Stewart Brace Keeps Almond Tree At Top... The first County Cup action saw a spiritied Bank side beaten in extra-time, whilst some teams preserved 100% league records, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info, www.cssfl.info)...

Herts Junior Cup First Round:
The Bank showed a lot of spirit to equalise several times as they went to extra-time with the scores at 4-4 in their tie at Radlett Village. They were pulverised in the second period, however, conceding four times to go down 8-4. Terry Lock (2), a Mike Phelan penalty and substitute Tony Friggieri’s strike ultimately weren’t enough.

Premier Division:
Nirankari head the early table after their second win as Stevenage Outsiders were beaten 9-0 thanks to David Iwediuno (3), Scott Orphanou (2), Phil Smeaton, Ryan Smales, Sam Stephenson and Rhys Hoenes. Outsiders were unfortunate that they couldn’t avoid promotion due to the dwindling participants in the top division. Their squad has diminished from last season and they also began this game with ten men, so were on a hiding to nothing. They battled well to be only three down at the break. The league hopes they will hang in there and put it all down to experience. DC Outbar and Lifestyles completed a whole Premier Division season without a point in recent years.

MBDA suffered a surprise defeat against a resurgent Breachwood Lions. Ben Moulding put the Lions in front, before Gary Hodgson equalised before the break. Kyle Watson had a penalty saved by the Lions ‘keeper before Matt Kenneford restored the lead. Watson redeemed himself to level matters again. The then-leaders missed a host of chances before Kenneford earned Lions a 3-2 win with his second.

Bedwell Rangers went in front through Alex Bickerstaff after a mix-up in the Broadhall defence. Grant Sullivan equalised.

John Vooght, Dave Kiddie, Ian Thorne and an own goal saw Dun Cow to a 4-3 win over Lifestyles. Ryan Ellis, Joe Chilton and Rhys Ratcliffe responded.

Division One:
With 20 minutes on the clock, Josh Timmins set Lee Metselaar away, his shot was saved, but Timmins slotted away the rebound from the edge of the box to put MKS Carpentry ahead against the run of play. However, Neil Roskilly hit a rocket into the top corner to then double the lead. Just before half-time, Garry Smith finished well to bring Broadhall Athletic back in the game. Ray Downes made it 3-1 after the ‘keeper parried Josh Dance’s effort before Athletic levelled again when Mark Chalkley fired home a penalty. With Athletic pushing up, MKS stretched to a 5-2 win thanks to Downes heading in a goal-bound Dance effort, before the latter finally got his goal after great build up play.

Dave Hailey banged in four as Marquis of Lorne South beat Coopers United 5-2. Gary Linehan netted the other, whilst Dave Brown popped up with another two for Coopers.

Two unbeaten teams met and the first-half was tight, with neither ‘keeper being really tested. With only three minutes to go before the break, the decisive moment came for AJS Tyres Broadhall when the best passage of play in the whole match culminated in Andy Lee's pass to Rob Stevenson, who finished well from close range past the Old Barclavians ‘keeper.

Callum Russell and Tom Rydeheard were on target as JML Plumbing & Heating beat Renz Rangers (Ben Ginn) 2-1. Rangers will hope for more luck soon, having lost all three games by a single goal.

Division Two:
Almond Tree made it three-out-of-three, their game kicked into life when 2Dry took the lead after a defence splitting through ball saw Collins Nwanazia net past Scott Taylor. The scores were level when a quick free-kick from Ant Lloyd found Lewis Essam, he played the ball through, the ‘keeper misjudged and Rich Stewart stole in, and rounded him to level. Straight from the restart, 2Dry restored their lead when Rob Smith netted. Some good possession football paid off for Tree when Lloyd fed Stewart, whose quick feet baffled the defenders, earning a penalty, converted high into the net by David Thomas. The winner saw Essam find Daryl Fairbairn, who drilled a low ball into the path of Stewart, who carried on his great goal scoring start to the season by making it 3-2 for his fifth goal of the season. Fairbairn earned a second spot-kick, Thomas again finished impressively.

A Toby Willis brace wasn’t enough as A1 Trophies were beaten 3-2 by Benington, Louis Gilbert (2) and Lawrence Salmon with the goals.

LeisureLeagues.com started their game well and hotshot Jamie Burbury put them in front. However, Brackas netted twice through Ricky Griffith and Kyle Hanson to lead at the break. Stalwart James Khakpour-Smith’s header put Dave Mower in, who lifted his shot home to restore parity. Debutant Dan Downham netted following a goalmouth scramble to put them 3-2 up before Theo Griffith brought Brackas level yet again. With inkjury-time approaching, there was a sting in the tail as Mark Brennan was played in, before he slipped the ball past the ‘keeper for a 4-3 win.

Results (Sunday 15th September):
Herts Junior Cup First Round: Radlett Village 8 Bank 4.
Premier Division: Broadhall 1 Bedwell R 1, Dun Cow 4 Lifestyles 3, MBDA 2 Breachwood L 3, Stev Outsiders 0 Nirankari 9.
Division One: Coopers Utd 2 Marquis of Lorne Sth 5, MKS Carpentry 5 Broadhall Ath 2, Old Barclavians 0 AJS Tyres Broadhall 1, Renz R 1 JML Plumbing & H 2.
Division Two: A1 Trophies 2 Benington 3, Almond Tree 4 2Dry 2, LeisureLeagues.com 3 Brackas 4.

Fixtures (Sunday 22nd September):
Herts Intermediate Cup First Round: Leather Bottle v Renz R.
Premier Division: Breachwood L v Broadhall (Breachwood), Dun Cow v Stev Outsiders (Meadway), Lifestyles v Bedwell R (Knights Templar), Nirankari v MBDA (Alleynes).
Division One: AJS Tyres Broadhall v JML Plumbing & H (Peartree), Coopers Utd v AP Construction (Canterbury), Marquis of Lorne Sth v MKS Carpentry (Meadway), Old Barclavians v Broadhall Ath (Barclay).
Division Two: 2Dry v A1 Trophies (Alleynes), Bank v LeisureLeagues.com (Aston), Benington v Brackas (Benington), Kingdom Ath v Almond Tree (Canterbury).