A rearranged fixture from January is dish of the day at home on Tuesday evening, as second from bottom Newbury Forest make the trip over from their Barkingside base.

In this fixture last season, Hoddesdon ran out comfortable 2-0 winners. A brace from striker Callum Bennison secured all three points for the Lilywhites in a game which they never really looked like losing. The visitors only managed one shot on target and that was comfortably saved by Aiden Critchley, an outfielder who was standing in for Lilywhites keeper, Liam Nugent, who was forced out of the game with an ankle injury, ten minutes into the second half.

Throughout the first half, the Lilywhites were by far the better side but they struggled to find the necessary quality in the attacking third of the pitch. The result was a lot of play going forward but no real chances being created. Tobi Prentice had a good effort from outside the box, saved by the keeper in the 18th minute, but it wasn’t until 12 minutes before half-time that the Lilywhites took the lead.

The goal came from Callum Bennison when he ghosted into the area to volley home a superb cross from the right by Tobi, after he had surged down the right flank. Once they had scored, the Lilywhites weren’t really threatened but their cause was not helped by the injury to Liam Nugent. It might have proved to be a turning point in the game but such was their control that it made little or no difference to the pattern of the play. A second goal would have put the result to bed but it didn’t come until the second minute of added time when Bailey Eden slotted a through ball into the path of the forward-running Bennison who got to it just ahead of the advancing keeper and poked it past him into the empty net.

There was still time remaining for Callum to claim his hat-trick but his close-range header from a Conor Casey cross was scrambled away by the keeper. This victory took the Lilywhites into the top-half of the table with four games remaining, all against teams below them in the league.

Man-of-the Match that day was both George Rankin & Callum Bennison.

In terms of our opponent's history, founded in 2003 by good friends John Hassan and Marc Wakley, Newbury Forest started out as a Sunday league side. Made up of a small group of friends who just wanted to play regular organised football together. It soon became apparent
though that they all wanted a lot more for the Club. After a few years of gettingthe infrastructure in place, a Reserve team was added in 2006, followed by a third team in 2007. And so, the expansion began.

John's coaching background, having achieved his UEFA A Licence and working at Watford Football Club’s Academy, together with being a Director of the coaching website Inside Soccer, resulted in a very distinct playing philosophy which was instilled within the Club from the start. Players were coached regularly to adopt the playing style still in effect to this day. Newbury Forest teams will always focus on possession and ball retention, developing play from back to front with expansive and creative play that players find a joy to be part of, and that fans
enjoy watching. Whilst not always successful, and certainly technically demanding on the players, the individuals who join the club know what the ethos is. They players both enjoy and have the desire to play the game in our own brand of style.

In 2008 the First Team entered the Romford & District League and has not looked back since. The hugely significant appointment of First Team Manager Leo Connolly led the side into winning the league in the first season and gaining entry to the Essex & Suffolk Borders League Division One. Immediate success followed again as the team won promotion to the Premier Division. This achieved the
Club’s short-term goal of playing in the NLS. As well as the league success and progress into the NLS, the Club has also won the Essex Saturday Premier Cup twice, in 2012 and 2014. And now for the first time in the Club’s history, it is now competing at Step 6 in the NLS after being accepted into the new Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties Division One South.

Alongside Leo, the Club also made another signing of huge significance. Ron Dangerfield, the current Secretary/Chairman has a wealth of experience working in professional football. His knowledge, skills and expertise around successful football club management and administration has given Newbury Forest the strong foundation upon which to continue its growth and continued success. The future is very bright for Newbury Forest. Senior success, youth team expansion, and annual events make the Club a significant presence in the local community. Quite an achievement for a Club less than twenty years old. An achievement that the Club hopes will continue for a long time.

The current season, however, has not been a smooth path.

Our visitors currently sit second bottom and are firmly slated for relegation. The league record this season reads P34 W6 D6 L22 GD-55 with 24 points on the board, 9 clear of basement boys St Margaretsbury. An opening day 7-0 defeat to Harlow, followed by an incredible 10-0 defeat to Hutton, set the tone for the campaign and it has been an uphill struggle ever since. On Saturday, a 3-0 home defeat to title chasing Hackney Wick, did little to boost confidence heading into a midweek trip to Lowfield. Forest have now conceded 104 goals this season, the first club to hit treble figures in that particular column, averaging over three goals let in per game. They have scored 43 goals, the second lowest total in the league, 20 ahead of the afore mentioned St Margaretsbury in plum last position. They also hold the unenviable record of the most goals conceded on their travels, having their net penetrated 56 times, averaging 3.2 goals per away trip. The wins away from their home base are few and far between, with just St Margaretsbury, Enfield Borough and May & Baker suffering defeat to a travelling Newbury.

