Nirankari Stiffs Walking It...

The Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League continued on Sunday with a spate of hat-tricks, writes Darren “Statto” Jones.

Barry Hazelton was the star of the show, scoring five times as Marquis United continued their defence of the Premier Division title. Joe Dance scored the other and Steve Gibbons netted a consolation for Highview.

Nirankari Stevenage won a tight game as Andrew Iweduino netted the only goal from the penalty spot against Bottles. Sibling David Iweduino failed to emulate him as his own spot-kick was missed.

Dun Cow eased home against MBDA thanks to first-half goals from Alex Scriven and Adam Furness.

Broadhall were straight out of the blocks and dominated much of the early play and it was no surprise when John Johnston gave them the lead after he turned in the six-yard box and finished from a tight angle. He grabbed his second after a defensive error and then after the break the natural finisher all but wrapped up the game when he completed his hat-trick by rounding the ‘keeper. With half-an-hour to play, they failed to clear the ball from a free-kick and Danny Lingwood nipped in at the back post to start the Almond Tree United fightback. Shortly after, they were awarded a free-kick, which Carl Lingwood slotted away to set-up a tense finish. Unfortunately for them, the equaliser was just beyond them.

In Division One, the Nirankari Stevenage Reserves juggernault rolled on as Stevenage Colts were hammered thanks to goals from Joel Mason (four), Ricky Case (two), Steven Teale (two), Lee Allinson, Richard Hall and Terry Pateman.

Stevenage Fencing saw off Marquis of Lorne thanks to Billy-Joe Sewell and Dave Hailey.

SCS failed to raise a side against Shephall Artois and are likely to lose the points.

The game of the day was in Division Two. Putterills nearly managed to blow a five goal advantage in the final quarter of the match. The game started of well for them when Dave Banks latched onto a through-ball to open his accont for the season. Things got better when new manager Jim Anderson was felled in the box and duly converted from the spot himself. Despite TC United looking as equally dangerous on the break as they were haphazard at the back, they failed to bring a shot on target and it was soon three when Pete Morrison lashed home and he added his second just before half-time. Within five minutes of the restart, it was five after debutee Paul Coxall roofed home following a Kris McMahon corner. TC had two great one-on-one chances, both saved, before, with just fifteen minutes to go they appeared to pull back what was only a consolation goal from a long throw-in with the first of four from Terry Lock in just ten minutes. Two with the head and one with each foot to get to within one goal of their opponents. A Chris Benton strike with three minutes left completed the remarkable comeback before a needless handball in the box by Craig Joy handed Putterills another penalty, which Morrison duly despatched to complete his hat-trick in an epic game.

A Carl Smith hat-trick saw Stevenage Leisure Limited grab all three points against Mallard Old Boys, for whom Simon Parnell was on target.

Hartham Press stormed into a four-goal lead on the hour with goals from Andy Parrish, James Khakpour-Smith (two) and Graeme Hulstrom. A1 Trophies began a comeback when a superb 25-yard free-kick from Paul Tully got them back in it. Shortly after, they had another courtesy of a cool finish from Greg Bradbury and thought they had a third when Craig Longman netted with a header from a corner, but the referee adjudged there to have been a push. Finally, Tallem Dennis latched on to a Bradbury flick to slot in from a tight angle to bring them to within one, but they just couldn’t quite level despite a Bradbury effort going narrowly going wide in the final minute.

There was a share of the points as Hermit of Redcoats netted through the evergreen Ray Downes and the lively Josh Dance. Dave Pateman hit a brace, once from the spot for Timebridge AFC.

See Part 2/2 for Divisions Three and Four...