Middlesex Senior Cup: Northwood and Hampton & Richmond take on Barnet and Brentford in search of Cup Final glory

The Middlesex FA Senior Challenge Cup is contested by the most Senior clubs in the County and is considered by many as the most prestigious competition in Middlesex.

Tonight two clubs, Northwood FC and Hampton & Richmond Borough play semi finals against the county’s biggest names, Barnet and Brentford whose B team will represent them at the Bedfont Sports FC First.

Hampton & Richmond Borough had a great FA Cup run making the first round proper where they drew Oldham Athletic, members of the Premier League until 1994.

They held their illustrious Lancastrian visitors at 1-1 until the 40th minute when a Bobby Parry goal put the Latics ahead, a lead they did not lose. Sam Deadfield scored both Borough’s goals at their Beveree Stadium.

The prize is greater for tonight’s visitors as the final is slated for their own Beveree Stadium on 13 April.

In the league, they stand 14th in the National League South having beaten promotion chasing Dulwich Hamlet 2-1 at home on Saturday. The refeeree is Michael Smith and kick off is 7.45.

Admission will cost £8 for adults, £5 for seniors, and £2 for under-16s. Admission is free for under-16s attending with an adult.

For Northwood however, tonight is a bigger deal.

Their FA Cup run ended in disappointing fashion on September 4 when Isthmian League South East Chichester Town left their Fenton Civil Engineering Stadium with a 3-2 win. Woods had led twice through Ismael Ehui and Gradi Milenge.

In the Middlesex Senior Cup however, they have beaten Uxbridge (on penalties), Wembley FC and Bedfont Sports to get this far, scoring five in those two games and conceding just two. They are also unbeaten in the slightly less important Middlesex Charity Cup.

Tonight they host the Barnet First Team with a 7.45 kick off.

Alan Evans is Northwood club secretary. He told Prost International:

“With League safety now secured under the new management team, the Woods have seen the two Middlesex Cups as an attractive extra in seeking to add some glory to the last third of the season.

“Having made it to the semi-final of both the Senior and Charity Cups of their County FA, the Senior is the most prestigious and also provides the highest-ranked opponent in National League Barnet.”

Woods’ season is one of two halves; a miserable start followed by a phoenx like rise from the ashes of potential relegation from the Isthmian League.

Before Saturday’s 3-0 loss to runaway leaders Bracknell, they boasted an unbeaten 2022 in compeitive fixtures and a long nine-match winning run away from home.

Form at home never quite matched that, and it took a 1-0 win over Marlow on January 22 to end a long run of diappointment for their home fans.

However they’ve had one win and three draws on their own turf since then, so are technically now defending a five game unbeaten run at home tonight.

Northwood have won this trophy twice, in 2007 and 2016 and have reached the semi final stage nine other times since 1992, with two losing finals to match their triumphs.

Barnet have reached four finals but the last was in 1933 and they played in the Hertfordshire Senior Cup for many seasons.

They beat Dover Athletic 6-0 on Saturday in the National League on Saturday with Adam Marriott and Reece Grego-Cox making the league’s Team of the Week.

The Canons Park side moved up to 15th with the win, easily their finest of the season.

Evans summed up why this fixture is just a little bit more special for his club:

“The Woods have won the competition twice, most recently in 2016 with victory over Enfield Town while Barnet have also been successful on two occasions – the last being back in 1933 with a replay win over Staines Town.

“Add in the fact that Woods Head Coach Ben Bukowski has links to the Bees and lives in Barnet, it all makes for an interesting cup-tie under the lights at the Fenton Civil Engineering Stadium.”

Tonight’s game is cash at the turnstile only. Adults £10, concessions £5 and and Under 16s are free.

Nearest tube is Northwood Hills and away fans are more than welcome in the clubhouse.

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