First Cup Finals Sorted... With uncertainty still hanging over using Stevenage FC for the Cup Finals, Hitchin Town FC awaits the first finals on Sunday week, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info, www.cssfl.info).

As usual, Sunday saw some real cup drama.

CSSFL Challenge Cup:
After their surprise win over MBDA in the last 16, Coach and Horses were on the end of a giant-killing themselves against Division Two opponents. Tony Steele and Ade Wright were on target for Coach. However, JML Plumbing & Heating Athletic grabbed a 2-2 draw after extra time thanks to Tom Gallagher and Lewis White, before winning 4-2 on penalties. They now meet AJS Tyres Broadhall or Lifestyles for a place in the final.

Premier Division Cup:
A dry and bobbly pitch allowed for an entertaining game between King Pin United and Dun Cow. Both teams played some nice stuff before a controversially awarded corner saw the Cow score. Two more goals on the break saw them 3-0 up at half-time. Pin fought hard and after a few wasted chances, Cow made it four. Dave Kiddie (two), Terry Lock and Ian Thorne were on target. United finally grabbed a consolation via a tap-in from John Godfrey after good work down the wing from James Wyatt. Olympic Nirankari now stand in their way for a place in the final against Broadhall.

Division Two Cup:
League leaders Broadhall Icon were surprisingly made to work hard to see off strugglers Hartham Press. Hartham had already seen off second place Old Barclavians in the last 8 and James Khakpour-Smith’s strike gave them a chance. However, Broadhall went through 2-1 thanks to Michael Bunker and Danny Hall.

Crooked Billet Boro went through to the final after a comfortable 3-0 win over Benington. Collins Nwanazia scored twice to take him to 16 for the season, old campaigner Tom Younger poached the other.

- Crooked Billet Boro v Broadhall Icon will take place at Hitchin Town FC on Sunday 21st April with a 2.30pm kick-off.

Division Three Cup:
Leaders Broadhall Athletic made it to the final after a real ding-dong battle against Proverbial United. The latter won the recent league meeting 2-0, so would’ve been confident, but despite going down to 10 men after Liam Elmes’ second yellow card whilst 2-1 up, they were only eliminated seconds before extra-time was necessary. Craig Gilbert, Tom Hillard, Ricky Reynolds and Garry Smith netted in the 4-3 win for Broadhall, whilst United replied through Jamie Campany, Benn Evans and Dave Pateman.

The other semi had almost as much drama. The Almond Tree La Coruna opener came from the penalty spot after Stephen Clibbon had his legs taken away. David Thomas coolly finished into the bottom corner. TC Wanderers levelled the scores when a long throw-in was headed out to Tony Phelan, who hit a terrific strike through a crowd of players. The second-half saw the Tree create many chances, with Rhys Flavell firing just wide with a stunning long range effort, along with a goalmouth scramble that just didn’t wanna see the ball go in. They re-took the when Tony Bailey smashed a 35 yard curling free-kick into the top corner, but TC levelled again after a long ball was crossed and converted by Gary Rollinson, with Scott Taylor unable to get enough of a hand on it. In extra time, again the best chances fell to the Tree, with both Bailey and Clibbon firing wide. In the very last minute, from a whipped Luke Brackenbury free-kick, stand-in skipper Mark McKeown flicked the ball home with his head from 20 yards to send them to the final.

- TC Wanderers v Broadhall Athletic will take place at Hitchin Town FC on Sunday 21st April with a 10.30am kick-off.

Premier Division:
Andrew Iwediuno (three), Josh Dance (three), Joel Mason (two) and David Iwediuno were on target as Olympic Nirankari battered Broadhall 9-1. Ryan Chilcott’s goal was mere consolation. Nirankari are now looking favourites for the title in the four-team division.

Division One:
It’s lucky for them, it’s taken until game number thirteen to do it, but Coopers United have finally won. Incredibly, they even took the lead with only 9 men on the field. A counter-attack led to the prolific Dave Brown netting. MKS Carpentry levelled matters through Dalziel Geary before a now ten-man Coopers saw Brown net his second with a fine solo goal before half-time. An error from ‘keeper Rob Cooper allowed MKS to level again through Phil Parker. However, with time almost up, Danny Hillard knocked home a Wayne Hall cross to make it 3-2. Skipper Ben Weldon said: “It’s the best I’ve seen us play all season. We showed true determination and passion. Everyone deserved man of the match”.

Bedwell Rangers pushed for the runners-up spot with a solitary Ethan Draper goal to beat Chequers 1-0.

Division Three:
ABC Taxis’ Lewis McClean was forced to deliver his own baby just before Easter and fittingly celebrated a goal with the customary baby-rocking celebration with his team-mates. Sacha Ferguson scored first after a goalmouth scramble and Louis Bullock got the second soon after, volleying home first time from 15 yards following a through-ball from Matt O'Brien. McClean controlled a high ball and finished into the top corner for his goal before Bullock netted from a one-on-one with the Brackas ‘keeper. A 4-0 win and a second clean sheet on the trot for ABC.

*Stevenage Old Town's 3-0 win over View Point Wanderers is under investigation.

Results (Sunday 7th April):

CSSFL Challenge Cup Quarter-Final: Coach and Horses 2 JML Plumbing & Heating Athletic 2 (aet, pen 2-4).
Premier Division Cup Quarter-Final: King Pin United 1 Dun Cow 4.
Division Two Cup Semi-Final: Broadhall Icon 2 Hartham Press 1, Crooked Billet Boro 3 Benington 0.
Division Three Cup Semi-Final: Almond Tree La Coruna 2 TC Wanderers 3 (aet), Proverbial United 3 Broadhall Athletic 4 (aet).
Premier Division: Olympic Nirankari 9 Broadhall 1.
Division One: Chequers 0 Bedwell Rangers 1, Coopers United 3 MKS Carpentry 2.
Division Three: Brackas 0 ABC Taxis 4, Stevenage Old Town 3 View Point Wanderers 0*.

Fixtures (Sunday 14th April):

CSSFL Challenge Cup Quarter-Final: AJS Tyres Broadhall v Lifestyles (Peartree), Benington v Olympic Nirankari (Benington), King Pin United v Broadhall Icon (King George).
Division One Cup Semi-Final: Breachwood Lions v MBDA (Breachwood).
Premier Division: Dun Cow v Broadhall (Meadway).
Division One: Bedwell Rangers v MKS Carpentry (Peartree), Coopers United v Chequers (Chells).
Division Two: Crooked Billet Boro v Emperors Head (Meadway).
Division Three: A1 Trophies v View Point Wanderers (Shephalbury), Almond Tree La Coruna v TC Wanderers (Shephalbury), Broadhall Athletic v ABC Taxis (Shephalbury), Proverbial United v Brackas (King George).