Cow & Nirankari Our Remaining Hopes... Two sides through in main County Cup, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info).

In the second round of the Herts Senior Cup, John Vooght hit a hat-trick as Dun Cow had no trouble at Croxley Green Community Centre, coming away with a 6-1 victory. Ross Kane, Ian Thorne and Adam Furness grabbed the others.

Also through are Olympic Nirankari, who dumped out an impressive Old Danes Athletic side. Ricky Case, Josh Dance and Joel Mason netted in the 3-1 victory.

The only downside saw Broadhall eliminated after a 2-0 defeat by visiting Sporting Club Offley.

In the last week, the Premier Division has lost two more teams. Marquis of Lorne were first to go, followed by Real Stevenage, only six remain, which is very disappointing.

King Pin United’s 7-2 win over Real Stevenage was therefore academic. After a nervy start, clinical finishing from Carl Lingwood, Dan Hartland and Luke Bennett put them three up. Bennett headed his second before a cheeky lob from the edge of the box by Craig Reynolds saw another. A quick break by Real saw them win and convert a penalty. However, Reynolds and Lingwood adding to their earlier goals before another Real consolation.

St Nicholas won an exciting game with Billet. Carl Fletcher, Scott Grant, James Tyrer and Paul Ricketts were on target in the 4-3 win. Elliott Bunn, Ross Gormer and Adam Wombwell replied as they failed to go top of the table.

Division One leaders MBDA beat an under strength AJS Tyres Broadhall 12-0. AJS competed and knocked the ball about well for the first fifteen minutes, but from the moment Craig Sutherill despatched a loose ball to set up the first, it became a procession of brilliant, scrappy and a couple of lucky goals for a rampant MBDA attack. Goals came from Ashley Kersey (four), Phil Fisher (hat-trick), Sam Harwood (two), Craig Sutherill, Si George and an own goal.

Lifestyles are second after leap-frogging their victims Bedwell Rangers. Ryan Ellis, Allan Prescott and Carl Smith were on target in the 3-1 win, Luke Smith replied.

Coach and Horses made a bright start and took the lead midway through the first-half through Lewis Littlechild. Chequers changed formation and Carl Thompson supplied a cross for Marcus Morton to flick home an equaliser before the break and Thompson himself put them in front after the ‘keeper fumbled a shot. He then scored again, latching onto a through-ball and firing low past the on rushing ‘keeper. Coach were back in it through Tony Steele via a corner, but Thompson completed his hat-trick with a suberb half-volley into the roof of the net from the edge of the box for 4-2 after John Threader played him in.

Coopers United took the lead within the first ten minutes when a corner popped out to the edge of crowded area and the unmarked Dave Brown hit the ball low into the net. Breachwood Lions were level when Richard Taaffe’s cross was nodded back into space by George Harrison for Adam Jefferies to steam in a drill home. Taaffe was then fouled in the penalty area and Iaian Turkentine sent the ‘keeper the wrong way.
The game looked up when Harrison's headed flick gave Taaffe a run on goal with a cool finish for 3-1. However, Coopers still had the fighting spirit with another great goal driven in from outside the box, this time from Steve Harris. Lions gained some breathing space when Sam Canham’s cross found Taaffe to complete his trademark brace and a 4-2 win.

Division Two leaders Pin Green beat Benington 4-0 thanks to Fabian Mullings (two), Dejon Mullings and Ean Browne.

Lee Falanga and Josh Watson were on target for Old Barclavians, but they suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat against Roebuck Gate. Danny Bacon, Rich Minnis and Shaun Skutela were on target.

Promoted Broadhall Icon are third after a game of goals against Crooked Billet Boro. Dan Gregory, Lee Kitching, Ricky Phillips, Steve Skinner and Adam Stevens scored for Icon, Collins Nwanazia (two) and Ben Snowden replied in the 5-3 thriller.

Myles Marshall and Matt Roworth netted as JML Plumbing & Heating Athletic closed the gap on fourth placed Emperors Head with a 2-0 win.

Broadhall Athletic clung onto top spot in Division Three after a dogged display from two goals down. Brackers dominated early on and Theo Griffith continued his excellent goalscoring streak with two low strikes. However, the leaders were back in it before the break when Rich Edwards came rushing out his box, but Craig Gilbert just nicked the ball past him and knocked it into the empty net. Edwards denied a first-half equaliser, tipping a shot onto a post. The scores were level at 2-2 through Gary Hillard when he pounced on a loose ball in the box. Brackers could’ve nicked it through Tom Robbins or Ryan Treavish, but they both missed the target.

View Point Wanderers and ABC Taxis put on an eight-goal feast. ABC were two up through Karl Cleverdon and Louis Bullock before Charley Blackham passed the ball into the net to reduce the arrears just before the break. Mike Coombes fired high into the net from the edge of the box to level for View Point and they went in front when a good passing move released Rich Marvell, who lobbed the ‘keeper with ease. ABC levelled again through Conor Spraggs before Wanderers got a penalty with five minutes left, with expert Coombes off the pitch, it was left to Scott Taylor to fire home. However, they were denied top spot when Spraggs grabbed a dramatic and deserved equaliser with a couple of minutes left following a corner...4-4.

Almond Tree La Coruna made a slow start and found themselves 2-0 down inside the first fifteen minutes thanks to Proverbial United. One came from a corner and the other a long ball over the top. The Tree started playing a bit and created a few chances, the break though came when a dangerous corner whipped in by Stephen Clibbon was met by Tony Bailey to bullet home with his head. Darren Gray’s shot seemed to be handled on the line, but the chance of an equaliser from the spot was denied before they went 3-1 down. Gray was denied again by a dubious offside before United hit a fourth with a wonderful curling effort from the edge of the box, Dave Pateman and Sam Stephenson each fired a brace for them. The Tree finally added their second at the death after Paul Marvell played a defence splitting ball for Gray to run clean and coolly slide the ball past the ‘keeper for the game to finish 4-2 to Proverbial.

TC Wanderers’ new signing Michael Phelan popped up with a hat-trick as they gained a much needed victory over A1 Trophies. The first-half was a non event until both teams had a player sent off, Ben Sheldrake then played a pin point ball through to Phelan, who smashed the ball home. A1 equalised after the break through Paul Tully before TC regained the lead when Leeroy Odd waltzed pass a few defenders before slotting home. Scores were level again through Mark Barmby. TC grabbed the points when a through-ball was chased down by Phelan who beat the ‘keeper, before completing his treble when he picked up the ball and rounded the ‘keeper.