card reducing Dairy Maid to nine men. Disagreeing strongly with the red card he followed the ref and an altercation followed that ended with the referee abandoning the game. It's understood that the decision on the result of the game will be deferred until the disciplinary hearing for the Dairy Maid keeper but it's hopeful that given the score line, amount of time left and Haddenham’s non involvement in the incident, the result will stand. Haddenham Reserves returned to action for the first time in six weeks with a 4-2 win over AC Meadowcroft. The team showed signs of the six week layoff at the start of the game with the visitors taking advantage to take a one nil lead in what was to prove to be a goalfest of a first half. Charlie Faul replied with a smartly taken finish from 8 yards to level the scoring. The game continued to be evenly balanced and AC Meadowcroft restored their advantage before Mark Faul equalised with a good shot across the keeper making the score 2-2. Just before half time Charlie Faul scored his second with a deflection off the Meadowcroft defender making the halftime score 3-2 to Haddenham. The second half saw Meadowcroft reduced to 10 men following a straight red card for abusive language. Despite the advantage of playing 10 men the game remained fairly even until Johnny Nunn went on a superb solo run, rounding the last defender and finding the back of the net to leave the final score at 4-2.

Frozen Out 13th January 2009 Unsurprisingly, the ADL fixture list saw another weekend of major disruption on Saturday 10th January 2009 with pretty much every match falling victim to frozen pitches, including both of Haddenham's scheduled fixtures. Temperatures dropped as low as -11°C throughout the week, with the cold snap stretching until Saturday evening, making pitches everywhere rock solid.

New Year Thiller 5th January 2009 Haddenham United started 2009 with a home draw against Lane End in the ADL Division 1 on Saturday 3rd January 2009. In what turned out to be an end to end match with the result finely balanced right up until the final whistle, Haddenham came from two goals down at half time to draw 2-2. Haddenham started the match the better team, exerting attacking pressure on the Lane End defence for much of the first half, but frustratingly, Lane End capitalised on two defensive lapses to lead 2-0 at the half time interval. But Haddenham came out fighting in the second half, with substitute David Hawes adding flair to Haddenham's left wing, and Haddenham went in search of the goal which would get them back in the game. It eventually came when Crispin Satchell was pulled down in the area at a corner set piece, and midfielder James Hawes stepped up to score his first goal of the season from the penalty spot. Haddenham were now in rampant mood, mounting attack after attack in search of the equaliser, and it was substitute Joe Farnell who put Haddenham on level terms when he cooly slotted home a left wing cross with 15 minutes remaining. Being pegged back level spurred Lane End in to life and they upped their game in an attempt to regain the lead, and created several half chances in front of the Haddenham goal, but Haddenham held firm. Haddenham still looked dangerous on the counter-attack though, and coupled with Lane End's frustrations at several refereeing decisions, looked the more likely to score, with substitute Ben Clarke going close with a powerful shot, and Joe Farnell having the best chance just minutes from time, but somehow his snapshot from 8 yards rose over the bar. On reflection, it was a point gained for Haddenham, but it could well have been more for better defending in the first half and more luck in front of goal in the second, but Haddenham still celebrated their comeback on hearing the final whistle. Haddenham Reserves saw their scheduled match postponed for the 4th week running, this time due to a frozen pitch.

Last Gasp Equaliser 2nd January 2009 Haddenham United played out an exciting 1-1 draw against Wendover in the ADL Division 1 on Saturday 27th December 2008. With players still digesting their Christmas turkey, Wendover visited Haddenham for this festive fixture, and a last gasp equaliser from Haddenham's Ben Clarke made for an entertaining match. Having won their first league match the previous weekend, Haddenham were high in confidence, and despite putting in a good performance, saw themselves a goal down going in to the final moments of the match. However, up stepped substitute Clarke, who pounced to score with virtually the last kick of the match, earning Haddenham a well deserved draw, and ending 2008 on a fairly positive note.

