Quorn Royals beat Birstall Stamford in nine goal thriller
Leicester and Charnwood Sunday League
TWO old adversaries met in the County Premier Cup Group A when Quorn Royals entertained Birstall Stamford, and it turned out to be a cracking end to end game.
The first half ended all square at 1-1, with Sam Moore the Royals scorer. The second half saw Birstall go into a 3-2 lead before a Liam Fitzpatrick hat trick and one for Matt Langham gave the home side a 6-3 victory. The Quorn side now need just one point from their two remaining games to go forward to the knock out stages.
Burton returned to Braunstone to replay the League Cup fixture v LK Utd previously abandoned in October following a serious leg injury sustained by a Burton player.
Unfortunately it was not a happy return as the home side dominated the first half scoring after 10 minutes. The hosts quickly doubled their lead before Burton narrowed the deficit with a well taken goal from midfielder Phil McHale. A harsh penalty decision saw LK extend their lead giving Burton plenty to think about at half time, and when the home side added a fourth after the break Burton had nothing to lose in making some tactical changes and introducing substitutes. Fresh legs allowed Burton to dominate possession in the last third of the game and their wing back Charlie Patel gave the scoreline some respectability at 4-2. However, LK increased their tally with two goals on the break. Burton man of the match Patel made it a brace in the closing minutes with another fine goal but by then the damage had been done.
In the Anstey Sports Bar Premier Division Finchy’s continue to dominate after a 5-1 victory away at Anstey Sports with goals from Ricky Bates, Lee Barratt, Nathan Kew-Moss, Jack Lane and substitute Thomas Wood.
Meanwhile FC Poplar continue to defy the odds, this time a battling 3-2 away win against Iannis, despite a lengthy injury list they took the lead when Ryan Page executed the perfect lob from 35 yards out, and it got better still as Page turned provider to set up on fire striker Dan Bryans to notch home another goal in an excellent debut season for the pop. Iannis then scored late in the first half after Pop failed to deal with a long ball and Knuta Stefan made it 2-1at halftime. Pop started the second half strongly and a Caylem Hart bullet header restored their two goal lead. Iannis were awarded a penalty, from which Poplars keeper made an outstanding save only for the rebound to be slotted home by Knuta Stefan for his second, and despite heavy pressure Poplar held on for another great win to go second in the division.
Birstall Stamford Reserves regain top spot in the Sylvia Haynes Division One after a 5-0 win at home to Leicester Bharat. Long Whatton drop to second after losing their unbeaten league record at Newboys with a narrow 5-4 result. Two goals each from Whattons Mark Etherington and Graham Howell weren’t enough as two from Linford Harris and one each for Alex Austick, Jamie Chamberlain and Nolly keep Newboys in third spot on goal difference. Sileby Athletic make up the three sides on 16 points, and after a 3-0 win at Shepshed United maintain fourth place with two goals from Greg Fletcher and one for Josh Moore. Just two points separate top from fourth place. Anstey Sports Reserves go fifth after a 3-1 win at home to Syston Brookside, two from Tom Langton and one from Dean Wilmott the home sides scorers, Sonny Packer with the Syston reply. Two goals in either half saw Spinney Rovers the victors at home to F.C. Hathern, two each from Cameron Garden and Shane Hulme making the final score 4-0.
In the A.B. Wallace Division Two, leaders Red Cow Rangers went down 1-0 away at Bhudda, a second half goal for Joe ButcherSmith breaking the deadlock. Thorpe Acre missed the chance of going top with a 3-3 draw at home to Athletic Sportsman, two goals for Harvey Moore and one for Ryan Burton making up the Loughborough side’s total. Greenhill Sparrows and The Swan also shared the points after a 4-4 draw at Greenhill, Greenhill’s scorers were Danny French (2) and one each for Callum Neeson and substitute Sean Mead. A surprising result saw Birstall Stamford beat Phoenix 3-1, avenging their defeat to Phoenix in the cup. A tight first half saw the sides go in 1-1 at the break with the ever-energetic Liam Grundy scoring for Phoenix. A well hit strike put Stamford 2-1 up in the second with a third effectively ending any Phoenix fight back. The sides meet again next.
New Parks Rangers continue their 100% record in Division Three and move back to the top with two games in hand. A Wade Wright hat trick and a debut goal from new signing Jordon Cufflin giving the league leaders maximum points with John Tointon taking the man of the match honours. Last week’s division leaders Racing Alleno went down to a surprising 6-3 defeat away at Verdon Athletic. A hat trick for Verdons Luke Garrett and a brace for Jack McAleer and one for Zach Halfpenny securing the points, with Jason Brackenbridge, Mitch Barratt and Adam Dixon making up Racings total. Two goals from Ryan Brown and one from Chris Jonathan couldn’t rescue Braunstone United as they eventually went down 7-3 away at Loughborough Stags. The remaining fixture saw Thurmaston DPC and Ballpark Nirvana exchange places in a mid-table tussle, an early goal for home side Thurmaston’s Kane Clarke was eclipsed by a hat trick for Ballpark’s Reece Kelly and one from Nathan Wright to make the final score 4-1 to the away side.