Keys unlocks Town’s defence for final shot

JUNIOR CHALLENGE CUP SEMI-FINAL

SUTTON United will meet Cambridge University Press Reserves in the final of the competition after beating Littleport Town Reserves in a thrilling semi-final.

Matthew Keys scored twice for Sutton in the opening half, whilst at the other end Nathan Bennett's awful penalty miss left Port with a mountain to climb.

They did manage to get back on level terms through Jack Jordan and Mark Talbot, but a corner from Courtney Harrison flew straight into the net and United managed to hold on for a 3-2 win.

KERSHAW PREMIER DIVISION

LITTLEPORT Town conceded two penalty kicks in the home clash with Eaton Socon, but still managed to scrape through by the odd goal in five.

David Cullum (jnr) opened the scoring by getting on the end of an Andrew Francis cross, and Sean Ambrose fired into the top corner following good work by Danny Jordan and Michael Ward.

Central defender Dave Beeton - who had a torrid afternoon - then conceded the first penalty, but goalkeeper Mark Brown managed to preserve 'Port's two-goal advantage.

The visitors did pull one back with their second spot-kick, but Ambrose was on target again with what proved to be the winning goal.

Beeton's own goal handed Eaton Socon a lifeline in the second half, but there were no further mishaps as Littleport held on for a 3-2 win.

"We always looked like we had more quality than them," said 'Port boss Dave Cullum.

Fordham suffered a shock 2-0 home defeat to Needingworth United.

SENIOR DIVISION A

ANDREW Lee had a hand in four goals as Ely City Reserves kept up their momentum with a 6-0 win at home to Bluntisham Rangers.

Richie Murfitt and Stuart Seekings were on target during a scrappy first half, and man-of-the-match Richard Dewsbury made it 3-0 immediately after the break.

Murfitt went on to complete his hat-trick, and Seekings also scored again in a one-sided second half.

Soham Town Rangers Reserves took maximum points from their two matches against Mildenhall Town Reserves and Hemingfords United.

Alex Irvine scored twice as Rangers came from a goal down to win at Mildenhall in midweek, and he was also on target in the 5-0 demolition of Hemingfords.

Lee Moll struck either side of the interval, and goals from Irvine and Paul Jones made it 4-0 before substitute Scott Fretwell wrapped things up towards the finish.

SENIOR DIVISION B

MIDFIELDER Sean Hogg was in outstanding form as Soham United took another step towards safety in the home clash with West Wratting Reserves.

Ally Mohammed opened the scoring by converting his third chance of the game, and Jonathan Brown added a second from the penalty spot before making the points safe at 3-0 with 15 minutes remaining.

"It was a case of how many we were going to get," said player manager Andy Parker afterwards, adding: "We played really well."

DIVISION 2B

ELY City A - unbeaten in 10 league matches since losing their first three - put themselves firmly in the promotion picture with a 2-1 win against Over Sports Reserves.

Tom Hoppitt's first-half effort was cancelled out by the visitors, but Michael Chow restored City's lead with 10 minutes remaining and that was how it stayed.

The same scoreline saw Isleham United lose at home to Newmarket White Lion, and Witchford '96 dropped to fourth after going down by the only goal of the game at Needingworth United Reserves.

Stretham Hotspurs were also in action, but they crashed 7-1 at Wisbech St Mary.

DIVISION 3B

PYMOOR FC maintained their two-point lead at the top of the table with a remarkable 8-6 win at lowly Cottenham United A.

Cottenham - for whom Jonathan Bridgeman claimed a hat-trick - took an early lead, but Pymoor soon had their noses in front and were never in serious trouble.

'Pip' Ball, Greg Saberton and Simon Law all scored twice, and they were joined on the scoresheet by Jason Cridford and Aaron Povey.

Sam James was another player in hat-trick form as Fordham Reserves won 4-1 at Brampton Reserves, but neighbours Soham United Reserves were humbled 6-1 in their match at St Ives Town A.

DIVISION 4B

BURWELL Swifts lost two players through serious injury as they suffered only their second league reverse of the season at home to Sutton United Reserves.

Danny Jones departed with a knee injury at the start of the second half, and Lee Hardy - having reduced the deficit to a single goal - suffered a broken ankle near the end.

Richard Martin scored twice in quick succession for Sutton, and the visitors also hit the woodwork on two occasions in their 2-1 win.

Mepal Sports returned to winning ways as Guy Habbin (2), Daniel Griffiths, substitute Chris Silvain and Giles Peacock found the net in a 5-2 victory at the expense of Milton A, and the same scoreline saw Haddenham Rovers Reserves shock leaders Wisbech St Mary A away from home.

Phil Harle again led the way with a brace, and other goals went to Richard Jacobs, James Tasker and Jamie Thompson as Rovers claimed their third win in a row.

DIVISION 5B

WICKEN Amateurs scored in the first minute and never looked back as they secured a comfortable win at Coldham United.

Jamie Palmer - who grabbed the early opener - struck again after 10 minutes, and James Petersen added a third goal midway through the half.

Josh Woodroffe made it 4-0 in the 38th minute, and Palmer set up Bobby Fenn for goal number five before Neil Masters scored on the stroke of half-time.

Jamie Beeton deflected a Nathan Sheriff shot past the goalkeeper for Wicken's seventh goal on the hour, and Palmer completed his hat-trick to make it 8-0.

Wicken fielded only two players over the age of 20, with Ben Reed and goalkeeper Quintin Young giving particularly noteworthy performances.

Isleham United Reserves drew 2-2 at third-placed Fenstanton Reserves, and Littleport Town A also shared the spoils 0-0 against leaders Walsoken United.

The Vine Reserves beat March Rangers Reserves 5-1 with goals from substitute James Smith (2), Pierce Mason, Justin Challis and Craig Finbow, but Little Downham Swifts Reserves slumped 5-2 at home to Outwell Swifts Reserves and Burwell Swifts Reserves went down 2-1 at Longstanton Reserves.

Tom Thatcher's excellent first-time effort from just outside the box got them back on level terms in the first half, but they found themselves under intense pressure after the break and eventually conceded a second goal with 20 minutes remaining.

Goalkeeper Ryan King was amongst three players on the casualty list, and the outcome could have been entirely different if first-half efforts from Richard Shaw and Darren Claydon had found the net instead of hitting the woodwork.

JOHN ABLETT CUP QUARTER-FINAL

LITTLE Downham Swifts are out of the competition after a 3-1 defeat at Hundon Reserves in the last eight.