Cow Into Last Four...A late winner from Luke Garwood saw Dun Cow make the semi-finals of the County Cup for the umpteenth time, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info, www.cssfl.info).

Dun Cow started their Herts Senior Cup game well and seemed to upset the visiting Nicholas Breakspear Old Boys team with their aggressive approach. The referee, not impressed, booked Adam Furness and Ian Thorne early on. In a first-half just shaded by the home side, most of the play was played in midfield. Thorne hitting the post before the break was the closest either side came. Ten minutes into the second-half, Ryan Butler’s superb through ball was blasted home on the half-volley from just inside the box by Furness. Five minutes later, more pressure on the away goal resulted in a penalty. Sadly, Butler’s kick was saved. The game stepped up a gear and after two penalty appeals were turned down, a third was upheld and Breakspear levelled from the spot. The away team had a good spell of ten minute possession, but a defence, led soundly by Glen Draper, held firm. With ten minutes left, Andy Brosnan floated a free-kick to the far post where defender Luke Garwood picked his spot with a well taken header to send them through to an away tie at last season’s champions AFC Boars on Sunday week.

Some long overdue first round games in the CSSFL Challenge Cup were played. There were no surprises.

Proverbial United threatened a shock when they took the lead through a Dave Pateman penalty. However, Broadhall’s class shone through as they soon replied with a thunderbolt from Jason Milburn to level the half-time scores. It was Milburn again that made it two from the penalty spot. Scott Durham netted before center-half Rob Fitzgerald scored with a lovely drive into the bottom corner. John Johnston made it 5-1 with a top corner finish and send them through to a meeting with King Pin United or Roebuck Gate in the last 16.

Adam Stevens netted five times as Broadhall Icon went through to a meeting with Emperors Head after a 7-3 win over ABC Taxis. Michael Bunker and Danny Willshire were also on target. ABC responded through Lewis McClean, Darren O’Brien and Phil Wallis.

AJS Tyres Broadhall dominated the early exchanges, only to find themselves two down inside 15 minutes. The first being a Matt Dimond own goal, the second a close range un-marked header from Graeme Hulstrom. AJS immediately struck back as Mike Emmings flicked on Jon Myers’ excellent cross for Andy Lee to score at the back post. The deserved equaliser came ten minutes before the break as Dimond cushioned a cross for Matt Jackson to superbly smash the ball past the ‘keeper from the edge of the box. A rare Hartham Press attack created a mix up in the AJS defence and they restored their lead through Dave Mower. Andy Lee again tied the game up with a thumping finish that went under the ‘keeper to make it 3-3 at the end of a pulsating first-half. It took until 15 minutes to go for Warren Ratcliffe put AJS in front for the first time. A minute later, Joe Lee's towering header was glanced home by Phil Stevens for another, and with time running out Stevens played in Andy Lee to complete a well taken hat-trick. A James Khakpour-Smith penalty reduced the score again before Michael Carter finished well from Ratcliffe's good pass to end the scoring at an amazing 7-4. AJS will now meet Bedwell Rangers.

JML Plumbing & Heating set up a meeting with Breachwood Lions or TC Wanderers after a close-fought win over Almond Tree La Coruna. In an end-to-end first-half, the deadlock was broken by Tree when Rhys Flavell headed the ball on for Antony Lloyd to coolly slot the ball home from a one-on-one position. JML were soon back in the game from a long throw-in for a simple tap in at the back stick. The second-half saw JML prove the more deadly by adding their second. Flavell had the best chance to level, but his header from Stephen Clibbon's corner was somehow saved. With them pushing further for an equaliser, JML inevitably caught them on the break when their winger rounded the centre-back to slot the ball past Scott Taylor for 3-1. Tony Webb (two) and Matt Evans were on target in the win.

Crooked Billet Boro threatened an upset by taking the lead early on through Chris Wotton. Lewis Britter levelled for Coach & Horses, before David Stevens put them in front. Britter grabbed his second, as did Wotton for a 3-2 half-time score. Unlikely goal scorer Stuart Littlechild scored a screamer into the top corner for Coach’s fourth and Billet gave them a fifth themselves. In a dramatic finish for Coach, Britter had already scored for the first time in two years and was on for the chance for a first ever hat-trick when he was awarded the ball for a penalty. He missed. However, another penalty was awarded and this time he scored. They go through to meet Dun Cow or MBDA.

Division Three saw the only league action and View Point Wanderers got back to winning ways after they started brightly and played some good football. However, they found themselves behind when stand-in ‘keeper Darren Smith had a moment to forget when he punched a harmless cross from Max Robbson into his own net for Brackas to lead. With just 20 minutes to go, Wanderers finally got on the score sheet when Charley Blackham side-stepped a defender on the edge of the box and his angled strike fizzed into the bottom corner with ‘keeper Rich Edwards rooted to the spot. With just five minutes left, a though ball by Leigh Mardlin released Cam Bridger, who coolly lobbed the ball over the on-rushing ‘keeper to give the Viewpoint boys the points. It put them back into second place, four points behind leaders Broadhall Athletic, whom they face this Sunday.

Results (Sunday 3rd February):

Herts Senior Cup Quarter-Final: Dun Cow 2 Nicholas Breakspear Old Boys 1.
CSSFL Challenge Cup 1st Round: Almond Tree La Coruna 1 JML Plumbing & Heating 3, Broadhall 5 Proverbial United 1, Broadhall Icon 7 ABC Taxis 3, Coach & Horses 6 Crooked Billet Boro 2, Hartham Press 4 AJS Tyres Broadhall 7.
Division Three: View Point Wanderers 2 Brackas 1.

Fixtures (Sunday 10th February):

Division One Cup Quarter-Final: Bedwell Rangers v Coopers United (Peartree)
Division Two Cup Quarter-Final: Hartham Press v Old Barclavians (Peartree)
Division Three Cup Quarter-Final: TC Wanderers v A1 Trophies (Alleynes)
Division One: Coach & Horses v AJS Tyres Broadhall (King George), MBDA v Chequers (Barclay), MKS Carpentry v Lifestyles (Shephalbury).
Division Two: Benington v Crooked Billet Boro (Benington), Broadhall Icon v Roebuck Gate (Shephalbury).
Division Three: ABC Taxis v Almond Tree La Coruna (Shephalbury), Brackas v Proverbial United (Peartree), Broadhall Athletic v View Point Wanderers (Shephalbury).
Frank Neville Memorial Cup (league phase): Emperors Head (0v1) Stevenage Old Town (King George)