WELCOME TO HOLMER GREEN FOOTBALL CLUB
This site best viewed in 800 x 600 resolution

Saturday 26 April 2008
Brimsdown Rovers 1 Holmer Green 1
Holmers’ season finished in upbeat fashion when an injury time goal gave them a deserved point in Enfield. The Greens survived some home pressure in the first period with Simon Williams and Adam Chaumeton having the best efforts for the visitors. However they did lose Monji Miah with a back injury early on, and he was replaced by Alvin Rajaram. HT 1-0
The second half started with Holmer’s minds still apparently in the dressing room. A 46th minute corner was met unchallenged by the Brimsdown centre-half who volleyed comfortably home past a static defence. The same Rovers’ player then got himself sent off on the hour, with some ill-chosen words to the Referee. This gave Holmer the chance to reorganise, and Tom Davies was sent on for Luke Harman with the defensive cover being reduced to three only. Initially the Greens did not make any impact on the ten men, but as time wore on they became much more likely to score. Davies cut in at speed on the right and was grounded desperately by the ’keeper. But the Referee seemed to give the custodian the benefit of any doubt as the shot went into the side-netting. The home’ keeper had to be replaced as a result of the collision a few minutes later, but at that stage he and his team-mates may have judged it a price worth paying. Holmer forced a succession of corners which were almost turned into goals. Ben Tew looked extremely dangerous on the Greens’ left, and Rajaram joined Davies in causing problems on the other flank Just when it looked as if their efforts would be frustrated James Williams broke up a Rovers attack near the half-way line. He played a precise ball through to Tew, who moved it on the Craggs. The young striker coolly clipped it past the advancing ‘keeper
Goals from Ben Ashby, Sam Grace, Adam Morris, and Stuart Walker gave the Reserves a comfortable double over neighbours Amersham Town to conclude their season. They finish as Champions by 9 points with 54 points out of 72 over 24 games.
John Anderson

Match Report, Saturday 19th April 2008
Holmer Green 2 Aylesbury Vale 3
Holmer conceded three goals at home for the third time in twelve days, as they went down in an open game to their local rivals. An even first 20 minutes was ended when Simon Williams took advantage of a defensive mix-up to give Holmer the lead. Their lead was doubled by Alex MacDonald only three minutes later. Danny Craggs and Jay Gould both had the possibility of increasing the lead, but the visitors were far from out of it. Ten minutes before half-time Vale were back in the game when defensive uncertainty at a corner was punished by a close-range goal from Melisi.
HT 2-1
The Greens were pegged back level after just six minutes of the centre-half when Melisi held off a defender to a through ball, and rifled a shot high into the net. Holmer then had a good 15 minutes, with Williams and Stevie Groves both coming close. James Williams tried to emulate his namesake, and only an outstretched fingertip prevented his 25-yard shot finding the net. Holmer paid for their inability to profit from their possession on 65 minutes. Schmidt was allowed too much time, and was able to pick his spot.
George Allen and Alvin Rajaram came on as Holmer realised they may not get anything from the game. With ten minutes left the equaliser was invited as the visitors’ goalkeeper was helped out illegally, and a penalty to the Greens was awarded. Surprisingly Alvin Rajaram who scored against Cockfosters from the spot, was ignored. But not surprisingly, so was Andy Wheeler-King who failed from 12 yards in the same match. Perhaps even more surprisingly, Tom Alabaster stepped up. Regular watchers will know that 12 yards is about 5 times further out than his favoured distance! So it proved, as the goalkeeper got some part of his body onto the ball and it bounced up onto the crossbar and back into play well away from the Holmer skipper. Monje Miah was sent on to add further impetus. But Vale held on, despite their ‘keeper having another “moment”. No home player was alert enough to take advantage.
John Anderson

Match Reports 12th April 2008
Holmer Green 0 Hertford Town 3
In Holmer’s previous encounters with Town over the past two seasons, the usually prolific Kevin Cooper has usually been kept quiet. This time however he chose the occasion to increase this seasons’ tally from 39 to 42. Thanks to a poor first half from the Greens, and a smartly taken rebound in the second.
If Holmer’s initial corner which was nearly converted by Luke Harman or Stevie Groves at the far post had been productive, the game may have panned out differently. But immediately at the other end, a forward was allowed to reach the goal-line and his cut back was coolly converted by Cooper at the far post. Five minutes before half-time Cooper struck a fine goal from a loose ball.
HT 0-2
The second half from Holmer was much better, but it was Town who scored again when a Lee Roberts’ shot was well saved by Dave Clark. However, Cooper reacted much quicker than the Holmer defence. Manager Jason Weinrabe used the opportunity to give Phil Clark, Stuart Walker, and Tom Bedder, a taste of Premier Division football. If Holmer can overcome their off-field difficulties they will be in the top division of The Spartan South Midlands Football League again next season. This, as a result of Ruislip Manor’s defeat at Colney Heath which means Holmer cannot be caught with two games remaining. This is an improvement on last season’s final game escape. Also, it is a tribute to the young team and management at Watchet Lane.
Lane End 0 Holmer Green Old Boys 5
Holmer proved that what is effectively their third team can compete with the best that local football has to offer, with this comprehensive win against a very physical opposition. Kevin King grabbed a brace, and the other goals came from Paul Gardner, Nick Little, and Gareth Williams. With Downley Albion going down against Wycombe Judo this week, the Old Boys secure the Runners-Up spot in the Senior Section (top division) of The Wycombe and District League.
John Anderson