First League Win! 22nd December 2008 Haddenham United's first team won their first league match of the season on Saturday 20th December 2009 with a well deserved 2-1 home victory over Bucks CC Reserves. After half a season of re-building and bad luck, Mike Rea's men finally got their first win in ADL Division 1 thanks to a good team performance and goals from Jake Rea and David Sidor. Having lost to the same opponents 7-0 in the away fixture on the first day of the season, the win shows how far Haddenham have come in the season so far, with Haddenham's new look and youthful side now beginning to take shape, get some consistency and build up confidence. With a tight first half ending with Bucks CC taking the lead with seconds of the half remaining, it didn't look too good for Haddenham at half time, but a spirited second half performance saw a long range effort from Jake Rea draw level, and Haddenham's momentum was quickly converted in to a second goal, which would prove to be the winner, when David Sidor got on the end of a deep cross at the far post to head home. Given the circumstances, Haddenham could have got nervous whilst hanging on to their lead, but a calm and confident Haddenham played out the match, limiting Bucks CC to only one half chance, and with Bucks CC reduced to 10 men with a sending off minutes from full time, the win was Haddenham's. The Haddenham players were rightly in high spirits after the match, also knowing that they go in to Christmas with the first win out of the way. Haddenham Reserves' match away at Bedgrove United Reserves was cancelled during the week.

All Washed Out 15th December 2008 The ADL fixture list saw major disruption on Saturday 13th December 2008 with the majority of matches falling victim to waterlogged pitches, including both of Haddenham's scheduled fixtures. Both the first team's away game at the Dairy Maid and the Reserves' home match against Tring Colts had to be postponed after heavy rainfall towards the end of last week saw nearly all local pitches unplayable.

Reserves Hang on for Win 9th December 2008 With Haddenham United's away match at Quainton postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, it was all eyes on Haddenham Reserves on Saturday 6th December 2008 for their home game against Stone Magnets in ADL Division 3. Haddenham got off to a great start with goals from Jon Nunn, a penalty from James Ward and a third from Mark Faul, giving Haddenham a comfortable half time lead. However, Stone came out in the second half looking to turn the game around, and after pulling a goal back, got themselves back in the match. Haddenham still looked to threaten the Stone goal and add to their score, and should have had a second penalty when Mark Faul was clearly brought down inside the box, but only a free-kick outside the box was given. At the other end, Stone were continuing to look dangerous on the break, with a bizarre goalmouth incident that saw the frame of the goal struck three times in quick succession, but Haddenham still kept their 2 goal advantage. The last few moments of the match saw confusion when a Stone forward was flagged offside, the referee waving play on, Stone then winning the ball back from the Haddenham 'keeper and putting the ball in the back of the net. At first it appeared that the referee had disallowed the goal and pulled back play to the offside, but the full time whistle was then blown, and it wasn't until after the match that the score was confirmed as 3-2, and Stone's last minute goal had stood.

Two Lots of Three-Two 2nd December 2008 Both Haddenham teams played out 3-2 scorelines on Saturday 29th November 2008, with the first team losing 3-2 to P & IC United at home in ADL Division 1 and the reserves winning 3-2 away at Aylesbury Park Rangers in ADL Division 3. As well as five goals, the first team's match saw lots of incident, with Haddenham's two-goal hero, and Man of the Match, Jake Rea, controversially being sent off late on in the match, and it wasn't a defeat Haddenham deserved. The Reserves enjoyed being on the right end of a 3-2 scoreline, defeating Aylesbury Park Rangers with goals from Jon Nunn, Jason Hawes and Steve Nunn.

