A thumping 45 minutes on Tuesday evening saw the Lilywhites race into a 5-0 half time lead against Enfield Borough last time out, with the game ending 5-2 to Hoddesdon. That result further lifted Hoddesdon up the table to the dizzy heights of 15th place, having spent much of the season in the bottom three. Simon Riddle's men are unbeaten in their last seven league games and have lost just twice in the last 12 games in all competitons. There was a tinge of regret from both management and players post match, after conceding two late goals in the second half during the midweek game, but that is perhaps a measure of how far the side have come in recent weeks, looking for the negatives in a resounding win. That said, the team should be proud of how they have performed in 2024, haulingv themselves away from the danger zone. The job is not finished however, and everybody will be hoping the form can continue between now and the end of the season.

And that starts on Saturday.

It was a week for numbers at the club, with the result against Enfield Borough representing the FIFTH time this season that Hoddesdon have found the back of the net five or more times, in one game. Burnham Ramblers, Newbury Forest, St Margaretsbury and now Enfield Borough have all been on the receiving end of the 'five star' treatment from the Lilywhites this season, coupled with North West London conceding 6 against us back in mid August. Despite our troubles this season, nobody can say we don't know where the back of the net is.

Following Tuesday's goal fest, the Lilywhites now have no fewer than 22 goal scorers recorded this season. Top of the pile is Connor Bolton with 11, 10 in the League, and just behind him is Dion Laughton on 7 (5 League). The team has now amassed a total of 66 goals, with 51 of them in League games. Strangely enough, with 50 goals conceded at 1.67 goals per game, 15th-placed Hoddesdon Town have the best defensive record of the clubs in the bottom thirteen places, and it is better than 5th-placed Dunmow Town (1.77), and eighth-placed Hackney Wick (1.91). Best in the League are Wormley Rovers on 0.84, with the Lilywhites next opponents, second-placed Benfleet, on 0.93.

On the subject of the afore mentioned Connor Bolton, he has now reached 40 career goals for the Lilywhites in 6 years and 176 appearances since his debut on the 27th of March 2018. We congratulate Connor on this feat and look forward to many more.

Of late, however, there have been pleasing performances from front to back.

Liam Nugent continues to impress between the sticks, ably commanding his box and collecting everything that comes anywhere near him. And, in his absence, Ethan Gannon has provided fantastic cover in goal. The defence, lead by skipper Jack Gibbs, looks a lot more assured these days and the likes of Gibbs, Riddle, Krutko, Barker, Richards, Agnew, Bennison and co have been brilliant at reducing their opponents to just 12 goals conceded since the turn of the year. The midfield creativity has improved dramtically too, with players like Eden, Bolton, Rankin, Gallagher, Casey, Lala and Cage proving to be a force when finding incisive passes. Up top, the team has missed the guile of Narcis Filipe recently due to long term injury but Dion Laughton and Kyle Roberts have been able deputies, both finding the net since signing for the Lilywhites.

So what of our visitors?

The club was established in 1922 and were initially named Benfleet United. After merging with Parkfields Athletic, they were renamed Benfleet Rangers. After winning the league title in 1971–72, the club joined the Essex Olympian League and dropped the Rangers part of the name. Benfleet re-entered the Essex Olympian League in Division Three for the 2015–16 season, going on to win the division and secure promotion to Division Two. At the end of the 2017–18 season the club successfully applied for promotion to the new Division One South of the Eastern Counties League, a three-division jump. The club originally played at the Recreation Ground in Benfleet. When they moved up to the Eastern Counties League, the first team began a groundshare at Canvey Island's Park Lane. The remainder of the club's teams remained at Woodside Park in Benfleet.

The teams first met this season at The Movie Starr Stadium in Canvey Island back in early October. Forced, through injuries, unavailability and late arrivals through traffic delays, Lilywhites manager, Simon Riddle, could only name six of the side that had beaten St Margaretsbury in midweek, in his starting line-up for this difficult challenge. Up until the half-hour mark there had been little to choose between the two teams; the hosts had missed a decent early chance but it was the Lilywhites who could argue that they had created the better opportunities. Poor choices in the last third of the pitch had failed to materialise into goals and, in the 30th minute, the Lilywhites were made to pay for their wastefulness. A misdirected cross from the right appeared to be sailing over keeper Liam Nugent’s to safety when it struck the inside of the far post and rebounded into play where Aaron Russell was quickest to react and fire the ball home. This opening goal seemed to have a severely damaging impact on the Lilywhites and for the next eight minutes or so, they completely lost their way, conceding two further goals, to Billy Carter and Toby John Dickinson, and giving themselves a mountain to climb. A goal before the break would have given them a real prospect of a recovery and, in the few minutes remaining before half-time, Ben Clarke and Narcis Filipe both had very good chances to score. Ben shot wide and Narcis’s close range effort was cleared off the line.

