FOCUS ON NEWENT TOWN FROM THE HELLENIC LEAGUE DIVISION 1 WEST: AN INTERVIEW WITH BEN STRINGER...

NEWENT TOWN FC

Newent Town, The Daffs, began life in 1920 it appears but most of the club's football has been played in the Gloucestershire County League, or the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League. Switches were made between those leagues until 2017-18 when Newent joined the Hellenic League Division 2 West division, albeit still being members of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League from which they were expelled for playing weaker teams when fixtures clashed!

The club won the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League Division 2 in the 1972-73 season and more recently the Reg Davis Trophy was claimed in both 2015 and 2016 but with the new challenge of the Hellenic League ahead at Wildsmith Meadow, Town couldn't have hoped for a better start, winning the division at the first attempt. 14 victories, 4 draws and only 2 defeats saw them amass 46 points with a goal difference of +51.

Last term, The Daffs finished 9th from 12 in the Hellenic League Division 1 West, with 6 wins, 4 draws and 12 defeats. Their goal difference was -24 and 22 points were gathered.

Manager Ben Stringer has kindly answered some interview questions and his comments are featured below...

Why was the decision made to move to the Hellenic League?

"We made the decision because after many conversations with different personnel within the Hellenic set-up, it was obvious that they like to see clubs progress and the league supports them in doing so. We have seen many examples of it, with Forest Green being one. However, we felt that the Northern Senior League was holding us back with little opportunity for advancement.” 

What were the clubs aspirations at the time?

“Newent has always had the dream of playing in the FA Vase and the FA Cup’s preliminary rounds. When we first started talking about it many years ago though, it was all just a bit of a far-fetched dream but now we are on the verge of making these dreams become a reality.” 

Did you expect promotion at the first attempt? 

“I don’t think we actually knew what to expect coming into the Hellenic 2 West division. We knew we had built a good side but the belief came after beating the previous year’s champions in our first game, winning 2-0 at home against Bourton Rovers. Momentum was with us from then on.” 

I saw the draw at Moreton. How important was that result to the club would you say? 

“We knew before coming into the game that we had to get some kind of a result away against a resilient Moreton side. We always played to win but found it difficult breaking them down, then a late equaliser put us firmly in the driving seat for the league title and if you had heard some of our celebrations afterwards, you would have realised how much it meant to all involved! That said, we still had a job to do in our last couple of games.”

THOMAS HAS DIVED IN TO HEAD THE ALL IMPORTANT EQUALISER AT MORETON TO VIRTUALLY CONFIRM PROMOTION TO HELLENIC 1 WEST...

What expectations did you have at the start of the 2018-19 season? Consolidation or something better? 

“If I’m being honest I felt we could find ourselves among the top 6 sides in the league; we had knocked Saracens out of the Cup in our Hellenic 2 season and we only lost to Easington because of a couple of penalties in the next round. So with those experiences under our belt we felt confident that we could compete.” 

We’re you satisfied with your 9th position in the league? 

“Having lost some key players from the previous season and finding it hard to replace them at short notice, our season wasn’t going quite as planned. We struggled to score goals having lost John Thomas to Fairford and also we lost our main centre-back at the time, Shaun Stanley which saw us suffer, especially through the early part of the season. I think we grew stronger as the season wore on though and proved ourselves against the top end of the table teams again. So I’m happy with the way we progressed of course but satisfied with 9th, I will never be.” 

JOHN THOMAS,9, A LOSS...

What difficulties did the lads have at the higher level would you say?

“We are one of the youngest sides in the league I think, so we did struggle a little with the physical side of the game at times, but more than that we needed to learn to use our heads more. There are some experienced sides in our league with some very clever players, so our lads had to learn and to learn quickly.” 

Has the club always played at Wildsmith Meadow? 

“No we haven’t always been here. One of the oldest records we have is an old picture from 1920 when we used to play on the Newent Recreation Ground in the middle of the town. We didn’t move here until around 1977 when a member of the Wildsmith family donated the ground to us.” 

LOOKING SMART AT THE GAME v CHELTENHAM SARACENS RECENTLY...

Was it always an intention to work on ground improvements during the 2018-19 season or was it a necessity? 

“We have steadily improved this ground each year over the past 10 years but this year we really had to work hard to get the grandstand in, ready to meet Hellenic Division 1 requirements and also the paths around one side of the pitch. It was a fantastic achievement by all involved, with lots of kind people helping and putting their hands in their own pockets but it’s now moved us up another level and will hold us in good stead for the future.” 

