Local football round-up

Local football round up by Gareth Draper

Kershaw Premier League

TRICKY teen sensation Jon Bartlett’s strike was not enough to save Littleport Town from a humbling 3-1 home defeat to mid-table side Foxton. Dave Cullum’s depleted side, that numbered six or seven regulars absent, got off to a terrible start as they went two goals behind within the first 25 minutes but gradually got back into the game when Bartlett’s finish offered them some hope of a comeback. This was quashed again though, by Foxton as they scored the final goal to inflict Port’s third home defeat of the season.

Ely City Reserves fared even worse than Town as they went down to a 4-1 home defeat in a dismal display to West Wratting, who scored twice in the first half and then doubled the tally in the second.

Kershaw Senior A

SOHAM Town Rangers Reserves secured their second score draw in a row as they drew one each away to Hundon. This cemented their fourth position at the top of a very congested League. Adam Clements bagged the goal for Rangers making it two for the season for him.

Neighbours Soham United suffered their third successive loss as they were beaten by two goals to one away to ninth-placed Wimblington. This leaves Boss, Andy Parker desperate for a good result next week at home to Great Paxton.

Kershaw Senior B

ELY City A had no luck yet again as they succumbed by two goals to one at home to Fulbourn Institute Reserves, however it could have easily been completely different story had fate not been against them. City missed some gilt-edged chance that could have earned them all three points on another day, the best of which was a penalty that they contrived to miss as well to condemn them to their fifth defeat on the spin.

Creake Charity Shield

WITCHFORD ’96 produced the performance and result of the round as they won a thriller away to Chatteris Town Reserves who reside a Division above them by an astonishing six goals to five. Aaron Spencer struck a hatrick, Michael Ward chipped in with his usual goal and now established as regular super sub, Mark “Billy” Bowers leapt from the bench to grab a brace and then throw away a hatrick as he missed a penalty. That was immaterial though, as Witchford clambered through to the next stage of the competition.

Sutton United produced a memorable result against higher League opposition, Earith United, as they ran out three one winners to proceed to the next round of this trophy. Former Ely City and Littleport Town hot-shot striker, Steve Pollard weighed in with a brace of goals to register on the scoresheet for the first time this season and regular net-finder, Matthew Keys added the other as United humbled their Division 1B opponents.

The Vine crashed out of this chance of silverware against a strong Fowlmere side, who play in the League above them. The harsh scoreline didn’t truly reflect the game as the Vine twice led in the First Half thanks to an unstoppable finish from Craig Emson and a looping header from Andrew Butcher. A third goal was also claimed by Dan Cowley which sent both sides in at Half Time perfectly poised at three all. The second half was a totally different affair though as Fowlmere showed their class in a very one-sided 45 minutes and eventually ran out a massive nine goals to three winners, with the beleaguered Vine capitulating towards the end.

Div 3B

MEPAL Sports kept up their fabulous start to the season with a 1-0 away win at Barton Mills that sees them maintain their early season form and remain in second place in this Section. Giles Peacock scored the all important winner to net his second goal in two games to wrap up the points for jubilant Sports.

Stretham Hotspurs are hot on the heels of Mepal and recorded a magnificent 7-0 home win over lowly Wimblington Reserves to rocket into third place in the League.

Fordham came up against the side that has risen through the Leagues in successive seasons and now sit top of their current League, this being Bar Hill Sports and Social, who proved too strong for their visitors as they lost by two goals without reply.

Div 4B

HADDENHAM Rovers Reserves had a rude awakening as they started their new campaign at home to newly-promoted Willingham Wolves and were dispatched by eight goals to one by their super-confident visitors.

Lower Junior Challenge Cup

Little Downham Swifts came through this tie by the skin of their teeth as they came through a thrilling game against Soham United Reserves and won by the odd goal in eleven!! Peter Evans was on target twice as he notched for the second week on the bounce and Joe Barham, David Harvey and Jordan Miller all joined him on the scoresheet as Swifts finally recorded their first win of the season albeit against lower League opposition and can look forward to building on this result next time out.

Wicken Amateurs were the other local side in action in this competition and they ran out victors at home to Peterborough and District Division 5 outfit Thorney Reserves by two goals to one. Last season’s goal machine David Holmes opened his account for the season on 25 minutes to give the Amateurs the lead and this was doubled in the Second Half by the slightly less prolific Simon Murfitt to hand Wicken a safe but narrow passage to the next round.

Div 5C

PRICKWILLOW were involved in their third successive tight match as they drew two all at home to Witchford 96 Reserves. Dan Lane and the outstanding Marcel Hall were the goalscorers for ‘Willow but they were pegged back by Witchford’s in-form Matt Monteith and Lester Levet who both netted. Prickwillow had goalkeeper and probable Man of the Match, Jamie Lane, to thank for keeping it that way as he saved tremendously in the final minutes to help salvage the point.

Div 5D

THE Mepal Sports Reserves’ bandwagon kept on rolling as they steamrollered their latest opponents, Northend, by three goals to nothing at home to nail their third straight victory of the season to retain top spot in this section. The usual suspects were on target for Sports as Scott Verdon (11 minutes), Mark Finbow (65 minutes) and Jordan Lee (70 minutes) all scored for the third game in a row to keep up Mepal’s 100 per cent record and seemingly irresistible push for promotion.