Field Shield Defence Over 24th November 2008 Saturday 22nd November 2008 saw the Haddenham United bow out of the Field Shield despite a spirited performance against Premier Division Hale Leys. Still struggling with injuries and illness, Haddenham started well and more than matched Hale Leys for the first 30 minutes, creating several good chances with James Hawes, Jake Rea and Matt Willis controlling midfield and the team defending well. The last 15 minutes of the half saw Hale Leys get the upper hand, and after a period of sustained pressure, they scored their first goal when Haddenham failed to deal with a speculative cross which fell kindly for the striker to bundle into the net. A second goal from a corner shortly before half time left Haddenham with a lot to do in the second half. The second half started with the teams evenly matched, although the best chances were falling to Hale Leys, with stand in keeper Jamie Avery and Tom ‘just the two goal line clearances’ Leathers performing particularly well. It was at this point that the injury demon struck again with Willis having to come off, forcing the midfield to be reshaped. Haddenham’s frailties from set pieces were exposed once again when a Rory Delap style throw was hurled into the six yard box and was promptly headed into the back of the net. The formation was changed with the introduction of Lambie as Haddenham pushed for a way back into the game. Not for the first time this season the use of the final substitute has been the cue for injury to strike and Haddenham to play out the last 25 minutes with 10 men. Following keeper Ben Clarke’s two fractured ribs last week, defender James Bird went one better and fractured three ribs in a challenge with the Hale Leys left winger. The incident was completely accidental but it was a shame that a few of the players involved found it such a source of amusement while Bird was receiving treatment. Another change in formation saw more gaps opening and led to two more goals for Hale Leys with the fourth being the goal of the day. The right winger drifted inside and unleashed a tremendous strike from 25 yards that was still rising as it hit the back of the net. Haddenham Reserves shared 7 goals in a tight match against Lane End Reserves in a home ADL Division 3 fixture, but unfortunately it was Haddenham who lost to the odd goal, losing 4-3, despite having once led 3-1. Veteran striker Mark Faul got Haddenham off to a great start when he gave Haddenham the lead just minutes in to the match, and a bundled effort after 25 minutes saw Faul grab a second to double Haddenham's lead. Haddenham were now well and truely in the driving seat, but a Lane End goal against the run of play changed the dynamics of the match, and the match looked to be finely balanced. So much so that Lane End almost drew level minutes later, but somehow their striker only managed to smack the crossbar from a close range effort, and in typical football fashion, Haddenham broke from the rebound, culminating in Michael Carnell dispossessing the Lane End 'keeper outside the area on the right wing, which saw Carnell then cut inside and square for Faul to grab his hat-trick with a cooly hit shot in to an unguarded net. The second half saw Lane End come out fighting, and having got back in the game with a goal shortly after the interval, an equaliser was found midway through the half, with Haddenham struggling to look like adding to their tally at the other end. The price for this was paid when Scott Bryson brought down the Lane End left winger with 10 minutes to go, and the penalty was converted to give the visitors a 4-3 win. The remaining minutes allowed Haddenham to try and reply, but despite Lane End having a man sent off towards the end, an equaliser couldn't be found.

First Team Unlucky 17th November 2008 Haddenham United found themselves unlucky losers in their ADL Division 1 fixture against Tring Cories or Saturday 15th November 2008, putting in a good performance but losing out to two well taken goals. Still with an injury hit squad, and with the Haddenham keeper having to be replaced midway through the game through injury, Haddenham rallied together and put in a performance consisting of hard work and flair, but ultimately failed to find the back of the net. Tring on the other hand matched Haddenham for the majority of the game, making for a close fought affair, but had the edge with two good goals - goals worthy of winning such a game. Haddenham Reserves also had a close fought match against Stone Magnets in the ADL Division 3. Having gone two goals down, Haddenham fought back with Steve Nunn catching a fine volley to claw back the first goal, and Scott Bryson lobbing the 'keeper to level the scores. However, the comeback was in vain when Stone grabbed a winner with just 10 minutes of the match remaining.

