Bad day at the office for FC Poplar and Quorn Royals
Leicester and Charnwood Sunday League
THE semi-finals of the Chairmans Cup saw two very closely contested games, New Parks Rangers and Dishley Rangers met at Burton on the Wolds and goals from Jake Tomlinson, Jordan Cufflin and Connor Keily saw New Parks book their place in the final with a 3-2 win.
GNG join them at Holmes Park after an even closer encounter against Racing Alleno. It was a game of missed chances but it was GNG who scored first through Rupinderjit Pangsar. Racing had the chance of an equaliser before half time when they were awarded a penalty, Jason Brackenbridge saw his spot kick hit the bar.
It stayed at 1-0 until in the 71st minute Jason Brackenbridge made up for his penalty miss with the equaliser. Racing then went ahead after they were awarded an indirect kick in the opposition’s goal area, Mitchel Cole turning the ball in.
With seconds to go on the clock though GNG equalised from a corner courtesy of Rupinderjits Pangsar’s second, sending the game into extra time. Both sides missed good chances to take the game but in the end it was down to the dreaded penalties, and it was GNG who held their nerves together to win the shootout.
In the JD Thomas League Cup, Premier side Iannis progress at the expense of Division Three’s Thurmaston DPC. Thurmaston held the Premier side to 1-1 at half time after a 20th minute strike by Adam Ward.
The fitness and quality of Iannis told in the end as the game progressed and with goals from Cosmin Milasc, Alexandru Munteanu, Dorel Nitu, Lucian Trandafir and Mihai Sandhu, the home club closed out the tie
In the Premier Division it was a bad day at the office for F.C. Poplar, going down 4-2 at Anstey Sports Bar, Anstey’s goals from Like Higgins (2), Ezra Knight and Ashley Wright, and in the other game in this division Quorn Royals went down 5-2 at Birstall Stamford.
Birstall Stamford Reserves top Division One after a 4-0 win at home to Long Whatton, Aidan Black with two goals, Adam Parry and Matt Ford. Shepshed United earned a deserved 3-0 win at Anstey Sports bar, a header from River Hardy and a brace from Charlie Dunkin was enough to give Shepshed all three points.
Sileby Athletic stay in touch at the top after goals from Joe Hetterley and Jacob McEnery earned them a 2-0 win away at Syston Brookside. Kegworth got their second league win of the season with a 3-1 victory away at Spinney Rovers, Dexter Manley scored two and one from Tom Henson for the away side. Newboys beat Leicester Bharat 6-1 to maintain second place.
In Division Two Birstall Stamford A made it three out of three for the Stanny sides on the day with a 7-2 win over Athletic Sportsman, Dae Hartop and Gary Warren scoring Athletics condolation goals.
LK United went a goal down midway through the first half at home to Bhudda when Buddha’s striker lobbed the keeper who had advanced off his line in no man’s land. They got themselves back in the game after being awarded a spot kick when Mark Foster was upended, scored by Nathan Earle. In the second half LK created some more decent chances without taking them until a screamer of a free kick from Bradley Terrell to put them in front.
With five minutes left LK conceded a sloppy goal by not playing to the whistle which allowed Buddha through to score to make it 2-2, then with 80 seconds left on the clock Danny Concannon tucked away the winner to give LK the three points.
Greenhill Rangers and Thorpe Acre met in a mid table clash and a Kai Thompson hat trick plus a strike from Richard Burton earned the Sparrows a 4-2 victory, with Sam Harvey and Yassine Regrag the scorers for Thorpe Acre.
The two games in Division Three saw goals galore in one sided encounters, hat tricks for Johny Flores and Ibrahim Kasuji saw Ballpark Nirvana to a 12-0 win over Syston Brookside Reserves, whilst five goals from Luke Garratt plus hat tricks for Jack McAleer and Joe Sansome saw Verdon Athletic 13-0 victors over Braunstone United