Cow Make It Ten... Dun Cow are still on course for a perfect league season, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info).

Unfortunately, our last representative’s bowed out of the Herts Junior Cup at the fourth Round stage as Roebuck Gate were hammered 11-1 at The Bell.

Premier Division leaders Dun Cow made it ten-outta-ten thanks to a hat-trick from Ian Thorne and two from Shaun Marshall. Basement side Stevenage Leisure Limited were on the end of the 5-0 scoreline.

Despite playing the brighter football, Almond Tree United went a goal down thanks to a good Broadhall move. Shortly after half-time, they increased their lead. Tree pulled one back through a Carl Lingwood penalty. However, less than a minute later, Broadhall sealed the victory and despite being reduced to ten men, were able to hang on to the 3-1 win. Scott Durham, John Johnston and Martin Thomas netted.

Arena-Group slipped to third after a 5-3 defeat by FC Nirankari. David Iwediuno, Leeroy Williams, Andrew Levy and two own goals saw them home, Jason Drackford, Marc Holmes and Piers Le-Grand replied.

A late Craig Sutherill strike earned MBDA a 4-4 draw against Real Stevenage. Louis Hare, Ross Walker and Kyle Watson had earlier scored, whilst Real led through Dan Bond (two), Sam Bickerstaff and Lez Chappell.

Goals from Jamie Campany, Frazer Triggs, Tom Hillard and new signing Sean Grainger saw Division One leaders Marquis of Lorne to a comfortable win over Bedwell Rangers. Jamie Morriss scored a consolation.

In a very closely contested first-half, Putterills took the lead with a close range Allan Johnston header from a corner and they continued to only real provide a threat from set-pieces. AJS Tyres Broadhall got back into the game halfway through the half by scoring a well worked equaliser, Paul Hancock lost his marker and his cross found Matt Henning to net with an excellent volley into the corner. They took the lead just after the hour with an outstanding team move, culminating with Phil Stevens cutting in and setting up Michael Carter. However, from a hopeful Johnston cross, the ball somehow ended up in the AJS net to set up a tense finish. The game could have gone either way but Putterills won it when Perry Thompson could only parry a late free-kick into the path of Tom Doyle, who buried it to make it 3-2.

TC United took a one goal lead in to the break after Jon Dunne flicked on a throw-in and Alex Lucy stabbed the ball home. Dunne turned provider once more with twenty minutes to play as he fed Terry Lock, who curled the ball in to the top corner. Lock then assisted two team mates himself as he first squared the ball for Lucy to double his tally before laying on brother Jimmy Lock to complete a convincing win over MKS Carpentry.

Chequers took advantage of their rivals not playing by hitting Pear Tree 4-1 to stretch their lead at the top of Division Two. Ollie Barnett, Gary Gibson, Marcus Norton and Jon Threader were on target, whilst they also
scored their opponents’ goal.

Emperors Head also won 4-1. Joe Whittaker (two), Lewis Essam and Ashley Sealy bagged the goals. Ben Snowden hit Crooked Billet Boro’s goal.

In a crucial game at the top Division Three, Broadhall Icon striker Michael Bunker was involved in the early talking points. First he was hauled back by the last man, but the expected dismissal didn’t come. He was through again moments later and although a free-kick was given following a handball outside of the box, the ‘keeper stayed on. Some justice came that the under-strengthed league leaders led through an excellent volley from Lee Kitching from 25 yards. Old Barclavians soon upped the tempo thanks mainly to Dave Warwick and Jamie Hucker in midfield. Joe Marshall-Zeal equalised with a curled effort from the edge of the box towards the end of the half. Carl Swendell capped an excellent display to put them in front when a flicked header fell at his feet and he smashed a volley into the roof of the net before half-time. Hucker capped a very impressive display with his first league goal of the season as he rose highest and directed his header back across the ‘keeper from a corner to extend the Barclavians lead. The game was killed off when Callum Gardiner finished low in the corner to make it 4-1.

Granby also capitalised with a 3-2 win over TC Wanderers, Joe Chilton (two) and Jaiden Irish on the mark. Keith Bell and Nathan Searle replied for TC.

The Old Post Office started the stronger and took the lead when Karl Rickaby headed home from 10 yards. ABC Taxis pushed forward to try and get on level terms but TOPO where controlling the midfield areas well and when a ball was hit over the top into the open space, Theodore Griffith made a strong run and finish to extend the lead to 2-0. ABC changed the formation and got immediate results with Chas Bailey driving into the box and finishing well from a tight angle. John Saunders equalised shortly afterwards, poking home from 10 yards and the turnaround was complete even before half-time when Bailey collected his second, this time finishing well from the edge of the box.

In the Frank Neville Memorial Cup, Rileys Athletic’s 2-0 handicap was just edged by St Nicholas, whose three goals on the day took the points 3-2. Carl Fletcher (two) and Neil Henderson grabbed the goals.

Broadhall Athletic also wiped a deficit, but could only manage an Alex Elmes strike to draw 1-1 overall with Stevenage Old Town, who missed several good chances to win the points.

A hat-trick for each side in an excellent game at Benington. Will Cubitt’s treble and one from Simon Flecknell were only enough for a draw on the day for Odyssey. A treble from Sam Stephenson and Danny Conboy’s goal gave Proverbial United an overall 6-4 win.

Breachwood Lions added to their one goal advantage thanks to a six yard header from Richard Wharton. FC Mallard got a goal back before half-time via a Dave Hollands penalty. Dan Jefferies scored for Lions before Rob Barton replied. A sweeping strike from Richard Taaffe won the game for Lions on the day and 4-2 overall.

A1 Trophies were up against it, starting one down. Lee Clark, Si Longman and Paul Tully netted for them on the day, but View Point Wanderers matched them in their tally and took the game 4-3. Darren Smith scored the opener, his first goal in around 10 years as VPW won the game 4-3.