Great Start For Mallard

The Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League got underway on Sunday with the usual talking points, writes Darren bStattob Jones.

In the Premier Division, Unity Nirankaribs Martin Young was denied by a brilliant save before Andrew Iwediuno gave them the lead on the hour. The same player looked to double the lead, only to be hauled down by the bkeeper just outside the box. They were all set for the points until Dun Cow levelled through Rikki Doylebs penalty.

Probuild fielded five debutants, most notably former Bedwell Athletic hotshot Joel Mason, and they dominated the game for the first half-hour as their opponents struggled to find their rhythm. They took a deserved lead when Arin Fehmi swung a corner in and it eluded everyone, including bkeeper Andy North and went straight in, the latter went off injured shortly after. As they looked to extend the lead, Terry Pateman and Mason blazed over, they proved to be costly. On the hour, bkeeper Graham Wraight was sent-off for handling outside the area and Mallard capitalised on this. They equalised with fifteen minutes to go when Andy Pilgrim riffled home from ten yards out. Then good work culminated in Glen Lamacraft finishing neatly from eight yards out for the winner.

In Division One, new boys Shephall Artois were undone by promoted King Pin United. The breakthrough came ten minutes before the break when a James Wyatt corner was bundled home by centre-half Derek McGivern. They went further ahead through Danny Lingwood's twenty-five yard strike and it was left to Wyatt to finish off a great team move for the third.

New boys Highview were leading an entertaining game 3-1 thanks to Joe Tyler, Simon Vooght and David Morbin. Stev Colts Old Boys turned the game on itbs head to pinch it through Peter Lanebs brace, Robbie Freeman and an own goal.

Putterills produced a convincing win against a poor Herts Fencing side. They were ahead within minutes when Sam Harte was set free from a Graeme Duff throughball. Jon Pace turned in the second after his original header was blocked and a third was added before the break when a Ian Woodsb long kick was flicked on to Kris McMahon who made no mistake with his finish. Hotshot Dave Banks notched his first of the season before their opponents hit two quick goals through James Kelly and Albie Stafford. Banks hit two more to complete his hat-trick, sandwiching McMahonbs second. Tim Chesworth put the final nail in the coffin.

Broadhall were in front through Martin Wilson before Procladd started playing some good football, seeing Neil Henderson equalising from a Dan Manning corner just before half-time. Craig Wilson then scored an unbelievable goal twenty-five yards out, he watched the ball over his shoulder and smashed it in on the half-volley to restore the lead. However, the points were shared when a great cross from Barry Mullaney was met by centre-half Darren Swainebs head with ten minutes left.

In Division Two, MBDA got off to a flyer, hitting Times Club for double-figures. Last seasonbs top scorer Ashley Kersey hit four and Phil Fisher a brace. Kyle Watson drilled in a terrific shot, substitute Gary Hodgson netted, as did Ross Walker. After a pre-season penalty success, goalkeeper Andy Gibb was sent up to repeat the trick, which he did by leaving Paul Saunders rooted.

Marquis of Lorne made light work of beating Fox. The first goal came midway through the first-half after some good football ended with Lewis Coward crossing to the far post, where Paul Summers acrobatically finished. Jamie Robertson finishing with a tremendous strike from outside the area to double the lead before his second was another great strike from the edge of the box after some good link up play with Frazer Triggs. After the break, Robertson claimed his hat-trick with an easy tap into the net after a brilliant mazy run from Dan Reid and they added a fifth with a first-class finish from Tristan Tomkins from the edge of the box.

A much-changed Probuild Res side was inspired to victory by a man of the match performance by new signing Aiden Van Sertima. They took the lead through the prolific Ian Woodfield, who latched onto Stuart Howardbs goal-Kick. The second came from Dean Allen, who clinically finished off a great team move. Hartham Press had a bare eleven and had both forwards carrying injuries, but gave a good account of themselves and rallied after half-time to pull one back courtesy of a Dave Mower strike. Allen soon added to his tally when he powerfully headed home Elliott Bunnbs cross. Bunn then got himself in on the act when he volleyed home a delightful cross from new signing Matt Jackson. Hartham's heads didn't drop and they were rewarded with a superb volley from outside of the box by Nathan Bowden.

An amazing finale saw a low cross lashed home by veteran Richard Roberts to give Old Town Wetherspoons a draw in a ten-goal-thriller. They found themselves 2-1 up at the break thanks to goals from Richard Marvell and a header from Matt Keane. They went a further Keane goal in front before Michael Coombesb penalty made it 4-2. However, a stunning Stevenage Leisure Ltd comeback saw them hit three goals to lead thanks to Tom Bilton (two), Jamie Drackford (two) and Stewart Smith.

In Division Three, SCS raced into a three-goal lead after only half-an-hour. However, a spirited Athletico Peartree comeback saw Leeroy Odd tuck away a penalty and a deflected free-kick before the break. The comeback was complete when Jon Dunne finished from Chris Bentonbs cross. The joy was shortlived as SCS scored from a free header, despite having a player sent-off late on. On the mark for them were Leslie Chappell (two), Sam Bickerstaff and Scott Seals.

Broadhall Res won a seven-goal thriller despite Mark Edwards opening the scoring for Roebuck Gate by turning home after a goalmouth scramble. Dave Coates restored the lead with a driven effort from the edge of the area but the scores level at half-time. Steven Fahey (hat-trick) and Lee Stokes gave Broadhall the points, despite Pete Hayman's late overhead strike for Gate.

Mallard Old Boys were in front inside two minutes when Jamie Campany's shot went in at the near post. Tom Younger doubled the lead with a good finish from twenty yards. These two hit 80 goals in one season for MBDA three seasons ago. Within a minute though, Emperors Head had pulled one back with a blistering Lewis Sealy finish from a tight-angle which flew into the roof of the net. Younger cut in and curled a sweet finish to extend the lead, but it was back to one when a long throw was headed in by Joe Whittaker. Campany immediately added another before Ian Mann pulled off a great save to preserve the lead. Daz Wilson got on the scoresheet with a thumping header from a Dan Welch corner before the scoring was complete when a cross from Gav Bowler was cleverly dummied by Wilson to leave Younger the simplest of tap-ins to complete his hat-trick.

James French scored the only goal for Stev Colts OB Res late in the first-half, chesting down a delicate through ball from Danny Lewis and shooting well from the edge of the box. Their defence remained resolute as they soaked up a late flurry of pressure from North Herts Celtic.

Chequers rued some missed chances in a goalless draw at Breachwood Lions.

In Division Four, Fairlands started with a good twenty minutes before an own goal began the rout. Four in each half saw Broadhall 'A' home thanks to Paul Hancock, Cameron Bridger, Michael Emmings, Phil Stevens and a Matt Stear hat-trick.

Michael Hemmings produced a stunning lob, whilst adding a second to goals from Phil Parker and Adam Stevens as Coopers saw off Bedwell Rangers.

Crooked Billet Boro got off to a flying start thanks to goals from Steve Cornwell, Andy Nash and Dan Hartland. These were added to before the break with James Marshall and Cornwellbs second. A foul on Ben Snowden saw Hartland convert a penalty after outwrestling Cornwell for the ball. The latter didnbt have to wait long though to complete his hat-trick as he slotted home a loose ball. They were denied a clean sheet when a deflected long shot from Mark Woods lobbed over Trevor Brown in goal and White Lion Walkern added a second through Tim Roberts. Billet scored the goal-of-the-game when a long goal-kick was chased by Marvin Miller, who lobbed the bkeeper with the outside of his right foot from twenty-five yards.

Darren “Statto” Jones, stats@cssfl.co.uk