League Round-Up...

Division 2:
Stevenage Leisure Limited kept up the heat on leaders TC United after despatching Timebridge AFC. The latter were threatening before the break, but Chris McCarthy pounced to give Leisure the lead with a run that took him one-on-one before slotting home. It was no contest after the break as McCarthy and Carl Smith each completed hat-tricks.

Mallard Old Boys are third and they started well when Tom Broadbent found Gav Bowler, who swept the ball into the bottom corner. Dan Welch then stepped up to smack a free-kick into the top corner from 20 yards out to double the lead. They missed some good chances and paid the price as FC Squirrel converted an excellent free-kick courtesy of Scott Taylor. However, Bowler fed Glen Storey, whose accurate cross picked out Si Parnell who finished with aplomb. Marc Dunn in goal for the Old Boys made two excellent saves, one reminiscent of a certain Gordon Banks in 1970. After the break, the game was effectively over thanks to a well taken hat-trick from Dave Hollands, including a lovely right-foot rising finish, a tap-in after good work and a cross-cum-shot from Tommy Hobson and another tidy finish from inside the box down low to the ‘keepers hand. Storey got in on the act with a smart finish after set up play from Welch before Gaz Baker pulled one back following a great through ball. Finally, Hobson used electrifying pace to outstrip the full-back and hit an individual goal culminating in a superb finish past a bamboozled ‘keeper.

An under-strengthed Hermit of Redcoats took the lead when a Lee Metselaar corner was knocked in by Josh Dance. They also hit the woodwork before Putterills took the ascendancy; Dave Banks nodded home the first before Sam Harte hit a 35 yard screamer, which beat a rooted Sam Archer in goal for pace, before Steve Smith glanced home a third. They too hit the woodwork but were pegged back before half-time with a well taken strike from Dance, curling home a beauty from 25 yards. They equalised when Neil Roskilly profitted from a mix-up at the back to slot home. Richard Wilson was then adjudged to have brought down Putterills forward Pete Morrison, who tucked away the spot-kick himself. They stretched their lead to two again through Louis Bullock. However, in another mini-comeback, Dance put away his hat-trick goal with a neat lob two minutes from time after good work by Mark Staples and then grabbed a dramatic equaliser when he stuck away the penalty after he was hacked down in the box. Amazing game.

A1 Trophies started the better of two struggling teams, creating a number of chances, which the Hartham Press ‘keeper matched. The breakthrough came midway through the first-half when some neat build-up play between Gary Tebbutt and James Harrod culminated in a good ball to Greg Bradbury, who turned the defender and slotted home from a tight angle. Michael Wilkinson was putting in a sterling performance at centre-half for A1, whilst Grant Smith in goal pulled of a great save when in a one-in-one situation, and the ‘keeper again pulling of a fantastic point-blank save. It was left to a bit of experience to help seal the game as a combined age of 82 between Smith, who laid the ball out to Robbie Haigh saw the latter dodge numerous challenges to lay the ball on for young Reece Munford, who then in turn played a quality pass into Bradbury’s feet, the striker coolly slotted home to make it two wins on the bounce with two clean sheets to boot.

Division 3:
The top two met on a sticky pitch at Benington and the two key moments occurred around the half-hour mark. Firstly, Broadhall ‘A’ squandered the chance to go ahead as Matt Henning's tame penalty-kick was easily saved, after Matt Dimond had been fouled. Secondly, just two minutes later, Simon Flecknell hit an innocuous hopeful shot which somehow got past stand-in ‘keeper Brad Westall and squirmed over the line to give leaders Odyssey all three points and inflict their victims’ first league defeat.

Chequers held onto third after Carl Thompson and Steve Koop netted in their draw with Rileys Athletic, for whom Tom Gallagher and Chitalu Chitondo were on target.

Lewis Essam (two) and Damian Hadlow netted in Emperors Head’s win over Times Club.

Jamie Morris’ hat-trick kept Bedwell Rangers in fourth as they saw off Stevenage Colts Reserves (Lee Falanga). Other scorers were Luke Smith and Nick Thomas.

Division 4:
Roebuck Gate now head the table thanks largely to a Dave Morton hat-trick. Big Mark Hollis also netted and Granby replied through Sam Bickerstaff.

Crooked Billet Boro are second on goal difference as they hit two either side of the break against Stevenage Old Town. James Marshall continued his amazing run in front of goal and Mark Hemmings calmly added the second. Christian Goodyear tapped home from close range and Terry Haynes completed the comfortable victory with a deflected long-range strike.

Breachwood Lions sit just one point behind the leaders after a thrilling game at Walkern Construction, who took the lead through Chris Bunker. Adam Jefferies’ cross found Rob Pearson at the far post to knock the ball into the top corner to equalise. Bunker restored the lead, but Dan Jefferies levelled the scores at the break with a header from ten yards. Ollie Mason hit the bar for the visitors before they led for the first time through Iaian Turkentine. A Dave Clements brace turned the game on its head before Turkentine pounced to earn Lions a point.

Frank Neville Memorial Cup:
Two sides from Division Four met, so they started on an even keel. Despite having plenty of chances, Icon Onederers found themselves two down. A Richard O'Donovan corner found its way back out to him on the left wing, which he spectacularly volleyed back across goal and in off the post then bar to pull one bacj and shortly after, a James Nurse pass found Carl Albon, who rounded the ‘keeper and slotted home for a debut goal to equalise. They let in two more to leave themselves chasing the game again. Matt Fowler pulled one back, but Proverbial sewed it up with a fifth, their goals coming from Michael Gwilliam (two), Theo Griffith, Joseph Marshall-Zeal and Mason Bambridge. Another Albon strike wasn’t enough.

Match Reports can be sent to statto@cssfl.info, the league website can be found at www.cssfl.info.