Hoddesdon Town 4-0 Allenburys Sports
Herts Senior Centenary Trophy – Second Round
Saturday 24 October 2026 | Lowfield | Attendance: 66

Hoddesdon Town booked their place in the third round of the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy with an accomplished 4-0 victory over Allenburys Sports on a thoroughly wet and blustery Saturday afternoon at Lowfield.

Goals from Connor Bolton, Blue Gallagher, Ollie Babbage and Jack Orchard ensured the Lilywhites safely negotiated their opening tie in a competition which has provided the club with so many happy memories over the years. The scoreline was ultimately emphatic, although Allenburys contributed to a competitive cup tie and created enough moments of their own to ensure Hoddesdon could never simply switch off.

The Story Of The Game

Gallagher was at the centre of almost everything good about the home performance, scoring a superb long-range second and providing the deliveries for both the opening goal and Orchard’s late header. His influential afternoon was recognised with the Greene King Level Head Man of the Match award, capping a display that mixed creativity, quality and considerable work rate in difficult conditions. Hoddesdon’s overall performance was perhaps best described as business-like. Simon Riddle’s side were sharper to loose balls, moved possession forward with greater speed and, when the opportunities arrived, possessed enough quality in both penalty areas to make the difference.

A big thank you must also go to club treasurer Peter Checkley, whose notes from a very damp afternoon at Lowfield helped provide the detail for this report. Anybody who stood outside taking notes in Saturday’s weather deserves recognition before we even get onto the football.

BOLTON GETS THE FINAL WORD

Hoddesdon began with Liam Nugent in goal behind a side featuring Jimmy Agnew, Blesson Asekolenga and Jack Orchard, with Jason Brown and Jonah Evans operating in the wider defensive areas. Harry Andic continued his recent return to the club, while Gallagher, Freddie Wilkinson, Bolton and Babbage were among those providing the attacking threat.

The Starting XI

The visitors arrived from the Herts Senior County League with several familiar faces among their ranks. Former Hoddesdon players Callum Bennison and Harry Bushell both featured, while Dan Orchard ensured the afternoon contained the particularly unusual spectacle of brother against brother as he lined up against Jack. The miserable weather made life difficult from the outset, but both teams showed positive intent. Allenburys were willing to play rather than simply sit behind the ball, although Hoddesdon appeared that fraction quicker when competing for possession and considerably more purposeful once they had won it.

The breakthrough arrived after only nine minutes.

Gallagher swung a corner into the Allenburys penalty area where Bolton attacked the delivery alongside Jack Orchard. Both appeared interested in claiming the final touch amid the celebrations, and from some angles Orchard had a reasonable case, but after review the goal was officially awarded to Connor Bolton. That made it 1-0 and continued Bolton's outstanding scoring campaign, although Hoddesdon were quickly reminded that the afternoon was not going to become completely straightforward. Connor now has 16 goals in 17 appearances.

Connor Bolton Opened The Scoring

Allenburys created a good opportunity from close range shortly after the opener, only to find Liam Nugent in excellent form. The Hoddesdon goalkeeper stood his ground, made himself as large as possible and produced an important reaction save to divert the effort over the crossbar. It was precisely the sort of intervention that can easily become forgotten when the final result reads 4-0. At only one goal ahead, however, Nugent’s stop was significant.

Liam Nugent Kept Another Clean Sheet

BLUE LIGHTS UP A GREY AFTERNOON

The game remained competitive as it moved beyond the half-hour mark, but on 34 minutes Gallagher produced a moment completely at odds with the grey skies hanging over Lowfield. Receiving possession some distance from goal, the midfielder decided against anything complicated and unleashed a wonderful strike towards the top-right corner. The ball crashed against the inside of the post before finding the net, leaving the goalkeeper with virtually no opportunity to intervene. It was a magnificent goal and gave Hoddesdon the cushion their superiority had begun to merit.

