All the action from across the district

Local football round up

By Gareth Draper

Kershaw Premier League Cup

LITTLEPORT Town’s attempt to win this competition fell at the second hurdle as they went down 2-1 at Whittlesford United. Michael Ward effortlessly made the step up from the reserves to the first team to climb off the bench and score to give Town some hope, but they unfortunately fell just short.

Kershaw Premier League

ELY City Reserves travelled to Somersham Town and came back with all three points, as they made a stunning return to form after some stuttering recent performances.

City won 4-2 thanks to goals from Lewis Chambers, Giles Peacock, Jonathan Few and a rare one from Gary Dewsbury on an impressive afternoon for the Robins second string.

Kershaw Senior A

SOHAM United hosted mid-table Girton United and had to settle for a point as they drew 3-3.

They had to come from behind to grab the point though, as they were 3-2 down at one stage. Soham’s Dan Symonds claimed his fourth and fifth goals from just five games and Chris Lam notched his second of the season to match Girton’s total on the day.

Kershaw Senior B

EUPHORIC Ely City A came back to earth with a bump this week as they were humbled 6-1 by a strong Melbourn outfit. Misplaced passes and individual mistakes were the key contributors to City’s downfall and could only take a Jamie Gayfer penalty back home with them on a disappointing afternoon.

Div 1B

HADDENHAM Rovers finally had something to celebrate on Saturday as they had their first success of the season at Cottenham United Reserves.

Target man, Will Ludbrooke, broke his duck for the season and then proceeded to go on and complete his hat-trick as they ran out 5-2 winners. Kieran Granger and the evergreen Gary Goodjohn joined Ludbrooke on the scoresheet as Haddenham will be looking to this victory kick-starting their Division 1B campaign.

Littleport Town Reserves kept their 100 per cent record intact with a fourth successive win at home to Waterbeach Reserves. Town had a slightly depleted line-up due to call ups to the first team and even had to have an outfield player in goal, but they were still able to win 2-0 in a very workmanlike performance. Jordan Lenham and Carl Ryan were the men on target for Port.

Div 2B

THE Vine suffered a 3-1 home reverse against an impressive Chatteris Reserves side.

Two early goals within the first 20 minutes were conceded by the home team, and this gave The Vine an uphill struggle to get anything from this match. Jez Cutter had other ideas, and he drilled in an unstoppable 22 yard drive to pull a goal back. The second half though, resembled the first with Chatteris comfortably taking all three points, thus leaving The Vine without a win this season.

Witchford ‘96 made it five wins out of five so far this season, with a 1-0 win against Burwell Swifts. It looked like it was going to be one of those days though, as they pulverised Burwell throughout the game but could not find a finish. ‘96 finally unlocked the Burwell door as a fine ball played in Aron Spencer who finished well to claim his fourth goal of the season and take his team into second position.

Sutton United had a great 4-2 win at Milton Reserves. Ryan Bates, Mathew Bruce, David Gipp and Sam Oliver all burst the net for Sutton as they made it two league wins out of two so far this season.

Div 3B

FORDHAM Reserves did not even contest their match which was due to take place at home to Exning United as they could not raise a team, which is a big worry for them at this early stage in the season.

John Ablett Cup

LITTLE Downham Swifts and Stretham Hotspurs were the big winners in this trophy on Saturday afternoon as they won 7-0 and 8-0 respectively. Stretham on their own patch were far too good for 4B side Soham United Reserves and Jamie Linney led the way for Swifts with four goals as they steamrollered Fenstanton Reserves. It was a day of firsts for Downham as Linney’s quartet of strikes were his first of the season as well as Dan Bell with two and Jamie Dews with one, both of whom had not featured on the scoresheet this season.

Haddenham Rovers Reserves romped to a 6-3 home victory over Chatteris Town A to go through to the next stage of this cup. It was all too simple for Rovers as Darren Easey claimed a double as well as Daniel Duffy. Alasdair Gilbert and Ricardo Mayer were the other scorers for jubilant Haddenham.

Mepal Sports’ excellent start to the season came unstuck as they were easily swept out of this trophy by Tydd United by four goals to one. Sam Morgan’s strike was all Mepal had to remember from their trip to Tydd.

Ely Crusaders crashed out of this competition at the first stage as they were dispatched 4-1 at home by 4B outfit Wisbech St Mary A. Joshua Bailey’s goal was the only highlight on a poor afternoon for Crusaders.

Wicken Amateurs were also dumped out of the competition as they were crushed 9-1 by 3B high flyers Estover Park.

Div 5C

WITCHFORD ’96 Reserves welcomed normal first team squad member Sam Ashman into their team as he looked for some more time on the pitch with the reserves. He made the most of the step down as he scored five in his side’s 7-1 thrashing of Burwell Swifts A.

Little Downham Swifts Reserves’ tale of woe continued as they were in the lead twice against Barton Mills Reserves but ended up getting hammered, 9-3. A long range looping effort from Mark Ashley caught the Mills’ keeper off his line to put Swifts in the lead for the first time this season but Barton hit back almost straight away. Gareth Draper then made it 2-1 for Swifts after brave play from Dane Smith forced the goalkeeper into an error. It was all downhill from that moment on even though Draper notched his second with an effort from outside the area; Barton Mills ran away with the game and scored almost at will to hand Downham their fifth straight defeat this season.

Sutton United Reserves earned a credable point at home to Waterbeach A in a 2-2 draw Daniel Twinn and Justin Phillips were the United marksmen as they kept the skilful young Waterbeach outfit at bay.

Div 5D

IT was not the dream debut that recent signing from Little Downham Swifts, Nick Marsh, would have been hoping for as his new team Mepal Sports Reserves were thrashed 6-1 at home to Benwick Athletic. At half-time it was only 2-1 as Russell Grief had scored for Sports but the wheels came off spectacularly after that, as Athletic ran riot with four more goals in the second half.