KERSHAW PREMIER DIVISION Littleport Town suffered their third defeat in four outings as they went down 3-1 at Great Shelford, and now require a miracle if they are to win the championship. Jose Monteiro was the player on target in the defeat at Shelford,

KERSHAW PREMIER DIVISION

Littleport Town suffered their third defeat in four outings as they went down 3-1 at Great Shelford, and now require a miracle if they are to win the championship.

Jose Monteiro was the player on target in the defeat at Shelford, where five players were booked in a niggly affair.

Having lost 1-0 to Cambridge University Press in midweek, and with Press having beaten Ely City Reserves 3-0 on Saturday, 'Port would need to Press to lose both of their remaining two fixtures.

David Cullum's side meanwhile would need to win each of their remaining three fixtures including the match against Fulbourn Institute, and Fulbourn - who have five games left including a crucial home clash with Press - would have to take no more than a point in their other three outings.

Lakenheath and Great Shelford are still in the mix and currently have better records than Littleport, but still have to play one another.

At the other end of the table Fordham and Ely City Reserves need a few more points to stave off relegation for certain, with Ely in most danger having taken just one point from their last 24.

Stephen Bell grabbed their consolation goal in the 3-1 midweek defeat at Waterbeach, and the subsequent 3-0 loss at Cambridge University Press was to be expected.

Newmarket Town Reserves are now just five points behind City, having taken four points from their last two fixtures.

Fordham probably still need a point to secure safety following the odd-goal-in-seven defeat by Cottenham United.

Both teams had won four of their last six outings prior to Saturday's encounter, but goals from Alex Irvine, Sam James and Daren Pryke failed to stave off a 4-3 home defeat for Fordham on the day.

Fordham 3 Cottenham United 4

TWO lapses in the opening five minutes almost certainly cost Fordham this Kershaw Premier League encounter against Cottenham.

To their credit, Fordham dominated the second half and fought back from a 1-4 deficit and so nearly gained a point after a final assault on the visitors' goal.

A deflection gave Cottenham an early lead after Fordham failed to clear and then, three minutes later, an error allowed the visitors to go two up. Fordham pulled one back with a fine goal when Shane Feltwell's pass enable Sam James to lob the keeper from 25 yards. Just as the home side began to make an impression, Cottenham scored again and held the lead at the interval. Fordham had to throw more players forward but Cottenham scored again to make it 4-1 in their favour.

With the home side chasing the game, Cottenham created a number of chances on the break but they failed to increase their lead as Fordham grew in confidence.

After a dominant spell Alex Irvine pulled another goal back for Fordham and with five minutes left, Daren Pryke gave his side a chance with a third goal.

But despite considerable pressure and a few chances, Fordham ran out of time and paid for those early lapses.

SENIOR DIVISION A

Soham Town Rangers Reserves went down 1-0 to promotion-chasing Girton United on Saturday, but in midweek became the first team to score against Great Paxton in seven matches as they beat their revitalised opponents 3-1.

SENIOR DIVISION B

Haddenham Rovers saw their hopes of promotion disappear on Saturday as they were held to a goalless draw by Cottenham United Reserves.

A run of only one win in six outings had severely damaged their prospects, but the midweek victory at relegated Littleport Town Reserves had revived their hopes.

Former 'Port striker Will Ludbrooke scored twice in that win and Phil Harle grabbed the other goal as Rovers led 3-0 at one stage, but late goals from Darren Lawrence and Scott Dews made it 3-2 at the final whistle.

Soham United had seven home matches remaining in their eight-game run-in, and they opened that sequence with a 3-2 victory against Cottenham United Reserves.

Ben Fuller opened the scoring after being played in by Dan Simmons in the fifth minute, but the visitors equalised with 15 minutes remaining.

Jim Brown's double put the result beyond doubt however, and Cottenham's late penalty kick failed to save the game.

Fuller put United 1-0 up in Saturday's home clash with Chatteris Town, but the visitors eventually ran out 4-1 winners.

"It was like we'd run into a wall," said Soham boss Andy Parker afterwards. "We've ground out a lot of results recently, but they (Chatteris) looked so much fresher than us and 4-1 didn't flatter them to be honest."

Littleport Town Reserves were also in action on Saturday, but Neil Cullum's goal was the only highlight of a 6-1 home drubbing by West Row Gunners.

DIVISION 1B

Ely City A remain second in the table and are unbeaten in five outings after Saturday's 3-2 success at Hemingfords United Reserves.

