Mallard Bladdered By Pig

Sunday saw Nirankari Sports Sabha move into the third round of the FA Carlsberg Sunday Cup. They travelled to South London to face Sutton Athletic and came back home in joyous mood after a very late winner. They took an early lead when a good move ended with a through-ball for Russell Bull to nip past the on-rushing ‘keeper and square for Lee Wilson to score into an empty net. The home side equalised from a corner. A change of formation at half-time from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 paid great dividends as NSS out-played their opponents for the first twenty minutes of the second-half in which a long pass from Wilson saw Bull one-on-one with the ‘keeper, only for him to clip the ball round the ‘keeper for the galloping Ricky Case to net. Sutton equalised from a deflected free-kick to what seemed to force extra-time. However, in added-on time, David Iwedino cut in from the right and hit a twenty yard strike into the net, much to the jubilation of the away fans. They now travel to Edgware to face St Andrews, who were a goal down going into the last minute of their tie, before Craig Tomkins hit a hat-trick. They’ll have to keep a special eye on him. The tie is on the 25th of this month.

We also saw the commencement of the KLM Challenge Cup. Twelve of the Preliminary Round ties were played, and there was plenty of drama.

There were four ties which were deemed as ‘giant-killing’, although none were huge shocks. Royal Oak started the game with just a bare eleven, but that became ten when Paul Waterton was sent-off for foul and abusive language towards a linesman. To compound the misery, Broadhall took the lead towards the end of the first-half through Alan Collins. Oak lost another player to injury at the break, but were thankful to an arriving substitute to get them back up to ten. A corner was only half-cleared and Dave Pateman volleyed home from ten yards to level the scores. The game then seemed to be heading for extra-time when Broadhall scored on the break through Paul Gasson with just five minutes remaining. However, Pateman headed home to level again. The Division Two side ended the Premier side’s interests when Albie Stafford put an inch-perfect cross straight onto Pateman's head, and he converted his hat-trick goal for the winner.

Bottles Reserves took the lead through top scorer Robbie Freeman, as his shot squirmed through stand-in ‘keeper Grant Smith. They felt they should’ve capitalised more on a first-half siege on goal, however Division Three side A1 Trophies pulled things level before the break when a mistake at the back allowed Greg Bradbury to make a run down the right hand side, and hit a wonderful strike from a tight angle. They continued where they left off and took an early in the second-half as despite having a goal ruled out, Simon Longman wasn’t to be denied. He chased down a lost cause, managed to get between defender and goalkeeper and poked home. Substitute James Harrod then supplied an excellent cross for Bradbury to head his second. Bottles rallied and a 30 yard strike by Justin Brown set up a frantic finish with ten minutes to go.

Division Four Yorkshire Grey beat a side three divisions higher thanks to some glorious goals. Gary Curtis controlled the ball with his chest before volleying it into the top right corner from 30 yards. Karl Rickaby equalised before half-time for Division One new boys Times Club to force extra-time. However, Lewis Sealy put Grey back in front with a scissors-kick and Damian Hadlow scored from the edge of the centre-circle with an audacious shot off the post.

Steve Parker (two), Jamie Castle (two) and Mike Allen saw Woolmer Green Foxes home in a nine-goal thriller against SCS. Aaron Collins, Dean Chadderton, Blain Park and John Jamieson on target for SCS.

Steve Koop’s hat-trick saw MC Racing home in a ten-goal thriller. Nick Christodoulou, Anthony Koop and James Cox also netted. Athletico Timebridge did take the lead when Matt Grima made a sweet pass down the wing to Danny Carroll, who went past the last defender and touched past the on-rushing ‘keeper. After conceding twice, they levelled again when Alan Bellott slotted home from Dave Herbert’s clever back-heel pass. The sides then exchanged two goals each as Athletico twice equalised. Firstly through Alan Gifford, who flicked home with his head and Alan Bellott, who struck a peach of a left-foot volley. With eight goals now shared, MC put the accelerator and went through.

Despite only being able to field a much weakened side, Bottles swept aside the challenge of plucky strugglers Stevenage Colts Old Boys with an emphatic victory. Leeroy Odd netted three times, the pick a 30 yard volley, as did last weeks goal hero Piers Le Grand. There were braces for Robbie Yates and Dillan Slater to complete the rout. Not to be denied, Colts netted twice through Cliff Hulley and Luke Spraggs.

