Saunders Taxis ABC Through...

Dun Cow brushed aside another opponent and look favourites already for the Premier Division crown, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info).

Herts Junior Cup Round 2:
ABC Taxis started brightly and squandered a number of chances before John Saunders scored a scruffy goal. Spread Eagle started to look a bit more threatening, one shot from distance coming back off the post. ABC where still making numerous chances at the other end but a mixture of good goalkeeping, last ditch defending and having left their shooting boots back in Stevenage, no further goals were scored in the first-half. ABC that increased their lead through Saunders before the home side stormed back into the game to level with a header and then the goal of the game. ABC looked rattled until Billy-Joe Sewell restored the lead, hitting a low drive from outside of the box into the corner of the net which the ‘keeper could only watch and admire as it flew in. Soon afterwards, Saunders completed his hat-trick, coolly striking the ball into the roof of the net from ten yards. Substitutes Carl Simmonds and Karl Cleverdon completed the scoring to make it 6-2 and put a nice gloss on the performance.

Premier Division:
Dun Cow remained 100 percent at the top of the table with a 3-0 win over Arena-Group. That only tells half the story though. Arena had a man sent-off inside the first two minutes and Cow only secured the points with two goals in the final five minutes. Ian Thorne (two) and Jim Bywater were on the mark.

FC Nirankari are second after a 3-2 win over Broadhall. Ricky Case, Andrew Iwediuno and Theo Swaine grabbed their goals. The reply came from Jason Milburn and Kologo Richards.

MBDA are third after some excellent finishing from their star man. Ashley Kersey prodded home the opener before Chris Lyle levelled for Real Stevenage after following in a saved effort from long-range. Kersey restored the lead with a super finish across the ‘keeper before completing his hat-trick when sliding the ball past the ‘keeper on the half-hour from Kyle Watson’s through-ball. There was no further scoring until Sam Bickerstaff’s 20 yard strike against his old Club reduced the score to 3-2, but despite hitting the post, they couldn’t level. Jason Aldridge was sent-off for Real for his reaction to Craig Sutherill’s challenge, the latter also saw red for his part.

Almond Tree United struck double-figures thanks largely to a four-goal haul from Carl Lingwood, including the goal of the game which saw a rasping 25-yard strike hit to top corner of the net. Ricky Lawrance helped himself to a brace with goals also for Gareth Clarke, Steve Gibbons, Nick Collins and Dave Holmes. They were four-up half-way through the first-half before St Nicholas had a player see red. It was only a disputed penalty with a minute to go which gave St Nicks any joy, Neil Henderson struck against his former side.

Division 1:
A very open division saw TC United join the leaders on points despite a goalless draw with Odyssey.

Third-placed Marquis of Lorne were involved in a ding-dong and almost went in front in the first minute but the forward shot wide after a shocking back-pass. FC Mallard made a hatful of chances with Dave Hollands heading over from under the bar and Rob Barton making too much contact to fire over with the goal at his mercy after great work from Charlie Lawson. Marquis then took the lead when Jamie Campany improvised, hooking the ball over his shoulder and into the net from just inside the box. Mallard levelled just minutes after the break when the ball was squared to captain Darren Wilson just outside the box, he hit a superb swerving strike. A cross then evaded all the defenders to drop around the penalty spot for a diving-headed finish from captain Frazer Triggs down to Marc Dunn's left to restore the lead. However, Mallard battled on and grabbed their first point of the season when Barton curled a beautiful free-kick into the top corner.

MKS Carpentry began well, a lovely passing move involving six players set Russell Ayles free but he shot just wide. Ayles again went close twice as did Josh Dance, but a combination of ‘keeper and post kept them out. Towards the end of the half, Dance set Ayles free and this time he slotted home. The second-half was much more even and AJS Tyres Broadhall started to shade it. Dance had two or three chances to seal the win but didn't have his shooting boots on and then Broadhall equalised when a deep cross was neatly finished at the back post by Matt Jackson. However, with ten minutes left a great ball by Neil Roskilly set Dance free and he finished neatly with his unfavoured right-foot. Dance should have made it safe when he spurned two one-on-ones but MKS held out for their first win of the season.