Stuart Seekings and Michael Chow looked to have earned City a point before Jamie Linney popped up with the all-important winner.

DIVISION 2B

Sutton United - who faltered in the home straight last season when they looked certain to go up - may suffer the same fate again after taking just one point from last week's fixtures.

Witchford '96 - who had lost four of their previous five matches - held them 4-4 in midweek, and Sutton then crashed 3-0 against league leaders Lakenheath Reserves.

United still have to welcome Lakenheath to their own patch, but The Vine proved that the Suffolk team are not invincible as they lost only 2-1 away in midweek.

James Smith grabbed their only goal in that game, and he was also the player on target when The Vine suffered an identical defeat at home to March Rangers on Saturday.

Witchford were thrashed 6-2 at Pymoor, and Stretham Hotspurs - already relegated - also scored twice as they managed a draw at Needingworth United Reserves.

DIVISION 3B

Burwell Swifts lost the initiative in the 3B title race after a 3-2 home defeat by in-form local rivals Mepal Sports.

Burwell - who had beaten Cottenham United A 4-0 in midweek thanks to goals from Lol Maskell, Chad Mitchell, Carl Saxby and Tom Thatcher - saw Saxby and Thatcher score again in the home clash with Mepal, but the visitors - now unbeaten in eight matches - took the points narrowly with goals from Darren Murfitt, Giles Peacock and Chris Silvain.

Mepal had beaten relegated Soham United Reserves 4-1 in midweek as Tom Dytor, Guy Habbin, Luke Wilson and Silvain found the target, and doomed Soham fared little better on Saturday as they went down 2-0 at home to Bluntisham Rangers Reserves.

Isleham United drew 1-1 with Wisbech St Mary A after their midweek 3-0 drubbing of Ely Crusaders, but their victims fared better on Saturday, winning by the odd goal in seven at Cottenham United A.

Fordham Reserves also won by the odd goal away from home as they handed Brampton Reserves a 3-2 defeat, but Little Downham Swifts suffered a 3-1 loss at Chatteris Town Reserves as they attempted to follow up the midweek 4-1 win at Wisbech St Mary A.

DIVISION 4B

Ashley Dougan helped himself to a goal and a yellow card as The Vine Reserves suffered a 3-2 home defeat against promotion-chasing Earith United.

Mark Finbow was also on target in that game, and Daniel Duffy was likewise a losing goalscorer as Haddenham Rovers Reserves lost 3-1 at home to Estover Park.

The same scoreline saw Wicken Amateurs take all three points at Milton A, and that win followed a 1-1 midweek draw at home to Fenstanton Reserves.

DIVISION 5B

Burwell Swifts Reserves are now second on goal difference behind Gransden Chequers Reserves, but having led the table all season are also looking over their shoulders at Cherry Hinton Reserves - their opponents on 29 April - who are three points adrift but with two games in hand and a vastly superior goal difference.

The only fixture of local interest on Saturday saw Isleham United Reserves lose 4-0 at Longstanton Reserves.

DIVISION 5C

Witchford '96 Reserves beat Coldham United 4-0 on Saturday, and in midweek the clash between Little Downham Swifts Reserves and Supercue was called off and the points were awarded to Downham.

Brampton Res 2 Fordham Res 3

FORDHAM Reserves won their BIS 3B League encounter at Brampton, by the odd goal of five. Wayne Gordon scored twice to give Fordham a two goal cushion.

But the hosts came back to level the scores before Wayne Bell popped in Fordham's winner.

SUNDAY FOOTBALL

QPR Ely - who are unbeaten in the league - secured the M & E Freeman Cup with a comfortable 4-0 win against Cherry Hinton Sunday.

In the Senior Division there was a 4-1 win for Triple-S against Magpies 2001 which included goals from Jamie Palmer (2) and Andrew Short, and in Division 3A Wicken Maids Head thrashed Alma Reserves 6-0.

Other local teams did not fare so well however. In the same section Little Downham United flopped 7-2 at Teversham, and in Division Four Ely Pymoor Rangers 3G - who won 21-0 last week - had only a Simon Mears goal to show for their efforts in a 6-1 defeat at Gransden Sunday.

Witchford Raiders also went down heavily, losing 5-1 at Milton Sunday in Division 2A.

Pic cap: QPR Ely with their cup on Sunday.

Photo: SUPPLIED.