For a player who would later be named Man of the Match, it was the standout moment of an afternoon containing plenty of them. Gallagher had already supplied the corner for Bolton’s opener and was dictating much of Hoddesdon’s play, but his goal added the spectacular to an already accomplished performance.

Blue Gallagher Had A Superb Afternoon

Town could have added another four minutes later. Jonah Evans worked the ball into Babbage, who controlled it neatly on his chest before firing narrowly over the bar. At half-time the score remained 2-0, and Hoddesdon had one foot in the next round without ever having been allowed to coast. Allenburys had shown enough attacking intent to warrant respect, but the hosts had been quicker in their decision-making and far more ruthless when opportunities appeared.

ALLENBURYS CONTINUE TO COMPETE

The visitors emerged for the second half determined to make Hoddesdon work for their place in the next round. Despite trailing by two, Allenburys continued to create the occasional opening and came particularly close when one effort slid narrowly past Nugent’s post. It served as another useful reminder that the contest was not yet over, especially on a surface becoming increasingly testing as the rain continued to fall. Hoddesdon remained patient and looked increasingly threatening from set pieces. On 58 minutes another corner caused chaos inside the visitors’ penalty area, with the Allenburys goalkeeper managing to push the ball against his own crossbar. The rebound dropped dangerously into a crowded six-yard box and briefly appeared ready to fall kindly for a white shirt, but the visitors eventually managed to scramble the ball away.

Riddle’s side did not have to wait much longer for the third.

BABBAGE MAKES SURE

On 65 minutes Bolton produced an excellent piece of attacking play down the left-hand side, driving forward before sending a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Whether the initial effort was intended as a shot or a cross was open to debate, and it may even have been creeping towards the far corner by itself. Ollie Babbage was taking absolutely no chances. The forward arrived in the right place and made certain, putting Hoddesdon 3-0 ahead and effectively removing any lingering uncertainty surrounding the outcome. It was Babbage’s latest important contribution during an impressive run of form and another example of Hoddesdon’s ability to find goals from several areas of the team.

Ollie Babbage

Bolton, meanwhile, continued to torment the visitors and came within inches of adding another himself in the 78th minute. A brave diving header flew towards goal but struck the crossbar, denying him what would have been a second of the afternoon. By that stage Hoddesdon were beginning to make changes. Reggie Pegrum replaced Wilkinson after 72 minutes, while Connor Casey and Jack Gibbs entered the action for Babbage and Bolton six minutes later. Harrison Cage and Hadley Richards would subsequently replace Brown and Evans during the final stages.

The substitutions did little to interrupt Town’s control of proceedings.

ORCHARD WINS THE FAMILY BATTLE

The final goal arrived in the 81st minute and provided perhaps the most entertaining subplot of the afternoon. Another Gallagher corner was delivered into the Allenburys box, and Jack Orchard rose to meet it with a powerful header that found the net to make it 4-0. Having narrowly missed out on claiming Hoddesdon’s opener, there could be no argument whatsoever about this one. For Orchard, the goal carried an extra layer of satisfaction. Brother Dan Orchard featured for Allenburys, meaning Jack not only emerged victorious from the family battle but also managed to get himself on the scoresheet in the process.

There may have been some interesting conversation in the Orchard family WhatsApp Group on Sunday...

Jack Took Bragging Rights Over Brother Dan On Saturday

Former Lilywhites Bennison and Bushell also worked hard for the visitors, but Hoddesdon’s defensive unit refused to give them much encouragement. Agnew in particular produced a tireless display, while Asekolenga and Orchard dealt efficiently with the visitors’ attacking threat. Allenburys had their moments and certainly did not deserve to be characterised as passive opposition, but ultimately they were unable to lay a glove on a Hoddesdon defence that looked composed throughout the majority of the afternoon.

The final whistle confirmed a 4-0 victory, a clean sheet and safe passage into the third round.

