A Second CSSFL County Finalist...

Nirankari Stevenage Reserves will be the Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League’s second team to contest one of the three County Cup Finals, writes Darren “Statto” Jones.

Herts Intermediate Cup Semi-Final:
Nirankari Stevenage Reserves were favourites pre-match and set up a clash with ASCO from Hoddesdon on 17th April at Letchworth’s County Ground. Lee Allinson bagged four, Ricky Case hit a brace and Richard Hall scored a superb goal. Stevenage Fencing replied through Tom Hillard and Joe Delasalle.

Premier Division:
Dun Cow took the lead when Scott Mahoney’s wind-assisted corner curled straight in at the far post. Adam Furness doubled the lead on the hour with a low finish and James Dilnutt grabbed a third. MBDA had a lot of good chances, Ross Walker came closest when his crashed a free-kick against the post, but they were finally rewarded by the perseverance of stand-in centre-half Ashley Kersey, who ran 80 yards and scrambled the ball home.

Division 1:
Robbie Freeman hit a hat-trick as Stevenage Colts hammered SCS. Sam Stephenson and Danny Liversidge also netted.

Division 2:
Hermit of Redcoats played their penultimate game and hammered Putterills to stay four points clear. Neil Roskilly (hat-trick), Josh Dance and James Sawyer netted. A win against Stevenage Leisure Limited this week will see them crowned champions. If not, SLL can still win it in their remaining games.

Stevenage Leisure Limited themselves made it a two-horse race for the title after thrashing TC United, whose season has gone off the rails with six successive defeats in all competitions. Two early goals from Carl Smith put them in control before a deflected Craig Joy free-kick got TC back in it. However, the game was made safe with goals from Joe Chilton and Allan Prescott before half-time. They continued to dominate and further goals from Dean McCullagh, Chris McCarthy, Chilton and Joe Tizard sealed the win. Jon Dunne’s volley was another consolation.

Division 3:
Broadhall ‘A’ kept their title hopes on track with what turned out to be a narrow win over a recently strengthened and improved Emperors Head. The first-half was a close one on a lively pitch where Broadhall created the better chances and took the lead after half-an-hour when Phil Stevens’ corner was powerfully headed home by Joe Lee. The lead was then doubled just before the break by younger brother Andy Lee, whose close range strike came about after tremendous skill on the bye-line from Matt Henning. They really took control at the start of the second-half and added a third when Michael Emmings’ goal bound shot was handled on the line, he expertly tucked away the resultant penalty himself kick. The game then looked to be wrapped up on the hour thanks to Rob Stevenson’s pile-driver of a free-kick from 20 yards. Emperors didn’t lie down and they managed to conjure up three late goals from Mark Pickard (two) and Lewis Sealy to set up a tense finish.

Odyssey kept the pressure on thanks to a win by the odd goal in five against Timebridge AFC Reserves. Dave Sell (two) and Will Cubitt were on target.

Bedwell Rangers are looking good for a top three finish after despatching Rileys Athletic. Nick Thomas (hat-trick), Luke Smith and Jake Garwood were on the mark.

Dean Page and Carl Green netted as Stevenage Colts Reserves saw off ABC Taxis, for whom John Saunders replied.

Times Club’s recent resurgence continued thanks largely to an Adam Stevens hat-trick. Karl Rickaby (two) and Steve Riley also scored against Chequers.

Division 4:
The big game saw Crooked Billet Boro start the stronger and they went ahead when a long Dan Thurgood free kick to the far post dropped kindly for Adam Buckingham to net. They doubled the lead before half-time when a clearance from the ‘keeper landed at the feet of Rob Smith, whose swift return shot found the bottom corner. Dan Jefferies pulled one back for Breachwood Lions when, with his back to goal on the edge of the box, he got a shot away on the turn that found the corner. Lions levelled the score from a corner with Adam Jefferies heading home his first goal of the season. With one game left, Boro need a point for the title this weekend, or Lions can nick it with a win at a later stage.

After they fell behind to a penalty, Stevenage Old Town equalised through Billy Reedman’s half-volley across the ‘keeper. They went behind again before they went a man down when Kerise Powell was taken to hospital and they had no substitutes. Reedman netted again after the ball broke away from Callum Kendrick. However, Granby won comfortably in the end thanks to Sam Bickerstaff (two), Chris Lyle, Rhys Flavell and Jon Butler.

Marc Stobart, Lee Kitching, Oliver Roberts and Asa Common netted as Walkern Construction hammered Icon Onderers.

Match Reports can be sent to statto@cssfl.info, otherwise details of your game cannot be included. The league website can be found at www.cssfl.info.