Long Whatton close the gap at the top of Division One

IN THE Sylvia Haynes Division One, Birstall Stamford Reserves dropped their first points of the season at home to Newboys losing 4-2 but they still maintain a five-point lead at the top. Jamie Chamberlain, Aaron Gibbard and Linford Harris scoring for Newboys.

Long Whatton are now the only unbeaten side in this division after a 7-2 win over bottom side Spinney Rovers and have two games in hand over the top club.

Sileby Athletic keep up the pressure with a 4-2 win at home to Anstey Sports Bar Reserves, Sileby found themselves 2-0 down after 20 minutes, but goals from Simon Harper and Dean Copson saw them go in level at half time. In the second half Sileby took control, and the points with a Jake Rimington penalty and a goal from Josh Moore. Whilst F.C. Hathern and Syston Brookside shared the points with a 2-2 draw.

All four games in the A.B. Wallace Trophies Division Two turned out to be close encounters, Athletic Sportsman claiming the points over The Swan in a 13 goal thriller, a hat trick for Athletic’s substitute Gary Warren in the last eight minutes making the final result 7-6. Two second half goals from Jack Goodall and Dominic Green saw Red Cow Rangers come back from a 1-0 half time deficit at home to Winchester Phoenix.

Close rivals Bhudda and Greenhill Sparrows were involved in another close game with Bhudda eventually taking the points home with a 3-2 win. Birstall Stamford A maintained their unbeaten record with a 2-2 draw away at top club Thorpe Acre, Sam Gee on six minutes and Harvey Moore on 75 minutes the Loughborough club’s scorers.

In Division Three, a ruthless display helped GNG overcome Braunstone Utd 16-1 with Nikesh Godhania helping himself to six goals and Jimmy Rana adding another hat-trick to the score line, Michael Mullaney scoring Braunstone’s consolation.

Leaders Racing Alleno maintained their three-point advantage with a 3-2 win at home to Loughborough Stags.

Dishley Rangers were away at Syston Brookside Reserves, and it was Dishley that took the lead through a Craig Staples 25 yard free-kick. Goals from Andy Moore (2), Luke Saunders and Leyton Dilkes from an acute angle made it 5-0 at the break. Syston pulled one back with a well-placed header from a free-kick out wide, before an own goal and a Tomas Schofield tap in made it 7-1 to the away side to take ensure all three points returned to Loughborough.

Other results saw Ballpark Nirvana beat bottom club Greenfield Rangers 7-2 and Verdon Athletic beat Greenhill Sparrows Reserves 5-0.

This week saw another round of the County Premier cups and in the Sunday Premier Shield saw FC Poplar return to winning ways with a comprehensive 8-2 win over Blaby and Whetstone despite an early scare of conceding in the first minute, on fire marksman Daniel Bryan claiming a hat trick, his prolific goal scoring form the highlight of a great attacking display from Pop.

In the Premier cup Anstey Sports bar beat Sparta Moshdoc 5-1 whilst Finchy’s shared the points with Sporting Dynamo with a 2-2 draw.