Good Start In County Cup. Sunday saw a clean-sweep for our sides in first County Cup action of the season, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info).

The Herts Junior Cup saw all four of our sides progress in their first round ties.

TC Wanderers were only able to field a bare XI as they travelled to play Green Man, but started well. Some neat play saw Tony Friggieri despatch a good cross after ten minutes and they pushed for more. It wasn’t until after the break that Friggieri netted again after rounding the ‘keeper. Dan Carroll slotted home number three before Jimmy Lock got in on the act, he showed some great footwork in the box before smashing home. Lock was then wrestled to the floor by the ‘keeper, Friggieri completed his hat-trick from the spot to make it 5-0 and round off a very pleasing performance.

Stevenage Old Town won 3-0 at Old Bell Gate. Richard Griffiths, Ben Gumble and Sean Gumble netting.

Almond Tree La Coruna controlled the first-half of their game and it paid off when Jaiden Irish scored a deflected 25-yard effort. Home side White Horse won a questionable penalty, but it was saved by Scott Taylor. The lead was almost doubled when Bill Flavell's cross-cum-shot smashed off the crossbar. The scores were levelled when a long range effort found the top corner to force extra-time. Nobody managed to score, so it went to the lottery of a penalty shoot-out. Irish, Dave Thomas, Gary Haze, Flavell and Tony Bailey all scored, leaving Taylor to save another penalty to send them through.

Broadhall Athletic were awarded a walkover as FC Athletico Stortford had folded.

Premier Division champions Dun Cow beat Broadhall 2-0 thanks to two penalties from Ryan Butler.

Last season’s Golden Boot winner Joel Mason was back in the Premier and knocking the goals in as his brace saw Olympic Nirankari win 2-1 against St Nicholas, who replied through Carl Fletcher.

A very even game between Billet and King Pin United saw the latter edge the first-half and the former edge the second. Lots of chances, but a good spirited 0-0 draw.

MBDA kept their perfect start going in Division One. An unstoppable shot from right-back Ryan Stewart into the top corner from the corner of the penalty area opened the scoring. Kyle Watson added a second after cutting in from the wing. Ben Weldon pulled Coopers United back into the game in spectacular fashion, dispossessing Stewart before lobbing Andy Gibb from fully 35 yards out on the touchline. Sam Harwood restored the two-goal cushion when he flicked the ball into the roof of the net after Gav Bowler knocked down Alan Kenney's free-kick. A route one goal saw Coopers grab a second before the break wne Danny Liversidge set Dave Brown away, he smashed the ball past home from 25 yards. Craig Sutherill then hit a rocket of a shot past three defenders on the goal-line after Kenney's header was blocked. Liversidge pulled one back after making space in the area before Charlie Lawson lashed home MBDA's sixth. Watson made it 7-3 when he walked the ball in after a defensive mix-up.

Nick Thomas grabbed the only goal of the game as Bedwell Rangers won at Breachwood Lions to make it two-wins-from-two.

AJS Tyres Broadhall were missing some key players, but started brightly against Chequers. However. once they were two down, it became a very bad at the office and they were abysmal after the break. Chequers went on to dominate the game and took their chances well as Gary Gibson opened the scoring with a neat overhead kick and the lead was soon doubled by Steve Koop. Carl Thompson added a third before the break. Gibson and Koop both netted again before Ben Collins grabbed his first for the club with a neat header. Ollie Barnett finished the 7-0 rout.

Pin Green kept up their 100 percent record in Division Two. Ean Browne and Jahrome Mullings netted in their 2-1 win over JML Plumbing & Heating Athletic, for whom Danny Russell replied.

After two high-scoring games to start with, Emperors Head showed their defensive strength by securing a 3-1 win over Broadhall Icon. Icon deserved their half-time lead though, courtesy of Ricky Phillips. The equaliser came when a Lewis Sealy cross-cum-shot found the far corner and they took the lead when Joe Whittaker latched on to a fine through-ball. Dave Hannaway tapped in from a Lewis Essam throw-in to secure the points despite some late Icon pressure.

Old Barclavians shared an exciting 4-4 draw with Crooked Billet Boro. Joe Marshall-Zeal (two), Lee Falanga and Adam Presland were on the mark for the former, whilst Collins Nwanazia, Rob Smith, Steve Bush and Chris Wotton netted for Boro.

Hartham Press (Liam Mower) and Roebuck Gate (Shaun Skutela) battled out a 1-1 draw.

A1 Trophies started their Division Three game with real intent and got the breakthrough within ten minutes when Garry Brown slotted the ball through for Toby Willis to round the ‘keeper and stroke home. Brackas then came back into the game with some counter attacks, but Chris Essam stood strong and produced a number of fine saves. A1 went two up when Tallem Dennis broke through the middle of the defence to lob the oncoming ‘keeper. It was 3-0 in the first-half when a corner was swung into the back post and Simon Longman rose to head home. Brackas pulled one back through Theo Griffith before the break. A nervous finish for both sides was then set up as Griffith scored again to make it 3-2. A1 could have wrapped it up as veteran striker Lee Clark missed two guilt-edged opportunities. Essam also performed more heroics to prevent an equaliser and A1 held on.

Kieran Webb, Dave Pateman and Sam Stephenson were on target as Proverbial United beat ABC Taxis 3-1. Darren Bennett was ABC’s scorer.