Divisions 2&3...

Division 2:
Nirankari Timebridge took the lead after two minutes, but Chequers stormed in front through Ollie Barnett (two) and John Threader. Timebridge pulled one back before Chequers ‘keeper Carl Thompson denied them an equaliser from the spot with a save. However, a repeat performance saw the equaliser this time. Nirankari netted towards the end to nick the points as Terry Pateman (two), Dave Pateman and Bryan Challice were on target.

There were two unsavoury injuries in a game where the points were shared. David Hailey suffered a broken ankle shortly after scoring Broadhall Athletic’s opening goal. This happened whilst Martin Metcalf was off the pitch injured, a double-fracture of the arm was diagnosed for the A1 Trophies lad. Matt Stanton had already kept them in the game with a brilliant save. The second-half started well for A1 and an exquisite ball from Trevor Long through to Reece Munford brought the well deserved equaliser when he slotted past a helpless ‘keeper. Ten minutes later, Broadhall took advantage of some sloppy marking to re-establish the lead through Charles Rogers. A rather fortunate finish from Munford shared the spoils when his cross to the back post ended up nestling in the net.

Hartham Press got their first three points of the season thanks to goals from Aldo Chiapetta, who side-footed home a cross from James Khakpour-Smith and Graeme Hulstrom, who smashed home a Chiapetta corner. They had to withstand a Crooked Billet Boro barrage, which only saw a Dan Hartland goal as a consolation.

Emperors Head started strongly and a superb strike from Damian Hadlow from outside the box ended up in the corner of Pear Tree goalkeeper Rich Edwards’ net. Edwards kept out further goals with his legs and they turned the game around when Aaron Reed’s run and cross saw Dean Chadderton volley home brilliantly. They went ahead when Gaz Baker went past one defender, before a second took him down in the area. Chadderton grabbed his second from the spot. Ashley Sealy’s spot-kick levelled matters. Chadderton could’ve won it at one end if not for a superb save before Edwards matched him at the other end, tipping over the bar, 2-2 was a fair result.

Breachwood Lions got the first break of the game as Simon Blondell’s pass found Richard Taaffe, who slotted home past the ‘keeper. Rileys Athletic took advantage of Lions giving the ball away cheaply and a sweeping Tom Gallagher shot for the edge of the penalty area looked like it was going wide until it curled just inside the post. Rileys then took the lead via a Ben Warman penalty. Taaffe popped up yet again by bagging his second before half-time to restore parity. Dan Jefferies secured the Lions’ first points of the season with a trademark lob over the ‘keeper.

Division 3:
Dave Clements (two), Chris Bunker and Aaron Penfound were on the mark as Broadhall Icon beat Stevenage Old Town 4-1. A consolation came via a penalty from Gary Linehan when they were three behind.

In a game of two very different halves the points were eventually shared. It was The Old Post Office who took the lead early on with a counter attack at pace. Old Barclavians quickly responded as Michael Schmidt scored his first goal for the club, picking up on a loose ball and firing home to level the game. TOPO then took advantage of the stand-in ‘keepers lack of experience by scoring at the end of the first-half and two quick-fire finishes in the first five minutes of the second-half to put them 4-1 to the good. Barclavians responded with vigour and determination as they begun their fightback. Captain Lee Falanga scored from the spot after Dave Warwick was brought down. They continued to press and dominate possession as Callum Gardiner dispatched a clinical strike to pull another back before Tom Young crossed deep minutes after and Dean Page headed into the corner to level the game. Incredibly, they took the lead as substitute Joe Marshall-Zeal latched onto a Schmidt cross and finished at the back post with his head. With less than five minutes remaining, TOPO levelled an amazing game as a 30 yard strike beat the ‘keeper to level the game at 5-5. Theo Griffith (two), Scott Fielder, Karl Rickaby and Dave Taylor were TOPOs marksmen.

View Point Wanderers were unlucky to lose their first game of the season. They started very slowly as Proverbial United stormed in front thanks to a Josh Stock hat-trick inside fifteen minutes thanks largely to the long-ball game. Wanderers were back in it on the half-hour when some good passing culminated in a good finish from Steve Stapleton. Mike Coombes pulled another back just before the break. Two more from Stock inside the first ten minutes of the second-half killed the game off before player/manager Pete Bannister converted with a cool, side-footed effort to bring it back to it 5-3.

TC Wanderers trailed at half time to an Ashley Watson strike for ABC Taxis, but showed good fighting spirit after the break to grab the win thanks to a Jason Smith brace.

Shaun Skutela was on target as Roebuck Gate shared the points with Granby.

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