Birstall Stamford sides on course for league titles
Leicester and Charnwood Sunday League
ON FRIDAY, Birstall Stamford Reserves were at Holmes park in the final of the Sunday Intermediate cup against Wigston Plough Rovers. In an entertaining game Birstall scored in each half with goals from Jake Leader and Ben Pellington to win the trophy 2-0
The senior Birstall side maintained their lead at the top of the Anstey Sports Bar Premier Division with a 3-1 win at home to Anstey Sports Bar. Finchy’s stay in close contention after a comprehensive 8-1 win over F.C. Poplar, a hat trick from Rikky Bates and goals from Lee Barratt, Jack Lane, Aaron Preston and Jake Syrett, with Dave Whannel scoring Poplar’s consolation. Quorn Royals travelled to Western park to take on bottom club Iannis, a Liam Fitzpatrick hat trick, a goal each for George Bragg and Aaron Carrs plus a couple of own goals giving the Quorn side a 7-0 victory.
In the Sylvia Haynes Division One, Birstall Stamford Reserves followed up Friday night’s success to regain top spot with a 4-1 win over Spinney Rovers with their goals coming from Jake Culverwell (2), Colt Atkinson and a penalty from James Dean, Sam Jayes with the Spinney Rovers reply. Two goals from Chris Clitton and one from Ryan Thacker ensured that Long Whatton are still in the hunt after a 3-0 win over fellow contenders Newboys. Anstey Sports Bar Reserves gained revenge for a home defeat by Burton earlier in the season in a lively encounter at Towles Field. Anstey scored early on and within five minutes Burton equalised with a neatly taken goal from Josh Smith. Despite chances at both ends and aided by some excellent goalkeeping, the score remained unchanged until 10 minutes from time when Anstey took the lead with a shot from the edge of the goal area. A penalty to Anstey five minutes later sealed the game for the visitors, Anstey’s scorers were Darren Wheeler with two and one from Joe Griffen. F.C. Hathern went a long way towards ensuring first division football next season after a 5-1 win away at Leicester Bharat with two goals from Jake Purre and goals from Tom Insley, Chris Walker and Kieran King. Syston Brookside are in sixth place after a 5-2 win away at bottom club Kegworth Imperial, a Michael Noga hat trick added to by Matt Cropper and Chris James for Syston with Leo Riccy and Jay Shepard replying for Kegworth.
With the AB Wallace Division Two championship sewn up it’s now about the runners up spot, and two of the contenders both won their game. Bhudda beat LK United 4-0 with two goals from Joe Butcher-Smith and goals from Andy McKay and Jack Slawson. Four goals from Jake Williams and two from Ashley Hall helped Red Cow Rangers to an 8-0 win at home to Greenhill Sparrows.
In Division Three Ballpark Nirvana put a dent in New Parks Rangers title hopes when they held the leaders 2-2 at home with goals from Zayd Dhorat and Anwar Mine, New Parks replied through Stephen Brook and Wade Smith-Wright. The chasing clubs took advantage, second place Thurmaston DPC won 3-0 away at Loughborough Stags with goals from Luke Palmer (2) and Connor Percy. Verdon Athletic also travelled to Loughborough to play Dishley Rangers and returned with a 6-2 win. A Luke Garratt hat trick and goals from Jed Halpine, Nathan Lord and Joe Sansome making up the total. Racing Alleno maintain forth place with a 5-0 win at home to bottom side Syston Brookside reserves, two from Jason Brackenbridge and goals from Mitchel Cole, Greg North and Callum Sankey.
Winchester Phoenix progressed to the next round of the Gayford Carrott Invitational Trophy with a 4-2 win away at Athletic Sportsman.