Narrow Defeat 11th November 2008 Haddenham Reserves suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of Sparta Royals on Saturday 8th November 2008 in the ADL Division 3. With the first team enjoying a week off, a familar reserves side played host to Sparta Royals, and despite dominating possession, failed to score and conceded at the other end to fall to a 1-0 defeat. The first half was quite evenly matched, with Haddenham creating some good chances, but the score sheet was still blank going in to the half time interval. The second half saw Haddenham look for the win but Sparta Royals threw a spanner in the works when they took advantage of time and space in the box to take the lead. Haddenham fought back by camping themselves in the Sparta half for the rest of the match in search of an equaliser, but the goal just wouldn't come, with youngster Charlie Faul hitting the post and some good last ditch tackles from the Sparta defence.

Defeat Against Bedgrove United 3rd November 2008 After the previous week's morale boosting victory in the Field Shield, Haddenham United crashed back down to earth with a 5-1 away defeat against Bedgrove United in the ADL Division 1. It was an under-strength, injury hit Haddenham side though, that battled and competed well, but Jake Rea's 4th goal of the season was all they had to show for their efforts. Haddenham Reserves enjoyed a comfortable Division 3 win at home against Aylesbury Park Rangers. The father-son forward line of Mark and Charlie Faul proved too hot to handle for the Park Rangers' defence, with youngster Charlie grabbing a hat-trick of goals. Haddenham's other goal came from an own goal, with man of the moment Charlie Faul pressurising the opposing keeper in to a near post fumble. The clubhouse was host to Haddenham United's Race Night fundraising event after the matches, with an impressive £640 raised towards the running of the club, so thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to the event.

Comeback in Field Shield 27th October 2008 Haddenham United staged an amazing comeback in their Field Shield tie against Great Milton on Saturday 25th October 2008. As the current holders of the Field Shield, Haddenham looked to be heading out at the first hurdle after finding themselves 3-0 down at half time, but a great second half comeback saw Gonzalo Goy send Haddenham through to the next round with a last minute goal to earn the home team a well deserved 4-3 win. Attacking against the wind in the first half, Haddenham found it difficult to defend against Milton's long ball tactics, with Milton's pacey forwards getting on to the long balls and causing problems for Haddenham's defence, and a combination of good skill and Haddenham mistakes saw Milton take advantage of the wind with a 3-0 half time lead. Haddenham didn't let their heads drop though, and got back in the game early in the second half when a Jake Rea corner kick was deflected in at the near post, and from then on it was game on! Youngster Andrew Lambie then clawed back another goal when he lashed a powerful shot in to the net, and Jake Rea amazingly got Haddenham on level terms with an almost carbon copy of his first goal, finding the inside of the near post direct for a corner kick. Haddenham were not going to settle for extra time and applied pressure looking for a winner, and it came courtesy of striker Goy with just seconds left on the clock, poking home a loose ball from 6 yards. It was a well deserved victory for Haddenham, who tried to play good passing football throughout the match and didn't let their heads drop despite the half time deficit. Haddenham Reserves travelled away to Wingrave in a Division 3 fixture and despite a close match, two penalty kicks from James Ward weren't enough to gain any points, with the home team winning by 3 goals to 2.