GALLAGHER THE STANDOUT

There were several contenders for individual praise, but Gallagher’s selection as the Greene King Level Head Man of the Match was difficult to argue with. His final contribution was outstanding: a goal, two assists from corners and an influential all-round midfield display. The strike which made it 2-0 was the highlight, a wonderfully clean long-range effort that found the top corner via the post and provided some much-needed colour on an otherwise miserable afternoon.

Peter Checkley Presented Blue With The Greene King Level Head Man Of The Match Award

Jimmy Agnew also deserves particular mention for the sheer amount of ground he covered and the work he did throughout the contest, while Nugent’s early save ensured Hoddesdon maintained control during a potentially important period. Bolton continued his remarkable season with another goal and an assist, Babbage maintained his own productive run, and Orchard rounded off another impressive personal week by adding a goal to the Man of the Match award he collected against Coggeshall seven days earlier.

It was not spectacular for 90 minutes, nor did it need to be. It was professional, controlled and decisive.

RIDDLE PLEASED WITH A JOB WELL DONE

Manager Simon Riddle was satisfied with the way his side negotiated difficult opposition and equally difficult weather conditions.

“I thought we were very professional,” said Riddle. “The conditions weren’t easy at all and Allenburys came here with nothing to lose. They competed well, they had a couple of opportunities and Liam made a very good save early on, so we certainly couldn’t take anything for granted. What pleased me was that we kept doing the right things. We moved the ball forward quickly, competed well and were clinical at important moments. Once we got ourselves in front, we managed the game sensibly and the clean sheet is something the defenders and Liam will be pleased with.”

Simon Riddle

Riddle was also full of praise for Gallagher following his Man of the Match display.

“Blue was excellent. The goal was a fantastic strike, but there was much more to his performance than that. His deliveries caused problems, he worked hard and he influenced the game in several different ways. He deserved the award.”

“There were good performances throughout the side though. Jimmy worked incredibly hard, Connor caused them problems again and it was nice to see Jack get another goal. We’re through, nobody has picked up another major problem and now we wait to see who we get next.”

VARNEY DELIGHTED TO SEE CUP RUN CONTINUE

Chairman Stuart Varney was equally pleased to see Hoddesdon advance in a competition with such a strong place in the club’s history.

“We have some wonderful memories in this trophy, particularly from winning it again a couple of seasons ago, so it would be fantastic to have another good run,” said Varney. “There’s obviously a long way to go, but you have to get through these afternoons first and the players handled the occasion really well.”

“It certainly wasn’t pleasant weather for anybody standing around Lowfield, so I’d also like to thank the supporters who came out and backed the team. Four goals, a clean sheet and a place in the next round makes getting soaked a little easier to take!”

Chairman Stuart Varney Thanked The Supporters For Braving The Conditions

Varney also acknowledged the local connections between the two teams.

“It was nice to welcome Allenburys to Lowfield because there are so many links between the clubs. We know Callum and Harry well, Jack has played for them in the past and having Jack and Dan Orchard on opposite sides gave the game another little storyline. We wish Allenburys all the best for the rest of their season.”

WAITING FOR ROUND THREE

Hoddesdon now await the third-round draw, with several second-round ties having already been completed.

Elsewhere, Redbourn defeated Sarratt 4-0, Everett Rovers Saturday Reserves beat Royston Town Reserves 4-1, while Oxhey Jets overcame Buntingford Town 2-0. Cuffley Seniors progressed after a 2-2 draw with Codicote, winning 4-3 on penalties, and Westmill recorded an impressive 4-0 away victory at Sun Sports. Two remaining ties are scheduled for Tuesday 27 October, with Belstone hosting Bovingdon and Letchworth Garden City Eagles facing Baldock Victoria.

Whoever comes out of the hat, Hoddesdon will be there. Saturday was not a day for extravagance. It was a day for staying switched on in dreadful weather, taking opportunities when they arrived and getting the job done.

Hoddesdon did exactly that.

#COYL