Week ending 12th October by Mason Norton

There was a top-of-the-table clash in Everards Brewery Division One on Saturday, which saw the last 100% record in the LSL disappear, as leaders Loughborough Students Development failed to find the net for the first time in almost a year, as they were held to a 0-0 draw at Hinckley LRFC Development in a tense and tight game. The Students remain unbeaten, but will not be emulating North Kilworth's Grand Slam in Div2 in 2021-22.

Second-placed Lutterworth Athletic Reserves are now level on points with the Students, albeit after having played a game more, after they ground out a 3-2 win at home to Sutton Bonington. Paddy Lally gave Lutterworth the lead on 56 minutes, only for Henrijs Bosko to equalise with 15 minutes to go. That set up a see-saw finish. Oli Whiting restored the hosts lead soon after, but they were barely back in front than SB levelled again thanks to Jordan Crosland. It looked like SB might snatch a point, but in the fourth minute of injury time, Barnes Gladman beat the offside trap and held his cool to finish, scoring the winner with almost the last kick of the game.

The bottom of the table in Div1 remains unchanged. Holwell Sports Reserves were thumped 5-0 at home to Sileby Town Reserves, Taffy Pariva scoring a hat-trick, Callum Glover and Isaac Hetterley with the other goals. SB remain a point above them as bottom-but-one. Birstall United Reserves looked like they might kick away from the dogfight after Niall Stafford gave them the lead in the first half at home to Mountsorrel Amateurs, but the visitors bounced back in the second period thanks to Jake Folwell (2) and Drew Gibbons, Mountsorrel winning 3-1. Dunton & Broughton and Saffron Dynamo Development also remain on the fringes of the relegation bunfight, DBU in cup action this weekend, Saffron losing 5-0 at Barrow Town, Shakour Benjamin, Joe French, Alfie Glover, Michael Joy, and Muhideen Mohammid their scorers, Barrow now safely ensconced in mid-table.

The other game in Div1 saw Loughborough Dynamo return to winning ways, Jasper Clarke (2) and Roman Strong scoring in a 3-1 win at home to Kirby Muxloe Reserves, Patrick Musengwa for Kirby.

In Everards Brewery Division Two, Brookside Athletic remain the leaders after winning 2-0 at Hinckley Borough, Karl Duncan and Jonathan Powell-Hayles for Brookside in the second half. Community Football Academy kept up the pressure after a 4-0 win at Loughborough FC, Jaseem Khamkar, Adam Modan, Zak Yusuf and Usamah Zerroug their scorers, the Academy three points behind Brookside with a game in hand, but a much inferior goal difference. Glen Villa continued their fightback with a 4-1 win at Highfield Rangers Reserves, Ira Castor, Elvis Nnamah, James Parker and sub James Bonser for Glen, Joshua Richards for Rangers.

At the other end of the table, Leicester United lost again and remain pointless, losing 3-0 at home to Magna 73 Reserves, Jordan Creed (2) and Jack Horne the scorers in the first half. Barrow Town Reserves nudged away a bit from the bottom, now four points clear of Leicester United, after Barrow secured a 1-1 draw at Rothley Imperial in the LSL's only score draw of the weekend, Luke Denham for Rothley, Barrow scorer fresh signing Kane Clarke.. Finally, in mid-table, Friar Lane & Epworth Reserves and Leicester Nirvana Reserves swapped places, Charvin Ambhire, George Matei and Huzaifah Kasu scoring for Nirvana in a 3-0 win.

That's it for this weekend. With cup action largely caught up on, normal service should be resumed next weekend, with a Ramble Round the Premier and a Ramble Round the Divisions, though both of those will be later next week, the ramble not coming out until Monday night at the earliest due to logistical reasons. There will be a Midweek Ramble though, consisting of Ingles- North Kilworth and the NW Leics derby between Coalville & Ellistown in the Senior Cup, and a top-of-the-table clash in LSL Division One, leaders Loughborough Students Development travelling to Lutterworth Athletic Reserves. Andy Grout will be sitting in for me on the midweek report, so I'll see you when I'm back next week.