On This Day: 22nd March

Greensnet Editor
Mon 22 Mar 2021, 12:31

Today’s review takes us back through the years to look at matches we’ve played on the 22nd March. The first came in 1913 when Woodford Albion came for a friendly only to be beaten 3-0 on the day that Chinese Kuomintang Party leader Song Jiaoren was fatally shot at Shanghai station.

Half a dozen years later following the Great War in the London United Senior League goals from George Garlick, Eric Wright and F Congreve gave Hampstead Town another 3-0 win, this time against Catford Southend. Moving ahead to 1924 and Barking Town were beaten 3-1 in the Athenian League with Cecil Wise scoring twice and the other goal coming from George Howell.

1930 saw Barnet come to Claremont Road in a Middlesex Charity Cup semi-final with a reserve line-up, their first-team playing St Albans City and winning on the same day. Goals from S Limbury (2), Stan Moore (2) and an own goal gave Hampstead a nap hand with Barnet replying twice, the 5-2 win setting up a final clash with Wealdstone. And it was at Wealdstone in 1947 that the Greens overcame Hayes in a semi-final clash in the Middlesex Senior Cup with Bernard Bryant (2), Pat Lynch and Bill Prior scoring in a 4-2 win.

Five years later in 1952 a visit to Tooting & Mitcham United saw Roy Stroud and Bill Avis (2) on target in a 3-2 win and the club’s 100% 22nd March record continued in 1958 as Laurie Topp and Jimmy Quail struck in a 2-1 Middlesex Charity Cup semi-final win over Hayes at Claremont Road, a result that set-up a final against Finchley that would be held over until the start of the 1958/59 season.

The perfect record came to a grinding halt in the Middlesex Senior Cup in 1969 as Wembley came to Claremont Road and went home with a 2-0 win to knock the Greens out of the competition a decade after which Barking beat the Greens by the only goal in the Isthmian League, this on the day that the Provisional IRA claimed responsibility for the assassination of the British Ambassador to The Netherlands, Richard Sykes, at The Hague.

Terry Glynn was on target just a year later in 1980 with the only goal of the game against Oxford City on the road and three-years on a local derby against Harrow Borough saw the Greens win 3-1 thanks to a couple of goals from Barry Henley and one from substitute Steve Kirkby at Claremont Road.

Another three years later and it was Colin Tate with the only goal of the game at Claremont Road against Bognor Regis Town before a 1988 clash with St Albans City which ended 1-1. Neil Wolstenholme opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour only for future Green Gary Keen to equalise shortly before the hour mark. Also in the Saints side that Tuesday evening were Warren Kelly and Richard Nugent, both of whom would spend the autumn of their respective careers at Claremont Road.

There was another 1-1 draw in 1994 against Bishop’s Stortford in which Curtis Warmington was on target for the Greens in the Full Members Cup, Bob Dowie's men progressing on penalties and three years later as the Hale-Bopp comet passed on its closest approach to earth, Frank Murphy picked up his first win as Hendon boss with a 2-1 success over Harrow Borough. Neal Stevens and Junior Lewis grabbed the all-important goals in front of just over 300 fans.

Bishop’s Stortford were the opponents once again in 2003 and they cruised to a 3-0 win at Claremont Road with former Arsenal striker Christopher Wreh coming off the bench and netting the third goal for the Blues within three minutes of his introduction. Eight years later and Greg Ngoyi was on target twice to secure a 2-1 win over AFC Hornchurch at Vale Farm.

After a day of relative positive news the Greens suffered one of those visits to Essex in 2014 in which a Sam Higgins-inspired East Thurrock United side dished out a thumping 6-1 beating of Gary McCann’s side at Rookery Hill, Leon Smith’s goal at 3-0 down barely even registering on the radar of the travelling faithful.

Of the 17 matches so far on 22nd March there have been 11 wins, two draws and four defeats. 32 goals have been scored and 25 conceded to bring the average goals per game rate back above 3 for the first time in four days.