Olly Deed on a late charge for the play-offs, just too late to make up for a slow start

Hadley FC take on Biggleswade — Caption: Hadley take on Biggleswade in the final game of the season – Credit – Hadley FC/Chris Forster

To say Hadley’s season was one of two halves is an understatement. A first half punctuated by gloomy struggle gave way to a second half of unbridled joy and a brief flirtation with the play-offs.

In the end the two halves cancelled each other out, leaving Hadley eighth in the Southern League Division One Central table, the club’s record high finish.

The season started back in the late July sunshine at Brickfield Lane, with Hadley exiting the Herts Charity Shield at the hands of Baldock Town in the first round.

It was a sign of things to come during a challenging start to the season. The first five games in the league were lost, leaving Hadley rock bottom of the table, although a first win was recorded with a 6–2 victory at home to Little Oakley in the FA Cup in August.

Sadly, the FA Cup dream was thwarted early, as the side exited in the first round of qualifying, at the hands of Steyning Town Community, who won a highly competitive replay down in Sussex.

Fast forward to the Christmas period and it would be fair to say the side were struggling at the bottom of the table and contemplating life back in step five of the non-league pyramid.

There were some bright spots along the way though. A 2–0 deficit was turned around in the second half at Waltham Abbey in October, and that 3–2 win will live long in the memory for those in attendance.

Wins at home to play-off chasing King’s Langley and Stotfold also indicated more was to come from a side that was determined to turn things around.

From January onwards, results drastically improved. Much of that was testament to the guile of

Hadley manager Anthony Clark, who added several players into the squad, during the Christmas period, precipitating the change in fortunes.

In total, twelve wins came in January, February, March and April, with March proving a particularly productive month.

A 3–2 win away at league leaders Bedford Town included a goal of the season contender from Caoilan “Messi” McGettigan. And that was backed up in March, when Hadley recorded a 6–0 victory at home to North Leigh, a 6–1 away win at Kempston Rovers, and beat a competitive Hertford Town side 3–1 on Easter Monday, a run that secured Clark a manager of the month award

Talk of a late dash for the play-offs was rife among the band of loyal Bricks who follow the club.

However, a narrow loss away to Welwyn Garden City and a slightly less narrow loss to Barton Rovers in April ended talk of the play-offs.

Residing in eighth place in the league, Hadley ended up four points off Ware who occupied the final play-off spot, making it a case of what might have been had the season not started in such a difficult fashion.

It was another season of progress for Hadley, and preparations have now begun for a third

season in the Southern League Division One Central.

Read end of season reviews from supporters of the borough’s other football clubs: Barnet, Hendon and Wingate & Finchley.

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