First Team Narrowly Out After Extra Time 20th October 2008 Saturday saw an improving Haddenham team deliver their best performance of the season, in the Thomas Sparkes League Cup. Facing Premier Division Wingrave it took 10 minutes for Haddenham to get into the game but once settled they started to get the upper hand, dominating midfield and creating a number of good opportunities to open the scoring. Despite this good start it was Wingrave who opened the scoring when the Haddenham defence failed to clear the ball and a sharp finish from the edge of the six yard box saw the visitors take the lead. In previous weeks this has been the signal for a mini collapse but on this occasion Haddenham regrouped and pressured Wingrave to get back on even terms. Not long before half time this positive approach was rewarded with a superb individual goal by Gonzalo Goy. Picking up the ball just outside the left hand side of the box, Goy tormented the Wingrave defender before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net. Half time arrived with the scores at 1-1 and Haddenham in the ascendancy. The second half started with both teams playing positive football but Haddenham continued to shade it in terms of possession and quality so it was almost inevitable that the next goal would be against the run of play. A firmly struck shot was brilliantly saved by debutant keeper Ben Clarke, deflecting the goal bound shot onto the crossbar with the Wingrave striker being the first to react to steer the ball into the net. Just a few minutes later saw what was almost a carbon copy with a hopeful Wingrave effort rebounding from the crossbar and the Haddenham defence not reacting quickly enough allowing the alert visitors to prod home to take a 3-1 lead. With 25 minutes to go Andrew Lambie, the reserve team leading scorer, replaced Goy to make his debut for the first team and was soon in the thick of the action and making his presence felt. Having already signalled his intent with his strength and direct approach he chased a ball down the left channel easily beating the defender before delivering an inch perfect cross into the box which was headed in for a well deserved goal by Jake Rea. The last 10 minutes saw Haddenham pressing for the equaliser, creating numerous chances but failing to find the finishing touch. With 30 seconds remaining Haddenham won a corner which Rea delivered with pinpoint accuracy onto the head of Crispin Satchel whose bullet header found the back of the net and the scores were level, taking the game into extra time. Within five minutes of the start of the first period of extra time Wingrave had restored their lead with their best goal of the match, a beautiful wind assisted strike from fully 30 yards which left Clarke with no chance. Haddenham again worked hard to equalise and created a number of great scoring opportunities right up to the last minute but couldn’t turn these into the positive result that their efforts deserved. Whilst the final score of 3-4 (AET) was harsh on the home side there were many positives to be taken from this performance and it is hoped that this will be the springboard to a run of good results in the league.

Mixed Fortunes 13th October 2008 It was a weekend of mixed fortunes at Haddenham United, with the first team falling to a 4-0 home defeat against Olney Town Reserves in the Berks & Bucks Junior Cup and the Reserves winning 3-0 away at Bedgrove Dynamos Reserves in the ADL Division 3. The first team put in a spirited performance but again a lack of cutting edge in attack saw Haddenham draw a blank in front of goal, leaking 4 at the other end to spell out another defeat. A lackadaisical refereeing performance frustrated both sides in the process, resulting in another confidence knocking weekend for the first team who will again hope their fortunes will turn for the next match. Haddenham Reserves have been enjoying more of a fruitful season so far and they picked up another league win with their 3-0 victory at Bedgrove. 16 year old Andrew Lambie continued his impressive goal tally, grabbing the first goal, with fellow youngsters Nathan Coleman and Jon Nunn completing the scoring. With Reserve Team Manager Alan Lewis playing for the first team, Assistant Terry Day took charge of the Reserves, satisfied with the team's performance - "We played very well today. Andrew Lambie took his goal really well, lobbing the keeper from 20 yards, and he nearly repeated it later in the game but the ball just went wide of the post."

Reserves Out of Cup 6th October 2008 Haddenham Reserves were dumped out of the ADL Reserve Cup on Saturday 4th October 2008 with a 5-1 home defeat against Wendover Reserves. However, the 5-1 scoreline was a bit flattering for the away side, with the game finely balanced for the majority of the match and a late flurry of goals giving the scoreline an uneven look. Kicking with the wind in the first half, Haddenham enjoyed vast amounts of possession and territorial advantage, but a lack of cutting edge in Haddenham's attack saw Wendover notch the first goal with a fine lob over 'keeper Chris Paul. Haddenham fought back straight away though and equalised within minutes through Andrew Lambie's seventh goal of the season. But despite Haddenham getting back on level terms, Wendover frustratingly put themselves ahead again before the half time break, knocking Haddenham's confidence. The second half saw Wendover enjoy the advantage of the wind but the scoreline stayed at 2-1 until late in the game when a mix up in the Haddenham defence allowed for a sloppy Wendover goal, and despite good chances falling to Andrew Lambie and Steve Nunn, Wendover converted two late chances of their own to go through to the next round. Haddenham first team continued their run of poor form and luck when they went down 6-0 away to Berkhamsted Sports in the ADL Division 1. With confidence in the team at a low before the game, two controversial goals early in the game effectively ended hopes of a positive result. Berkhamsted's first goal was a very controversial penalty and the second goal was given despite the scorer having been flagged for handball in lead up to the goal. Haddenham went on to play some good football, as they have done for the majority of the season so far, but again typical of Haddenham's fortunes so far, luck wasn't on their side and another defeat goes down against them.

