Hartham Press Into Last Four... Sunday saw some cup drama, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info, www.cssfl.info).

Bedwell Rangers went through to a semi-final meeting in the Division One Cup with Lifestyles after a comprehensive 7-1 win over Coopers United. Just 1-0 at the break, they stepped it up afterwards and braces from Luke Smith, Nick Thomas and James Reeves, plus a Jacob Dawson strike saw them home. Michael Prater scored a consolation.

A cracking game in the Division Two Cup saw basement side Hartham Press upset the odds to go through to a semi-final against Broadhall Icon. Old Barclavians began the game well, going two-up. Hartham began their first comeback with fifteen minutes remaining when Liam Mower rose highest to head in a Dan Curtin throw-in. Then, with the last kick of the game, Dave Mower curled in an in swinging corner and James Khakpour-Smith squeezed a header home on the far post to take the game to extra-time. Again, Barclavians stepped up the pace again and five minutes in, had netted twice more, Barry Hazelton, Dave Pateman, Callum Rowe and Nick Wellings were their scorers. Dave Mower pounced on the ball after a midfield battle to pull one back at the start of the second period, then just before the whistle, Khakpour-Smith cut the ball back for Ben Downham to calmly slot the ball into the far corner to make it 4-4 and take it to penalties. Hartham scored all four in the shoot-out, and their performance was capped off with a diving save by Andy Parrish to win the game.

In both teams’ first game in two months, this Division Three Cup tie was always going to be a scrappy one. The breakthrough came on twenty minutes when the unfortunate Tony Perkins sent a looping header over his own A1 Trophies ‘keeper Chris Essam to give TC Wanderers the lead. The game continued at a brisk pace with both sides creating good chances. The leveller came ten minutes later when Si Longman went past three players before being upended in the box. The veteran Lee Clark stepped up and slotted home the penalty. TC took the lead again with some good pressure and set it up for a nervous final twenty minutes. Tallem Dennis ghosted in unmarked to equalise for A1 to force extra-time. TC netted the crucial next goal with a swift attack, and as happens, scored again to catch A1 on the break, who were trying to equalise. It finished 4-2, Michael Phelan, Tony Phelan and Sam Poulton were TCs other scorers.

Division One leaders MBDA kept up their 100% record, albeit against a nine-man Chequers. Ashley Kersey fired another hat-trick as he strives for his first Golden Boot. Substitute Chaz Lawson netted a brace, Ross Walker was also on target. There was also a very rare goal indeed from Glenn Fisher.

Lifestyles are putting up an excellent fight after edging out MKS Carpentry 4-3. Ryan Ellis (two), Kieran Ellis and Joe Chilton were on target. MKS replied through Lee Metselaar (two) and Josh Timmins.

Coach & Horses and AJS Tyres Broadhall produced a superb game in difficult, muddy conditions. The only goal of a first-half of many chances came for Coach as the result of a wonder strike from Tony Steele. AJS then took control of the ball after the break, but they were hit by a second on the hour thanks to Stuart Littlechild as the result of a defensive mix-up in the AJS defence. The Coach ‘keeper performed heroics, before finally being beaten in stoppage-time when a Mike Emmings ball into the box was spilled and Rob Stevenson netted to make it 2-1.

Division Two leaders Broadhall Icon controlled the first-half, but it was Roebuck Gate who took the lead on the break through Ricky Kyle. Dean Allen equalised immediately after the break and Adam Stevens put Icon in front with a bullet header after connecting to cross from Dan Gregory. New signing Piers Le-Grand's brace made it 4-1 and a comfortable win in the end.

Chris Wotton (hat-trick) and Steve Bush were on target as Crooked Billet Boro hammered Benington 4-1.

Division Three leaders Broadhall Athletic were given a tough game against their closest challengers, View Point Wanderers. Defences were on top in the fist-half, although Wanderers came close twice, whilst their ‘keeper Lee Hollingsworth also made a top save. After a spell of pressure, View Point scored the opening goal when a dangerous Scott Taylor free-kick caused panic in the Broadhall box and John Jamieson skipped bravely in to force the ball home for his first goal in over five years. Athletic threw everything at them to preserve their unbeaten record and avoid being leap-frogged at the top. Although the defence was well marshalled by the evergreen Pete Bannister, they were breached with just five minutes to go when a firm header from Dave Baldwin levelled the scores for a 1-1 final score.

In a first-half in which Almond Tree La Coruna controlled by playing some nice passing football, they creating many chances, thwarted by the ABC Taxis ‘keeper. They finally got the goal they deserved when pressure from Darren Gray ended in ABC giving the ball to Jaiden Irish on the edge of the box, who span and smashed a dipping shot over the ‘keeper. ABC came into the game more after the break, but a goal-saving slide tackle from Tony Bailey kept them at bay. Gray then muscled his way through to thunder the ball into the top corner for 2-0. Phil Wallis made it two-in-two for ABC when he slotted home before Antony Lloyd robbed the full-back to run clean through to slot the ball home to make it two-in-two for himself and kill the game off at 3-1.

Theo Griffith (two) and Scott Fielder were on target as Brackas had a 3-3 draw with Proverbial United. Josh Stock (two) and Jamie Campany replied as they slipped up in their title pursuit.

Daniel Healy (hat-trick), Wayne Richards (two) and Joe Whittaker netted as Emperors Head beat Stevenage Old Town 6-5 overall in the league phase of the Frank Neville Memorial Cup.

Results (Sunday 10th February):

Division One Cup Quarter-Final: Bedwell Rangers 7 Coopers United 1
Division Two Cup Quarter-Final: Hartham Press 4 Old Barclavians 4 (aet, Hartham won 4-2 on penalties)
Division Three Cup Quarter-Final: TC Wanderers 4 A1 Trophies 2 (aet)
Division One: Coach & Horses 2 AJS Tyres Broadhall 1, MBDA 7 Chequers 0, MKS Carpentry 3 Lifestyles 4.
Division Two: Benington 1 Crooked Billet Boro 4, Broadhall Icon 4 Roebuck Gate 1.
Division Three: ABC Taxis 1 Almond Tree La Coruna 3, Brackas 3 Proverbial United 3, Broadhall Athletic 1 View Point Wanderers 1.
Frank Neville Memorial Cup (league phase): Emperors Head 6 Stevenage Old Town 5.

Fixtures (Sunday 17th February):

Herts Senior Cup Semi-Final: AFC Boars v Dun Cow.
CSSFL Challenge Cup 1st Round: Benington v MKS Carpentry (Benington), Breachwood Lions v TC Wanderers (Breachwood).
Premier Division: Olympic Nirankari v Broadhall (Alleynes).
Division Two: Old Barclavians v Hartham Press (Barclay).
Division Three: View Point Wanderers v ABC Taxis (Alleynes).

All Council Pitches off…