Sole Survivors Nirankari Out

The Stevenage Sunday League has often provided teams in the latter stages of the Senior Cup. However, we have no survivors this season as we enter the quarter-final stage after league champions Nirankari Sports Sabha were beaten in a tough encounter. With the Council doing the league a massive turn by providing a pitch at late notice, the teams took to the field at Shephalbury Park. Queens Head from Sandridge took the lead before Scott Orphanou equalised for the home side. They took the lead when a free-kick was floated into the box and Adam Lamacraft struck a superb volley. By half-time, QH had restored parity. A header from a corner put the away side in front again before Nirankari pushed for the game, and got caught twice on the break.

The other game on Sunday took place at Alleynes School in the KLM Challenge Cup. It was a bruising battle played on a surface which naturally turned boggy. Probuild took the lead when Steve Skinner hooked home from close-in after a cross was headed towards him. However, the same man dallied on the ball, hit it against Paul Herring, who side-footed home the equaliser for Bedwell Athletic as they rallied against the strong wind for the remainder of the first-half. Goalkeepers Stu Howard (Probuild) and Aaron Springham (Bedwell) pulled off some superb saves to keep the scores level, whilst Gary Pomfret also hit the Bedwell bar…twice. With twenty minutes remaining, Bedwell’s Paul Underwood was adjudged to have fouled the goalbound Terry Pateman, Tony Lister slotted home the penalty. Herring managed to send the game into extra-time with a last-gasp equaliser. He managed to slot his shot through ‘keeper Howard’s legs, only to see it hold up in the boggy goal mouth, however, he then won the race against a defender and slid it home. Just five minutes from a penalty shoot-out, substitute Gary Hewlett chased down Howard after an overhit through ball, the Probuild ‘keeper managed to shovel the ball through his own legs and presented Hewlett with an open goal to send Bedwell into the last eight, where they'll face either Dun Cow or Pig and Whistle. It was revenge for Bedwell, who were beaten at the semi-final stage last season by a then Division One Probuild…in the last minute. A great performance from referee David Bailey as he managed to keep a lid on most things during the game, he is always approachable and understands players’ reactions without flashing cards at every opportunity.

Our surviving County Cup teams are Nirankari Sports Sabha Reserves, who play in the Junior Cup quarter-finals on 10th February, whilst Pig and Whistle and Dun Cow Reserves look to reach the same stage in the Intermediate Cup this Sunday.

With this week’s amended fixtures approaching, I’m looking out of the window and it’s raining as I type…again!