Saturday’s match was a North London derby in the AFA Senior Cup Preliminary Round between Winchmore Hill and Enfield Old Grammarians.
And it turned out to be an easy afternoon's work for the home side, who ran out 9-0 winners.
Hill play in the Southern Amateur League’s top division and were runners-up in last season’s Senior Cup, so I had an idea they would rack up a few goals against their neighbours.
Heavy showers had been forecast but it was dry and sunny throughout the afternoon, though there were rumblings of thunder in the distance.
The match took The Barber to 6,718
The train from King’s Cross was packed, with every seat taken and people standing. Surely they weren’t all going to the match?
No, I was the only one who got off at Winchmore Hill. What a let-down.
A crowd round the touchline that ultimately swelled to 38 saw Hill take the lead after just three minutes, their number ten expertly glancing in a far-post cross with his head.
Enfield defended stoutly and threatened to score themselves several times, Hill’s debutant ‘keeper ‘Tobi’ making some outstanding saves.
It was 3-0 at the break but the OGs were by no means out of it.
The match was an AFA Senior Cup Preliminary Round fixture
The plucky visitors capsized to 9-0 in the second half. I walked round the huge ‘Paulin Ground’ – there were three matches going on simultaneously – near the end to ensure catching the 17.04 back to KC and watched the last minute through a gap in the hedge.
During that minute Hill scored twice. They are now at home to old adversaries Nottsborough in the next round.
When Redhill of the Isthmian League’s Division One South last reached the Fourth Round Qualifying of The FA Cup, back in 1972, I saw them draw 0-0 at Hillingdon Borough and then lose the replay 1-0 before a 1,000+ crowd at the Memorial Sports Ground, their former HQ in the centre of town.
I was with FA Competitions Manager Steve Clark for that replay 42 years ago and we were standing together behind the goal for Redhill’s Third Round Qualifying tie at Greenwich Borough on Sunday.
The Barber was one of a crowd of 38 to witness the rout
Greenwich, Ian Wright’s club before Palace spotted him at 21, share Dartford FC’s Princes Park and play in the Southern Counties East League, a level below Redhill. It was one of those matches that could have gone either way.
You couldn’t fault the visitors for effort but they were a bit short in attack and lost to a goal scored seconds before half-time.
My other results last week, with attendances in brackets, were: Hanwell Town 2 Aylesbury United 1 (121), Pearson 2 Ballivia 5 (3), England 5 San Marino 0 (55,990), and Greenwich Borough 1 Redhill 0 (227).
David Barber, aka ‘The Barber’, joined The FA as Sir Alf Ramsey’s assistant after the Mexico World Cup in 1970 and has been its historian for the past 35 years. He has been to nearly 7,000 football matches at all levels but has lost none of his enthusiasm!
