Mallard Have Bottle

The new Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League got underway on Sunday and JAP Builders’ debut in the Premier Division looked to be going quite well due to well-worked strikes from Mandell Mullins and Negus Johnson. However, right on half-time they made a schoolboy error and Shaun Marshall pounced for seasoned campaigners Dun Cow. The Cow turned the screw after the break and Marshall equalised. With the game heading for a draw, Marc Holmes won it for Cow.

Mallard are fancied this year, but no-one could’ve expected them to totally wipe the floor with last season’s runners-up Bottles. The goals were spread around thanks to Ian Baker, Riki Dance, Tim Smith, Perry Phillips and Craig Reynolds.

Danny Hillard netted on his Emperors Head debut whilst frontmen Chris Goodyear and Steve Harris also got their campaign off to a good start as they picked up three points at Breachwood Lions (David McNeilly).

New-signing Michael Bunker grabbed a brace as Peartree saw off Putterills in Division One. Michael Fortune and Ross Jackson were also on the mark, whilst Craig Dillnut netted the consolation for the former-Norwich Union.

Kologo Richards, Steve Teale and John Hughes gave promoted Pied Piper an opening win. It would’ve been more but Pig and Whistle ‘keeper Luke Turner saved a penalty. Grant Sullivan grabbed the lone reply after rounding the last defender and beating the ‘keeper comfortably.

In Division Two, Royal Oak hit double-figures against Aston Athletic (Danny Bowey). Bryan Every hit five on his debut. Dave Pateman ably-assisted with four whilst Tom Sharman grabbed the other.

Tom Tiddlers Tavern opened up with a good win. They were dominant throughout and played some attractive neat football. New-signing Nikki Clements opened the scoring early on with a six-yard strike before a Scott Taylor strike saw Old Social equalise. Richard MacKenzie superbly fired home from the edge of the box. Josh Watson grabbed the third after some excellent work from Mackenzie. Jamie Hucker then scored two in quick succession with neat finishes, sandwiching a consolation from Chris McGrath. MacKenzie added his second with a 40-yard attempted cross.

White Horse were beaten by new boys Morecambe Wanderers. Simon Lewis, Stephen Hayes and Paul Hannington were on target, whilst James Flynn grabbed the consolation for the Division Three champions.

In Division Three, a Jason Smith brace and one from regular marksman Carl Thompson saw Chequers win comfortably against Rapidsource.

Any excellent game saw Stevenage Leisure get off the mark thanks to a brace apiece from Jamie Drackford and Simon Cornish. Greg Bambrick also netted. In reply, MC Racing struck through Anthony Koop, Steve Koop and Nik Tribe.

With so many new sides in Division Four, it’ll take a while before we see who the front-runners are. Athletico Timebridge could be in with a shout though after adding a couple of tremendous signings to their already-improved squad. Along with brother Danny, Joe Delasalle has signed on, and scored four times on Sunday. Add to this a hat-trick from the impressive Terry Lock and they overcame a Broadhall Reserves side who had led 2-1 just before the break. Kyle Stephenson (two) and Alex Elmes on target.

The quickest reported goal of the day came from the evergreen Alan Widdows, who breached the Coach and Horses defence after just 25 seconds! Andy Jackson’s Stevenage Fencing went on to hit nine, with eight different scorers: Marvin Hall (two), James Masters, Tom Bowgett, Ricky Bridge, Garry Smith, Neil Roskilly and Keven Fehmi were also on the mark. Marvin Miller grabbed the consolation.

Garyth Johnson (two), Sam Cooper and Dave Jones were on target as Rileys won by the odd goal in seven. Their victims Woolmer Green Foxes failed to provide scorers.