MBDA, Fencing and Pin Fly The Flag

It was another mixed day for our boys in County Cup action, writes Darren “Statto” Jones.

MBDA travelled to Bishops Stortford to take on unbeaten league leaders Grange United Reserves and pulled off a terrific result. With captain Louis Hare and striker Phil Fisher pulling out ill at short notice, the latter’s cousin Glen Fisher was forced to start, and became the club’s first player to be sent-off in three years after half-an-hour when he lost his rag. By this time Kyle Watson and Sam Harwood had put them two up. A magnificent fifty yard run and cheeky finish by Harwood made it three on the hour before the home side pulled one back with seven minutes remaining. Despite an injury leaving them with nine men, Ashley Kersey struck his 18th of the season to finish matters.

Stevenage Fencing also made the last 32 after a good win in Hertford. Liam McQueen curled the first from 25 yards out before Declan McMahon flicked on to Dave Hailey for the second. Hailey then grabbed his second when he saw the ‘keeper off his line and lobbed him from fully 40 yards. Bury Rangers’ goal was a mere consolation.

James Wyatt prodded home the rebound after the Park Rangers keeper failed to hold onto Callum Rowe's shot to put King Pin United in front. It was then Rowe's turn when he quickly pounced on the rebound after his penalty was saved. The home side pulled one back and then equalised in the dying seconds to force extra-time. Steve Buckley restored the lead with an excellent strike from the edge of the box but parity was restored again. Big central-defender Derek McGivern struck the winning goal with a bullet header from Wyatt's corner.

Dun Cow Reserves’ game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, they’ll replay with Three Hammers this week in an attempt to make it four-from-eight for the CSSFL sides.

ProCladd were level at full-time thanks to Barry Mullaney, but the first-half of extra-time saw Phoenix score their second to win the tie.

Sean Grainger and Jason Lovelock were on target as Marquis of Lorne were beaten by Old Albanian.

Ryan Chilcott’s strike wasn’t enough as Broadhall fell to Black Berry Jack.

Putterills were easily beaten at Herald United.

Sunday also saw the first action in the divisional cups. In the Division Three effort, Carl Thompson returned to the strike-force as basement side Chequers stunned their unbeaten opponents as he struck four times. Big John Mikiel scored the other. Broadhall Reserves’ reply came from Hayden McColm (two) and Tom Kelly.

Ian Levy, Steve Bland, Mark Hollis and an own goal saw Roebuck Gate through against Breachwood Lions, for whom Ali Collins bagged a brace.

In the Division Four Cup, Coopers maintained their 100 percent start in all competitions, but it took extra-time to decide the tie. They took a third minute lead when Danny Bowey lost his marker on the back post to head in from a free-kick. Undeterred, a good Broadhall ‘A’ move culminated with Michael Emmings' pass for Paul Hancock, whose lovely finish with the outside of his foot levelled matters.  Emmings (ankle) and Matt Dimond (cut head) were both on their way to Lister Hospital at half-time and Coopers took advantage to retake the lead on the hour through Dan Auld’s penalty. A second equaliser came when Rob Stevenson's free-kick somehow found its way into the net with only two minutes remaining. The game was decided five minutes into extra-time with a good strike into the bottom corner by Gary Chambers.

A second surprise saw Marquis Rangers turn over the league leaders thanks to Darren Athinis, Jason Tait and an own goal. Bedwell Rangers’ consolation was from Nick Thomas.

Nineteen goals were scored in just two Premier Division games. A real ding-dong of a game saw MH Goldsmith three-up at the break. Steve Teale’s effort somehow trickled through the legs of Bottles ‘keeper Dan Paul before Ricky Lawrence added the second when he reacted first to a rebound after Teale’s long-range effort had been saved. Callum Newbury provided another with a tap-in at the back-post following a good cross. Player-coach Rob Yates’ Bottles team-talk clearly did the trick as they immediately pulled one back when his cross was diverted into his own net by a full-back. The impressive Piers Le Grand then unleashed an unstoppable 35 yard strike into the roof of the net. However, Goldsmith extended their lead when Richard Griffiths brought the ball down before back-flicking the ball into the net with the help of a deflection. The introduction of Mark Wright changed the game when he scored a towering header from a corner and then five minutes later he neatly controlled a high ball into the area before beating one man allowing Darren Welton to turn home from close range to level. Both teams had chances to win it but Bottles did so when veteran midfielder Justin Brown headed in at the back-post in injury-time.

Mallard and Bedwell Athletic shared ten goals. Glen Lamacraft (hat-trick), Bobby Dance and James Bywater were on the mark for the lads from Julians Road. Athletic’s reply came from a Ned Wickham hat-trick and two from Joel Mason.

Stevenage Colts Old Boys moved up to third in Division One after Luke Bennett and Josh Bartlett netted in their win over Shephall Artois. Colin Field replied.

In Division Two, Chris McCarthy hit all four as Stevenage Leisure Ltd beat Fox.

After dominating the first-half, A1 Trophies somehow found themselves three down to Old Town Wetherspoons at half-time courtesy of Gary Baker (two) and Mike Coombes. They finally pulled one back ten minutes after the break when Si Longman supplied the cross for Greg Bradbury to find the net from just inside the box with a tremendous effort. On the hour, some good teamwork led to James Harrod firing home. The comeback was complete with ten minutes left when Richard Claydon spectacularly fired home from long range. However, Spoons won it when a speculative cross from Baker was poked into his own net by Craig Longman.

In Division Four action, AFC Chells started the game well and Dave Herbert opened the scoring. Highwayman were creating some chances, but couldn’t finish until the half-hour mark when they were awarded a penalty right on the edge of the box, Steve Stapleton converted. The lead was restored when a good move culminated in Chris Stead’s finish. However, David Cannon conceded a penalty for the second time and Dave Pateman netted, points shared.

Stevenage Old Town got only their second win of the season with a good performance against Crooked Billet Boro. They created the best efforts of the first-half with centre-back Mark Phipps hitting the bar with a powerful shot from forty yards before hitting the woodwork again through Michael Hebbs. They did take the lead when Phipps put a good ball across the goalmouth for Callum Kendrick to tap home. Billet had chances to equalise, but failed. Their defender Marvin Miller produced a poor tackle on Nasser Hashemi, which left him with ankle damage.

In the Frank Neville Memorial Cup, AFC Crooked Billet made light work of their two-goal deficit. Steve Harris (two), Keven Fehmi (two), Matt Arlick, Gary Hillard, Richard Brown, Chris Chalat and Tom Bradshaw were on target. North Herts Celtic replied through Darren Curry, Daniel Burley and Steve Pateman.

Match Reports to stats@cssfl.co.uk