Nirankari Edge Opener With Late Strike... ...Ten more games this week, loads more action to talk about, writes Darren “Statto” Jones)...

Will edit properly on PC later...

Premier Division:
Nirankari produced a late, hard fought win over Bedwell Rangers, a real baptism of fire for the club playing their first game in the top-flight. Jack Payne cleared a Nirankari header off the line and Aaron Austin pulled off two great saves to keep the scores level. Midway through the first-half, Josh Bronti's pace on the counter-attack gained him half a yard and he whipped in a ball from the right that Luke Smith lashed past ‘keeper Kyal Currey to give Bedwell the lead. Nirankari pushed further forward and despite having a second header cleared off the line by Sam Bickerstaff, they equalised just before half-time when Scott Orphanou found the net. Ross Murphy's over-head kick and a late Danny Bacon strike almost gave Bedwell a surprise victory, but for Currey. Then, with ten minutes left, Nirankari grabbed their winner with a volley from skipper Joel Mason.

MBDA made it two-wins-from-two. They took the lead when Ryan Stewart’s through-ball found Ashley Kersey, who rounded goalkeeper Kyle Forster and rolled the ball home. Craig Sutherill netted the second with a nice finish into the corner after Gary Hodgson had won the ball and fed him. Last season’s Golden Boot winner Kersey grabbed the third, again after rounding the ‘keeper. Broadhall managed a consolation through Ryan Chilcott from the spot for 3-1.

Stevenage Outsiders led at the break through Ade Wright. However, Breachwood Lions equalised through Martin Rees, with Outsiders claiming offside. The winner was controversial too, Rees netting again when Outsiders had a man down injured and wanted the ball out of play. Lions grab their first win in the top-flight.

Division One:
MKS Carpentry had the clearer chances of a goalless first-half. However, it was AP Construction that took the lead when Frazer Triggs’ shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off Rickie Nash and into the top corner, giving James Sawyer no chance. The goal seemed to wake up MKS, who made three substitutes, one of which, Ade Barry, sent Josh Dance clean through, but he forced a great double save from the ‘keeper. Dance then hit the bar before another sub Shawn Comber’s wicked cross was turned into his own goal by a defender for the leveller. With just 10 minutes left, a ball into the box was parried by the ‘keeper and Neil Roskilly smashed home from an acute angle for the winner.

Coopers United started the game the brighter and had the best of the chances, but it took until the hour-mark when Chris Chalat’s cross was headed home by the prolific Dave Brown. They doubled their lead when Dan Corns won and converted a late penalty before Renz Rangers pulled one back through Matt Robertson.

Marquis of Lorne South took an early lead against as Josh Watson’s deflected effort snuck in at the near post. However, Old Barclavians were soon level through Callum Rowe’s powerful burst into the box and neat finish into the top corner. OBs sealed the win after the break when Rowe’s corner beat the ’keeper, and was poked in by Tom Paine on the line.

Mark Chalkley (2), Hadley Grazzette, Dale Griffiths and Garry Smith netted as Broadhall Athletic saw off JML Plumbing & Heating 5-2. Myles Marshall and Tom Rydeheard replied.

Division Two:
A1 Trophies burst into a two-goal lead after some poor Kingdom Athletic defending allowed Toby Willis to net, before a deflected long-range strike from James Harrod. Athletic pressured after the break and Kieran Ellis pulled one back. Munesh Singh then levelled the scores after a run and shot from a very acute angle before A1 pinched all three points through an own goal.Brackas went two-up through Mark Brennan and Theo Griffith. However, The Bank woke up and Vince Kernaghan bundled the ball home from Adam Payne’s knock-down just before the break to get them back in the game. All one-way traffic after the break as Tony Friggieri levelled before Payne’s back-post header put them in front. Terry Lock rifled a shot into the top corner from the edge of the box and netted again with a diving header to make it 6-2. Mike Phelan’s strike sandwiched the brace.

A scrappy game came to life when Almond Tree striker Danny Bowey’s bullet header saw the opposing ‘keeper spectacularly turn the ball over the bar. LeisureLeagues.com had a great chance from Jamie Burbury saved before they took the lead when a deep free-kick from Liam Mower went into the box and Burbury stooped low at the back post to nod the ball in the net. Tree started the second-half better and got the breakthrough when Lewis Essam chipped the ball through the defence, the ‘keeper mis-judged and Rich Stewart slotted the ball home to level. Rhys Flavell put them in front when he hit a 40 yard shot, which caught the ‘keeper off guard and ended up in the net. Stewart then had the composure in the box to lay the ball back to the edge for Tony Bailey to hit a sweet low drive into the bottom corner to seal the game.

Results (Sunday 8th September):
Premier Division: Bedwell R 1 Nirankari 2, Breachwood L 2 Stev Outsiders 1, MBDA 3 Broadhall 1.
Division One: Broadhall Ath 5 JML Plumbing & H 2, Coopers Utd 2 Renz R 1, Marquis of Lorne Sth 1 Old Barclavians 2, MKS Carpentry 2 AP Construction 1.
Division Two: 2Dry P Benington P (Benington failed to raise a side), A1 Trophies 3 Kingdom Ath 2, Brackas 2 Bank 6, LeisureLeagues.com 1 Almond Tree 3.

Fixtures (Sunday 15th September):
Herts Junior Cup First Round: Radlett Village v Bank.
Premier Division: Broadhall v Bedwell R (Shephalbury), Dun Cow v Lifestyles (Meadway), MBDA v Breachwood L (Barclay), Stev Outsiders v Nirankari (King George).
Division One: Coopers Utd v Marquis of Lorne Sth (Peartree), MKS Carpentry v Broadhall Ath (Canterbury), Old Barclavians v AJS Tyres Broadhall (Barclay), Renz R v JML Plumbing & H (King George).
Division Two: A1 Trophies v Benington (Shephalbury), Almond Tree v 2Dry (Canterbury), LeisureLeagues.com v Brackas (Peartree).