KERSHAW PREMIER DIVISION LITTLEPORT Town paraded new signing Will Ludbrooke as they kept up their good run with a 4-1 victory at Somersham Town. Ludbrooke – who has scored 21 goals for Senior B outfit Haddenham Rovers this season – missed two early chance

KERSHAW PREMIER DIVISION

LITTLEPORT Town paraded new signing Will Ludbrooke as they kept up their good run with a 4-1 victory at Somersham Town.

Ludbrooke - who has scored 21 goals for Senior B outfit Haddenham Rovers this season - missed two early chances for the visitors, but eventually scored twice in his Littleport debut.

Sean Ambrose lifted David Cullum (jnr)'s through ball over the advancing keeper to open the scoring, and he made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Nigel Smith had been fouled when poised to score.

Ludbrooke added a third goal after Smith had squared the ball, and he lashed home a fourth when Cullum's pass split the home defence once more.

SENIOR DIVISION A

STEPHEN Bell struck twice as Soham Town Rangers Reserves took all three points at the expense of bottom club Bluntisham Rangers.

Young Adam Clemence broke the ice when his 50/50 challenge with the goalkeeper saw the ball ricochet into the net, and Bell added two second-half goals to complete a 3-0 win.

Ely City Reserves made it 18 league matches unbeaten - with only two points dropped out of a possible 54 - as they beat Hardwick 3-0 in midweek.

Hardwick dominated the opening exchanges without looking particularly threatening, and after City took control, Rory Hutton opened the scoring with a 25-yard volley into the top corner.

Substitute Gareth Arter - who replaced injury victim Richie Murfitt - made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time, and he then added a decisive third goal in the 47th minute to clinch the points.

City were subsequently in action in the semi-finals of the William Cockell Cup, and will now meet Foxton in the final after overcoming Girton United.

City defended well against the first-half elements, and took a second-half lead when a corner from Andy Chatters found its way directly into the net.

With 10 minutes remaining the ball fell to substitute Martin Gray after a shot had been blocked, and he made no mistake to make the final score 2-0.

SENIOR DIVISION B

HADDENHAM Rovers completed their programme in fifth spot after a 3-3 draw at Castle Camps, but they are almost certain to finish in seventh place when the fixtures are completed.

Martin Baxter and Martin Pettitt both claimed their first goals of the season, and they were joined on the scoresheet by Tom Moden as Haddenham made their point.

DIVISION 1B

LEADERS Littleport Town Reserves boosted their goal difference with a thumping 8-1 victory over mid-table Fenstanton.

Nathan Bennett led the rout with a well-taken hat-trick - including two left-foot finishes - and he was joined by Cavan Bennett, Luke Butcher, Carl Ryan and substitutes Richard Layn and Mark Talbot.

DIVISION 2B

ELY City A's 13-match unbeaten run was finally ended by local rivals Sutton United, who won Saturday's encounter 3-1.

Witchford '96 beat basement club Bluntisham Rangers Reserves 2-0 thanks to goals from Ally McDonald - a stunning 25-yard strike - and Aaron Spencer, but Stretham Hotspurs had to settle for a point as they drew 3-3 at Longstanton.

DIVISION 3B

PYMOOR FC's championship hopes were boosted by the acquisition of four points from two matches last week, but they lost two key players in those games and that may prove costly to them in the run-in.

Pymoor visited promotion rivals Somersham Town Reserves in midweek, taking an early lead as youngster Ed Hale found the net with a splendid finish.

The hosts managed to get back on terms, but in the second half Tony Ure opened up their defence with a great 45-yard cross-field pass and Stephen Ball did the rest to make it 2-1.

Pymoor were incensed soon afterwards as the referee turned down their penalty appeal, and in the melee that followed both Simon Law and David Harvey received their marching orders.

Law's conduct was apparently reported by the referee as an assault, which means that Pymoor's leading scorer is likely to miss the remainder of the season, pending any appeal.

Somersham managed to grab an equaliser with five minutes remaining, but Pymoor held on for a share of the spoils and remain firm favourites for the title after Saturday's 7-3 demolition of St Ives Town A.

Harvey helped himself to a hat-trick after Tom Higgs had opened the scoring, and other goals went to Greg Saberton, who included a penalty in his brace, and Stephen Ball.

Further bad news for Pymoor was the injury suffered by in-form goalkeeper Paul Barrow who, in saving a second-half free-kick, broke his thumb in three places.

Promotion-chasing The Vine had a must-win home clash with leaders Wisbech St Mary Reserves, and after falling behind, they went on to win by the odd goal in five.

Kinder Mann struck twice in three minutes to turn the tables after 20 minutes, and he unselfishly set up Mark Higginbottom to make the interval score 3-1.

Wisbech pressed hard at the start of the second period and were rewarded with a goal in the 55th minute, but The Vine finished strongly and had chances to increase their lead.

Fordham Reserves beat Brampton Reserves 3-0 with goals from Sam James and substitutes Daren Pryke and Harry O'Connor, but Little Downham Swifts were held 2-2 by a Hemingfords United A side that didn't look like a bottom-of-the-table team.

Scott Fuller cancelled out United's opener with a stunning 35-yard strike, and he then made it 2-1 from the penalty spot after Wesley Inbert had been brought down, prior to Hemingfords snatching an equaliser with just five minutes left.

DIVISION 4B

HADDENHAM Rovers Reserves continued their astonishing run as they claimed an eighth successive victory at Milton A, thanks to goals from James Tasker (2) and Luke Murfitt.

Burwell Swifts kept their promotion hopes on the boil with a bloodless 3-0 victory at Sutton United Reserves, but Ely Crusaders had to settle for a draw in their home clash with Earith United.

Earith struck first with a re-taken penalty kick, but Ross Elliott levelled the scores and James Collins made it 2-1 with a fine individual goal.

Wes Reid subsequently made it 3-2 to Crusaders at the break, but Earith grabbed the only goal of the second half to salvage a point.

DIVISION 5B

ISLEHAM United Reserves came from two goals down to claim all three points at the expense of Longstanton Reserves.

Sam Hedger and Nick Samuels squared matters before half-time, and the same two players were on target after the break as Isleham came through by the odd goal in seven.

Scott Dews (2) and Mick Edwards earned Littleport Town A a 3-3 draw against local rivals Wicken Amateurs, but three goals saw Burwell Swifts Reserves crash to a dismal home defeat against bottom club Dataracks Elite.

The Vine Reserves remain in good form however, winning 5-0 in their away match at Little Downham Swifts Reserves.

Pierce Mason opened the scoring after just four minutes, and it was all over by half-time as Mark Finbow and Ashley Dougan both scored twice for the visitors.