Stevenage Side Guaranteed In Final!

A Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League side is guaranteed in the Herts Intermediate Cup Final at Herts FA HQ on 25th April, writes Darren “Statto” Jones.

Winners in 2008, Dun Cow Reserves, won 3-1 at The Welly. Danny McIver (2) and James Dillnutt did the damage.

MBDA’s route to these dizzy heights was far less straightforward. The young side don’t know when they’re beaten. They travelled to Wormley to face a rampant Thames Albion side, and found themselves 3-0 down inside 20 minutes. Two outrageous long-range strikes beat Andy Gibb, whilst an excellent free-kick also found the corner after captain Alan Kenney committed a foul. Top scorer Ashley Kersey reduced the arrears with a no-nonsense finish. However, Nigel Tingey glanced a header into his own net and it was 4-1 after half-an-hour. An unerring finish from Gary Hodgson brought them back to within two right on half-time. A stern team-talk by manager Darren Jones ensued and Hodgson netted again from Kersey’s long ball forward before the latter levelled the tie. Sam Harwood curled home a free-kick and Ross Walker latched onto substitute Louis Hare’s through-ball to shoot home via the post to make if five without reply after going 4-2 down. Albion scored again and it was a great save from Gibb and a clearance off the line from Kenney with saw them go through to a dream meeting of young ‘n’ old against Cow Reserves.

In the KLM Challenge Cup, Highwayman saw off Fox despite the two division difference. Dave Pateman (2), Steve Peary (2) and Steve Stapleton were on target. Theo Griffith (2) and Laurie Bambridge replied. They’ll now face SCS in the last eight.