Goal fest...
Shepshed draw TEN goal epic -
AFTER SEVERAL weeks of inactivity due to the seasonal break and the weather LCSFL clubs were back in action.
All three Birstall Stamford sides were involved in County cup competitions, and all three had a successful Sunday. In Group A of the County Premier Cup Stamford’s first team did themselves and fellow LCSFL side Quorn Royals a big favour by beating in form side Oadby Athletic 4-1.
The Quorn side are already into the knockout stages and Birstall can join them if they can beat them in next week’s final game and Oadby fail to take a point at F.C. Topps. In Group B, Anstey Sports Bar finish top of their league despite losing 3-1 at Sparta Moshdock.
Finchy’s top group C and are through to the knockout stage after drawing their final group game 4-4 at Sporting Dynamo. Sporting have a game in hand and need to win that to finish above Finchy’s.
In the Premier Shield group A, Iannis top a very competitive and close competition with all three sides finishing level on six points each, Iannis having a superior goal difference.
FC Poplar guaranteed top spot in Group B with a somewhat rusty performance. Pop started confidently and soon went ahead, Josh Barr’s great cross allowed Dan Bryans to walk the ball into an empty net. The five week break did pop no good as sloppiness entered their play, and from a needless foul Blaby equalised from the resulting free kick, both sides going in 1-1 at half time.
After the break, Poplar’s Dan Bryans claimed his second of the match straight after the interval, however Pop again switched off allowing Blaby to go ahead after scoring two quick goals from corners. Poplar rang the changes, bringing on Caylem Hart Matt Summers and Sutcliffe. It had the desired effect, and with Blaby treading water Pop took charge and ran out comfortable 7-3 winners.
In the County Intermediate cup, Birstall Stamford Reserves beat Long Whatton 4-1, Aidan Black with two goals with Ant Ward and Adam Parry the scorers for Birstall, and Shepshed United knocked out Syston Brookside in a nine-goal thriller.
In the County Sunday Trophy Stamford A made it three from three for the Birstall clubs sides with a 2-0 win at home over Blaby Foxes to secure a semi final spot. Unfortunately, Red Cow Rangers were knocked out after losing by the odd goal in three.
Division Three high flyers Racing Alleno produced a below par performance in the County Vase, going out 4-1 away at Niffy Rangers Reserves, but LK United carry the flag into the semi finals after an extra time win at GNG Sunday.
Back in the domestic competitions goals from Tom Arme, Sam Gee, Harvey Moore and Yassine Regrag secured a semi final place in the Ryder Transport Cup for Thorpe Acre with a 4-3 victory over Athletic Sportsman.
In the Anstey Sports Bar Premier Division it was a first win of the season for Iannis, winning 5-3 away at Quorn Royals.
In the Sylvia Haynes Division One Burton produced their best performance of the season to date with a 7-3 away victory against Anstey Sports Bar Reserves.
Both Sileby Athletic and Newboys spurned the chance to go top when they cancelled each other out with a one all draw at Derby Road, while FC Hathern eased out of the relegation zone with a 4-2 win over Spinney Rovers. Kegworth Imperial stay firmly fixed to the bottom after a Viorel Mattai goal proved to be only a consolation, the north Leicestershire side losing 4-1 at Leicester Bharat.
In A.B Wallace Division Two, AFC Sporting Charnwood continue to dominate and after a 9-0 demolition of Greenhill Sparrows are looking unassailable even at this early stage. Greenhill fought well in the first half to keep the score to 2-0 at half time. But two goals each from Dan Hall and Aaron Mumford, plus goals from Harry Collinson, Colin Orr, Rob Woodcock and Kyle Davy saw the league leaders maintain their 10 point advantage.
In Division Three New Parks Rangers made it eight from eight with Aa 7-2 win over Dishley Rangers, while three hat tricks for Thurmaston DPC scored by Luke Palmer, Conor Percy and Adam Ward helped them to a 10-0 victory over Syston Brookside Reserves. A goal from Michal Mullaney couldn’t supply Braunstone United with their first win of the season as Loughborough Stags scored four goals in reply, and whilst all this was happening Ballpark Nirvana and Verdon Athletic were battling out a 6-6 draw.