Nirankari’s Second String Into County Final

Nirankari Sports Sabha Reserves have made it through to the final of the Herts Junior Cup after a tough game against The Malta at Leverstock Green FC. Their opponents took an early lead when a loose ball on the right was smashed home, they then hit the crossbar with a thirty-yarder and the CSSFL boys were beginning to worry. However, they started to get a foot on the game and some good work down the left from Lee Wilson resulted in them hitting the bar and then the post. Wilson then provided hotshot Russell Bull with a through-ball and he raced onto it and hit a sweet shot, which this time went in off the post as their luck finally changed. They were behind again to a tap-in but levelled just before the break from the spot. The penalty was awarded for a foul on Ricky Case, which Bull duly converted. In the second-half, a cross found Wilson to tap home the winner as he was clattered by the ‘keeper. Manager Bull said: “A special mention to Dave Conyard, who pulled out the game of all games and won every header and tackle for us today, he was immense! So well done lads and good luck in the final!”. They will take on Nicholas Breakspear Old Boys in the final, who needed extra-time in their semi-final. The game will take place on 6th April at the Herts FA Headquarters at Letchworth.

The semi-finalists of the KLM Challenge Cup were decided. There’s a real mouth-watering tie on the horizon too. Nirankari Sports Sabha saw off Royal Oak thanks to Andrew Levy (two) and Rory Spencer.

They will now play Dun Cow Reserves, who will give them a right battle after maintaining their quadruple chances, despite having to come from behind. Both teams started strongly, it was Cow who caught their opponents on the break when James Dillnutt finished well. However, two quick-fire goals coming from Martin Young and a sublime lob from the prolific Negus Johnson which meant J.A.P. Builders went into the break in front. After the break, a goalmouth scramble fell to Dillnutt to net again to force extra-time. This proved to be a closely-fought affair, but the turning point saw J.A.P. ‘keeper Jarell Stratton go off with a bad groin injury, Greg Philip stepped up to the challenge to replace him. However, he could not prevent Cow from winning the tie when, firstly, Pete Brewster converted a header from a corner and Dillnutt completed his hat-trick.

Dun Cow also made it through to set up a potential final against their reserve side. Adam Furness, Rikki Doyle, Sam Gittings, Shaun Marshall and Ross Cummings were on the mark against Bedwell Athletic. In reply, Steve Underwood scored a brace, the highlight seeing his 45 yard volley sailing into the net.

Pin Green only fielded ten men, but despite this they took the lead when they netted with a header. A goalmouth scramble saw Chris Tillbrook level for Stevenage Leisure. Two hat-tricks after the break saw a stroll ensue. The pick of Carl Smith’s three being a thirty-yard lob, whilst Jamie Drackford’s best was a shot from the edge of the area that found the top corner.

In the sole Premier Division game, Richard Hall inspired Probuild to a hard earned three points against a battling and much-improved Broadhall side. The first-half was very close the only good chance saw Gary Pomfret’s toe-poke hit the post. Dean Greenough supplied Hall with the opener on the hour as he curled the ball round the ‘keeper from a tight angle. Terry Pateman made it two from Pomfret’s weighted-pass. Paul Gasson beat the offside trap to pull one back before substitute Karl Radband struck the post with a header from Pateman’s corner. The game was wrapped up when Pomfret played a neat one-two with Radband and the former drilled into the bottom corner as they moved up two places to third in their debut season in the top-flight. Nirankari meet Mallard this Sunday in a crucial game in the title-race, it’s Mallard’s last game of the season due to their abrupt cup runs, Nirankari will go on for some time.

Division One leaders Pied Piper kept up their 100 percent league record as they strode into a three-goal lead inside half-an-hour. Emperors Head striker Chris Goodyear gained an injury, forcing him to right-back, then into goal in place of Sam Archer. Piper went nap before the break, league’s top scorer Steve Teale (two), Tom Hillard, Lee Kitching and Luke Mitchell doing the damage. The second-half was all about playing for pride for Emperors and Goodyear and his defence kept Piper quiet. They though they had a consolation when Chris Chalat squared to Archer, who finished, only to deemed offside. However, Archer did get his goal with ten minutes left when the ‘keeper missed a cross from Chalat and he made no mistake.

A dozen goals courtesy of Jason Milburn (hat-trick), John Johnston (hat-trick), Scotty Durham (two), Ricky Lawrence (two), Grant Sullivan and Matt Jackson were on target as Pig and Whistle kept up their title push against Stevenage Colts Old Boys. Piper meet Pig in a potential title-decider this Sunday!

After a goalless first half-an-hour, Dave Banks lobbed the ‘keeper to give Putterills the lead as they looked to hold onto third spot. Pete Morrison doubled the advantage when he reacted first as the ‘keeper could only parry Jim Anderson’s long-range effort. Banks headed in Graeme Duff’s long throw-in after the break and Lee McCarthy finished well for four. Andy Bailes got in on the act with his first of the season, firing in to the roof of the net. Times Club kept their heads up and Martin Griffin netted with a great curling shot from the corner of the area. They netted another consolation five minutes from time when some great work in the box saw Scott Cronin pick his spot.

