Double-Lock Sends Peartree Through

It was a good day for our lower division sides in the County Cup, writes Darren “Statto” Jones.

Jamie Campany bagged a hat-trick as Mallard Old Boys dumped Croxley RBL out. Barry Eldridge’s first goal for some time and one for Glen Storey were over-shadowed as Marc Dunn scored direct from a drop-kick out of his hands.

Athletico Peartree progressed as Jimmy Lock opened the scoring with a neat low finish before Ben Sheldrake doubled their lead with a strike into the top corner. After the break, Terry Lock got in on the act when he sent the ball home across the 'keeper from a tight angle. A brief fight back from home side Sandridge & Harvesters Sports came when they scored from the spot. However, Terry scored a screamer from fully thirty yards before brother Jimmy finished the scoring when he pounced on a loose ball to make it five.

Lee Callaghan, Gary Smith, Dave Pateman, Ant Ambrose and an own goal saw Highwayman knock out Wilbury to set up an all-CSSFL tie with SCS in round three.

Tom Kelly (two), Mark Chalkley and Lee Stokes netted as Broadhall Res saw off Haven after extra-time.

Despite lucky to be only one goal down at half-time, three in five minutes after the break changed the game and a late strike finished it as Adam Stevens (two), Rob Lucas and Sean Soards put Coopers comfortably through at Crescent Club.

Roebuck Gate stretched a one-goal lead at the interval to four on the hour, but Markyate made for a nail-biting finale when they pulled back three in the final ten minutes. Daniel Swales opened the scoring after collecting ‘keeper Rich Pomroy's ball forward and unleashing a dipping drive into the corner. He doubled his tally when he lobbed home from twenty-five yards. Pete Hayman grabbed two within minutes of his arrival as substitute, in each case taking advantage of slack defending. Firstly, a cool one-on-one and then a neat flick home from twelve yards. Russ Austin's goal line clearance in injury-time just about avoided extra-time.

SCS were handed a walkover by Radlett Road, as were Stevenage Colts Old Boys Res by Sele Farm.

The adventure for Broadhall 'A' ended at the first hurdle against a very physical Unison side. Two defensive errors in the first half-hour meant they were faced with a tough task. Nevertheless, a surging run by Terry Lee was only halted by a crude challenge and Michael Emmings tucked away the spot-kick. Despite plenty of pressure, the game was killed off when they claimed the referee missed a barge on 'keeper Will Harris, which resulted in him dropping the ball for the striker to prod home a third.

Lewis Sealy (two), Ben Collins and Lewis Essam netted as Emperors Head lost in Hitchin against Stevenage Outsiders.

Crooked Billet Boro were battered for ninety minutes against a very useful US ACLI side. James Marshall and Ben Snowden scored at the right end, but a special mention for Marshall again, aswell as ‘keeper Trevor Brown, who assisted the home side by scoring at the other end too.

Marquis Rangers were removed from the competition for a very harsh ineligible player ruling against Hampden Utd.

Mallard went top of the Premier Division after a good tussle. Craig Reynolds opened the scoring with a rasping drive from twenty yards into the top corner and Jim Bywater made it two after a slick passing move. They could’ve rued missed chances as MH Goldsmith pulled one back just after the break from Scott Durham. However, Andy Pilgrim tapped home from close range, and although MHG pulled one back through Callum Newbury, Bobby Dance sealed the game with a wonderful finish from a tight angle. Their back four were tremendous.

Bedwell Athletic looked to be heading for the points as double-act Joel Mason and Steve Underwood were on target. However, a late Kieran Ellis strike shortly after older brother Ryan had pulled one back for Bottles ensured they came away with a point.

A poor start saw ProCladd concede two early goals from free-kicks. The first saw ‘keeper Jon Couldrey punch the ball into his own net. Danny McIver’s effort was well placed into the bottom corner as Dun Cow Res stay 100 percent in Division One.

John Batcheldor commented after refereeing his game that it’s one of the best games of football, coupled with the fact that the lads got on with it and played their own game, instead of trying to influence the man-in-the-middle, which many players do. Broadhall were locked at four-apiece after goals from Russell Bull (two), Martin Wilson and John Johnston. Highview’s scorers were Steve Gibbons, Nick Christodoulou, John Vooght and captain Joe Tyler. However, with just two minutes remaining, Wilson netted again to end an amazing game.

