The Ambers Return for Behind Closed Doors Matches

At the beginning of April restrictions were lifted on adult sport outdoors and manager Craig Edwards lost no time in recalling the squad to training and organised matches to be able to keep the team spirit and camaraderie ready for the new season.  Unfortunately these matches have had to be behind closed doors, with attendance limited to club officials & transport providers only.

The first sessions soon revealed who had been enjoying too many beers & biscuits, but also gave them the opportunity to regain fitness.

The first match on April the 3rd saw a very good Basildon team from the Isthmian North give the Ambers the runaround, inflicting a 2-6 defeat.

Next was a mid week trip to Wormley where the Ambers fielded a mixture of first team players & trialists, winning 4-1.

A sunny afternoon in Billericay and an early reunion with former assistant manager Mark Hughes saw Billericay win 2-0, both goals coming well into the second half, the first scored by Rowan Liburd, a player who signed for Cheshunt, but alas we didnt see due to Covid restrictions shutting the league down.  For the first hour Cheshunt more than matched Billericay, in an entertaining game,

In the same week, Craig put an u23 side together as Southend Utd u23 visited Theobalds Lane, the last time we met it finished 3-3, this time Southend won 2-0. With one of the goals scored by Matt Rush whose performance saw him promoted to the 1st team squad for the visit of Leyton Orient, where he scored  the winner in a 2-1 victory.

Arlesey Town managed by former Benfica  keeper Chico Ramos  came down the A1 to Cheshunt and gave the squad a tough physical test, Craig again made plenty of changes to give trialists and squad members the opportunity to impress, and they didnt disappoint, winning comfortably 4-1.   Mo Camara picked up an injury that has kept him out of subsequent matches, but he is expected to recover in time for a full pre season programme.

A short notice call saw a Cheshunt XI put together overnight  to travel up to Stevenage to take on their Development team, a very productive match saw the Ambers come away with a creditable 2-2 draw and give manager Craig plenty of positives to ponder over before the visit of Romford the following week end.

A familiar face in the Romford line up (we couldn’t miss him). Former Amber Lheureux Menga is still a handful, and still growing!  Craig took the opportunity to field a mixture of regulars and players he feels have the potential to fit into his squad, both sides made plenty of changes at half time with the score at 2-0 to the Ambers, final score was 4-1 to Cheshunt with new signing Ken Charles adding to his goal v Stevenage.

The most recent friendly match saw a representative XI from the Next Generation Development set up and managed by former Watford player & Isthmian board member Gifton Noel Williams.  The Ambers had a relatively comfortable afternoon, with some well taken opportunities giving Cheshunt a 6-1 win.

There will be one more u21 friendly arranged, then the  team take a short break, before reporting back for pre season at the end of June with some very attractive Pre Season matches already pencilled in, and the hope that we can open the gates and enjoy the company of supporters at these events.

COYA !