Just Four Games Survive Rain

Despite almost the whole programme being wiped out due to the torrential rain leading up to Sunday morning, there were still 37 goals spread over the four games at Shephalbury Park and Peartree Park. Two potential title-deciders at the same venues didn’t go ahead.

Putterills ran out comfortable winners against Stevenage Colts Old Boys in their Division One game at as they almost certainly confirmed a third-placed finish. They looked hungry for goals and the first arrived inside five minutes. A cross was only half-cleared to David Banks, who fired in from the corner of the area. The next goal arrived courtesy of a stunning Jimmy Anderson free-kick into the top corner. Sam Harte grabbed his first when the defence failed to clear a cross and his second arrived shortly after in similar fashion after skipper Graeme Duff launched an attack from the back. In between Harte’s goals Colts scored courtesy of Callum Russell from a corner. Banks added two more before half-time, the first from a corner and the second after lifting the ball over the on-rushing ‘keeper. After the break, the pace of the game slowed as the pitch became sticky in the wet conditions and the wind increased in strength. Both teams changed goalkeepers at the break, Putterills’ new stopper Charlie Anderson made a good one-on-one save after gifting the ball to the Colts striker. They scored again after a good run by Harte, who found Banks on the edge of the box, who fired home his fourth. They were awarded a penalty after Greg Collins was fouled, Collins took the spot-kick himself, but dragged it well wide. Lee McCarthy added the next goal when the keeper could only parry a shot. The final goal of the game was an audacious 25-yard effort from Andy Bailes.

A magnificent ten-goal thriller saw Old Social take the lead four times, and still end up losing! With the score only one-nil at the break, they traded goals four times up until the final ten minutes with Marquis of Lorne. Dave Stroomer (two), a Mike Coombes penalty and a thirty-yard thunderbolt of a free-kick from Scott “the power” Taylor each put the old boys in the lead. However, Jason Lovelock, Mitch Conlan, Gary Leask and Lewis Piper levelled on each occasion. Darren Lovelock produced some of his old magic with a tremendous over-head kick to put Marquis in front before Conlan struck from the spot to finish matters. They moved to third-bottom, a position in which they’re likely to finish.

In Division Four, Stevenage Fencing moved four points clear after a comfortable win over Broadhall Reserves. The opener came from a through-ball which saw the ‘keeper as favourite, but the ball stopped in a big puddle and the gambling Neil Roskilly scored. Arin Fehmi then crossed to the edge of the box for brother Keven to score into the top corner. Just before half-time, Arin then provided Marv Hall with a cross, the latter scuffed the ball into the top corner, claiming he’d meant it. Garry Smith got in on the act, taking on two players, playing a one-two with Hall, before slotting home. Alan Widdows hit the net via the post after the wind had helped it out of the reach of the ‘keeper. The opponents finally got in on the act, Mark Chalkley and Lee Stokes netting to sandwich a strike from Arin, who finally got on the scoresheet himself from a tight angle.

Roebuck Gate managed to secure their second Invitation Cup win in two weeks. Stuart Rowe opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Mark Edwards was fouled. Daniel Swales then doubled the score with a low finish and Edwards scored himself, putting away a loose ball. SCS pinched one back before half-time. Swales collected three more in the second-half, including a bicycle-kick. Danny Bacon fired home from the edge of the area and things were rounded off by Ben Broadbent's cross-come-shot that made its way into the back of the net. They were already in control at two-up before kick-off.

Other action saw Peartree enter a Sport Relief five-a-side competition. They joined seven local teams to the Bushey Leisure Centre on astroturf pitches. They won 7-0, 4-3 and 10-0 in the group stage and 9-2 in the final.

Dun Cow forfeited for the first time in 25 years for their Premier Division game against J.A.P. Builders. They didn’t want to waste their opponents’ time in making them turn up to what would’ve been a stroll. Had they done so, they’d have got a reprieve as King George’s was one of the seven council parks totally washed-out.

Tom Tiddlers Tavern are still unable to find £50 and were therefore suspended for the fourth week running. They were due to play a double-header against Fox, so the latter made it twelve points in two weeks and shot up from second-bottom to third-place!

Pied Piper’s Steve Teale now looks favourite for the Website Golden Boot. At last Monday’s Committee Meeting, Nirankari Sports Sabha’s Russell Bull was disqualified from the running due to the fact he reported nine more goals more than he actually scored the week before in a double-header against Woolmer Green Foxes.