Just two wins in their last 19 attempts makes for stark reading, but Hoddesdon must be professional and put in a performance under the lights on Tuesday evening.

Chaka Barnett has been one of the only highlights of the campaign, scoring 9 goals in 21 games, with Roberto Carvalho also pitching in with 8 in 33. Indeed, Carvalho also has 11 yellow cards in that time, representing a caution every third game for his side. A total of 5 red cards throughout the season has also hampered performances.

The Management team of Leo Connolly, Jack Adams, Qasim Ali, Tina Rammo and Jason Reynolds-Blance will be hoping to upset the apple cart and take all three points in an unlikely push for safety. The programme notes from their weekend fixture stated 'For ourselves, we need to swing 10 points in our favour with our last 5 fixtures to avoid finishing in the relegation zone. A challenge we are prepared to give our best efforts for...' Make no mistake, our visitors will be bang up for causing an upset and Simon Riddle's side must be equal to the challenge.

Sitting in 8th place, Hoddesdon still have the ability to claim a playoff spot, but with games running out, there really is very little margin for error. Defeat away to Rayleigh last time out dented the push, but there remains the opportunity to chase down Hutton and AS London, with the Lilywhites still banking games in hand. Prior to the Rayleigh defeat, back to back wins against St Margaretsbury and NW London has ensured Hoddesdon remain in the mix for the business end of the season and the team deserve credit for keeping the dream alive all season long.

It isn't often that a match preview goes by without mentioning talisman Connor Bolton, and once again, he was on the score sheet against Rayleigh, taking his tally for the season to 21 in 32 games. That places him 4th in the hunt for the Golden Boot and for context, he is now 8 clear of his haul of 13 in 37 from last season.

New signing Josh Smith opened his account in the same game, an 85th minute consolation giving the travelling fans at least a little something to cheer on the journey home last Tuesday.

Our last home game was the impressive 3-0 win against NW London and so Tuesday evening will provide another opportunity for the team to finally win two home games in a row, a feat that has unfortunately evaded them so far this season. That said, the Lilywhites have only lost at home four times this season, three times in the league to FC Baresi, Hackney Wick and Dunmow Town respectively, and once in the cup, on penalties, to Everett Rovers.

It's a record to be proud of and a world away from the eight defeats and seven draws at Lowfield last season.

In the reverse fixture this season, Hoddesdon Town secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Newbury Forest in a pulsating encounter at the Oakside Stadium, home of Redbridge FC. A debut brace from nomadic striker Stuart Zanone, as well as a goal from bailey Eden inside the first 60 seconds of the contest, helped Hoddesdon edge out a spirited Newbury Forest side, despite some shaky moments. Midfielder George Hamill put in a man-of-the-match display to ensure they left with all three points.

Let's hope for a repeat on Tuesday evening!

Entry on Tuesday is £8 Adults and £5 Concessions, Under12s FREE.

We invite all our supporters, old and new, to head to Lowfield where a warm welcome is waiting for you. Hoddesdon Town FC is embarking on a new era and we are working closely with our co-tenants, Hoddesdon Cricket Club, and the wider local community, to bring you a multi sports venue to be proud of, and create a local hub for everybody. Opening up our club to all is at the top of our agenda and your support is hugely appreciated. Our tea bar will be open serving hot and cold refreshments, as well the bar inside the clubhouse where you will find great beers, ciders and stout on draught, in conjunction with our partner and sponsor, Greene King. Indeed, Greene King's delicious Level Head IPA is our new Man of the Match sponsor, and winners will be presented with a case for their efforts.

Lowfield365 Members will enjoy a considerable discount at their round, up to 20% and memberships are available at the bar, our at the Club Shop by clicking HERE.

Kick Off is 7:45pm.

Enjoy the game.

#COYL