Past Few Weeks 2nd October 2008 The last three games have seen the Haddenham United first team continue their run of disappointing results. Away at Lane End the team produced a much improved performance, taking a deserved lead with a well taken Dave Hawes goal. The initiative was given away with three soft goals before half time and with the team chasing the game and reduced to 10 men for the final 35 minutes, the result was inevitable even if the score line of 6 – 1 was a little flattering to Lane End. The home game against Bedgrove Dynamoes again saw a depleted team put in a good performance but unfortunately the lack of a cutting edge proved to be the downfall with Bedgrove running out 2 – 0 winners. Last week’s game against Thame Town saw Haddenham play some good football in spells against a physical Thame side more interested in frustrating Haddenham's players than actually playing football. That being said, it was a successful approach as they ran out 4 -0 winners with Haddenham playing 45 minutes with only 10 players. Haddenham Reserves have had a little more success, winning at 5-3 at home against Begrove Dynamoes with goals from Andrew Lambie (2), Scott Bryson, Simon Ellis and James Ward. This was followed by an away victory against Ludgershall, with Alan Lewis and Nathan Coleman scoring the goals for a 2-0 win. It was defeat last weekend though when Andrew Lambie got the only goal in a 4-1 home defeat to Bedgrove United.

Updates Notice 9th September 2008 Please note that there won't be any updates to the website between today, 9th September and 28th September, due to the webmaster going away on holiday for two weeks. The website will be updated soon after this period. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Two League Defeats 9th September 2008 It was a bad weekend of ADL fixtures for both Haddenham teams on Saturday 6th September 2008, with the first team losing 5-0 at home to Bedgrove United and the Reserves losing 7-1 away at Lane End Reserves. The first team started their Division 1 match kicking against the wind and found it hard to make any in-roads to Bedgrove's defence because of this, whilst Bedgrove capitalised to score two long range efforts to give them a 2-0 lead midway through the first half. An own goal by Jamie Avery meant Haddenham went in at half time 3 goals down, and with Bedgrove adding a 4th from a corner just minutes in to the second half, and the wind dying down as the game went on, Haddenham eventually ended up 5 goals in deficit. The Reserves were always up against it after going 3-0 down just 10 minutes in to their Division 3 match, and despite a goal from Andrew Lambie, crashed to a 7-1 defeat.

Chairman's Cup Clash 5th September 2008 Haddenham Reserves took on the Haddenham Under-17 Youth Team on Thursday 4th September 2008 in the first leg of the Chairman's Cup. The Chairman's Cup is designed to bring the senior and junior clubs together, bridging the gap for when junior players move up through the rnaks to the senior ranks. Held as a two leg final, one match is played pre-season, with the other close season, and the Under 17 team take a 3-2 lead in to the second leg after a closely fought win. Haddenham Reserves went 1-0 down early on when 'keeper Phil Heggie was rounded and Barry Ward failed to clear on the line in a last ditch attempt, but Joe Farnell got the Reserves back on level terms when he converted a Scott Bryson cross. Nathan Coleman then latched on to a James Essex through ball to slot home and put the Reserves in to the lead, but a second half comeback from the Under 17's saw them grab an equaliser, followed by the winner with just 10 minutes of the match remaining. With some great young talent out on the pitch and both terms enjoying the club atmosphere in the clubhouse after the match, the Chairman's Cup is certainly achieving what it sets out to do, and hopefully both clubs will benefit from its success.

