Heybridge spree sets new record

By Peter Butcher

HEYBRIDGE Swifts today (Saturday) smashed a league record with their 11-0 home win over Redbridge in Ryman North. On September 11 they won 8-0 at Redbridge, and their 19-goal ‘aggregate’ win has never been matched since the league was formed in 1905.

They just missed equalling another record: in the 1935-36 season Ilford beat Leytonstone 15-1 at home and 5-1 away. The haul of 20 goals against one opponent is an all-time best, but the aggregate margin was only 18.

There have been four 17-goal ‘aggregate wins’. Hendon outscored Dulwich 19-2 (10-1 and 9-1) in 1963-64 and in 1993-94 it was done twice, both against the Croydon side who conceded 198 goals during the season. Berkhamsted beat them 18-1 (14-1 and 4-0), and Staines scored 17 without reply (3-0 at home, 14-0 away).

Leatherhead followed up their 11-0 win at Horsham YMCA in 2010-11 with a 6-0 home victory for another 17-0 total.

That Leatherhead massacre was also the last double-figure score in the Ryman League. There have been 61 in all, included a 15 and two 14s (both mentioned above). St Albans and Lewes have both scored 13, Ilford and London Caledonians 12. Heybridge are the 19th team to score 11.

Clapton were the first team to reach double figures in the league when they beat Shepherd Bush 11-0 in 1909-10. They are also the only club to have been involved in ten double-figure matches: alas, they were on the receiving end in the other nine.

Heybridge’s first ten goals today were shared by Luke Callander (4), Ben Newson (3) and Michael Cheek (3) before Solomon Ofori wrapped it up.

Callander also scored four of the eight at Redbridge. Newson got two and Cheek one after Jon Edwards had opened the scoring. So the terrible trio between them put 17 successive goals past the Motormen.

All have now reached the 20-goal mark for the season in league and FA competitions. Callander and Cheek have 21, Newson 20. Callander is the top league scorer in any division with 19 and Cheek is in joint second place with 17. Newson has 15 in the league.

Where next?

Newson sets Swifts on course for rout A DEVASTASTING display by Heybridge produced 11 unanswered goals against Redbridge in their Ryman North clash at Scraley Road yesterday (Saturday).
Rocks v Rocks on the rocks THE league have given clubs permission to ask for pitch inspections today when there is clearly no hope of playing tomorrow.

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