What are your expectations for the 2019-20 season?

“I want us to be involved at the top end of the table this year but as we all know it’s easier said than done! I truly believe in the lads I have with me. The mood around the club at the moment is also fantastic which will help and there is a real togetherness with this squad that makes me think they believe they can do something special if they stay together.” 

STRINGER'S GOAL v FAIRFORD, PRE-SEASON LAST TERM...

Your skipper has retired, so are you expecting to make personnel changes for next season? 

“We are looking to bring in new players this season to hopefully fill the void of our departing Captain and improve our squad but we also already have some good characters in the dressing room that I’m sure are ready to step up and be counted.” 

With Malvern Town joining your league for next term, the division might well be stronger. What are your thoughts about the opposition you will face? 

“Personally I think it’s great that we have a few new sides coming in. With Easington and Pewsey Vale both leaving, we have less travelling, some tasty local derbies and more good local grounds to go to. The division certainly looks stronger now which will only prepare this year’s eventual league winner better for the Premier Division, so we see it as a positive step forward and we can’t wait for the challenge.” 

Any departures or new signings so far? 

“It’s still that funny time before pre-season at the moment when nobody quite commits to signing, so I don’t have any names in the hat yet. However, I feel that our enquiries have gone well and it doesn’t look like we are going to lose too many lads this year either, which to me is our main objective as another year together will make us stronger anyway. I have promoted our reserve team’s Manager Jamie Henderson up to 1st team coach and I’m going to bring in a ‘number two’ and a physio’ this year which will be some good improvements. So hopefully our pre-season goes well and we can start the season as we mean to go on.”

Ben Stringer, Newent Town FC’s Manager… 

KENILWORTH TOWN FC: THE ARENA'S ONGOING WORK... AND THE FARTHING GALLERY, HIGH ST, KENILWORTH...

THE FARTHING GALLERY...

NOW, THIS PLACE IS WORTH A VISIT...

BRANDON MARSH ON THURSDAY...

HERON

TUFTED DUCKS

CORMORANT

LITTLE GREBE

HOBBY

SHOVELER

GADWALL

 GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER & CHICK...

AVOCET

LINK TO ST FAITH...

 PLEASE CLICK ON THIS MESSAGE TO CHECK OUT MY BLOG ABOUT ST FAITH...

STAPLEFORD TOWN 1-6 SOUTHWELL CITY: THE REPORT & MORE IMAGES...

Southwell Punish League Champions Stapleford & Take The Notts Senior League Cup

Stapleford Town 1-6 Southwell City

(Notts Senior League Cup Final, played at Basford United FC)

Stapleford finished their league match at Southwell earlier this season with nine men on the pitch and lost 1-0, but this time a pair of dismissals proved even more costly: they lost a cup final and by a painful score of 6-1. Certainly the first dismissal was accepted by Town defender James Hunter with good grace, for he had hauled down City’s Oli Clarke in a goalscoring situation just after the interval with Southwell already 0-2 ahead. However, a later foul by Luke Guadagni, centimetres outside his own penalty-box and also on Clarke led to his red card which seemed harsh, unless of course, the defender made some comment to the officials, like “Are you sure that was a foul, my good fellows?” Anyway, Town played much of the second-period with nine men and were naturally caught on the counter-attack too often as Southwell gleefully accepted their gifts.

BOWLES, LEFT, THINKS HE'S SPOTTED A WEED IN THE 3G...

"I KNOW MY HAIR'S SHORTER BUT DID I DESERVE A SHORTER SHIRT TOO?"

Jon Nussey, his hair somewhat shorter than I had seen in images, had already nabbed a brace before the break and subsequently he completed his hat-trick with the penalty resulting from Hunter’s foul on Clarke. Unsurprisingly, Nussey would receive the game’s MVP award. Replacement George Caudwell broke twice to score goals four and five for City and although Stapleford forward Adam Hassall chipped Southwell ‘keeper Ryan Fletcher to claim a consolation goal, Callum Law finally scored a deserved goal in added time to complete the rout. Realistically, the tie was wrecked by the dismissals, whilst several times, the referee seemed uncertain and was a little tardy to arrive at the scenes of misdemeanours but that job is a fraught one and few folks watching yesterday would have done it better, I guess. 