Emperors Head saw off a potential banana-skin in a cracking cup tie. They started the better of the teams, but it was Twin Foxes’ Les Chappell who got the breakthrough, slotting home from close range. Emperors hit back soon after when a deflected ball fell to Chris Chalat, who coolly slotted across goal into the corner after 20 minutes. Foxes grabbed another goal against the run of play when Chappell nodded home a long Paul Jones throw-in. They responded again after some pinball on the line resulted in Michael Gwilliam toe-poking an equaliser. Both teams then hit the woodwork, Joe Chilton's superb free kick smashing the underside of the bar and out only for Danny Wardell to head the rebounded ball onto the bar again as Foxes’ goal lived a charmed life. The goal of the game came just before the break as a good move was started and finished by Tom Bradshaw after Steve Harris held the ball up well for him to smash home from 20 yards. Second-half saw Foxes pushing, but Sam Lawrence and Rob Barnes were unlucky to find more woodwork. Bradshaw scored the only goal of the half, from the penalty-spot.

Ryan Eady (hat-trick) and Russell Ayles (two) helped Morecambe Wanderers see off North Herts Celtic.

Roebuck Gate's run of five clean sheets in all competitions was ended as Matt Keane netted from a melee following a corner to put Division Two side Old Social in front. Roebuck equalised when Andy Hall prodded home, also following a corner. Social missed several chances in the second-half as Roebuck were forced to play the last half hour with only ten men after Ben Broadbent was forced off injured. They only succumbed when a long throw-in was flicked on and buried by birthday boy Stuart Archer with a glancing header in stoppage-time.

Adam Burnage put Breachwood Lions in front inside ten minutes, and they held on for a solitary goal victory over Peartree for the second successive week. Lions started very well with a couple of excellent passing moves starting from the back line and within five minutes. Wayne Gardner flicked on a cross into the path of Adam Burnage, who shot into the box and rifled a right footed shot into the top corner. Peartree retaliated and came close by hitting the bar. Goalkeeper Graham French was averting any danger in the Lions goal. David Fleckney almost doubled the lead when he cut inside the box, but after turning the defender inside out and chipping the ‘keeper, the ball come back out off the post.

Alan Kenney opened the scoring for Premier side DC Out Bar against a battling Rapidsource. Ray Downes netted a dubious penalty and Ade Barry finished the scoring.

J.A.P. Builders turned up to play, but went home with a ‘victory’ due to Tom Tiddlers Tavern’s shortage of players.

Of the six First Round ties, Premier Division leaders Mallard’s game with Pig and Whistle was certainly the pick. The second-placed side in Division One heaped more woe as John Johnston (two), Scotty Durham and an own goal cancelled out Craig Reynolds’ strike.

King Pin United produced a superb comeback from four-two down for the second-successive week. Danny Bowey (two), Darren Hicks and Luke Cheetham netted for Aston Athletic. United took the lead through Carl Lingwood, and again through James Wyatt, only to concede three more before half-time. A great second-half saw Lingwood net again before an injury-time strike from Dave Holmes on the edge of the box earned extra-time. They totally dominated from then on with Danny Hacker sending a cracking 25 yard strike into the top corner before Carl’s brother Danny Lingwood and Wyatt secured the victory.

A steady performance from Probuild saw them comfortably home against their Division Three basement opponents. Two-up in the first fifteen minutes through Richard Hall and Lee Allinson, Hogshead pulled one back through Adam Lusby. Tony Lister extended the lead with a good team goal before the break. Straight from kick-off, the evergreen Calvert Garnes pulled another one back before Hall, Lee Gribben and Terry Pateman sealed the win.

ProCladd’s perfect start to the Division Three season was no obstacle to Dun Cow, who thrashed them thanks to Shaun Marshall (two), Ross Cummings (two) Scott Mahoney, Sam Gittings and David Kiddie.

Stevenage Leisure won comfortably against Broadhall Reserves. The goals came from James Batchelor (two), Jamie Drackford, Charlie Cook, Chris Tilbrook, Darren Bickell and Savan Fatania.

Jason Lovelock’s strike for White Horse was in vain as Pin Green went through thanks to Dave Baldwin and Adam Stevens.

In the Invitation Cup, Sam Harwood netted his first goal for MBDA with a superb free-kick. Josh Watson equalised for Fox from close-range before another Harwood rocket from 20 yards restored the lead. Simon Flecknell levelled again after Watson’s shot was parried before substitute Liam Boon headed home to give them the lead for the third time. However, nice control and a good finish from Kev Ward levelled the scores again, but with the goal advantage, MBDA won the tie.

Goals from Steve Teale (two) and Lee Kitching (two) weren’t enough to win the game as Pied Piper were held by Rileys. It could’ve been worse for the Division One leaders but Chris Mitchell saved a penalty. Chris Simpson scored for the Division Four side to add to their three-goal advantage.

Tom Tiddlers Tavern FC finally conceded a battle which they’ve encountered for weeks. Injuries and general player shortage has led to them fold the Club. Their record in Division Two will be expunged.