Fox started to play catch-up as they gained all six points in a closely-fought double-header. Kevin Ward celebrated the week of his 24th birthday with a hat-trick, Simon Flecknell and Dave Sell also bagged a goal apiece in the first game, Marquis of Lorne replied through Jason Lovelock, Frazer Triggs and an own goal in an eight-goal thriller after they started the game with nine men. In match two, Ward and Sell netted again along with Ross Randall as Fox edged it by a goal. Lovelock also netted again for Marquis of Lorne, Darren Harman grabbed the other.

Old Social returned to action after a four-week break and the rustiness showed as Dave McColm kept them at bay early on in the SCS goal. Social were thankful to the ever-reliable Stuart Archer, who is in the process of growing the worst beard in history. Also on target were Mike Coombes, Matt Keane, Michael Potter, Scott Taylor and Lee Hollingsworth. Dave Brown, Chris Fletcher and Ian Evans netted in reply.

ProCladd have got over a new year blip and could take the Division Three title with a win on Easter Sunday against King Pin United. Sunday saw a comfortable win over nearest challengers A1 Trophies. Neil Henderson and Charlie Barnett hit the goals as A1 fell to only their second league defeat, both against the champions-elect.

Twin Foxes had their first win for some time, keeping them in third place. They took the lead when Leslie Chappell skilfully put away a chance he created himself, despite being surrounded by opposing defenders. Hogshead got themselves back in the game through Paul Dowse before taking the lead through Dan Auld. Unfortunately, Foxes’ Paul Jones was taken to hospital after a clash of heads just before the break. They got level through a 30 yard screamer by Manjit Singh before evergreen Simon O'Reilly headed the winner.

King Pin United secured all six points from their double-header to jump into fourth. Robbie Duckworth, Adam Bannister and James Wyatt gave them control of the first game before Robbie Duckworth scored his second after an excellent one-two with Wyatt in the second-half to kill the game. A consolation for Chequers came from Jason Smith after a mix-up in the defence. In the second game, Chequers were reduced to ten men after only five minutes with a straight red for offensive language towards the linesman. They still made King Pin United work very hard through and it wasn't until five minutes before the break when Carl Lingwood broke the offside trap to open the scoring. He got his and the teams second. Dave Holmes then made it three with an excellent chip after Nick Collins shot ricocheted into his path. The dangerous Carl Thompson netted twice to set up a tense finish.

MC Racing’s second goalless draw of the season could’ve been avoided had Anthony Koop’s penalty not been saved by MBDA ‘keeper Andy Gibb. Both sides had chances, Kyle Watson shot into the side-netting in the last minute for MBDA.

Athletico Timebridge’s Terry Lock made a few good chances and netted the opener from the penalty spot after being brought down himself to continue his run of scoring in every league game he’s played. The ten men saw Dan Carroll extend the lead from fully thirty-five yards before Broadhall Reserves netted a last-minute consolation through Mark Chalkley. When asked how long was remaining, stand-in referee Craig Reynolds indicated he would blow the final whistle once the ball was touched from the restart, Lock netted after the ball was touched to him just as the ref was blowing, they were said to be “gutted” as the ball sailed into the net.

Darren Curry (two), Paul Cockburn and Daniel Burley were on the mark for North Herts Celtic against Rileys (Craig Armstrong and Garyth Johnson).

Robbie Freeman (five), Lewis Sealy (four), James Whittaker (two) and Damian Hadlow netted in Yorkshire Grey’s dozen goal win at Woolmer Green Foxes.

In the Invitation Cup, DC Out Bar looked to turn around a one-goal deficit, their pressure paid off after the ball pin-balled around the Breachwood Lions six-yard box and Olly Rice poked home. They were also twice thwarted by the sun-tanned Pete Farr on the line. After the break, a long ball forward found Alan Kenney to grab the second, but a string of top-drawer acrobatic saves from ‘keeper Graham French kept the score down. Lions then re-shuffled and were close to levelling the tie, but DC took the points and look to stake a claim for a semi-final berth this Sunday.

A third side with only ten men to take the lead on the day were Peartree, through Ben Coles. Morecambe Wanderers levelled through Russell Ayles, who atoned for a penalty miss moments earlier. Andrew Black then restored the lead. Ayles netted again before Ryan Eadie attacked a Simon Lewis cross to finish well. Ten-man Peartree levelled on the day through Adrian Wenn, although they lost the tie overall. It didn’t matter as they’ve already failed to qualify, but wanted a run-out, and with many out of position, including Dan Curtin in goal and James Khakpour-Smith at centre-midfield, they were pleased with their display.

Roebuck Gate made light of the four-division difference by taking the lead early on through Matt Jackson's solo run down the wing, which saw him cut inside and beat the ‘keeper. By half-time, Bottles had reversed the difference on the day - a header from a corner and a neat solo goal. They extended that lead early into the second-half, but were still two behind overall and were fighting a losing-battle. Gate captain Ian Levy put it beyond doubt when he turned the ball into the net over his shoulder after a long throw-in was flicked on. The only sour note saw Levy go to hospital with suspected rib damage.