Lorne Champions... Marquis of Lorne claimed the first silverware of the season as they wrapped up the Division One title, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info).

In Herts Intermediate Cup Quarter Final action, Nirankari Timebridge threw a 2-0 lead against ten men and lost to a last-minute own goal against Lee Sports PSG.

In the CSSFL Challenge Cup 2nd Round, Russell Cox was back from injury to hit a hat-trick as Arena-Group beat Broadhall Icon 5-1. Elliott Bunn and Liam Kenna got the others, Dan Gregory scored a consolation.

Ethan Draper’s hat-trick and an own goal saw Bedwell Rangers through with a 4-1 win over Rileys Athletic to now face Arena-Group for a semi-final place.

Les Chappell and Jack Mitchell were on target as Real Stevenage won the all-Premier tie 2-0 against Almond Tree United. They’ll play the winner of this week’s Granby v A1 Trophies tie in the last eight.

Adam Furness hit five as a classy Dun Cow tore into TC United. Shaun Marshall (two), Ross Kane and Ian Thorne heaped more woe on the Division One side. However, two Terry Lock goals gave them some consolation in the 9-2 defeat, his first was pretty special, even for him. Cow now await Nirankari Timebridge or The Old Post Office in the quarter-finals.

FC Mallard failed to field a side against Broadhall, who progress to the last eight, but won’t know their opponents as it’s one of four sides still at the last-32 stage, FC Nirankari, Hartham Press, Putterills or MBDA.

In the Premier Division, St Nicholas forfeited against FC Nirankari, who move into the top four.

In Division One, Joe Delasalle hit seven goals as Marquis of Lorne clinched the title and won an amazing game against Putterills. Frazer Triggs and Tom Younger scored the others in the 9-5 win. Dave Banks (two), Pete Morrison (two) and Greg Collins responded.

AJS Tyres Broadhall moved out of the relegation zone with their first league game since September. Odyssey took the lead inside twenty minutes as Matt Henning was caught in possession near his own area and was punished. Jon Myers blazed a shot over as AJS looked for an equaliser before the break. After it, Andy Lee failed to take two great chances, but just after the hour, Henning made amends as he latched onto a clearance and his volley flew into the corner. They continued to press and the winner finally arrived with three minutes left. Warren Ratcliffe seized on a defensive error and unselfishly rolled the ball across the six-yard box for Lee to score from close range.

Reece Munford netted twice against his old club as Pear Tree beat A1 Trophies 4-2 to move into third in Division Two in their penultimate game. George Collins and Adam Rush were also on target, whilst James Harrod and Trevor Long got A1’s goals.

Dan Hartland and Mark Hemmings each scored twice as Crooked Billet Boro shared eight goals with Broadhall Athletic to keep the bottom four at bay.

Old Barclavians kept their very feint Division Three title hopes alive despite Roebuck Gate taking an early 2-0 lead through Dave Morton’s brace. Josh Watson pulled one back from the penalty spot. Watson was then fouled in the box to give him a chance of his second penalty of the morning as normal taker Lee Falanga was in goal for the first time in over thirty years. He missed the kick in some style. The equaliser did come from Falanga from the spot after a third was awarded midway through the second-half. Paul Morcombe then scored with a back post header with fifteen minutes remaining to put them in front and Watson wrapped the game up late on.

Proverbial United had an ideal start, scoring in the opening minute of the game through Liam Elmes. ABC Taxis responded well with Chas Bailey drawing them level from ten yards and John Saunders put them in front. The scores were level again through Scott Seals before Carl Simmonds restored the ABC lead from just inside the box. Saunders got his second to stretch it when his free-kick took a deflection, Proverbial refused to give in and reduced the arrears when a great strike from distance from Kieran Webb found its way into the bottom corner. It was 5-3 when a through ball from Alan Widdows was controlled and slammed in via the underneath of the crossbar by Gary Henderson. Proverbial netted a fourth through Antony Young, but it wasn’t enough.

View Point Wanderers finally managed three points with a deserved win against Stevenage Old Town. In a tight first-half, Tom Manning broke the deadlock when he curled a beauty into the top corner from twenty yards. A crazy five minutes for the VPW defence saw SOT score two quick goals from one-on-one situations. However, a whipped free-kick from Scott Taylor was headed home by Rich Marvell to level the scores. Then, with a couple of minutes left, Pete Bannister won the ball with a crunching tackle and quickly released Cam Bridger, who twisted and turned on the edge of the box before floating his shot over the ‘keeper for an excellent winner.

In the Frank Neville Memorial Cup, MBDA turned round a 3-0 deficit against The Old Post Office to win 8-3 overall. Louis Hare (hat-trick), Ross Walker (two), Sam Harwood, Gary Hodgson and Ashley Kersey were on the score-sheet. Despite starting 1-0 down, Breachwood Lions gave themselves a chance of qualification with an overall 4-3 win over TC Wanderers. Scorers were Dan Jeffries (two penalties), James Mason and a late Ollie Mason headed winner, TC’s Nathan Searle hit a brace. Granby took full advantage of a 2-0 lead against MKS Carpentry and even got a draw on the day. Joe Chilton got their goal, Neil Roskilly replied.