Local football round up Senior B SOHAM United produced three heroic performances this week to put them within a victory of promotion as they took seven points from a possible nine. The week started fantastically well with a 5-1 home walloping of March T

Local football round up

Senior B

SOHAM United produced three heroic performances this week to put them within a victory of promotion as they took seven points from a possible nine.

The week started fantastically well with a 5-1 home walloping of March Town United Reserves with in-form Jim Brown scoring twice as he kept his recent scoring streak going, Liam Eley and a Sam Cooper double completed the scoring.

Next up was Haddenham Rovers and even though Rovers' goal machine Will Ludbrooke opened the scoring, Soham fought back to equalise at the end of the first half and it was Brown who struck the winner with 25 minutes remaining. The final challenge of the week came in the form of league leaders Linton Granta and Brown was at the centre of events again although not in the way he had hoped as just 10 minutes into the contest, he was crudely felled by a Granta challenge which went unpunished. Foolishly he tried to exact his own retribution with a similar assault to the one that befell himself and was promptly shown a red card for violent conduct. 10-man United shrugged this off though, and Eley put them 1-0 up with a fine effort. Not long after, a defensive lapse from a corner levelled the scores and the game ended 1-1 with both teams one man short as Linton had a man.

Haddenham followed up their narrow midweek loss with another defeat, losing 5-3 at West Wratting Reserves that leaves them deep in the relegation mire. Rovers even led 3-1 at one stage before capitulating to a worrying defeat. Richard Gray struck first for Rovers and an own goal and a Ludbrooke close range strike gave them great heart, before their second half slump.

Kershaw Premier

ALL three local sides struggled this week in the top section as neither Littleport Town, Ely City Reserves or Fordham could muster a win between them. Town lost 1-0 at Whittlesford United in the week before succumbing 3-1 to Great Shelford on their weekend travels.

The Robins' Reserves lost by four goals to Jonathan Few's one at home to Histon 'A' in midweek before losing 4-2 at leaders Cambridge University Press. Sam James and Adam Salmons were responsible for the goals as City put on a brave performance against the impressive Press outfit. Fordham now need a minor miracle to avoid the drop as they lost 3-1 to the title chasers, Fulbourn Institute. Three wins out of their last four games are required which will be a tough task as they have only won three times all season. They found themselves 3-0 down to formidable Fulbourn before Dan Langley scored a penalty to give Fordham some consolation on the day.

Senior A

SOHAM Town Rangers Reserves went down 2-0 at home to Castle Camps in midweek as their mercurial season draws to a close.

Division 1B

RELEGATED Sutton United suffered another big loss at home to Buckden in the last game of a miserable season, as they limped to a 6-1 defeat with only Russell Mansfield's goal to show for their afternoon's work.

Littleport Town Reserves also had a week to forget as they first lost 4-1 at home to Eaton Socon in midweek before failing to raise a side for the return trip to Socon. Darren Lawrence's goal was the only highlight in Port's dismal week.

Division 2B

THERE was more doom and gloom for two of the local sides in this section as well, as The Vine's promotion chase crashed to a halt as they lost twice this week.

The Vine went down 2-0 at Huntingdon United RGE on Tuesday and were then humbled 4-1 at March Rangers with Jamie Ritchie's goal being of no consolation for the shell-shocked side that has now lost three games out of three to shatter their promotion dream.

Pymoor are now deep in relegation territory as they lost 3-1 at Over on Tuesday3-2 at Godmanchester Rovers Reserves on Thursday and 10-3 at Doddington United on Saturday. Top marksman Lewis Chambers notched against Over, David Harvey and Rob Parker scored and Joseph Baker was sent off versus Godmanchester and Stephen Ball, Richard Lupson and Harvey again were the names on the scoresheet against Doddington.

Witchford '96 had one win and one loss this week. Though Richard Martin scored direct from a corner, they still contrived to concede twice to lose 2-1 to March Town Rangers. Saturday was very different at home to Barton Mills as they cruised to a 4-0 victory. Shaun Eldridge bagged a brace, Michael Ward scored as usual and sub Josh Ashman's first touch ended up in the back of the net as he was put through one-on-one with the keeper.

Division 3B

ELY Crusaders kept the pressure on leaders Earith with a crucial 1-0 victory at home to Brampton Reserves. Eighteen minutes remained when Ross Elliot's shot deflected in off Luke Schunmann to give Crus a vital win.

It was a good week at the other end of the table for Fordham as they played out an amazing 5-4 midweek defeat at Hemingford United 'A', where all nine goals came in the second half. They then secured a crucial 2-1 win at Estover Park on Saturday. Fordham were 5-1 down at United on Monday before subs Johnny Blecher and Lewis Cushing added to Callum Jackson's earlier effort to make it 5-2 and then Mark Hacking added another. Unfortunately, Fordham could not make any more breakthroughs to rescue a point. Blecher scored again on Saturday at Estover make it 1-0 at half-time, but Park struck back soon after. John Mitchell was the hero of the hour as with three minutes remaining, he broke down the left, beat two players and buried his finish into the corner of the net.

Little Downham Swifts and Isleham United could not be separated as they swapped 2-2 draws home and away this week. Hot shot Arron Hodson netted for Swifts twice in the Monday night draw at Downham and Hodson lobbed the keeper to open the scoring for Swifts on the Saturday against the same opposition. He then set up Dan Bell for the second but United fought back for the second time in a matter of days to gain a point against their rivals. A 6-2 home defeat to Chatteris Town came between the two draws to finally scupper any lingering hopes Swifts had of promotion. Ice-cool John Bartlett slotted home two penalties for Downham in the defeat.

Isleham also beat local rivals Stretham Hotspurs 2-1 in another derby game on Thursday, with Michael Beeby netting for Hotspurs. Stretham had another defeat at home to Hemingfords on Saturday with Oliver Langford the scorer. Earlier in the week they tasted success with a 4-0 defeat of Exning Athletic. Sub Langford grabbed a pair and Beeby and Ben Page also scored for Hotspurs.

Mepal Sports were beaten 2-0 by Brampton Reserves side on Monday, but made up for this with a 2-0 win at home to Wisbech St Mary 'A' on Saturday. Tom Dytor claimed the first with a delightful half volley and a rare headed goal from Darren Murfitt secured all three points for Sports.

Division 4B

SOHAM United Reserves won 3-1 at home to Burwell Swifts Reserves to continue their superb finish to the season. Alec Barnfather, Matt Waters and substitute Ben Reed were on target for United

Richard Conway scored for Haddenham Rovers Reserves at Burwell on Tuesday but Swifts scored three in reply to win 3-1.

Division 5C

MEPAL Sports Reserves played out a goal-less draw at Witchford '96 Reserves on Monday and followed this up with a 2-1 defeat at Isleham United Reserves on Wednesday. David Fisher scored for Sports. They rounded off their second disastrous week in a row, with a loss at Elsworth Sports Reserves even though they took the lead on half-time through Chris Axford.

Witchford drew 2-2 again with Isleham the Saturday following their midweek exertions.

Bottom club Sutton United Reserves lost 5-0 at Swavesey Institute Reserves on Tuesday and lost again on Saturday at home to Willingham Wolves 3-1 with Matthew Lewin the scorer for United.

Form team Little Downham Reserves were out of sorts in the first half at home to Girton United 'A' and lost influential midfielder Dan Hines early on as well to injury. This added up to them being 4-0 down just after Half Time to promotion hopefuls United before they finally woke up. Steve Martin's excellent double strike made the scoreline more respectable but it ended in a rare 4-2 defeat for Swifts.