King Pin United took an early lead through Carl Lingwood before Putterills turned the game around to lead through Kris McMahon and David Banks. From this point, Pin bounced back to help their goal difference no end by scoring nine goals without reply, including four from Man of the Match Nick Collins, two from Sam Wager and one apiece from Steve Buckley and Danny Lingwood.

Shephall Artois were delighted to win their first game of the season as Alex Welch (two), Dave Waugh (two), Colin Field and Carl Gunning netted in their win. They also bagged an own goal, which Neil Walker added to for Herts Fencing, who unfortunately folded on Monday morning.

Pete Lane bagged a brace as Stevenage Colts Old Boys drew with AFC Crooked Billet (Joe Chilton and Kev Fehmi).

Division Two leaders Stevenage Fencing hit another hatful, and to their credit, Joe Delasalle wasn’t even playing. Times Club were put to the sword by Craig Gilbert (four), Gary Smith (hat-trick), Dave Hailey (two), Danny Delasalle and Barry Stapleton.

Probuild Res are behind them on goal difference after also hitting double-figures against a fallen Stevenage Leisure Ltd. They started the brighter and took the lead early when Aiden van Sertima’s drive was flicked home by the impressive Dean Allen. He doubled his tally with a twenty yard scorcher before Ian Woodfield went on to score a perfect hat-trick in the first-half, the pick being a cool finish into the top corner. They were awarded a penalty early in the second half which Man of the match Matt Lockyear converted for his first goal in ten years. SLL did say they didn’t have much to add to the press report, other than “they had a disputed penalty at 6-0 - it made all the difference and turned the game”. Gary Pomfret soon added a quick double, the pick being a thirty yard lob. Elliott Bunn got in on the act when Woodfield squared for him to tap home and Barry Greenaway completed the scoring when he smashed home at the second attempt.

MBDA are also 100 percent after a blistering start saw Sam Harwood smash home from close-range and a real picture-book goal culminated in a Ross Walker cross being headed in by Kyle Watson. Despite missing opportunities to add to their lead, Tony Webb punished them to bring Hartham Press back into the game with an exquisite lob. A good spell after the break saw Gary Hodgson bag a fine brace to extend the lead before Watson’s second made it five. Their opponents came back into it towards the end and grabbed a consolation through James Khakpour-Smith’s near-post header from a corner. The moment of the match saw MBDA captain Louis Hare fire against the post from close-range after cleverly controlling a high through-ball, he had a second chance as he smashed goalwards from six yards, but Barrie Curtin produced a stunning save, Watson was next on hand, and caught ball sweet, but again Curtin batted it away for a fine double-save.

Reece Arbon and James Ougham netted as Marquis of Lorne saw off A1 Trophies.

A ten-goal-thriller in Division Three saw Darren Curry make the difference with four goals for North Herts Celtic as they got their first points. Sam Lemoir and Leigh Pollard also netted, whilst Chequers’ reply came from Jay Smith, Ant Koop, Ricky Wilson and Carl Thompson.

Michael Hebbs scored with power from a tight angle to equalise for Stevenage Old Town, before home side White Lion Walkern went into a three-goal lead. However, SOT were right back in it when good work by Hebbs saw his low cross turned in by Callum Kendrick after the defence failed to clear. Ben Smith's cross-cum-shot was then picked up by Kendrick, who span to net at the second attempt. However, Stephen Ward fourth goal of the game clinched it. Paul Ingram-Tedd had also earlier scored.

Damien Paterson (two) and Kyle Davidson netted as AFC Chells’ great start in Division Four continued against Bedwell Rangers, for whom Alex Willcocks replied.

December 2006 was the last time Breachwood Lions won two games in a row and December 2005 since they kept two clean sheets in row. Fairlands were spirited, but ultimately victims as, despite their one-goal handicap lead in the Frank Neville Memorial Cup, Ollie Mason (two), George Harrison (two), Ben Dye and Ed Jeffery netted a half-dozen.

Remember to e-mail your weekly match reports to Darren at stats@cssfl.co.uk by noon on Monday.