Sandridge triumph after lively second half

HSCL Premier Division

Sandridge Rovers 3 Bovingdon 0

SANDRIDGE Rovers followed their superb win at Baldock with a tensely fought 3 – 0 victory over Bovingdon.

The first half was relatively quiet as neither side was able to create a meaningful chance. After the break, however, the game became somewhat livelier.

First, Phil Turner profited from a storming run by Arron Woodcock to put Rovers ahead. Ross O’Flynn was then brought down by a boisterous challenge from the Bovingdon ‘keeper. Both were booked in the ensuing confrontation and saw red when they clashed again soon after.

When the football resumed, Josh Galloway put Rovers 2-0 up with a mazy run and shot and although the hosts suffered the setback of losing Jamie-Ray Jack to a second yellow for petulantly kicking the ball away, they sealed a 3-0 win through Samir Hadi.

The Reserves overcame Chipperfield Corinthians 3-2 in an epic countryside battle. They took a confidence-enhancing early two goal lead, when Chris Wickens powerfully headed home Joe Johnson’s corner with his trusty head and the much-missed Matty Youngs eluded the offside trap to nutmeg the keeper. The visitors’ advantage was halved after an unfortunate defensive mix-up at a corner, but soon restored when Youngs created space for himself to despatch a stunning overhead volley.

The hostile hosts came out with a renewed sense of purpose in the second half and soon breached the Sandridge defence. But the longer Sandridge frustrated Chipperfield, the less corinthian they behaved. Chipperfield’s playmaker was sent off for two dangerous tackles, whilst Sandridge returned home battered but not beaten by any means.