Junior football round-up

JUNIOR FOOTBALL

PREMIER DIVISION

LITTLEPORT Town just managed to edge past 10-man Fordham in Saturday's derby encounter.

Andy Short's 30-yarder squirmed through the grasp of goalkeeper Martin Hampshire to put Fordham in front, and Daren Pryke fired wide when presented with a great chance to double that advantage.

Sean Ambrose finished off Nigel Smith's cross to level the scores after 55 minutes, and Will Ludbrooke converted Ambrose's cross at the far post for the 2-1 winner.

Ely City Reserves defeated bottom club Wisbech Town Reserves thanks to a good all-round performance.

Steve Pollard fired home midway through the first half, and Simon Farrow doubled the City lead with a great volley before Richie Murfitt slotted his shot underneath the goalkeeper to make the final score 3-0.

SENIOR DIVISION B

SOHAM United inched their way further up the table by virtue of a 3-3 draw at Great Chesterford.

The hosts struck either side of a Tom Christie goal in a disappointing first half for United, but Steve Dalby made it 2-2 with a terrific shot on the turn at the start of the second period.

Dan Simmons tied the scores again towards the finish, and only a fine performance from the Chesterford goalkeeper prevented Soham from taking all three points.

Littleport Town Reserves went down by the only goal of the game at Helions Bumpstead, and Phil Harle was the lone scorer for Haddenham Rovers in a 3-1 defeat at Castle Camps.

DIVISION 1B

MARCH Town United Reserves and their opponents Ely City A both had the chance to go top because leaders Cottenham United Reserves were not playing, but neither succeeded because the match ended in a goalless draw.

DIVISION 2B

SUTTON United are now four points clear at the top following a 3-0 defeat of local rivals The Vine.

Wayne Newman struck either side of the break, and Tom Dytor made sure of the points with Sutton's third goal.

Witchford '96 moved into second spot thanks to a 3-1 derby win against Stretham Hotspurs.

Colin Coulson stretched to direct home Aaron Spencer's cross to hand Witchford a fortunate lead, and an almost identical goal from Coulson made it 2-1 after Stretham's penalty equaliser.

Robbie Scarrow fired low into the corner to make the points safe for Witchford.

The same 3-1 scoreline saw Pymoor FC claim a shock victory at Hemingfords United Reserves, and Isleham United drew 1-1 with Somersham Town Reserves after Chris Murphy's opener was cancelled out with five minutes remaining.

DIVISION 3B

ELY Crusaders hit the woodwork several times before getting their act together against local rivals Soham United Reserves.

James Collins finally broke the ice with a thunderous shot from the edge of the box, and Ben Stone's close-range effort made it 2-0 at the final whistle.

Gareth Draper was on target again as the same scoreline earned Little Downham Swifts all three points at Wisbech St Mary A, and goals from Clive Boucheron, Mark Hacking and Jamie Peacock secured a 3-3 home draw for Fordham Reserves against St Ives Town A.

Haddenham Rovers Reserves crashed 5-0 at home to Lakenheath Reserves, and remain in deep trouble at the foot of the table.

DIVISION 4B

THE Vine Reserves slumped at home to their Fenstanton counterparts, losing 5-0.

DIVISION 5B

THE five-match winning streak of Little Downham Swifts Reserves ended with a 4-3 home defeat by Earith United.

Paul Bone opened the scoring after good work by Ben Amory, and Amory was again involved when an own goal reduced Downham's deficit to 3-2.

Amory himself made it all square after good work by Jules Peachey, but the visitors had the final word.

LOWER JUNIOR CUP QUARTER-FINALS

BURWELL Swifts and Mepal Sports are both through to the last four after home wins against Dullingham and Great Shelford A respectively.

Goals from Alan Nash and Carl Saxby earned Burwell a 2-1 victory that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests, and Mepal's 3-1 win came courtesy of goals from Luke Wilson (2) and Chris Silvain.

SUNDAY FOOTBALL

CUP MATCHES

MATT Brodie's 2-1 penalty winner put Ely Park Rangers Reserves into the semi-finals of the M & E Freeman Cup at the expense of Magpies 2001.

In the Cambs FA Millenium Cup a late Will Ludbrooke goal was little consolation for Wilburton Albion - for whom Mel Pyrer missed a penalty - as they went down 3-1 in their Quarter Final at Milton Sunday.

LEAGUE MATCHES

ELY Park Rangers came out on top in the Senior Division derby clash with Triple-S.

Andrew Lee's opener was cancelled out before half-time, but David Cornwell struck twice in the last 15 minutes to secure a 3-1 win for the visitors.

Wicken Maids Head kept up their Division 4A promotion bid with an odd-goal-in-five victory at Studlands Park, whilst in the same section Little Downham United were held 1-1 by Arbury Akademiks.

QPR Ely beat Chippenham 6-0 and Village Inn drew 1-1 at Phoenix in Division 2A, but Fox Burwell were humiliated 8-0 at Girton Eagles Reserves in Division 3A.

In the Tucker Gardner Partnership Division Two, goals from Steve Evans (penalty) and Neil Garner enabled Ely Pymoor Rangers to come from behind to draw 2-2 at Oakington Vikings Reserves.

Pic cap: The Division 3 game between Hemingford United Reserves (in white) and Pymoor (grey which Hemingford won 3-1.

Photo: HELEN DRAKE.