Kershaw League Round-up

JUNIOR FOOTBALL

KERSHAW PREMIER DIVISION

LITTLEPORT Town drew their third successive game at home to Great Shelford on Saturday, but remain unbeaten in the top division.

'Port were well on top at the start and deservedly led after 20 minutes, Liam Hart converting from the penalty spot after Will Ludbrooke had been scythed down in the box.

Shelford levelled against the run of play however, and added two more goals before the break to establish a 3-1 interval lead.

The hosts changed their formation during the second half and began to pose Shelford a few more problems, with Richie Murfitt and Sean Ambrose introduced as substitutes and Andrew Francis moving into the centre of midfield.

Hart - impressive up front for 'Port - then reduced the arrears with a header, and with less than two minutes remaining Ludbrooke won another penalty which on this occasion was hotly disputed.

"I thought it was a penalty," said Town boss Dave Cullum afterwards, "either for a handball or for a foul." Either way, Ambrose kept his cool to score, unlike four visiting players who received yellow cards during the match.

Cullum was happy with a 3-3 draw at the finish, but felt it was a game his side ought to have won.

Ely City Reserves - like Littleport - have drawn three of their opening four games, but unlike their local rivals are still looking for their first victory of the campaign.

On Saturday a Dean Salmons goal earned them a 1-1 draw at Histon A.

Fordham meanwhile still occupy bottom spot after suffering a 4-0 defeat at Fulbourn Institute.

Their display was better than the scoreline would suggest, but after early second half pressure failed to reduce a 2-0 deficit there was no way back for them.

SENIOR DIVISION A

SOHAM Town Rangers Reserves joined West Wratting and Debden at the top of the table on 12 points after Saturday's 4-2 defeat of Hemingfords United.

SENIOR DIVISION B

SOHAM United continued their bright start to the season, coming from behind to beat a useful Sawston United side.

They trailed 1-0 at the break, but got back on terms when Tom Clayton volleyed home following a corner.

The game seemed to be heading for a draw as the final whistle approached, but Clayton's burst down the wing exposed Sawston's back line and substitute Ben Brown lunged in at the far post to head home the 2-1 winner.

Carl Ryan was on target for Littleport Town Reserves at March Town United Reserves, but his side lost 4-1 and had Paul Starling dismissed for a late offence.

Haddenham Rovers were in Preliminary Round Cliff Bullen Challenge Cup action at home to Whittlesford United, and gave their higher-ranked opponents a real scare before going down by the odd goal in nine.

Chris Harle (2), Kenny Holmes and Sam Oliver were the Rovers players on target during the 5-4 defeat.

DIVISION 1B

ELY City A are the new leaders of this section following a resounding 6-1 victory at Waterbeach Reserves.

Matt Brodie scored twice and Stuart Seekings - who was later sent off - did likewise.

Jamie Gayfer and Clark Green were the other Ely players on target.

DIVISION 2B

PYMOOR FC lead 2B after a sensational victory over Wisbech St Mary Reserves.

Sam Murfitt followed up Tony Ure's saved free-kick to score the opener, and Ure's flick-on from a corner produced an own goal for Pymoor's second.

Murfitt restored their two-goal lead after the visitors had pulled one back, and he then completed his hat-trick in similar circumstances to make it 4-2.

Wisbech did their utmost to retrieve the situation, but a second half hat-trick from Lewis Chambers made the final score 7-4.

Witchford '96 meanwhile fell behind against local rivals Stretham Hotspurs, but came back to record a 2-1 success.

Sam Eldridge volleyed an equaliser from the edge of the box, and Michael Ward nodded home Gary Freeman's right wing cross for the winner.

Sutton United recovered from their opening game setback against Pymoor by winning 2-0 at The Vine.

DIVISION 3B

BURWELL Swifts lead the way after thrashing Bluntisham Rangers Reserves 5-0.

Carl Saxby opened the scoring after collecting a through ball from man-of-the-match Lol Maskell, and Tom Thatcher doubled the advantage from another Maskell pass.

Thatcher then made it three after rounding the 'keeper following Nathan Hull's ball over the top, and Saxby slid home a Danny Jones square ball to make it 4-0.

A towering header from Kevin Driver was flicked on by Jones for Thatcher to complete his hat-trick with Burwell's fifth goal of the afternoon.

Little Downham Swifts and Mepal Sports both took the lead at some point in Saturday's derby clash, but both had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Chris Silvain put Mepal ahead after 15 minutes, but Downham got back on terms when a Patrick Luckhurst corner was headed against the back of Craig Wilkinson for an unfortunate own goal.

Scott Fuller then made it 2-1 to Swifts by converting Dan Bell's cross, but Mepal earned a draw when Darren Murfitt's corner was helped into the net by a home defender.

Ely Crusaders lost 5-2 at Wisbech St Mary A, but Fordham Reserves maintained their 100% start with a 6-1 win at Cottenham United A.

Jamie Peacock led the way with a hat-trick, and he was joined on the scoresheet by Jonathan Cowling (2) and Alex Smith.

DIVISION 4B

WICKEN Amateurs salvaged a 2-2 draw at Tydd United, but were disappointed not to have won.

Josh Woodroffe side-footed home from 15 yards after Ben Reed's 13th minute shot had been saved, but breakaway goals saw Wicken trail 2-1 at half-time.

Ed Richardson's 59th minute angled shot flew into the top corner after good work by Dane Turner to make it 2-2, but Reed's shot against the bar was the nearest Wicken came to securing all three points.

Haddenham Rovers Reserves - still pointless - lost 4-2 at Estover Park despite a brace from yellow-carded Stephen Easy, and The Vine Reserves are likewise yet to get off the mark after Ben Hatton's 44th minute goal failed to save them from a 6-1 drubbing at Exning Athletic.

DIVISION 5B

SUBSTITUTES Clive Metcalfe and Ian Dalton hit five goals between them in the second half as Burwell Swifts Reserves rampaged to a 9-1 win at Cambridge Athletic.

David Fordham and Ryan Lynch both contributed braces for the visitors, but Dalton was scoring his first goals for the club and Metcalfe grabbed a quickfire hat-trick but was pipped for man-of-the-match by Josh Forden.

DIVISION 5C

SHORT-HANDED Witchford '96 Reserves lost 4-0 at Wisbech Fen Stars, and Little Downham Swifts Reserves were beaten 9-1 at Chatteris Town A.

SUNDAY FOOTBALL

QPR Ely continued their good start in Division 1A by beating Fen Ditton 7-3, and Fox Burwell edged out Exning United Reserves by the odd goal in seven in Division 2A.

The same 4-3 scoreline saw Ely Pymore Rangers 3G beat Little Downham United in the Banyers of Royston League Cup First Round, but Witchford Raiders went out of the competition, beaten 8-2 by Oakington Vikings.