24th September 1994: WAFL - Wellingborough Nucabs (A) Won 2-1

"Paxton pull off shock of season"

......Great Paxton leading the way with the shock result of the season so far.

Paxton were visiting Wellingborough Nucabs - the side that completed a league and cup double last season and were heading the league with a 100% record and had not been beaten at home for 18 months.

Paxton were oblivious to these facts and despite falling behind in the second half, Phil Darby levelled from the penalty spot and Ian Gabriel grabbed the winner in what was a very physical match.

1st October 1994: WAFL Senior Cup - Wellingborough Nucabs (H) Lost 3-6

In the Senior Cup Preliminary round Great Paxton lost 6-3 to Premier Division leaders Wellingborough Nucabs. Last weekend Paxton won a league match between the two sides but they were unable to repeat the performance - going three goals down after just 20 minutes.

Although they replied with goals from Matt Plumb, Dave Birch and Grant McCormack, the visitors proved to be too strong on the day.

8th October 1994: WAFL - Brampton (A) Drew 1-1

"Leadership chance spurned"

Great Paxton spurned a chance to go top of the West Anglia League when they were held to a 1-1 draw by local rivals Brampton.

With the top three not playing, Paxton set their sights on leapfrogging into pole position and they looked to be on their way to the top when Dave Birch gave them a first half lead.

However they could not press home their advantage and a Richard King equaliser means they stay fourth.

15th October 1994: WAFL - AFC 2000  (A) Won 3-1

"Great Paxton enjoy top spot"

Celebrations at Great Paxton's Bell Inn headquarters went on late into Saturday night following the teams return from Wellingborough with a 3-1 West Anglian League success over AFC 2000.

The victory took the Paxton side to the top of the Premier League table. Matt Plumb hit two first half goals and Rob Meekums clinched victory after the break.

22nd October 1994: WAFL - AFC 2000 (H) Won 15-0

"Paxton make history"

Great Paxton rewrote the club's history books with a 15-0 win over AFC 2000 in the West Anglia League Premier Division.

The win was recorded just a week after the two clubs had met at Wellingborough in a game which Paxton won 3-1.

"It must have been the adrenalin produced by going top of the league last week" said the Paxton chairman.

Star of the show was Ian Gabriel who scored eight goals - believed to be the best ever scoring feat by a Great Paxton player. For the record, the other goals were netted by Dave Birch(2), Phil Darby(2), Matt Plumb, Rob Meekums and Grant McCormack. 

The win kept Paxton on top of the league...............

"that thirteenth goal was definitely off-side"

12th November 1994: Scott Gatty Cup - Sawtry (H) Won 5-1

Great Paxton were the most impressive winners with a 5-1 scoreline against visitors Sawtry as Matt Plumb hit a hat-trick and Ian Gabriel and Grant McCormack completed the scoring.

Finally in the Premier Division of the West Anglia Football League Great Paxton went back to the top of the league after recording a thrilling victory by the odd goal in nine away at Woolaston Victoria.

3rd December 1994: Hunts Junior Cup - Needingworth (A) Drew 4-4

"Paxton come back from the dead"

The match that finished as a draw can truly be described as 'a match of two halves' with Premier Division visitors Great Paxton finding themselves no fewer that four goals in arrears at half-time to Needingworth of Division One. 

What the Paxton manager slipped in the half-time tea is not recorded but his side went out after the break - scoring four times in 20 minutes through substitute John Gill, almost with his first touch, Ian Gabriel, Dave Birch and Matt Plumb.

10th December 1994: Hunts Junior Cup - Needingworth (H) Won 4-1

"Divine Angel hits four for Great Paxton"

There was a seasonal touch to this Hunts Junior Cup Quarter Final Replay because with some folk away preparing for Christmas, Great Paxton were deservedly propelling themselves forcibly through to the Semi-Finals.

This was thanks to a fine individual performance by their own Ian 'Angel' Gabriel who scored all four goals in the 4-1 demolition of Division One outfit Needingworth.

The two sides had shared eight goals in the first meeting - all of which came in an hour - but there was little sign that the seasonal goodwill was to be repeated by the defences.

Paxton, in particular, looked mean at the back with man-of-the-match Grant Litchfield dominant and outstanding and the first goal took 28 minutes to come and was created as Meekums split the defence for Gabriel. Then, four minutes before the break, he netted the best of his clutch - a diving header to a fine Phil Darby cross.

After the break Needingworth competed well and were rewarded when Carl Harvey converted a near post flick by Steve Porter.

However divine intervention was resumed when Gabriel converted an unselfish Matt Plumb cross and in injury time at the end he had the last word with his and his sides fourth goal.

