Cow In Fast Lane To Semi

Dun Cow Reserves will represent the CSSFL in the last four of the Herts Intermediate Cup. Many of their Senior Cup winning side are now plying their trade in Division Two as age has finally caught up with them. They set up a potential semi-final with Pig and Whistle after a comfortable win over Sun and Harrow. They started the brighter of the sides and despite having a goal disallowed for offside, they went in front when a crossfield pass from left to right was played back inside for Adam Paine on the half-hour. “Painey” opened his legs, ran from the left-back position across to the right, down the wing, beat a defender and fired a terrific ball across the six yard box for Pete Brewster to knock home. Just five minutes later, they doubled the lead from a corner straight from the training ground as Danny McIver’s kick saw Danny Lane’s guide home after a near post run. Sun attempted to turn up the heat after the break, but failed to really trouble Cow.

Some great domestic cup ties also went ahead after a frosty start delayed some.

In the Premier Division Cup, a close game saw Bottles take an early lead through a Richie Vannon free-kick. Bedwell Athletic drew level midway through the second-half courtesy of Rob Binding. Both teams had chances, with Bottles’ Dean McCullagh hitting the crossbar. Extra-time saw tired legs take over, so the lottery of a penalty shoot-out was needed. Bottles ‘keeper Wayne Daily proved the hero with a great save to send them through.

Mallard blew a 4-1 lead with twenty minutes left through Perry Phillips, Ian Baker, Andy Pilgrim and Barry Hazelton. J.A.P. Builders forced extra-time through Jake Banton, Gem Samuel, Negus Johnson and Leon Ettiene. Fabian Mullings incredibly put them in front, but Timothy Smith equalised to force penalties, where J.A.P. triumphed. They await the winners of the Nirankari Sports Sabha v DC Out Bar tie.

In all ill-tempered affair where Ken Slack (Probuild) and Dave Kiddie (Dun Cow) saw red for their part in a mass brawl, Probuild went through to a tie with Bottles. Barry Greenaway put them in front from 20 yards halfway through the first-half. Adam Furness equalised for Dun Cow after out-pacing the defence on the hour. The winner came shortly afterwards when a long goal-kick from Lee Allinson found Greenaway, who coolly lobbed the ‘keeper. He should’ve had a hat-trick, but mis-kicked, it didn’t matter.

The Division One Cup saw four ‘away’ wins. Runaway league leaders Pied Piper weren’t as comfortable as usual against lowly Times Club, for whom Richard Neville scored a late consolation from Karl Rickaby’s assist. Oliver Moeni-May (two), Kologo Richards (two) and Steve Teale netted.

Scott Durham and John Johnson scored as Pig and Whistle saw off Pin Green.

Breachwood Lions opened the scoring in their tie after twenty minutes when a long free-kick was met at the far post for a trademark diving header from Iaian Turkentine. They soon doubled their lead when Warren Hearne finally netted his first goal for the club. It was a peach of shot which sailed over Emperors Head ‘keeper Rob Cooper from 25 yards after Steve Harris was caught in possession ten minutes before the break. Emperors upped it after the break and Michael Gwilliam found the net with a fantastic finish. Lions could not deal with Martin Barrett in the air and after twice hitting the bar, his header caused the most controversial moment with five minutes remaining. It hit the bar and Chris Goodyear followed up to put the ball into what their team claimed as over the line, the defender headed the ball out, it hit the ‘keeper and went back over the line for a second time, play was allowed to carry on. In the last couple of minutes, Adam Burnage broke down the wing and pulled the ball back across the goal for George Harrison to guide it into the net to seal a tie with Piper.

Strugglers Stevenage Colts Old Boys put up a brave fight and managed to contain Putterills well in the first-half with Sam Harte’s lob giving the latter a slender advantage at the break. They continued to battle valiantly but fell further behind when James Anderson crossed for Dave Banks to score. Ian Woods and Andy Bailes both struck the bar before Banks added two more from outside the box. Colts pulled one back with a header from a cross and Lee McCarthy wrapped it up with Putterills’ fifth. They now face Pig.

