Ramble Round the Everards Divisions
Week ending 14th December by Mason Norton
15/12/24
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Everards teams performances for week ending 2nd November by Mason Norton
It's another bumper weekend on the County Cup front, so strap in.
Starting with the Jelson Homes Senior Cup, and there was an all-LSL tie at Judgemeadow College as FC Khalsa took on Burbage & Huncote. Both sides played out an entertaining 3-3 draw, which took the tie straight to penalties, with Khalsa coming out on top 4-1 on spot-kicks to progress to the quarter-finals in December. Cam Atkinson, Connor Ogrady and Guy Weston were on target for the visitors, whilst Tamar Clayton, Shaun Ruzvidzo and Jovanpreet Sahota replied for the hosts. Further Senior Cup ties involving LSL Premier teams follow this week, with three games in midweek, and one more next Saturday, as Ingles against Hathern has been put back owing to Ingles having their floodlights being repaired.
In the Saturday Intermediate Cup, most of the Everards Div1 sides progressed without further alarm. Leaders Lutterworth Athletic Reserves were given a bit of a scare in their tie, away at County League side Kegworth Imperial, but Atho eventually prevailed 5-3. Holders Hinckley LRFC Development continued their defence with a 3-1 win away at Castle Donington of Central Mids Alliance Div 1 South, whilst St Patricks won 4-2 at County League Premiership leaders Ambleside Athletic, and Mountsorrel Amateurs defeated Shepshed Amateurs 4-2.
The only two exits for LSL sides were firstly for Sutton Bonington, who fell to a shock 1-0 defeat at Leicester Lions, who are currently bottom of the County League Premiership, two divisions below. Lions are yet to record a win in their League this season, but can now boast two LSL scalps this term, having beaten Birstall United Reserves 6-3 in round one. The second exit was for Barrow Town, who lost 3-2 at Leicester Medics, who are mid-table in the County League's Championship division, currently 38 places beneath them. The Medics went in 2-0 up at half-time to put the Riversiders on the critical list, Barrow fought back after the break to get back on level terms, but the visitors prognosis took a turn for the worse as the Medics bagged the winner five minutes from time to leave Barrow's cup run dead and buried.
There was an all-LSL tie in the competition this weekend, as Dunton & Broughton United hosted Heather St John Reserves and went through 6-5 on penalties after a 3-3 draw on 90 minutes. Charlie Galley 2 and Jancy Mbomba on target for the hosts
In the Westerby Saturday Trophy, the only LSL side to go out to County League opposition was Leicester Nirvana Reserves, who lost 6-3 away to Woodhouse Imperial, also 38 places below them, playing in County League 1, Nirvana coming undone on the famous double-sloping pitch at Main Street which has given many a goalkeeper and defender nightmares over the years.
There were two matches entirely consisting of teams in Everards Brewery Division Two. Div2 leaders Community Football Academy ran riot at Barrow Town Reserves, winning 10-1, sub Mohamed Mahir scoring a hat-trick, Zak Yusuf a brace, Louis Chambers, Jaseem Khamkar, Usamah Zerroug, Kashar Raja and sub Muhammad Patel with the rest of the Community goals. Meanwhile, Glen Villa thumped Friar Lane & Epworth Reserves 6-0, George Parker with a hat-trick, Cameron Greiff, George Rawlings and Max Spencer also scoring.
All of the other LSL sides facing County League opponents progressed to the last 16, though Loughborough FC had a scare, needing spot-kicks to get past Karma Leicester, after the game finished 2-2 in normal time. Goals from Jack Foord and Joe Forshaw gave the Luffs a 2-0 lead at half-time, before two goals in 10 minutes put Karma level, who lost their keeper to a dislocated shoulder midway through the half. That perhaps explained a slight mismatch in the penalty shoot-out, with Luffs scoring all three of theirs, and their keeper saving three of the four Karma spot-kicks, Luffs winning 3-1 on penalties.
Div2 leaders Brookside Athletic thrashed Habesha 9-0, Karl Duncan scoring five goals, Jonathan Powell-Hayles a hat-trick, and Leo Lightbown with the other. The day's top scorers were Rothley Imperial, who smashed Loughborough Lions 11-1, Mitchell Harris scoring a hat-trick, a brace of braces for Harry Toon and Connor Wills. Stephen Allen, Leighton Barley, Ben Wagg and Luke Denham also scoring. There was a local derby in Countesthorpe which went the way of the form book, as Magna 73 Reserves won 7-1 at Countesthorpe CF. Finally, Hinckley Borough's tie at Wymeswold was postponed, and will be referred to the Competitions Committee for consideration.
Apologies for there being less scorers than usual, but it seems that the Intermediate Cup scorers haven't come through yet due to technical issues, which Full-Time should hopefully resolve soon. Ramble Round the County Cups returns next weekend for the outstanding games in the Senior Cup, all of which see LSL Premier sides take on Step 6 opposition.