Week ending 5th October by Mason Norton

The weather made a recovery in the latter half of the week, so we got in all of the scheduled fixtures for the County Cups this weekend affecting teams in the Everards Leicestershire Senior League.

Jelson Homes Senior Cup:

Shock of the day came in the Senior Cup, where current Premier Division leaders Desford fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat at home to Leicester Atletico, goals from Ali Ashkir and Zaakir Bham, either side of half time gave Atletico, who lost 9-1 last week, a win on their Senior Cup debut. Camen Bhandal replied for Desford. Two games pitted LSL sides against clubs outside of the Senior League, and both saw the Senior League teams come out on top. Anstey Town, who were making their first Senior Cup appearance since 2008, won 3-1 away at former Peterborough League champions Uppingham Town after a closely-contested game, Zak Harris and subs Conor Jackson and Darren Taylor scoring for Anstey, Louie Venni for Uppingham. At Judgemeadow College, FC Khalsa welcomed Northants Combination outfit Medbourne, and after an entertaining and oscillating encounter finished 3-3 in the 90 minutes, Khalsa led 1-0 at half time and finished with goals from jaswi9nder Bangh, Tamar Clayton and Reun Basra. Khalsa won 6-5 in the penalty shoot-out, Medbourne exiting on penalties for the second successive season, Khalsa scorers not yet in.

There were two all-LSL ties in the Senior Cup. Last season's runners-up Hathern entertained Thurnby Rangers, and after a goalless first half where Hathern did everything but score, two goals in two minutes from Jake Davies and Kai Williams put Hathern in the box seat early in the second period before Jamie Richardson added a third to round off a 3-0 win. Sileby Town thumped Friar Lane & Epworth 5-0 at Southfield Avenue, Mark Tinsley (2), Grant Ryder, Tom Pope and sub Szymon Donnerstag the scorers as Sileby serenely sailed onto round two. Tuesday night sees AFC North Kilworth travel to Ingles, Ellistown face Coalville Town in a local derby, and Magna 73 venture to Birstall United in the re-arranged ties, which we'll bring you- weather pending- in the Midweek Ramble.

Westerby Group Saturday Intermediate Cup:

By and large, the LSL sides held their own against teams from other leagues in this round, with only Birstall United Reserves losing to lower-league opposition, as they lost 6-3 at Leicester Lions of the County League Premiership division, Emmanuel Kambulu (2) and Finley Rogers for Birstall. Despite a brace from Jamie Hoyland, Saffron Dynamo Development lost to Harborough Town Reserves, of the UCL Reserve Division, who have had a disappointing start by their standards this term, but after a 2-2 draw in normal time, Harborough prevailed 5-3 on spot-kicks.

Otherwise, it was good news for the LSL sides. St Patricks became the first side to book their second-round berth, when opponents FC Coalville 2015 were unable to raise a side. Hinckley Leicester Road Development, who won this competition last season, won 2-1 at Leicester Atletico Reserves, the Road scorers Tom Brody and George Kennel, whilst Heather St John's Reserves won 4-1 at home to Mountsorrel Amateurs-who had Leyton Hollis on target. Kye Woolldridge x 3 and Rory Hathaway scored for Heather. And Kirby Muxloe Reserves won 1-0 at IQRA Lions, Joshua Evans scoring for Kirby.

In the all-LSL Div1 ties, Dan Turner's first-half goal was enough for Ingles Development to win 1-0 at home to Holwell Sports Reserves, and Sileby Town Reserves humbled Loughborough Dynamo 6-2 at Nanpantan Sports Ground on a day that Dynamo played in the main County Cup draw below the Westerby Cup for the first time since the 2003-04 season. Sileby led 1-2 at the break and finished with goals from Matt Brown 2, Morgan Newby 2, Finn Jones and Joe Diorio.

Westerby Group Saturday Trophy:

The only LSL side to exit the Saturday Trophy in the first round was Leicester United, bottom of the LSL's Division Two, who lost at home to Karma Leicester, of County League 1. A game where defending was perhaps at a premium finished 9-4 to Karma, Jordan Brown (2), Ben Saunders and Connor Masters the scorers for United. No alarms though for any of the other sides in Div2 who were facing County League opposition. Alexandr Munteanu (2), Mohammed Matiwala and Wesley Munemo gave Leicester Nirvana Reserves a 4-2 win up at Sporting Loughborough, Div2 leaders Brookside Athletic romped to a 6-0 win at home to Loughborough Emmanuel Shadows, Karl Duncan with a hat-trick, Theo Baker, Ceejay Ouma and sub Charlie Seager with the goals, Barrow Town Reserves recorded a 4-1 win at home to North Kilworth FC (not to be confused with AFC North Kilworth- this side play in County League 1), with goals from Mohamed Sesay, Michael Ohazuricke, Lee Millington and Joe Turner on target whilst Loughborough FC put Glenfield Town Reserves to the sword 7-0, Kyle Adams with a hat-trick, Lewis Wall with a brace coming off the bench, Jag Dhanoa and Ryan Hardy also scoring.

There were two all-Div2 ties. Rothley Imperial beat Whetstone Athletic 2-1,after Bradley French an Stephen Allen scored for the hosts, Brad Howarth scored for Whetstone and Community Football Academy won 5-1 at home to Highfield Rangers Reserves, Adam Modan hat-trick, Jack Wormleighton and Zak Yusuf for the hosts, Highfield scorer Langtone Maunanidze,

The draw for the next round is due in the next week or so, and ties will be played on Saturday 2 November, or around then in the case of Senior Cup games at grounds with floodlights.