ALL the action from across the district

Football round-up

by Gareth Draper

Kershaw Premier League

ELY City Reserves had a fine week as they claimed six valuable points out of six thanks to a resounding 3-0 victory against Chatteris Town and an even more impressive 3-2 win at Waterbeach.

The men on target against Chatteris were Zac Knight-Percival with his first of the season, Tafadzwa Chisango joined him on the scoresheet and Chris Driscoll also found the net for the Robins’ Reserves as they kept a welcome clean sheet for the first time this season.

It was that man Chisango who paved the way to the win at Waterbeach as he claimed his second and third goal in two games to move City into a healthy sixth position at this early stage on the season.

It was not such a good week for stuttering Littleport Town though, as they drew 1-1 at Waterbeach on Tuesday but followed that up with a 2-0 defeat to league leaders Fulbourn Institute. Jon Bartlett opened his competitive account for the campaign in midweek that earned his side a point but he and his team failed to score against the early pacesetters, Fulbourn, who won their fifth game out of six played this season.

Kershaw Senior A

SOHAM Town Rangers Reserves are back on track after last week’s defeat to lowly Hundon, thanks to a super 3-0 victory against Girton United.

Thomas Christie’s double was a major factor in the win that was rounded off by substitute Matthew Simpson to leave Rangers in fourth position in the fledgling league table.

Neighbours Soham United though, came unstuck against the league’s number one team Sawston United to the tune of four goals without reply at home on a tough day for them.

Kershaw Senior B

ELY City A played extremely well for the first 20 minutes of their encounter with high-flying, Cambridge University Press Reserves, but once their defence was breached it was a case of damage limitation.

Only some great saves from Stu Rollins made sure that the scoreline stayed at 5-0 against a team that could surely grace the Kershaw Premier League with ease.

Division 1B

LITTLEPORT Town Reserves had to cope with several first team call ups as they travelled to Bluntisham Rangers for their first game of the new season but came back with a creditable 1-1 draw thanks to a last minute Sean Ambrose strike.

Port started slowly but began to dominate, though they could not get that vital breakthrough goal and went a goal down to make matters worse. Luckily, in the final minute, a long throw caused havoc in the Blunty box and Ambrose pounced to get his side a well-deserved point on the road.

Haddenham Rovers had a disastrous start at home to Somersham Town Reserves as they were walloped 5-0 and could not find even a consolation goal on a harrowing beginning to the new campaign for Andy Markwell’s men.

Division 2B

WITCHFORD 96’s new boss, Martin Skilbeck, marked his home debut in superb fashion with a 4-3 win over plucky Over Sports Reserves. 96 went into half-time 1-0 up and not long into the second half this turned into four as Witchford ran amok.

Man of the match Max Blair was having a superb game as he marshalled his back four and the goalscorers were the ever-prolific Aron Spencer and the returning Michael Ward as well as Michael Sellers and David Gipp.

Over never gave up though and clawed three goals back to leave Witchford nervously awaiting the final whistle.

Sutton United were not so fortunate, however, as they went down 5-1 to Manea United and had only a Shaun Bristow strike to show for their efforts.

The Vine hosted Wisbech St Mary Reserves on Saturday and two second half goals were enough to give the visitors all three points.

Despite dominating the first half and taking the lead through a Jon Cutter header after fine play from youngster Callum Walker, The Vine were unable to hold on to their lead and capitulated after conceding the equaliser. Craig Emson came close for Vine with a glancing header but clinical finishing from Wisbech put the game beyond doubt in the second half as they ran out 3-1 winners.

Division 3B

STRETHAM Hotspur started the new season like a house on fire as they thrashed Brampton Reserves 5-2 to rocket to the top of the table.

Hotspurs’ Ed Dickinson and David Pitt both snatched doubles and Ben Page was also in on the act as Stretham aim to finally break out of this divison.

Similarly ambitious outfit, Mepal Sports could only manage a goaless draw at last season’s up and down side Exning United, which may be a vital point in the long run as Sports look to go up this season after narrow misses in the previous two campaigns.

It was a bad start for Little Downham Swifts as they found themselves trailing 4-1 at home to Bar Hill Sports & Social who have had two successive promotions and must have been full of confidence. Swifts’ goal came from a penalty won by Jon Harvey after he was tripped in the box and was dispatched by David Martin.

In a complete turnaround in the second half, Downham came close to nabbing a point and were fully in control as goals from Jordan Miller who was rewarded for chasing down some bad defending and Tom Higgs who nutmegged the goalkeeper, made it 4-3. Swifts could not find the last strike needed for a point though, and were not helped by some incidents they had with the officials, but new boss Tony Ure’s side will go in search of their first point of the season again next time around.

Division 4B

BOTH the local sides that were in action in this section received some harsh treatment in their opening fixtures as Wicken Amateurs were swept aside at home by a rampant Fenstanton Reserves by five goals without reply and Soham United Reserves went down heavily 6-2 as they ventured to Willingham Wolves.

Division 5C

NEWCOMERS to the league and this section, Prickwillow, marked their debut with a fantastic win at home to Lode Reserves, over whom they scored a 3-2 win.

Callum Mackender was on target for Willow and a Hadyn Palmer thunderbolt accounted for the second with Wolfie Wolstencroft grabbing the all important third.

Not such a happy story for seasoned campaigners Witchford ’96 Reserves who lost away to another new team in this league, Red Lodge by two goals without reply.

Division 5D

MEPAL Sports Reserves started their season with a bang and a boom as they went 4-0 up within 20 minutes of their home match with Upwell Town.

Scott Verdon was in no mood to hang around as he notched a nineteen minute hat-trick at the start of the match and further goals from Mark Finbow on 11 minutes and Jordan Lee on 42 made it 5-0 at half-time.

Substitute Chris Lee made it a good day for the Lee family and their team as he scored in the 64th minute to make it 6-0 to Sports.