MITCHELL IS WARNED FOR TWO EARLY FOULS...

THE REF IRRITATES RODRIGUEZ AND HASSALL...

One character stood out from the start though and that was Town’s forward Junior Rodriguez… His early rushes to the byelines caused Southwell some concern and one such sortie early on led to a short cross which was fumbled at his near post by Fletcher but then cleared by a defender. However and understandably, Rodriguez was certainly not enamoured by the main official’s performance. City’s left-back Dan Gleeson and Rodriguez had clashed near the start and Gleeson had pushed the Town player in the chest, leading to a dramatic fall by Rodriguez as if he had been shot by a Colt 45 at the notorious O.K. Corral gunfight in Arizona. From thence, following cautions for the pair, the incensed Rodriguez remained an unhappy player, despite his tricky footwork on occasions. During the first period for Town a couple of right post headers by the huge Aaron Mitchell dropped wide, following free-kicks by Jack Upton and then Ben Smedley, before Smedley drove too high, after a smart one-two attack involving skipper Owen Brown and the indefatigable Michael Robb. 

RODRIGUEZ HAS BEEN PUSHED...

...& SO HE AND GLEESON GET CAUTIONED...

However, the big miss for Stapleford came when Smedley slipped leading goalscorer Hassall into the left side of the 18 yard box but the striker’s shot, with the outside of his right boot, sliced away past the far upright. Southwell had benefited from two goals by Nussey of course, the first a left-boot volley from 15 yards, after a left-side throw had been headed upwards and away by Mitchell. The ball flew past goalie Rikki Turner into the bottom right corner of goal. Nussey scored again when his defence stifled Rodriguez as the Town man made his way to the left byeline. A combination of Ieuan Plume and Ant Brown led to Stewart Gill firing a long pass through inside-right, whereby Nussey wrestled past Guadagni and drove the ball left-footed past Turner and inside the right stick. 

GOAL ONE BY NUSSEY...

UNBRIDLED JOY...

0-2 NOW & NUSSEY IS THE SCORER AGAIN...

Nussey also lobbed a near post header from a left-wing corner by influential skipper Chris Bowles onto the roof of the net and one the best circus moments of the encounter occurred when Mr Rampage, Will Stocks found a seam and smacked a low drive straight at Turner, who appeared to be off balance and fell backwards as the ball flew off his boots and away for a left-side corner. We liked that…

STRONG HEADER BY MITCHELL...

THE REF FURTHER ANNOYS RODRIGUEZ, AS SKIPPER OWEN BROWN LISTENS...

Gill received a booking late in the half but in truth Stapleford, despite a rally late in the half, had appeared stunned by the two goals conceded and when they had attacked, the Browns, Ant and Dan, were in belligerent moods for City and had been unwilling to offer Hassall or Rodriguez any real openings. The interval was signalled, folks drank more beer, the artificial pitch was heavily watered and I, after being virtually alone to the left of the Southwell dugout, was soon joined by some City supporters and thus my commentary would include some ‘crowd atmosphere’ during the second period… 

HASSALL HAS SHOT WIDE...

LOOKS LIKE AWFUL WEATHER, BUT IT ISN'T...

HASSALL THINKS ABOUT HOW HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN HIS EARLIER SHOT...

Clearly, the match was effectively over near the beginning of the second-half when a terrible mix-up involving Town gloveman Turner on his own 18 yard line let in Clarke who would surely jog the ball into the net. Er, no, because Hunter scythed his prey down and was exiled from the 3G. There was only going to be one spot-kicker and Nussey duly obliged with a shot into the left corner of the net. Turner barely turned…

0-3 NOW: NUSSEY HAS NETTED HIS PENALTY...

GAME OVER, I GUESS...

Yes, Town managed to provide a left post header for Rodriguez which deflected off Plume for a corner, plus a long Mitchell volley which was going well wide anyway before it took a deflection and also a Hassall effort which drifted well off target. However, all went awry for the Champions when Guadagni fouled Clarke and after consulting his assistant, the Town defender was given his marching orders by the panting referee. As Town understandably left gaps in defence in a gallant attempt to fight back, Law experienced a frustrating half on offense for City. He saw a shot from the inside-right channel saved, his smart, low free-kick which resulted from Guadagni’s dismissal was tipped past the left upright by Turner, although the referee failed to spot that, even though his assistant, much further away, had. Law drove another effort past the left upright, then after an angled drive at the other end by Hassall had been beaten out by Fletcher, Gleeson broke on the left for City and set up Law with a smart pass from left to right but the forward struck his shot into the side-netting.

