Nirankari Take Second Cup

Despite Premier Division disappointment, Unity Nirankari sealed a tremendous CSSFL cup double, writes Darren “Statto” Jones.

They followed up their KLM Challenge Cup win with Premier Division Cup glory. Probuild took the lead when Richard Hall finished his chance well. From there onwards, it was pretty much one way traffic as Unity Nirankari ran riot. Leeroy Williams equalised with a good strike, the prolific David Iweduino made it 2-1 before Liam Errington scored a sublime goal by beating three players and finishing it off in a composed manner. A great team move with over ten passes was finished well by Andrew Levy to make the half-time score 4-1. The second-half saw the game put beyond any doubt with both Iweduino and Levy striking again, Martin Young got in on the act with a good solo goal. The final whistle sparked some jubilant celebrations as the Nirankari players celebrated a successful season. It was the first cup final ever played on the artificial surface at Baldock.

The Division Two title was supposed to be finalised, but with the pitch un-playable due to no maintenance, the Stevenage Fencing v MBDA game was postponed by the Referee, scuppering the latter’s chance of clinching a first-ever crown. This has been re-scheduled for this Sunday, venue still to be confirmed.

With this news, Probuild Reserves looked to capitalise and attempt to inflict a heavy defeat on relegation-threatened Times Club to give MBDA a huge task. They started the match with a high tempo with both Gary Pomfret and Ian Woodfield missing chances. The breakthrough came when Pomfret laid the ball on Dean Allen on the edge of the box, who curled the ball into the bottom corner. Times Club we’re soon level when a defensive mix up allowed Perry Faulkner to net and they shocked the title-challengers when a Karl Rickaby shot from distance somehow found its way into the bottom corner past Stu Howard. Probuild were level again when Howard’s long goal-kick found Pomfret, who ran on and calmly lobbed Paul Saunders. Pomfret then played in Woodfield to score his 30th of the season. They breezed through the rest of the game. Pomfret made it four when he found the net and controlling a cross from Woodfield. They were awarded a penalty when Jason Drackford was brought down in the box and the penalty was coolly slid home by Matt Lockyear. The scoring was soon complete when good passing between Allen and Craig Braine led to a cross from Elliott Bunn, which was diverted home by a defender. As long as MBDA don’t win by six goals on Sunday, Probuild Reserves will be champions.

The above meant Times Club stayed in the bottom two, and only re-structuring of the leagues in the up-coming Constitution will save them. Monday night saw The Committee meet half-a-dozen potential new Clubs, many of the current ones haven’t re-newed. It’s looking like there’ll be 47 in total.