Take hat! Nigel’s treble blast

SATURDAY FOOTBALL

BY STEVE GREEN

KERSHAW PREMIER DIVISION

LITTLEPORT Town have gone four games unbeaten after a convincing 4-0 win at Wickhambrook.

They dominated the opening 25 minutes and scored three times in a seven-minute spell.

The opening goal was superb, with Andrew Francis starting and finishing a move which involved Jack Jordan and full-back Matt Nixon across the width of the pitch.

Nigel Smith made it 2-0 with a well-taken goal, and he side-footed home number three after displaying some good skill on the edge of the box.

Francis - a handful throughout for the Wickhambrook defence - then headed narrowly over from a Nixon cross.

The visitors took control again after the break, but David Cullum (jnr) and Chris Wilson both should have scored before Smith completed his hat-trick after great work on the left by Wilson.

Fordham, meanwhile, surrendered their unbeaten record in the home clash with champions Sawston United.

The visitors went in front after five minutes when the ball was controversially adjudged to have crossed the Fordham goalline, but the hosts got back on terms at the start of the second half through young Harry O'Connor, who converted a Sam James cross at the far post.

Sawston scored a second goal on the break soon afterwards, however, and sealed a 3-1 win in the closing stages.

SENIOR DIVISION A

SOHAM Town Rangers Reserves moved up to second in the table by coming from behind to win against Haverhill-based strugglers Grampian.

Zack Collins levelled the scores after Soham had gone in a goal down at half-time, and Alex Irvine's double eventually saw Rangers through 3-1.

Ely City Reserves suffered their second successive home reversal, this time at the hands of Lakenheath.

Richie Murfitt missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time as his side trailed 2-0, and although he found the target from David Cornwell's flick in the second half, the Suffolk team held on for victory.

SENIOR DIVISION B

SOHAM United player-manager Andy Parker made his first appearance of the season, and inspired his team to a 6-3 win against West Row Gunners.

"We virtually took every chance we had," beamed Parker, adding: "But we thoroughly deserved it. I'm really pleased for the lads."

Parker was involved in the build-up which resulted in Jamie Day's cross being volleyed home by Ben Brown after five minutes, and Parker's step-over enabled Jonathan Brown to fire in number two.

West Row scored twice before half-time, but Jonathan Brown made the interval score 3-2 from the penalty spot, and then completed his hat-trick at the start of the second half.

Brown took his tally to five goals as Soham raced into a 6-2 lead, before Gunners scored a late consolation goal.

Parker was impressed by the contributions of Jonathan Brown and young defender James Brown, but also praised substitutes Ben Hubbard, Ally Mohammed and Mark Allen, who all performed well.

DIVISION 1B

ST IVES Rangers had three players dismissed in the closing stages as Littleport Town Reserves maintained their 100 per cent start with a 1-0 home victory, courtesy of Mark Talbot's strike just before the interval.

'Port might have won more convincingly but Neil Cullum missed a penalty.

DIVISION 2B

NEWLY-PROMOTED Witchford '96 overcame Sutton United 3-2 in a thrilling derby.

Michael Ward scored a fifth-minute opener after exchanging passes with Aaron Spencer, and Darren Rumfitt made it 2-0 with a fine volley from the edge of the box.

Sutton replied after the break through Ed Ideson, following a neat build-up, but Spencer restored Witchford's two-goal lead with a fine lob from Ward's through ball.

Substitute Peter Wallace scrambled one back for United with five minutes left, but Witchford ran out deserving winners.

Pointless Ely City A lost 2-0 at top-of-the-table Longstanton, but Isleham United and Stretham Hotspurs are also still looking for their first victory are sharing the spoils 1-1.

Russell Boneham nodded in a corner to put Isleham ahead just before the break, but Simon Rudnicki - normally a central defender - equalised with a fine half-volley in the second period.

DIVISION 3B

THE Vine are still unbeaten and moved up to second place with a 2-0 home win against Hemingfords United A.

Soham United Reserves are in fifth spot after edging out Cottenham United A 2-1 away from home.

DIVISION 4B

HADDENHAM Rovers Reserves were emphatic 7-2 winners at Exning Athletic, but they were the only local winners in this section.

Sutton United Reserves were held 1-1 at home by Milton A, and there were defeats for Ely Crusaders at Barton Mills Reserves (3-1) and Burwell Swifts at March Rangers (4-1).

DIVISION 5B

WICKEN Amateurs continued their fine start with a 4-1 victory over local rivals Isleham United Reserves, who started well and hit the woodwork before Josh Woodroffe gave Wicken the lead in the 27th minute.

Woodroffe then doubled the home advantage with a fine 18-yard shot from Matt Lowe's flick-on, but Matthew Roley pulled one back for Isleham on the stroke of half-time.

Bobby Fenn rounded the goalkeeper from Ed Capstick's through ball to make it 3-1 after 68 minutes, and substitute Jamie Beeton hit the post before Jamie Palmer wrapped things up from close range after a James Petersen overlap.

Substitute James Kent scored twice as Littleport A defeated Little Downham Swifts Reserves at home.

He was joined on the scoresheet by Luke Bailey, Colin Holding, Scott Dews and Robert Scotney as 'Port eventually ran out 6-1 winners.

The Vine Reserves suffered their first defeat of the season as they went down 2-1 at Outwell Swifts Reserves, and Burwell Swifts lost 4-3 against Cottenham United B.

LOWER JUNIOR CUP

FIRST ROUND

PYMOOR FC are through to the second round following a victory against sporting visitors Wisbech Fen Stars.

Simon Law's goal separated the teams after a somewhat lacklustre first half, and he added a second goal after the break to go with a brace from Stephen Ball as Pymoor ran out 4-1 winners.

Goalkeeper Paul Barrow was Pymoor's man-of-the-match.