Icon Complete Double... Broadhall Icon were victorious at the weekend to complete their divisional double,, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info, www.cssfl.info).

Premier Division Cup:
Clash of the old rivals took place on Sunday morning, which resulted in Olympic Nirankari booking their place in the final. Dun Cow started the brighter side, pinning their opponents back for the opening fifteen minutes with a flurry of corners and set-pieces. However, Nirankari held firm and should’ve taken the lead after a good run from David Iwediuno saw him blaze over. Cow striker Adam Furness scored the opener ten minutes before half-time, when he chased down a mistake by the ‘keeper. Half-time substitute Gareth Hopkins levelled the scores when a fine pass from Iwediuno put him through on Wayne Simpson, who was beaten after saving the original effort. Nirankari danger man Josh Dance headed home the winner to make it 2-1, but they had to work very hard for the victory as Cow threw everything at them closing ten minutes.

- Broadhall v Olympic Nirankari will take place at Hitchin Town on Friday 10th May with a 7.30pm kick-off.

Division One:
The race for the runners-up spot will go to the wire. Second-placed Lifestyles made hard work of the game against Coach and Horses. They started the stronger, but didn't convert any chances and when Dan Barrett came out to meet a flick-on, he lost out to the striker and brought him down, Coach went in front from the penalty spot. Ryan Ellis then equalised, heading in from a corner. Coach led again, but were pegged back again through Joe Chilton, before Ellis missed a penalty. Coach led for a third time, Ricky Bruniges, Lewis Littlechild and Stuart Littlechild on target for them, but Ellis immediately cancelled this out following a great pass from his brother Kieran. Ellis then won the game 4-3 with his hat-trick goal. A good effort having played twice in quick succession.

Bedwell Rangers finally inflicted a first league defeat on the champion MBDA. Having played in the cup final on Friday night, it was soon evident that the resulting celebrations may have taken their toll. Bedwell, fielding a scratch eleven themselves, before the late arrival of a substitute, began brightly, testing ‘keeper Andy Gibb in the opening moments. It wasn’t until Luke Smith powered a shot that Gibb could only parry into the path of Danny Bacon that they took a deserved lead. Smith then powered in his 26th of the season for 2-0. Kyle Watson snuck through to get MBDA back into the game before Jack Payne was left un-marked at a corner to head home his first goal of the season and re-establish the two-goal lead just before half-time. The second-half mirrored the first with Bedwell dominating, but not taking their chances. However, great work from Ross Murphy allowed Smith to grab his second before Watson’s second - his 19th of the season - brought it back to a margin of two. The game was finished as a contest when Smith unselfishly laid the ball off to James Reeves to make it 5-2 to Bedwell with ten minutes to go. It could have been more as Smith, Reeves and Ethan Draper all missed chances late on, but they grabbed a vital three points in their pursuit of second place.

Two sides met in a double-header in an attempt to pull away from the basement side, Coopers United. It was MKS Carpentry that looked the better team by far early on in the first game. Chances were being created and Russ Ayles fired over when clear through and Neil Roskilly shot just wide. The second-half saw them continue the dominance and after another good move, a cross into the box fell to Rickie Nash, who volleyed home from fifteen yards out. Great play by Matt Steer set up Rob Stevenson to score an equaliser for AJS Tyres Broadhall five minutes later and it finished 1-1. In the second match, Matt Dimond headed home Stevenson's corner to give AJS an early lead. However, MKS stepped it up and the equaliser came just after the twenty minute mark when great work from Shawn Comber down the wing led to a cross, from which Ade Barry produced an acrobatic volley, which was just kept out by the ‘keeper, but Roskilly was there to tap in the equaliser. The second-half was one way traffic, Ayles was guilty of more missed chances before Ray Downes brought the ball out of defence, passed to Phil Parker and continued his run. Parker then found Ayles, who exchanged passed with Metselaar, who laid the ball off for Downes, to finish the move he started. Barry’s fierce shot was then parried into the path of Ayles, who finished this time from a yard out to make it 3-1 to MKS. In the meantime, AJS lost players to injury, seeing out the game with nine men in the end. They’ll be hoping their not lasting injuries, with their real David v Goliath effort to come at The Lamex this Sunday.

Coopers United came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first-half of their visit to Breachwood Lions, a free-kick from long distance seeing the Lions ‘keeper having to turn the ball round the post. Ollie Mason hit the side netting before his cross by the corner flag found substitute Liam Knight at the far post to volley into the roof of the net for the only goal of the game. Coopers fought back, hitting the bar, before Mason hit the corner of the post and bar. It finished 1-0.

Division Two:
Dean Allen netted for Broadhall Icon to give them the title after denying their only challengers, JML Plumbing & Heating Athletic, all three points. Alex Lucy netted for JML, but the 1-1 draw left them ten points behind with three games left.

Emperors Head’s chances of runners-up spot took a hit as they were held 2-2 at Benington, despite goals from Lewis Essam and Ieaun Lewis. Will Cubitt and Simon Flecknell netted for Benington.

It transpires that Roebuck Gate’s game was the last in their history. Kieran James and Shaun Skutela were on target, but hitman Collins Nwanazia’s brace - his 19th of the season - and one from old warhorse Steve Ryan saw Crooked Billet Boro win 3-2.

Division Three:
The title will go down to the wire, with results against TC Wanderers deciding whether Proverbial United or Broadhall Athletic are champions.

Dave Pateman fired a hat-trick as Proverbial United did their bit, hammering A1 Trophies 8-3. Sam Stephenson and Josh Stock grabbed two apiece, Brendan Moulton hit the other.

TC Wanderers themselves were humbled 4-0 by ABC Taxis. Adam Payne (two), Carl Simmonds and veteran Neal Watson with the goals.

Fixtures (Wednesday 1st May):

Division Three: TC Wanderers v Almond Tree La Coruna (18:00, Alleynes School).

Fixtures (Sunday 5th May):

CSSFL Challenge Cup Final: Olympic Nirankari v AJS Tyres Broadhall (10:30, Stevenage FC).
Division One: Bedwell Rangers v Breachwood Lions (10:15, Peartree Park).
Division Two: Hartham Press v Benington (10:15, Peartree Park), JML Plumbing & Heating Athletic v Broadhall Icon (10:30, Shephalbury Park).
Division Three: TC Wanderers v Proverbial United (10:15, Alleynes School).