STOTFOLD | A DAY TO REMEMBER

Eagles in full flight with commanding win

It was a day to remember for Stotfold on Saturday as the Pitching In Southern League Division One Central outfit chalked up their biggest win at this level following a 5-0 victory over Hertford Town.

Four first half goals did the damage as they won for the first time in the League since early October to sit just below halfway in the table.

This is the first time that the club has competed at this level after they gained promotion via the play-offs from the Spartan South Midlands League at the end of last season, having only moved up from Step 6 at the end of 2021/22.

“It’s a new level for both me and the club,” said hard-working and determined defender, Dan Sears, who clocked up his 100th appearance for the club earlier in the season. “We’ve had two successive promotions but haven’t looked out of place so far at this level and Saturday’s result shows exactly what we are capable of.

“We’ve made a solid start and have enjoyed the challenges that have come our way. From a personal point of view, I have relished the opportunity to test myself at this higher level and I feel that I have thrived.

“It’s a strong, competitive League with no easy or comfortable games. We’re learning game by game and know exactly where we need to be and what is required.

“Saturday’s performance has been coming for a while and now we need to be able to build upon it in our next game.”

So, what are Sears’ highlights from over a century of appearances for the Eagles?

“I have two favourite moments from my time playing here,” he said. “The first being getting promoted into Step 4 via the play-offs at the end of last season, what a day that was!

“Secondly, it was beating Winslow, who were neck-and-neck with us in the title race in 2021/22, and we went on to win the League.

“It shows how far we have come in such a short space of time and now we want to keep pushing and building on the momentum that we have gained over the past couple of seasons.

“I am growing and developing as a player all of the time and I’m enjoying the experience of being in this League.”

Two away encounters are on the horizon as they head to Thame United on Tuesday before a trip to Leighton Town at the weekend.

IMAGE: Linda Babaie

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