Soner Ali

Fixtures & Results

14/04 The Under-18s finished off their season with a nothing-to-play-for tie in the SCFYL Shield competition on Monday evening. This was their third game in seven days, and once again the Under-16 side contributed a full squad of players to make sure the tie was fulfilled. With their regular goalkeeper held up in traffic, the lads had to use an outfield player in goal, and he proved to be Hoddesdon's man-of-the-match! The Lilywhites held their own until the half hour mark when they conceded the first goal, and five minutes later they were 2-0 down. TOM COWELL reduced the lead five minutes before half time, and he then levelled the scores midway through the second half. Five minutes before the end BILLY BARNES notched the Hoddesdon winner to end the Under-18s season on a high note. The Hoddesdon lads played well in this game, and kept their hosts under pressure for long periods. They thoroughly deserved their win, and a number of excellent performances from the Under-16 players bodes well for the Club in 2008/09.

28/11 Fielding a side containing lads all associated with professional clubs, Welwyn Garden were too good for a battling Hoddesdon team at Lowfield on Wednesday evening. The visitors took the lead midway through the first half, and doubled that lead three minutes before half time. Any chance Hoddesdon had of making a comeback just about disappeared eight minutes into the second half when Welwyn Garden went 3-0 ahead eight minutes after the interval. JORDAN CARTY did manage to pull one back for Hoddesdon with fifteen minutes remaining, but the visitors finished the game off with a fourth goal five minutes from the end of normal time. After they play a League game at Ware next Wednesday, the Under-18 side has a home game on 12th December against AFC Dunstable in the Colwyn Youth Challenge Cup, then they enjoy a six week break before they face Hertford Town at home on the 23rd January.

07/11 The final scoreline of 2-6 does not do justice to the Hoddesdon lads who played exceptionally well, and had to get through the second half without their injured and influential Captain. Twice Hoddesdon took the lead, the first time being in the 7th minute when SEAN BODUNRIN fired home. Ware equalised on the quarter hour from a corner that shouldn't have been awarded in the first place, but then ADEM ALI restored Hoddesdon's lead seven minutes from half time. Once again the Lilywhites youngsters conceded a goal very close to the half time break, and Ware were mightily relived to go in on level terms. Without their skipper, who was unable to come out for the second half, Hoddesdon found the going tough, and they went behind for the first time in the game, in the fifty-fourth minute. A penalty just a minute later made it 4-2, an eightieth minute goal took the score to 5-2 and another penalty in the last minute completed the scoring. Next week the lads do have a chance to get their first points on the board when they travel to the side immediately above them in the table, St. Margaretsbury.

31/10 Hoddesdon's Under-18 side once again gave a good account of themselves but were not able to hold a stronger Hitchin Town side on Wednesday evening, and they crashed out of the Brian Hitchings Challenge Trophy.  After a fairly even thirty-nine minutes, Hitchin scored the opening goal, and then opened up a 2-0 lead just four minutes later. Hoddesdon continued to try hard after the break, but a fifty-fifth minute penalty secured the tie, and a fourth goal bundled in with five minutes remaining gave the scoreline a flattering look. Soner Ali was pleased with his charges who created perhaps half a dozen good chances during the game but, the lads are searching for that elusive first win. 

24/10 After a fairly even first half Hoddesdon had a mad short spell just before the break and conceded two goals to their local rivals. The second half was fairly scrappy, but after MATTHEW BURBIDGE managed to pull a goal back for Hoddesdon with ten minutes remaining there seemed to be hope that they could grab their first point of the season. In the end it was not to be and the lads now entertain an unbeaten Ware side in two weeks time as they search for that elusive first point.

3/10 An injury to their goalkeeper twenty minutes from the end of this game, and after all the substitutes had been used, condemned the Under-18 side to a final scoreline that did not do justice to their performance at Cheshunt on Wednesday. Hoddesdon went ahead with a great KIERAN VIEYRA header early in the first half but the home side pegged them back shortly after. COLIN METIVIER restored Hoddesdon's lead with a stunning long range effort midway through the half, and they should have taken that lead into the half time break. Unfortunately, it was not to be as Cheshunt equalised again right on the stroke of half time. The home side took the lead for the first time early in the second half but when Hoddesdon's 'keeper went down twenty minutes from the end with a recurrence of a recent injury that has kept him put of the side, there was no-one to replace him, and the visitors had to finish the game with ten men. Cheshunt took full advantage of the situation and banged in two late goals that gave the scoreline a flattering look. Soner Ali was delighted with the way his lads performed, especially in the first half, and he feels that first win is just around the corner. This has been a very tough start to the season for the Uner-18 side with injuries and holidays taking their toll, there is League respite for the lads next week as they travel to Hitchin for a Brian Hitchins Challenge Cup First Round tie on Wednesday evening.

26/9 Hoddesdon's Under-18 side had to play back-to-back League games against Waltham Abbey, and as they did in the first game at home last week, they lost 3-1 at Capershotts on Wednesday evening. The Abbey cruised the first half taking a 2-0 lead into the interval, but the Hoddesdon lads played much better in the second half, pulling a goal back through SAM GROAKE before the home side restored their two goal lead late in the game. The Abbey have a very useful outfit this season and deserved their win, but Hoddesdon showed great spirit and won't be too disappointed with this latest setback. 

19/9 A hotly disputed converted penalty and a ridiculous sending off after just 10 minutes was not the sort of start Hoddesdon's Under-18 side wanted in their first home game of the season. Another goal in the first half put Waltham Abbey 2-0 ahead at the break, but the lads came back well in the second half and reduced the arrears with a penalty of their own scored by HASAN IBRAHIM. Waltham Abbey made the game safe with a third goal close to the end of a game that was evenly contested. Full marks to the Under-18 side for a good performance in trying circumstances, and next week they face the same opponents at Capershotts in the return League fixture.