17th December 1994: Hamblin Cup - Twywell Rangers (A) Won 4-2

...... there were also away winners at Twywell who lead Division Two. The latter were undefeated this season and premier Division Great Paxton must have been worries when they trailed 2-1 after Ian Gabriel had given them an early lead.

However a solid second half performance produced further goals from Gabriel, Rob Meekums and John Gill and they finished convincing 4-2 winners.

14th Jan 1995: Benevolent Cup - Somersham 'A' (A) Won 8-1

Somersham are a Cambs League side and on paper underdogs in this match, but they brought an unbeaten record into the game and seemed fairly confident in their opening play.

Paxton, having their best season for many years, seem to raise their play in cup matches and they eased into a three goal half-time lead with Mark King, Matt Plumb and Martin Hunter on the scoresheet.

Leading scorer, Ian Gabriel, added a fourth and then Mark King produced a significant contribution by scoring three times in a four minute spell to take his tally to four and the score 7-0.

Substitute, Danny Plumb, added the last Paxton goal. After that Somersham got their consolation goal, but they had been thoroughly outplayed on the day.

21st Jan 1995: WAFL - Wellingborough Wanderers (H) Won 11-3

Despite the heavy rain the Paxton pitch was playable for this West Anglia Premier Division game, but the visitors turned up with only 10 players and may therefore wished the rain had been heavier.

Their problems multiplied when they had a player sent off in the first half and they therefore played for more than 45 minutes with only nine men and Paxton took full advantage of their misfortune.

The first half was a see-saw affair with Paxton dominating and scoring fairly regularly, but it was a defenders nightmare in the mud and the visitors also managed to score goals.

Paul Wells and Danny Plumb set Paxton on their way before the visitors pulled a goal back. Ian Gabriel and matt Plumb scored twice more before Wanderers pulled it back to 4-2. The Phil Darby became Paxtons fifth scorer before the visitors made it 5-3 at half time.

However, after the break, Paxton dominated against their nine man opposition and they scored regularly with Martin Hunter the sixth home scorer, Matt Plumb and Paul Wells getting their second goals and Gabriel notching a second half hat-trick to run out leading scorer with four in the match.

The goals took Paxtons league tally to 39 in 10 games making them the leagues second highest scorers - ironically now five goals fewer than the side they defeated! 

18th February 1995: Junior Cup - Godmanchester Rovers Res. (A) Lost 3-4 (aet)

Godmanchester Reserves moved into the Hunts Junior Cup Final with an impressive display of fighting football twice coming from behind to clinch their victory in an exciting period of extra time.

Paxton will rue having squandered a gilt edged chance to make the final place theirs as they watched Phil Darby blast an 88th minute penalty kick over the crossbar.

Dave Birch put the visitors ahead in the first half despite his side playing against the wind and sun but the home side levelled and after a goalless second period the game went into extra time.

A penalty almost straight away gave Godmanchester the lead for the first time, but two goals by Paul Wells and Rob Meekums saw Paxton once again in control.

However with a Cup Final place beckoning Godmanchester were not going to give up and two goals in the second period of extra time saw them win this extraordinary match. 

4th March 1995: WAFL - Buckden (A) Drew 1-1

Buckden and Great Paxton confirmed their hard-to-beat reputations in the WAFL as they shared the points.

Paxton deservedly held a half-time lead, Dave Birch scoring from a corner by Phil Darby, after having the better of the play. But Buckden came more into things in the second-half, forcing Dave McIntyre into three excellent saves. A defensive mix-up allowed Billy Foulkes to stab the ball in with just five minutes remaining.

Paxton's Martin Hunter burst down the right in injury-time before cutting into the box where he seemed to be pulled down. But the ref waved away appeals for a penalty, disappointing the visiting players and supporters alike.

25th March 1995: WAFL - Woolaston Vics (H) Won 3-0

Martin Hunter's one-man show for Great Paxton earned a 3-0 home win against Woolaston Vics. Hunter knocked in a left wing cross for Paxtons first on the half-hour. An earlier effort had agonisingly rolled along the line after hitting the foot of a post.

Paxton continued to dominate the second period and Hunter doubled their lead on the hour, firing in a shot from the edge of the area. He completed his hat-trick 10 minutes later when a penalty was awarded for a foul on Phil Darby. The keeper parried his kick but Hunter buried the rebound.

Authors Note

The hat-trick was also notable in that it consisted of a header, a right foot shot and a left foot shot.

6th May 1995: WAFL - Wellingborough Nucabs (H) Lost 2-5

There was a less impressive result from Great Paxton who finished off the season in seventh place following a 5-2 home defeat by Wellingborough Nucabs.

Mark King twice put Paxton in the lead but the visitors hero was Abi Hussein who scored a hat-trick with Trevor Bell and Bill Travis the other marksmen.