ALL the action from across the district

Reg Haigh and Arthur Peck Cup

ALL-conquering Ely Crusaders won for the seventh time out of seven in all competitions this season as they swept March Rangers Reserves aside, 7-2.

Leading goalscorer Scott Dews went nap with five of the goals and he was joined on the scoresheet by Kurtis Mpundu, who scored on his debut, and Wesley Reid, who notched his third in four matches for Ely this season.

Kershaw Premier League

IT was another chastening day for the local sides in this section as all three suffered defeats, with Ely City Reserves and Littleport Town losing out by the odd goal, and Soham Town Rangers Reserves beaten 5-0 at Cottenham.

Rangers played well for the first 70 minutes and could have taken the lead from Lawrie Carter’s header but it wasn’t to be. Cottenham’s number nine then started to show his class and they took the lead after 30 minutes and it stayed that way until half-time. It all fell apart in the second half though, Rangers were blown away by fine play and clinical finishing.

Ely City Reserves entertained third-placed side Foxton and lost 3-2 to leave them lurking in thirteenth position.

Boss Dave Beeton couldn’t save his Littleport Town side from the bench this week, as they lost by the odd goal in three to title-chasing Sawston United, who currently sit in second position. Joint leading goalscorer Jose Montez Monteiro’s fifth goal of the season was not enough for Town to rescue a point.

Senior A

SSOHAM United’s splendid form in the league continued with a 6-1 hammering of second bottom Hundon.

Mark Allen and Craig Neal both struck doubles, with Jamie Day and sub Shane Sadler also nipping in with a goal each. The only blight on the afternoon for United was a red card for sub Craig Smith but that couldn’t cloud another great day for the Soham men.

Senior B

LITTLEPORT Town Reserves’ awful run of form continued as they lost 4-0 at Outwell Swifts to take their record to six games without a win. The defeat leaves them second bottom of the league.

Division 1B

WITCHFORD 96 made it four league wins out of four with an easy 3-0 win over promotion rivals Manea United, taking their record this season to seven straight wins with 25 goals scored and just two conceded.

96 lie in third position in the league but are the only team with a 100 per cent record. Boss Martin Skilbeck said that he always expected it to be a tough game and it proved true but man of the match, Jason Walker managed to keep the dangerous Manea forwards quiet all game, limiting them to just a couple of shots.

Skilbeck pulled off another tactical masterstroke as he sent on the Spencer boys Aaron and Ross and the game changed as they now operated a 4-4-2 formation. The Spencers were instrumental in the first goal as they created the opening for goal machine, Michael Ward to claim his tenth of the season. New signing Cameron Robb then made it two with a coolly taken free-kick outside the box and the scoreline was completed by Tom Parrish as he made Manea pay for chasing the game.

Division 2B

FORDHAM made it two wins in two weeks as they beat lowly March Rangers 4-3, a result that sees them rocket up the table to sixth position.

Junior Cup

BOTH local sides crashed out of this competition, with Mepal Sports losing out at home to Papworth and Sutton were beaten by top of 2A side, Orwell at their Brookland Centre home.

Sports managed to take Papworth to extra time in a much better performance than last week, as it finished 1-1 in normal time thanks to an equaliser from Guy Habbin. They were ultimately knocked out by a goal in the first half of the extra period, however. Mepal almost equalised for a second time but the keeper made a save from point blank range from the unfortunate Justin Challis.

Sutton United lost for the third time in three games as they succumbed 4-2 to Orwell. United now have a remarkable record of scoring and conceding in every game this season and have scored an amazing 28 goals in eight games played but have let in a worrying 31 at the other end.

Division 3B

ANOTHER local side that has been amongst the goals this season are Stretham Hotspurs, who demolished bottom side Wimblington Reserves 9-3 to lift them into sixth place in the league. Hotspurs have now scored 31 goals in the seven games they

have played this campaign, with 20 coming in the last four.

Division 4B

HADDENHAM Rovers made the short trip to neighbours Wicken and pulverised them 10-3 to rocket them up to fifth place in the league.

There were hat-tricks for Leigh Chadwick and Ally Gilbert for Rovers, with Justin Hudson grabbing a brace. Darren Easey also got on the scoresheet for Haddenham, with sub Jamie Black claiming one in the rout.

At the other end of the league, Soham United Reserves won their sixth game out of six as they travelled to Milton A and breezed past them by four goals to two. Goalscorers on the day for the buoyant United Reserves were Tom Campbell, Harley Day, Shaun Hogg and sub Lee Fuller on another super afternoon for United.

Mepal Sports Reserves continue to struggle as they lost their fourth game on the bounce to Willingham Wolves by two goals to one. Nick Samuels’ 68th minute strike proved worthless in the end for 12th placed Mepal.

Division 5C

WITCHFORD 96 Reserves picked up a much-needed point away from home as they drew 2-2 with Swavesey Institute Reserves to inch up to 12th place in the league

Division 5D

LITTLEPORT Town A shared four goals with lowly Wimblington A to claim a home score draw that sees them remain in fourth position in the league.

Chris Farnell scored for the second time this season for Port’s third string side and Callum Walker was also on the mark.