Holders Cow Out

It was a mixed day for Dun Cow, writes Darren “Statto” Jones.

Dun Cow Reserves made it through to the last 32 of the Herts Intermediate Cup as Michael Gregory, James Dillnut, Mick Simpson, Pete Brewster and Keith Coughlin netted against Three Hammers in an eight-goal-thriller.

Dun Cow lost their KLM Challenge Cup crown against the team they beat on penalties in last seasons final. They took the lead within the first five minutes through a Rikki Doyle penalty. Another penalty saw Probuild level through Lee Allinson. Shaun Marshall, who’d earlier headed against the post, did head home to restore the lead for Cow just before half-time. Probuild ‘keeper Graham Wraight was on top form to keep them in the tie, however, Cow equalised when Allinson scored his second penalty of the game. Cow were reduced to ten men just before full-time when Dave Kiddie was sent-off for abusive language. The ten men led for a third time when a Lee Wilson cross was headed home by Dean Greenough for an own goal. The game when to penalties courtesy of the last kick of the game from Rich Hall. Probuild triumphed in the shoot-out with hero Wraight saving three.

MBDA led through Kyle Watson before Stevenage Colts Old Boys Reserves forced extra-time through Luke Hardy. Watson restored the lead within a minute of the first period getting underway with a terrific volley. However, Colts turned the game on it’s head, Hardy grabbed his second and Adam McAndrews put them in front. However, the villain last week after his dismissal, substitute Glenn Fisher was the hero after his brilliant chip took the game to a penalty shoot-out. With Andy Gibb sustaining a serious ankle injury during the first-half, Liam Boon went between the sticks, and after two terrific saves he sent MBDA through.

Twenty minutes into another tie, a lapse in concentration from Kevin Childs in the AFC Crooked Billet goal allowed a tame cross/shot to slip through his hands into the net. MH Goldsmith’s second followed with Steve Teale finishing after some good play. George Bradshaw slipped seeing out a ball for a goal kick and gifted them another. Two more followed, Ricky Lawrance claimed a hat-trick in total, Luke Mitchell also on target. Michael Gwilliam grabbed a deserved consolation with a deflected shot with twenty minutes left.

Athletico Peartree went in front when Scot Overy headed home at the near post early on. Broadhall Reserves turned it round though with goals from Stuart Rowe and Calvert Garnes. Then, from nowhere Grant Morley hit a clearance from the half-way line that flew straight into the top corner to pull his side level. Ricky Kyle followed up Terry Lock's shot to put Peartree in front after the break before Lock scored the goal of the game. He beat six players on a brilliant solo run before slotting into the bottom corner, even the referee applauded the effort. Broadhall pulled another back through a free-kick but Lock netted again and Lewis White wrapped up the victory.

Stevenage Colts Old Boys took the lead after two minutes when Peter Lane nodded home at the near post. King Pin United equalised through James Wyatt. In the second-half, Pin's pressure finally broke the Colts resolve when Carl Lingwood struck and Nick Collins nodded home a header from a Wyatt corner.  Danny Lingwood netted before younger brother Carl finished things off with a powerful shot from a tight angle for his second.

Quarter-final spots were up for grabs in the divisional cups. Broadhall made it through to face Dun Cow Res in the Division One Cup thanks to Russell Bull (two), John Johnson (two), Martin Wilson, Jake Monkston, Michael Wells and an own goal against Putterills. Dave Banks and Sam Harte replied.

Fox were run over in the Division Two Cup as Stevenage Fencing hit double-figures. Liam McQueen (hat-trick), Dave Hailey (two), Garry Smith, Paul Harvey, Chris Tilbury, Darren Reynolds and Tom Hillard netted.

Marquis of Lorne will meet them after Hartham Press were undone by Dan Reid and Nikki Clements.

In the league Highview had a walkover against Shephall Artois in Division One due to the latters’ shortage of players.

Division Two saw a rare A1 Trophies win thanks to Greg Bradbury (hat-trick), James Harrod (two), Tallem Dennis, Simon Longman, a Craig Longman penalty and an own goal. Times Club replied through Glenn Armitt and Martin Griffin.

Emperors Head soared to the top of the Division Three table thanks to a magnificent strike from Lewis Essam. They had led two-nil thanks to Essam and debutant Tom Bowgett, but Mallard Old Boys fought back to level through Tom Younger and Darren Wilson. Essam’s 35-yard screamer left Leeroy Litchmore stranded.

Ben Broadbent, Warren Ratcliffe, Mark Edwards and Ian Levy netted in Roebuck Gate’s win over Chequers, for whom Carl Thompson bagged both.

Sam Bickerstaff (two), Leslie Chappell (two) and Dean Chadderton were on the mark as SCS grabbed another three points. Three-up at the break, they conceded when Breachwood Lions’ Chris Anderson’s tenacious running paid off, using one touch to control a pass from midfield and then a composed drive low into the corner.

Broadhall 'A' returned to the top of Division Four. Despite early dominance, it was Stevenage Old Town who took the lead with their first attack through Callum Kendrick following a bad error at the back. The scores were level on 15 minutes after Rob Stevenson's fantastic run and shot was parried by the ‘keeper, but Phil Stevens was on hand to brilliantly finish from a tight angle. Another defensive calamity culminated in Stevenson putting the ball into his own net with the first-half only half-way through. Paul Hancock's angled pass was well met by Stevens to level before the break. Twenty minutes from time, Stevens stepped up to clinch his hat-trick from the penalty-spot and the game was then wrapped up four minutes later. Cameron Bridger's cross was skilfully 'stepped over' by Jon Myers to allow Terry Lee to strike the ball low past the keeper's hand.

Previous leaders Bedwell Rangers were undone by a Dave Pateman hat-trick. Barry Bing netted the other for Highwayman.

Coopers kept up their 100 percent record in a cracking game. Their first two goals came from Sean Soards free-kick Ben Smith headed in a corner and Robin Lucas grabbed the fourth. AFC Chells replied through a Rob Barton overhead kick, Michael Brittain and Elliott Manning. Manager Tony Piroth said "A win is a boost in confidence but a loss is character building with an incentive to do better."

Both teams had chances before a long through-ball saw Crooked Billet Boro took the lead through Andy Nash. Another goal five minutes after the break from Mark Hemmings saw them extend it before Fairlands fought back well and were rewared by Alex Goodson. Hemmings scored again from the penalty-spot, whilst Ben Snowden hit the fourth.

Anthony Rowe (two), Dan Quirk and Marco Funiciello gave Marquis Rangers the points against White Lion Walkern. Mark Woods and Matt Woods replied.

Old Town Wetherspoons grabbed the points in the Frank Neville Memorial Cup thanks to a brace fro young Gary Baker, Scott Taylor and Aaron Mitchell were also on target. Sam Lemoir and Steve Pateman replied for North Herts Celtic.

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