Mixed Start 1st September 2008 Haddenham United kicked off the new season on Saturday 30th August 2008 with two new look sides in the Aylesbury District League. This season's first team, which is primarily last season's reserve team, played their first Division 1 league match away at Bucks CC Reserves, and despite a good start to the game, fell behind to a well struck long range effort after 15 minutes and never recovered. The home side quickly made it 3-0, and with a break for an air ambulance to land on the field for the adjacent Stoke Mandeville Hospital 30 minutes in to the match, Haddenham had the opportunity to regroup for the restart but Bucks CC effectively killed the game off with a 4th goal before half time. The second half saw Haddenham again start the better side in terms of possession and commitment, but Bucks CC were able to sit back, absorb the pressure and counter attack, adding three second half goals to win the match 7-0. Not the best of starts to a new season, but there were a few encouraging signs from the performance and the players and management will be keen to turn things round quickly with a better result this coming weekend. Meanwhile, Haddenham's new look reserve team played their first match in Division 3 and in contrast to the first team, impressively won the game 10-0. Goals from Andrew Lambie (3), Joe Farnell (3), Scott Bryson (2), Nathan Coleman and Will Wallace earned the win for the youth orientated side.

New Kit Launched! 27th August 2008 Haddenham United are proud to launch the new home kit for the 2008/2009 season, sponsored by PLT - Peter Timberlake, a general builder in Haddenham, and a former player at the club. Kindly modelled by village model, and a well known face to many website viewers, Tracy Kiss, the new Adidas kit of course takes on Haddenham's traditional royal blue with white trim colours, and keeps Haddenham United right up to date and ahead of the rest when it comes to football fashion. The new kit will be worn by the first team for at least the next two seasons, but unfortunately a sponsor has yet to be found for a new reserve team kit. Model Tracy loves helping out her local village club by modelling the club's kits, and she particularly liked this new kit, "It's made with really soft and light weight material. I might have to get a shirt to wear out as a dress!" The kit will be worn for the first time in this Saturday's opening league fixture away at Bucks CC Reserves. More images of the new kit can be seen in the HUFC Babes gallery.

Bierton Win Challenge Cup 18th August 2008 Bierton won this season's Haddenham Challenge Cup with a dominating 4-0 victory over Long Crendon on Wednesday 13th August 2008. Contested in wet and windy conditions, Bierton always had the upper hand, creating many good opportunities with Long Crendon's strangely familiar side limited to just a few half chances. Played in memory of Bill and Joan Marshall, and their grandson Roy Hutton, the cup was presented by Bill and Joan's son, Ian Marshall.

Haddenham Challenge Cup Semi-Finals 8th August 2008 The semi-finals of the Haddenham Challenge Cup were played on Tuesday 5th August and Thursday 7th August, with Bierton and Long Crendon going through to contest Wednesday's final. Bierton progressed thanks to a 3-1 win over Bucks CC on the Tuesday evening, with Long Crendon joining them in the final with a 10-0 win over Haddenham in Thursday's tie. Despite losing by ten goals, Haddenham's new look first team played well and matched Long Crendon for the majority of the game, but Crendon had the firepower to make their chances count and run out winners. Wednesday's final will be played at Haddenham with a 6.30pm kick off.

Tracy's a Star! 28th July 2008 Haddenham United were again mentioned in the national press on Sunday 27th July 2008, again thanks to local model, Tracy Kiss. Tracy has entered the Sunday Star's 'Foxy Football Fan 2008' competition, and is seen in the paper in the old first team kit, an image she had taken by the club for the HUFC Babes feature on the website two years ago. The club wishes Tracy all the best in the competition, which still has a week to run, so all you Haddenham United supporters out there - get voting! And the good news is that with the new first team kit expected for delivery in the next couple of weeks, Tracy has already agreed for another series of pics in the new kit, so watch this space!

