Essex boys at Second Meadow

AN Essex invasion will take place in Biggleswade this weekend.

AFC Hornchurch are expected to have nearly 200 supporters travelling to Biggleswade United on Saturday to watch their side in the FA Cup preliminary round.

With car parking limited at Second Meadow, local supporters travelling by car are recommended to use the Dan Albone car park and walk through the top meadow to the Second Meadow ground. The tie kicks-off at 3pm.

The area's other sides are also involved in the cup with Biggleswade Town taking on Leighton Town at Bedford Valerio United's ground and Potton United travelling to Uxbridge.

The two Biggleswade teams will then meet in a local derby next Wednesday night.

Biggleswade United earned the local bragging rights by beating Langford 5-2 on Tuesday night in the SML Premier Division.

United staged a tremendous second-half fightback in front of a crowd of nearly 100.

The Forde Park contingent got off to the best of starts as with just three minutes on the clock, Marc Barnes whipped in a low cross to Robert Groves who turned the ball past keeper Dean Bull at the near post.

And for the next 15 minutes the visitors had their hosts under the cosh with the strike duo of John Coley and Wes Byrne linking well to force Bull into three excellent saves.

Eventually United's new middle of the park partnership of Gary Jackson and new signing from Arlesey Town, Stuart English, started to settle the nerves.

In the dying minutes of the half nimble footed Coley brought about a lunging tackle from Ross Kane and referee Torre pointed to the spot. Groves tucked the ball away past Bull to give his side a deserved two-goal cushion at the break.

It was a different United team that came out of the changing rooms after the interval.

They dominated and dictated the play and Wayne Goldsmith's goal in the opening minutes gave the hosts the boost they needed, capitalising on an error by keeper Ben Boorman.

Long drop kicks from Bull were providing his front men with the necessary ammunition to inflict damage to the Langford back line.

Boorman found himself under growing pressure and in the 71st minute he gifted O'Dell with his first of the night. A sliced goal kick fell to O'Dell who seldom misses when one-on-one and he slid the ball past Boorman to bring the sides level.

Juggling the ball on the edge of the Langford area, O'Dell then let rip with a tremendous unstoppable volley to make it 3-2.

Two minutes later, English drove home a loose ball for 4-2.

Having been on the park for just three minutes, new signing Derek Newton drilled a supreme pass that split the Langford defence in half to leave Keith Thomas to slide the ball past Boorman.

United: Bull, Stillwell, Kane (Russell), Brown, Catmur, Bennett, Jackson, English, O'Dell, Thomas, Goldsmith (Newton).

Reds: Boorman, Willett, Drury, Cook, Delasalle, Grant, Barnes (Smith), Pateman (Davies), Byrne, Coley (Saunders), Groves.

United wasted a number of opportunities in sharing the points with Haringey Borough in Saturday's 2-2 draw.

They took a 14th minute lead as Thomas crossed for O'Dell to score at the second attempt after his initial volley was parried.

Haringey replied eight minutes later through Uduma Kalu following indecision in the home defence.

And they went ahead on the restart as Dave Patten's lob went over keeper Bobby Smith.

United equalised when Nick Stillwell's free-kick was met by Goldsmith, the least they deserved on the day.

Biggleswade Town crashed 7-0 at Harefield United in the same division.

Potton United suffered their first defeat of the season following a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Cogenhoe on Saturday.

Cogenhoe looked the stronger team in the first half and only some fine saves from the Royals keeper Brad Gillham kept Potton in the game.

The second half started a little better for Potton but they did not test the home keeper.

The Potton defence kept the Cogenhoe quick forwards at bay until the 70th minute and then two more goals followed to give the home team a convincing win.