‘Derby still a massive occasion for us’ says Danny Fitzgerald after goal and win gives Colney Heath spoils against London Colney

London Colney V Colney Heath - Jack Metcalfe makes a save for London Colney. Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

The midfielder pounced three minutes after the break to seal the 2-0 win over London Colney with centre-half Sean Doolan, another former Blueboy, getting the opening goal.

London Colney V Colney Heath - Joe Price of London Colney gets away from Colney Heath's Shaun Murphy. Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

And with the Magpies littered with players and staff who count the Cotlandswick club as former employees, the desire to clinch the win was obvious.

London Colney V Colney Heath - Chris Griffin for London Colney vies for possession against Harry Lewis for Colney Heath. Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

Fitzgerald, himself a former skipper of London Colney, said: “There are quite a few of us in the team who played down here for a number of years until it changed ownership.

London Colney V Colney Heath - London Colney skipper Joe Reynolds talks to the referee . Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

“And after being the skipper down here, it’s always nice not only to come back and win but to score as well.

London Colney V Colney Heath - Chris Blunden in action for Colney Heath. Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

“It meant a lot to win and although we’re not playing for a lot in the league, the derby is always a big game.

London Colney V Colney Heath - Josh Humbert in action for Colney Heath. Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

“Some of the players on their team are a lot different so I don’t know about them but for the guys on our team, when we were here, it was always a massive occasion.

London Colney V Colney Heath - Dan Westmore in action for Colney Heath. Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

“It’s still the same being on the other side of the fence.

London Colney V Colney Heath - Dan Westmore for Colney Heath battles with London Colney's Joe Price. Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

“It’s a big game and we always treat it that way.”

London Colney V Colney Heath - Dan Westmore for Colney Heath battles with London Colney's Joe Price. Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

The match was a classic derby if not a contest overflowing with quality.

London Colney V Colney Heath - Joe Price for London Colney battles with Josh Humbert for Colney Heath. Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

Colney Heath were worthy winners too, dominating the second period after a fairly-even first half.

London Colney V Colney Heath - Tom Blackman for Colney Heath. Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

They got the three points in spite of Chris Blunden’s penalty miss before the break, the shot cannoning back of the frame of the goal, and also had a Greg Shaw effort cleared off the line.

London Colney V Colney Heath - Ryan Thompson, manager of Colney Heath. Picture: Karyn Haddon (Image: Archant)

Bobby Armstrong came closest for the hosts with a header that glanced off the top of the crossbar.

And Fitzgerald says the success, a first Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division win in 2019, and the manner of the performance could be the start of a strong finish to the campaign.

He said: “We’ve struggled for goals as well as wins but we battle hard and we won this battle.

“For two weeks we struggled for a team of players for various reasons but they’re all coming back now and hopefully for the remainder of the season, if we keep the squad fit, we can go on a little run.”

Both sides are on the road on Saturday. Colney Heath head to Leighton Town while London Colney visit Cockfosters.