New Season - New Club 10th July 2008 After the ups and downs what was last season, Haddenham United have taken the decision to consolidate their position and strive for a more home-grown club. The result is that last year's first team is no more, with last season's reserve team taking the club's first team status whilst remaining in the ADL Division 1. A new reserve team will then be formed in ADL Division 3, consisting mainly of youth players from the Haddenham Youth Football Club, forming a link between the senior and junior clubs and allowing the Under 17/18 players from the youth team to come through and make the step up to senior football. It is a radical change for the club, which was in a way forced on the club after the controversy of last season, but it is a new direction that many club officials and supporters have welcomed, with more home-grown players likely to come through the ranks and in to the senior teams. Last season's Reserve Team Manager, Mike Rea, will continue to manage his team under their new 'first team' title, with Alan Lewis taking charge of the new reserve team. The club also welcome's back ex-player Terry Day as part of the first team management team, helping Mike Rea with his managerial duties, with Simon Ellis helping Alan Lewis with the reserve team. Phil Heggie will take up the position of club coach, taking training for the whole squad every Wednesday evening at Haddenham Playing Fields. Training for the new season has already started, and any new, current or former players are welcome to come along and join the club.

League Withdrawal 3rd July 2008 Haddenham United have been forced to withdraw from last season's ADL league season due to two separate instances of fielding senior players. As previously reported, rival teams in the league expressed their anger at Haddenham still winning the league title, despite the club being punished for the infringements to the letter of the Berks & Bucks rules, but at a specially arranged meeting between Haddenham United, the ADL and the other teams involved, Haddenham withdrew from last season's league, making Bierton the new winners by default. Haddenham United would like to stress that the withdrawal is by no way an admission of guilt in regards to accusations of cheating, as the fielded senior players were fielded innocently and named on the team sheet, meaning Haddenham weren't aware of their senior status and weren't trying to hide anything and gain an unfair advantage. Haddenham also feel that the fielded players didn't influence the result of the matches they played in, and the points won from the games would probably have still been won if the senior players hadn't of played, but this of course can't be proven. Haddenham were therefore reluctant to withdraw for these reasons, but with the threat of being voted out of the coming season's league, decided to write off last season and give the other teams what they wanted. The Field Shield victory is not effected, with Haddenham United still winners of this cup. It's now time for Haddenham United to put last season behind them and move on with a new direction, and preparations for the new season started last night with the first session of pre-season training, and the club is also due to hold its Annual General Meeting tonight (3rd July) at 8pm.

Annual General Meeting 9th May 2008 Haddenham United are to hold their Annual General Meeting on Thursday 3rd July 2008 at Haddenham Sports and Social Club, starting at 8.00pm. The meeting is a chance for all past and present players, supporters and anyone else linked with the club to come along and have their say about the running of the club. This year's meeting is due to be an important one, with a first team manager for next season still not confirmed, and with loose ends left over from the end of last season still yet to be tied up. Haddenham are due to have a meeting with a Berks & Bucks FA representative, the ADL and 7 ADL clubs on Sunday 22nd June, so to discuss the Berks & Bucks FA ruling that prevented Haddenham from being docked 19 points after fielding two separate senior players. Haddenham weren't aware the two players in question were of senior status until complaints against them were made, and they were both innocently named on the team sheet for each of the matches played. However, Berks & Bucks FA rules say that the ADL could only dock Haddenham 3 points for the first instance and 1 point for the second, much to the frustration of the other teams in the league. It is hoped that the meeting will help resolve the issues and the current ill-feeling within the league.

Youth Team Triumph 19th May 2008 Haddenham United's Reserve Team took on the more senior players from Haddenham Youth FC in a Chairman's Cup friendly on Saturday 17th May 2008, with the youth team running away with a 5-2 victory on the day, and a 9-7 victory on aggregate, with the Reserves winning the first friendly 6-4 in pre-season. James Hawes and Dave Sidor grabbed the Reserves' goals, but it wasn't enough to conqueror a young, lively and spirited side. With the main purpose of the Chairman's Cup to bring the senior and youth clubs closer together, it is now hoped that many of the youth players will now make the step up to the senior sides during the summer in preparation for next season. With the Chairman's Cup named after HUFC President Norman Mead, the cup was presented by the man himself, with an afternoon in the club house watching the FA Cup Final for both teams after the game.