Match Reports
Tuesday 8th April 2008
Holmer Green 3 Welwyn Garden City 3
The Greens were heading towards three points until the last 15 minutes when their luck decidedly ran out. Holmer started the game with two opportunist goals from Simon Williams in the first fifteen minutes, Chris Hurst steered the ball home from a Jay Gould free-kick ten minutes before half-time to give the home side a very flattering 3-0 lead. City had created numerous chances against a hesitant Holmer defence, but Dave Clark and lady luck combined with poor finishing kept the goal at the clubhouse end intact. HT 3-0
Holmer was forced into a substitution immediately after the break when Tom Alabaster had to be replaced with Josh Hare. Hurst also came off and Dan Edwards came on after 55 minutes. Holmer had managed to defy Tomkins, the tall visiting centre-forward. But with just 14 minutes remaining he headed in a corner thanks to poor marking and the Greens were immediately under pressure. The turning point of the game came when the Assistant Referee at the far end harshly adjudged a Holmer defender to have deliberately handled on 86 minutes, and Parratt scored from the spot. It was all City now, and a long cross was finished off at the far post by Purcell to complete the comeback. A fair result, but definitely “defeat snatched from the jaws of victory” as far as Holmer are concerned.

Stony Stratford Reserves 1 Holmer Green Reserves 2
The Ressies travelled to North Bucks and avenged a League Cup quarter-final defeat to clinch the Reserve Division Two West title with two games in hand. Stony Reserves, the only team capable before the match of denying Holmer the trophy, were beaten by goals from Alvin Rajaram and Nick Little.
Team: Simon Mines, Nick Loftus, Brad Holt, James Tripp, Stuart Walker, Dave Waites, Rajaram, Steve Perry, Ben Ashby, Alex MacDonald, and Little.
Substitutes: Tom Bedder, Christian Williams, Phil Clark.

Match Report, Saturday 5th April 2008
Cockfosters 2 Holmer Green 2
Holmer travelled to the end of the Piccadilly Line via the M25 and came away with a point, after a very even game. Cockfosters had very much the better of the first half and took the lead after only five minutes. Dave Clark and a defender misjudged the situation and collided, leaving O’Connor to tap the ball in. Although the home side mainly controlled the first 45 minutes they failed to add to the score. Paul Batchelor, returning from a fairly long-term injury for Holmer, lasted only 10 minutes. Chris Hurst came on, and with Monge Miah looked solid on the Holmer right flank.
HT 1-0
With the rain starting just before the break, and continuing, the pitch became very greasy. On the hour, Cockfosters played Holmer back the compliment of giving away a soft goal, and Danny Craggs kept his head to lob home from 20 yards. But he home side went back in front after Miah had gone close and Alvin Rajaman had come on for his debut, through a deflected Ewing shot after Holmer failed to clear the ball. Holmer were soon back in the game, though, as the home side seemed to tire. A penalty was awarded but Andy Wheeler-King was thwarted by the’ keeper. Bizarrely, Simon Williams was then carded for “diving” when all present, except seemingly the Referee, thought it was more of a penalty than the one awarded. But with Holmer now looking much better, another penalty was given when George Allen was brought down. This time Rajaman stepped up, and coolly placed it into the net. Dan Edwards then came on, fresh from the relatively nearby Emirates Stadium - where he had seen Arsenal draw with Liverpool alongside Josh Hare. The Greens comfortably held on for a point, and nearly snatched all three. In the last minute Edwards had a shot blocked, and the rebound fell to Stevie Groves whose effort suffered a similar outcome.
Team: Dave Clark, Andy Wheeler-King, Paul Batchelor, Stevie Groves, James Williams, Tom Alabaster, Monge Miah, Jay Gould, Danny Craggs, Simon Williams, George Allen.
Substitutes used: Chris Hurst, Alvin Rajamah, Dan Edwards.