MBDA Hammer Champions... The Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League got into full swing with plenty of talking points, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info).

Premier Division:
Last season’s champions FC Nirankari were roundly beaten by MBDA. As with the latter’s heavy win last week, they seemed to allow the other side the majority of the ball and the territorial advantage, but some through-balls and good finishing saw them home. Gary Hodgson picked up the ball after a few neat passes just outside the Nirankari box to smash home from twelve yards. Nirankari were piling on the pressure, but MBDA broke again and a brilliant through ball from Ashley Kersey found Kyle Watson on the wing, who smashed home inside ‘keeper Bobby Dhillon’s near post. Minutes later, Watson slid home again after a perfectly weighted ball forward from Craig Sutherill. Nirankari got a goal their possession deserved when a smart ball forward found Jahmell Mullins for a neat finish. Nirankari came out the strongest after the break, but found the back four resolute. When a Sutherill clearance found Kersey, he drilled home from a tight angle at the edge of the eighteen-yard box. A reply came almost immediately when Leeroy Williams cut the ball back for Ricky Case, whose shot deflected past Andy Gibb. The game then became interesting when Andrew Iwediuno's quick feet saw him tripped in the box, Deji Ojuroye made it 4-3 from the spot. MBDA then took advantage of desperate measures from the champions, Kersey’s smart finish from Louis Hare’s pass stretched the lead to two again, Watson then won the ball on the halfway line and sprinted for goal, slotting across the ‘keeper for his hat-trick. Then, not to be outdone, a ball forward from Jon Lewys found Kersey unmarked, he slotted through the legs of Dhillon to also complete his hat-trick to make it 7-3.

An excellent performance saw Almond Tree United hold a deserved half-time lead thanks to a whipped in Gareth Clarke free-kick, which Nick Collins nodded home at the far post. However, Dun Cow rallied to score two goals in quick succession. The first a one-two which Luke Garwood struck from the edge of the box, the next a deflected shot looping over the stranded ‘keeper from Adam Furness. A defensive mix-up gifted substitute Shaun Marshall with a goal with his first touch. The fourth came in the final minutes when James Dillnutt found himself unmarked from a corner.

There was a lively start and a goal for each side within the first six minutes as firstly, Stevenage Leisure Limited were awarded a penalty after Carl Smith was fouled in the box, he converted it himself. Real Stevenage then hit back when Ricky Goddard snuck in at the back post. A Ryan Ellis free-kick against his old side put Real in front and ten minutes before half-time, Lez Chappell gave them a two-goal cushion. Smith scored a wonderful second goal to set up a nervy finish, but in stoppage-time, Andrew Yates made sure of the points by rounding the ‘keeper to make it 4-2 and make it six points from six.

Broadhall’s poor start continued as both of last season’s top two have no points from their first two games. Ryan Smales grabbed the solitary goal new boys St Nicholas.

Division 1:
Two of the promotion favourites went head to head and it was TC United that came out on top after a tight game. Jimmy Lock put them a goal up with a brilliant finish as he lobbed the goalkeeper from all of twenty-five yards. Chris Benton then pulled off a fine low save to keep them in front just before the break. In the second-half the lead was doubled when debutant Alex Lucy's shot was parried in to the path of brother Joe, who headed home the loose ball. There was late pressure from Marquis of Lorne but their opponents defence stood strong to take the points.

After only two minutes, Michael Emmings' quickly taken throw-in found Joe Lee making a great run into the box to smash his cross shot into the net to put AJS Tyres Broadhall in front. Somehow, Coopers United withstood further pressure, then gradually got a foot hold in the game. They equalised on the half-hour from a set play, Steve Harris finishing well. Broadhall restored their lead with a spectacular diving header from Emmings from a delicious cross from Rob Stevenson. Two minutes later, Tom Finch arrived at the back post to head in another Stevenson cross, but a late flag ruled it out. It was costly as some awful defending from another set play saw Ben Weldon equalise.

Louis Gilbert bagged a hat-trick as Odyssey saw off Bedwell Rangers by four goals to two. Ryan Palmer grabbed the other, whist Rangers responded through Ethan Draper and Daryl Thorpe.

Louis Bullock scored the only goal as Putterills beat FC Mallard.

Divisions 2&3 in Part 2/2...