GILL (8) WAS CURIOUSLY INCENSED WHEN GUADAGNI, RIGHT, WAS DISMISSED...

Law drove in a shot from inside-right too, 8 yards out but the ball struck Turner’s feet and only a superb challenge on Clarke by substitute Ryan Stark saved the situation for Stapleford. Nussey had another shot well blocked by Robb, who went down several times with what seemed like cramp but the Town midfielder simply refused to give up. Stocks (does he have shares?) shot wide for City but it was Caudwell who killed the game with two breakaway goals. First, from defence, Nussey broke towards the half-way line on the left and timed his pass perfectly for Caudwell to run onto and despite the fact that Clarke was free to his right, Caudwell drove the ball easily past Turner, who had been isolated by his absent defence.

0-4...

CAUDWELL, CENTRE, THE SCORER...

Almost immediately, Caudwell got clear again but this time carefully chipped his effort over the helpless and advancing Turner and suddenly, City led 0-5. 

CAUDWELL AGAIN: 0-5...

Hassall did break onto Stark’s long kick to employ a chip of his own over Fletcher to reduce the arrears slightly but eventually, as the referee was checking his watch after ninety minutes had been played, another Southwell substitute Sam Robinson (the other City Robinson replacement, Tom, ought to have been greeted with a fans’ chant of “2-4-6-8 Robinson…” but wasn’t, sadly…) fed Law clear and this time he rounded the hapless Turner and buried the ball into the empty net, before collapsing with relief onto the 3G.

NO CELEBRATION FOR HASSALL'S GOAL...
NOT ENOUGH PLAYERS ON THE PITCH, IN TRUTH...:)

NUSSEY LEAVES TO QUITE AN OVATION.
HE SHOWS US HIS NEW HAIRSTYLE TOO...

LAW OF AVERAGES: LAW FINALLY SCORES.
1-6...

THE CUP-WINNING FEELING...

The left-back for Stapleford Ben Cheatle was cautioned late on although he had experienced a tough first period against Clarke in all honesty but when Rodriguez had eventually been replaced by Town, it was likely for his own well being, for his frustrations had worsened. Fair play to him for taking part in the awards ceremony along with Hunter though.

THE GAME IS OVER...

Certainly Bowles, Stocks and Gill (is this a firm of lawyers?) drove their team from midfield, the Browns defended with relish, whilst Nussey, Law, Clarke and Caudwell played their parts effectively in the City offense. For Town, skipper Owen Brown, sub. Dunne, Upton, Smedley and especially Robb, battled throughout, whilst Hassall foraged and Rodriguez spasmodically fizzed in attack.

READY FOR GIFTS...

It was a pity that the dismissals took something away from the event but Basford hosted it rather well, despite some embarrassing bellowing at the end from one or two inebriated persons, who were not wearing the black and white of Southwell… Just saying…

'KEEPER FLETCHER CAN'T SPOT THE CAMERAS...

ALL SMILES...

FLETCHER HAS FINALLY BEEN TOLD WHERE THE CAMERAS ARE...

Congratulations to Southwell for finishing their season on a high but Stapleford held the comforting thought that they had already tied up the League title… 

TEAMS:

STAPLEFORD TOWN:

RIKKI TURNER, OWEN BROWN (CAPT), BEN CHEATLE, JAMES HUNTER, AARON MITCHELL, LUKE GUADAGNI, MICHAEL ROBB, JACK UPTON, JUNIOR RODRIGUEZ, ADAM HASSALL, BEN SMEDLEY.

SUBS:

KALLUM DUNNE, EMMET EDWARDS, KOBI HUDSON, MARK MIDDLETON, RYAN STARK.

SOUTHWELL CITY:

RYAN FLETCHER, IEUAN PLUME, DAN GLEESON, DAN BROWN, ANT BROWN, CHRIS BOWLES (CAPT), WILL STOCKS, STEWART GILL, JON NUSSEY, CALUM LAW, OLI CLARKE.

SUBS:

BLAIR BRYANT, TOM ROBINSON, SAM ROBINSON, GEORGE CAUDWELL, JACK TOOLEY.