Match Preview: Newbury Forest vs Hoddesdon Town
Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League – First Division South
Date: Saturday, 16 August 2025
Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Venue: Techsoc Stadium

Overview
As the 2025/26 Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League season begins to take shape, Saturday’s fixture between Newbury Forest and Hoddesdon Town at the Techsoc Stadium offers a compelling contrast between two sides on very different trajectories. Newbury Forest, currently sitting 6th in the table, have made a promising start to their campaign, while Hoddesdon Town find themselves rooted to the bottom, still searching for their first point after three consecutive defeats. This match presents a golden opportunity for Forest to consolidate their early momentum, while for Hoddesdon, it’s a chance to reset and prove they’re more than their current league position suggests. Newbury Forest have shown attacking flair and resilience, scoring 10 goals in their opening four matches. Hoddesdon, meanwhile, have struggled defensively, conceding 9 goals and scoring just twice.

Hoddesdon: Searching for a Spark
It’s been a tough start for Hoddesdon. Three games, three defeats, and a goal difference that paints a grim picture. But dig a little deeper, and there are signs of life.
• Opening Day Collapse: The 5-1 loss to Lymore Gardens was a wake-up call. Hoddesdon looked disjointed and were punished by a clinical opponent.
• Improved Performance: Against Southend Manor, Hoddesdon were incredibly unlucky and held onto a lead for 55 minutes with a team put together with very limited choice and had a man sent off for half the game.
• Unlucky vs Hutton: Their most recent outing—a 2-0 defeat to Hutton—was arguably their best performance yet. They created chances, held possession well, but were not clinical enough in front of goal, Hutton on the other hand, had luck on their side.
Managerial staff will be urging their players to build on that Hutton performance. If Hoddesdon can tighten up defensively and convert their chances, they could surprise a few people.

Newbury Forest: Building Momentum
Newbury Forest have made a confident start to the season, and their performances suggest they’re serious about challenging at the top end of the table. With 7 points from four games, they’ve shown versatility—capable of both dominating possession and hitting on the counter.
• Statement Wins: The 3-0 victory over AS London was a masterclass in control and finishing. Against FC Romania, Forest showed grit, coming from behind to snatch a 2-1 win.
• Thrilling Draw: Their 3-3 draw with Coggeshall was a rollercoaster, showcasing both their attacking prowess and defensive vulnerabilities.
• Setback vs Stansted: The 4-2 defeat to Stansted was a reality check, but they seemed to have learnt from their errors. Despite the loss, Forest remains a dangerous side. Their attacking players has been electric.

Players to watch
Eben Mbona has emerged as Newbury Forest’s early-season talisman, netting 3 goals in just 4 appearances and proving himself a constant menace in the final third. With a sharp eye for goal and an instinctive ability to find space, Mbona blends technical finesse with raw athleticism—making him a nightmare for defenders and a dream for Forest’s attacking setup. Whether he's drifting wide to create openings or ghosting into the box for a clinical finish, his versatility and composure under pressure have been central to Forest’s strong start. As they prepare to face Hoddesdon Town, all eyes will be on Mbona to continue his scoring streak and inspire another dominant performance at the Techsoc Stadium.

Jack Gibbs, Hoddesdon Town’s commanding centre-back and club captain, is the kind of player who brings steel and stability to a struggling side. Known for his rock-solid defensive instincts and imposing aerial presence, Gibbs is the anchor at the heart of Hoddesdon’s backline. Whether it’s clearing danger from set pieces or organizing the defensive shape under pressure, his leadership is vital—especially in a team searching for its first points of the season. Calm under fire and fearless in the challenge, Gibbs will be central to Hoddesdon’s hopes of keeping Newbury Forest’s attacking threats at bay this Saturday. If anyone can rally the squad and turn the tide, it’s their skipper.

The Venue: The Techsoc Stadium
Newbury Forest play at the ‘Techsoc.com Stadium’ which is located in Station Road, Barkingside, Essex, IG6 1NB.
The pitch is 3G and will show off the nice and modern look this stadium has. The stadium is ground shared by Redbridge Fc.

Ground Directions
By Car (Approx ~ 45 mins / 19 miles)
Start in Hoddesdon and head south on the A1170 toward Broxbourne.
Merge onto the A10 Southbound toward London.
Take the exit for the M25 Eastbound (Junction 25) toward Brentwood/Chelmsford.
Exit at Junction 27 and join the M11 Southbound toward London.
Take Exit 4 for Woodford and follow signs for A1400/A12.
Continue on the A1400 (Woodford Avenue) heading east.
Turn right onto Cranbrook Road (A123) toward Barkingside.
Follow signs to Station Road, which is near Barkingside Underground Station.

By Rail (Approx ~ 1hour 15 minutes)
Start at Broxbourne Station Take a Greater Anglia train toward London Liverpool Street.
Arrive at Liverpool Street Station This journey takes around 35–40 minutes.
Transfer to the London Underground
• From Liverpool Street, take the Central Line (eastbound) toward Newbury Park.
• Get off at Barkingside Station (about 30 minutes on the Tube).
Walk to Station Road, IG6 1NB Barkingside Station is located directly on Station Road, so you're already there when you exit the station.

Entry is as follows:
Adults: £5
Concessions: £3 (12-16 yrs – 65+)
Under 12’s: Free with paying adult

Previous Meeting:
They had them on the ropes, battered them with wave after wave of pressure, and somehow… Hoddesdon Town walked away with just one point against second-from-bottom Newbury Forest on a bone-chilling Tuesday night at Lowfield. In the end, it was a story of waste. Hoddesdon had the chances, the territory, the possession – but they lacked the killer instinct. And against a team scrapping for survival, that’s a dangerous game to play. Arnis Lala got the goal. Connor Bolton was relentless. Bailey Collins put his body on the line. But it was Harrison Cage – inventive, industrious and full of running – who walked off with the Man of the Match award. A silver lining on a night where the clouds never quite cleared.
(Hoddesdon Town 1 – 1 Newbury Forest)

Final Thoughts:
As the clock ticks down to kick-off at the Techsoc Stadium, Saturday’s clash between Newbury Forest and Hoddesdon Town feels like a crossroads moment for both sides. For Forest, it’s a chance to reinforce their early-season promise and prove they can be consistent contenders. With attacking threats like Eben Mbona in form and a midfield that’s beginning to hum with confidence, they’ll be eager to impose themselves and keep climbing the table.
Hoddesdon, on the other hand, arrive with urgency and grit. Three defeats on the bounce have left them close to the bottom of the table, but their recent performance against Hutton showed signs of resilience. Led by their gaffer Simon Riddle, they will be desperate to turn effort into points and silence the doubters.
It’s a classic matchup of momentum versus redemption. Forest will look to play on the front foot, while Hoddesdon may opt for a more compact, counter-attacking approach. If Hoddesdon can stay disciplined and take their chances, they could finally break their duck. But if Forest hit their stride early, it could be another long afternoon for the visitors.
Either way, expect intensity, drama, and a match that could shape the narrative for both teams in the weeks ahead.
The Lilywhites are going to be doing all they can this Saturday so if you can, get behind the boys. #COYL