Stevenage Leisure played some superb football as they shocked ProCladd for the second time in a few weeks to make the semi-finals of the Division Three Cup…and how! New signing Garry Smith continued his scoring-spree by netting a hat-trick inside fifteen minutes. His best was his last when a complete solo effort saw him round three defenders and the ‘keeper to slot the ball home. James Tyrer pulled one back early in the second-half, but it wasn’t enough as Richard Williams and Ian Morton were rocks at the back. Leisure sewed up the win with James Brooks scoring a simple tap in. They now meet Hogshead or MC Racing for a place in the final.

In league action, A1 Trophies consolidated their place in second in Division Three despite going two behind to third-placed Twin Foxes. Mick McGrinder followed up a Rob Smith effort to give them a deserved lead before a Paul Jones throw-in took a touch off the ‘keeper for the second. A1 then turned the game on its head, starting with a twenty-five yard free-kick from Paul Tully. They soon equalised when James Wilson unselfishly laid the ball to Greg Bradbury to drill home. Bradbury then doubled his tally when his initial shot was well saved by the ‘keeper, but the ball fell to him again to coolly slot home. Then came the goal of the game…Simon Longman took the ball on the halfway-line and sprinted through the defence to round the ‘keeper and slot home a superb solo effort just before half-time. It was much tighter after the break and Daniel Pinkerton netted the only goal at the second attempt.

Chequers continued their fine form of late as they ended MBDA’s eight-game unbeaten run. Jason Smith tackled ‘keeper Andy Gibb on the edge of the box to net the opener before doubling the score from the penalty spot after Nigel Tingey was adjudged to have fouled him. After the break, Carl Thompson struck twice to all-but end the game. However, MBDA stormed back to net three in less than ten minutes through Craig Sutherill (two) and Ashley Kersey. They couldn’t level and Paul Osborne put it beyond doubt to make it three-on-the-bounce for them.

Another win for Roebuck Gate gave them breathing space at the top of Division Four. They took the lead early on when Ian Levy turned home a flicked-on throw-in to take his season tally to ten from midfield. A goalmouth melee was diverted into his own goal by Athletico Timebridge’s Dan Carroll to double the lead by the break. They pulled one back when Carroll fed Terry Lock, who lobbed the ‘keeper, but Daniel Swales put the result beyond doubt by placing a free-kick into the bottom corner.

Lee Wilson (four), Russell Bull (hat-trick), Bruce Bass and Dean Allen were on target as Broadhall Reserves were put to the sword by Nirankari Sports Sabha Reserves.

Marvin Miller (two), Mark Davis (two), Steve Cornwell, Steve Buckley, Danny Owers and Stewart Smith scored as Coach and Horses jumped two places off the bottom. Chris Jeffreys replied for the hapless Woolmer Green Foxes.

North Herts Celtic took the lead inside ten minutes, Jamie Hatch latched onto a ball in the area and drove home. Shortly after, Darren Curry netted with a tight, angled drive before he ran rings around the defence to add his second. Rileys came out the second-half much better and looked like they would make a go of it, but Curry completed his hat-trick on the hour. There was a consolation when a long ball over the top saw Dave Waugh run onto to put away before a goalkeeping error gave them a second through Dean Haskins. More chances were created by Celtic, they hit the post twice and the crossbar and were thwarted by good goalkeeping and last ditch defending. Ten minutes from time, Hatch picked the ball up just over the halfway-line, went past two challenges and drove a thirty yard shot home.

In the Invitation Cup, King Pin United all but booked their place in the semi-finals as they beat Fox (Jan Pearce, Matt Arlick and a Kieran Bowden own goal). Their goals came via four from Nick Collins – three of them headers courtesy of James Wyatt corners, Robbie Duckworth and Carl Lingwood.

Sean Stewart’s strike and a first for two years from Dave Coates wasn’t enough as MC Racing lost out to Marquis of Lorne, who made it two wins from two. Gary Leask (two), Pete Summers, Darren Lovelock and Jason Lovelock netted.

Peartree annihilated SCS, who played with ten men and were goalless after fifteen minutes. Goals came from James Khakpour-Smith (five), Dan Curtin (two), Michael Fortune (two), Ben Coles (two) and Barry Curtin.

Club Folds: Aston Athletic folded for financial reasons and their record in Division Two has been expunged.

Good Luck Pig: All the best to the Pig boys this Sunday.