Challenge Cup Underway...The blue riband domestic event began on Sunday, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info).

The preliminary round of the CSSFL Challenge Cup saw Dean Auburn fire a hat-trick as Roebuck Gate pulled of a shock by defeating Chequers 4-3. Danny Bacon added the other, as the Division Two side won despite goals from Steve Teale (two) and Carl Thompson for their Division One opponents.

Top-flight side King Pin United beat a good Old Barclavians team to avoid a potential banana skin. Both sides had their chances in the first half-an-hour, but United edged it at the break thanks to a drive into the bottom corner from James Wyatt. The slick pitch kept the game moving and they extended their lead as Steve Buckley slid in to poke home after a goalmouth scramble.

Two more sides from the top flight faced off for a place in round one, and with nineteen men turning up, Broadhall had a tough but pleasing selection choice. It took a fantastic piece of work on the half hour from Kologo Richards, who flicked the ball over a defenders head before dispatching it very coolly. It was a much deserved victory, albeit only 1-0, against Real Stevenage.

Premier Division champions Dun Cow suffered their second defeat on the spin, despite taking the lead through John Vooght early in the second-half. Billet equalised with a Marc Holmes tap-in from a set piece, before Piers Le-Grand drilled a shot into the opposite corner to put them in front. Elliott Bunn scored with a curling free-kick to extend the lead before Shaun Marshall’s header pulled Cow back into it. Billet sewed it up on break when Dwayne Grant squared the ball to Russell Cox to drill home for 4-2 as they stay top of the league.

Olympic Nirankari made it three-from-three as they caught St Nicholas on a bad morning. The latter turned up in traditional Sunday morning style and with Pete “PJ” Clarke performing as goalkeeper, before being sent-off, the 10-1 defeat was always on the cards. John Dance (four), Andrew Iwediuno (hat-trick), Brandon Finlay (two) and a rare strike from Dean Greenough did the damage.

Although they dropped their first points, Bedwell Rangers moved into second place in Division One with a goalless draw against Coach and Horses. Very few chances in the first-half, but quite a few after it, but no goals.

AJS Tyres Broadhall were determined to kick-start their season against struggling Coopers United and started in some style with three goals in the first thirteen minutes. The first came as Andy Lee slid in at the back post to turn in Rob Stevenson's free-kick before a great move culminated in Liam Castle playing in Phil Stevens for a good finish to make it two. Michael Carter then put in Castle for a very relaxed finish. Coopers weren’t lying down and immediately struck back through Christian Goodyear. This gave them encouragement and they then enjoyed their best spell of the match, as set plays in particular threatened to further reduce the lead. It was an even start to the second-half before the score was then reduced to 3-2 via Craig Vincent. AJS were always comfortable, but it wasn’t until injury-time when Castle twice set up Matt Steer from close range to make it 5-2.

In a first-half dominated by MKS Carpentry, the closest they came initially was when a Josh Timmins effort hit the crossbar. However, they did lead when Timmins’ cross was caught by Breachwood Lions ‘keeper James Drury, who then spilt it into the net as he fell backwards for an own goal. James Sawyer was forced to make a couple of good saves to preserve the lead, before a great goal by Ali Collins from twenty yards did level matters. MKS led again when Ray Downes put away a penalty kick after a handball. Lions then threw everything forward and with five minutes left, were rewarded with a good finish for the equaliser from new boy Liam Knight.

Emperors Head are still second in Division Two after a 4-2 success. Lewis Essam (two), Mark Prophet and Stuart Smillie were on target. Crooked Billet Boro’s slow start continued and their back four of Paul Jevon (45), Brian Bailey (43), Albie Stafford (36) and Adam Buckingham (32) was more suited to a Veterans game. They had goals from Bailey and Daniel Owers to show for it.

JML Plumbing & Heating Athletic are third after a solitary Tony Webb strike saw them beat Benington 1-0.

Broadhall Icon sit fourth after Chris Bunker and Danny Hall netted in their 2-1 win over Hartham Press, for whom Jamie Burbury was inevitably on target.

View Point Wanderers sit proudly at the top of the Division Three table with a routine win over bottom club Stevenage Old Town thanks to a Gaz Baker hat-trick. Ryan Hodgkiss forced the ball home from close range for the opener before Baker fired into the bottom corner for number two. Just before half-time, SOT pulled one back through Sean Gumble. VPW stepped up a gear and Rich Marvel hit a dipping free-kick into the top corner for 3-1. Charley Blackham and Mike Coombes then each put brilliant crosses onto Baker’s head for him to finish off a 5-1 success.

A1 Trophies entered their game still frustrated by their defeat a week earlier and started the brighter of the sides, but restricted TC Wanderers to long-range efforts, which were comfortably dealt with by Chris Essam in the A1 goal. On the quarter-of-an-hour mark, an effort was saved on the line by a TC defender, whilst in the resulting melee; the ball hit both the crossbar and post. Eventually, the lead was taken in fortunate circumstances when Dean Dolby swung the ball in to the back post, which floated straight in. This sparked TC into life, having a number of shots. The next goal after the break was always going to be vital, and A1 got it when James Harrod’s cross was half-cleared and landed at the feet of the oncoming Dolby, who duly notched again. The centre-half partnership of Garry Brown and Robbie Haigh stood strong before Trevor Long chased down the ‘keeper, nicked it off him to spin and curl it into the back post from an acute angle. TC had argued it was in both hands, but the referee ignored the claims. Long then became provider for Simon Longman, who rose at the back post and head in his fourth goal is as many games. TC admit they weren't at the races as they suffered the 4-0 loss.

Almond Tree La Coruna took the lead when great work from Dave Thomas saw him drill the ball across goal for Rhys Flavell to slide home. However, Brackas were level via a long throw-in from Matt Jefford, which went in off the nose of Karl Rickaby. Theo Griffith was again on target with a customary one-on-one finish to put them in front. Jefford and Max Robson were solid at the back for Brackas and when they were breached, a smart save from Rich Edwards at his front post thwarted them, before he then produced a magnificent save from a curling effort. It made amends after his own goal the week before which cost them the points. Alex Godson’s first start for the team saw him first clear the ball off the line, before scoring at the other end past Scott Taylor to make it 4-1.