Only six games completed as weather wreaks havoc

Leicester and Charnwood Sunday League

IT WAS another week blighted by the weather with only six games going the whole distance.

Birstall Stamford’s game against Quorn Royals started, but with Quorn 2-1 ahead midway through the second half the referee decided enough was enough and abandoned the game with the snow coming down hard.

In the Chairman’s cup Loughborough Stags were at home to GNG, both sides hoping to secure a semi final spot. With heavy snow falling both sides braved the elements to make for an entertaining game. Both teams battled well and fairly, going in at half time 0-0 with chances going begging both ends. Five minutes into the second half a silly handball by GNG gave away a dangerous free kick which was put away expertly by Loughborough Stags midfield dynamo, this seemed to get GNG back into gear and within 15 minutes they came back to lead 2-1 with some great individual brilliance from Jimmy Rana with his second coming from a perfectly placed free kick. Both teams continued to battle with Loughborough Stags pushing for an equaliser, but GNG held on to go through to face Racing Alleno in the semi finals.

The only game to go ahead in the Sylvia Haynes Division One saw Sileby Athletic at home to Syston Brookside. With Sileby a point behind the leaders and their opposition one off the bottom it was the ideal opportunity for them to claim the top spot. Unfortunately, no one showed Syston the script as they adapted better to the conditions going into the break level at 2-2. Worse was to come for Sileby though as they failed to score in the second half, not so Syston who eventually went home with all three points after a 4-2 win. Sileby’s goals from Leo Coggan and Josh Moore, with Michal Noga(2), Jack Hill and Sam Hill replying for Brookside.

AFC Sporting Charnwood increased their grip on the A.B. Wallace Division Two trophy with a comprehensive 5-1 win away at Thorpe Acre, a hat trick for Colin Orr and goals from Tom Wilson and Dan Hall see them go 12 points clear after their nearest two rivals battled out a 1-1 draw. Sam Gee scoring Thorpe Acre’s consolation.

Second and third place Bhudda and Birstall Stamford A cancelled each other out with a battling one all draw, Bhudda’s goal coming from Joe Butcher-Smith.

Division Three contenders Racing Alleno travelled to a wet and snowy Derby Road to face Dishley Rangers, and despite the arduous conditions dominated the first half scoring four without reply.

Dishley had a better second half scoring two goals, but a hat trick for Gregg North, an own goal and goal from Jason Brackenbridge and Ash Wright saw Racing keep the pressure on the league leaders New Parks Rangers.

Finally, the performance of the day goes to Braunstone United who lift themselves off the bottom with their first win of the season away at Syston Brookside Reserves.

Jordan Smith’s brace was added to by Michael Mullaney and Kyran Wilcox, and they seem to have found a marksman in debutant Curtiss Radbourre who came off the bench with 20 minutes to go and scored a hat trick to make it a comprehensive 7-1 victory.