Rain Wipes Out Most Of Cup... An early morning deluge of rain wiped out 13 of the 15 cup ties due to be played, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info).

The first round of the Challenge Cup saw two Division One sides see off their Division Three counterparts.

Coopers record their first win of the season after starting the game the brighter on a boggy, wet pitch at Chells Park. It seemed Craig Vincent had broke the deadlock on twenty minutes when his twenty-five yard effort beat the ‘keeper, only to strike both A1 Trophies posts and stay out. The post would come to A1’s rescue again when Chris Chalat turned in the box and cannoned his shot off the upright. Steve Harris broke clear, but the ball held up in a puddle and Coopers didn’t think it would be their day. This thought was compounded when A1 were awarded a penalty when their player seemed to slip. Mark Stacey stood tall and saved the spot-kick. He then came to the rescue of his side again when a curling free-kick was kept out in spectacular fashion. With fifteen minutes remaining, substitute Kenny Roberts could have put Coopers ahead when a Wayne Hall cross was somehow headed wide by the full-back. Finally, with just five minutes to go, the deadlock was broken when another Hall cross was turned back across goal by Chalat for Dave Brown to poke home the loose ball. They’ll now meet Olympic Nirankari in the last 16.

Bedwell Rangers took on View Point Wanderers at Peartree Park as both sides agreed to attempt playing the game. The pitch itself did have some standing water, but seeing as both sides were wet from putting up the nets and discussing the pitch, they went for it. Despite the howling wind and ice cold rain, both sides threw themselves into the game with Bedwell settling the quicker and taking an early lead through a Daryl Thorpe header from a James Reeves corner past stand in ‘keeper Darren Smith. A Luke Smith brace late in the first-half made it 3-0; one was a one-on-one effort that he coolly took round the ‘keeper and the second an effort from just inside the box. VPW’s did have one or two long range shots to show for their efforts. The second-half saw the rain and wind subside and things became a little brighter and settle into a real November day, but conditions under foot did begin to deteriorate. Smith sealed his hat-trick a few minutes in as he again rounded the ‘keeper before goals from Ethan Draper, Nick Thomas and Ross Murphy extended Bedwell's lead. Smith bagged his fourth of the game late on just before Rangers skipper Jacob Dawson finally got on the score sheet after a variety of misses to put them nine up. Wanderers got a consolation goal late on thanks to Rich Marvell cutting in and unleashing an effort from just outside the box that bounced just in from of the ‘keeper. The 9-1 win puts Bedwell through to a meeting with Hartham Press or AJS Tyres Broadhall.

Results (Sunday 4 November):

CSSFL Challenge Cup 1st Round: Bedwell Rang 1 View Point Wand 0, Coopers Utd 1 A1 Trophies 0

Fixtures (Sunday 11 November):

Herts Junior Cup 3rd Round: Bovingdon AFC v Proverbial Utd, Brookmans Park Res v Almond Tree La Coruna, TC Wand v St Albans IFC (Alleynes).
Premier Division: Billet v Dun Cow (Alleynes), Broadhall v St Nicholas (Shephalbury).
Division One: Breachwood Lions v MBDA (Breachwood), Coopers Utd v Coach and Horses (Chells), Lifestyles v Chequers (Meadway), MKS Carpentry v Bedwell Rang (Shephalbury).
Division Two: JML Plumbing & Heating Ath v Hartham Press (King Georges), Old Barclavians v Emperors Head (Barclay School), Pin Green v Crooked Billet Boro (Peartree), Roebuck Gate v Broadhall Icon (Peartree).
Division Three: ABC Taxis v Broadhall Ath (Shephalbury), Stev Old Town v Brackas (King Georges)

See the league website for full report, results and fixtures: www.cssfl.info