With four minutes of added time having been played the Lilywhites were then struck a further blow when Harrison Cage was shown a straight red card for a late tackle that the referee saw as dangerous.

Reduced to ten men, the Lilywhites were now focussed on damage limitation and this they did very well until they conceded a fourth from Toby John Dickinson in the 58th minute and then a fifth from Ben Foord in the 70th minute. Both goals looked preventable but, clearly, the very hot conditions and the loss of Harrison Cage were having an understandable impact. And, with four minutes of time added-on having been played, Benfleet’s Taylor Lawrence spotted Liam Nugent off his line and lobbed him from the half-way line to rub salt in the wound with his side’s sixth goal. If you can bare to watch it, you can view highlights (or should we say 'lowlights') from that game HERE.

That 6-0 defeat will have weighed heavy on the squad for the last five months and finally, the opportunity for redemption has arrived.

It will be no easy task though. Benfleet have thus far had an excellent league season, playing 30, winning 22, drawing 4 and losing 4, collecting 70 points and a +51 goal difference along the way. They have scored 79 league goals and conceded 28. A heavy 4-0 defeat away to Wormley Rovers did put a momentary dent in their title hopes on the 20th of February, but since then, wins against Clapton and St Margaretsbury last time out has seen them cement second place for the time being. They also have no less than FIVE games in hand over league leaders Harlow Town, and trail them by a mere 3 points, so they still remain red hot favourites for the title with the bookies. On their travels this season in the league, Benfleet have played 16, winning 11, drawing 2, losing 3, scoring 44 and conceding 20.

Hoddesdon do, however, have a win against the Essex based side this season.

On the 5th of December, the Lilywhites progressed to the next round of the League Challenge Trophy courtesy of a penalty shoot out at Lowfield. Normal time could not seperate the sides with Dion Laughton's 20th minute strike being cancelled out by Billy Carter in the 74th minute. That meant the tie would be decided from 12 yards.

Narcis Filipe stepped up first and dispatched the ball into the top corner to open the scoring. Benfleet then levelled with their first kick but, after Arnis Lala had put the Lilywhites 2-1 up, the visitors blasted their second effort over the bar. Conor Bolton and Harrison Cage were successful with their next kicks to give the Lilywhites a 4-3 lead with only the fifth kicks to come. Blue Gallagher stepped up to clinch the victory but his kick flew over the bar giving the visitors the chance of levelling the score. Liam Nugent, however, saved Blue’s blushes by pulling off a spectacular one-handed save to beat away a fiercely struck attempt and the Lilywhites were through to the third-round, 4-3 on penalties.

You can watch the penalty shoot out from that game in it's entirety HERE.

Turning back to Benfleet, Rhys Fatt stands out as the team's biggest goal threat. 16 goals in 17 appearances puts him at the top of their goalscoring charts, ahead of Lawrence Taylor (10 in 33) and Max Jobson (9 in 6). Manager Lee Scott is spoilt for choice when it comes to his squad's attacking threat. No less than 18 different goal scorers have contributed to Benfleet's success so far this season and they have goals right throughout the team. Aaron Russel and Sonny Hartman have shared the captain's armband this season, with Taylor Lawrence also skippering the side on three occasions.

You can follow Benfleet on Twitter/X HERE or check out their website HERE.

Kick Off on Saturday is 3pm and the clubhouse bar and tea bar will be open, serving hot and cold refreshments. Sample our draught range at the bar, with Spanish favourite Cruzcampo Lager, Greene Kings delicious Ice Breaker IPA and Inch's Apple Cider at the taps this weekend.

Entry
Adults £8 / Concessions £5 / Under 12's £2

Youth team players can gain FREE access with up to two parents when wearing their Youth Team shirt.

We accept Cash and Card at Lowfield (excludes American Express)

Enjoy the game.

#COYL

(Stats kindly provided by Colin Sinden)