Herts County League Aulbury Cup

A 2-0 win was the least Sandridge Rovers deserved from a potent display away to Bovingdon in the first round of the Aulbury Cup on Saturday, September 15.

Mark Vidgen opened the scoring after four minutes and as the half progressed either he, Bradley Anderson or Alan Oaks might have added to Rovers' lead as five good chances went begging before the break.

Anderson did eventually get on the score-sheet midway through the second half after a superb crossfield ball from Oaks found Roy Spittles in space and his cut back fell neatly into Anderson's path.

However, it could have all been so different had Mark Warner not cleared off the line after his own back pass was intercepted by a Bovingdon striker when the scores were still level.

And even after taking a two goal advantage, Sandridge were not quite home as the home side flooded forward and forced Paul Tomms into two good saves near the end.

"It was a very good performance," said manager Alan Ring, "our best of the season. They had a couple of chances but we contained them well, restricting them to long-range shots."

Ring takes his team to the cup holders Elliot Star in the next round, a team they beat 5-2 a couple of weeks ago. "We've lost one in seven and with a full-strength squad, we have selection dilemmas. It's not a bad position to be in."