Club Nirankari Still In Control...

There was a fifty percent success rate in the latest County Cup ties this week, writes Darren “Statto” Jones.

Sunday Intermediate Cup 3rd Round:
Man of the match Ricky Phillips inspired Nirankari Stevenage Reserves to victory. The first came on the half-hour mark when Adam MacKenzie headed down Gary Pomfret’s corner for Terry Pateman to smash home. He soon made it two when a scuffed shot trickled through the ‘keepers legs. A substitute’s hat-trick put them in charge before Steve Underwood netted in reply to a home consolation strike. Dan Gregory smashed home the other goal.

Stevenage Fencing also had a big away win. Dave Hailey, Tom Hillard, Craig Braine, Billy-Joe Sewell, Luke Gumble and an own goal saw off Hedgehog.

The other side through was via an all-CSSFL affair. A confident Stevenage Colts side were beaten by lower league opposition. Division Three leaders Stevenage Leisure Limited started brightly, but saw a Carl Smith penalty saved. In Colts’ first attack, Dan Barrett made a great save to deny them before Smith redeemed himself with a neat finish. This was followed up by a Joe Chilton goal before Colts scored a good goal through Luke Bennett to get back into it. Leisure maintained their poise and were rewarded with another penalty before half-time which was converted this time by Smith for the last of the scoring.

TC United got off to a great start when Terry Lock found the back of the net inside ten minutes with a fine strike into the top corner two days after his 23rd birthday. Dan Carroll made it two before the break as he struck from all of twenty-five yards as the ball arrowed home. It went downhill from the minute the referee blew his whistle to begin the second-half. Crescent Club from Watford were awarded a penalty when Craig Joy handled the ball, this was converted and then quickly followed by an equaliser when Richard Edwards was lobbed after his stray pass was hit back over his head. The visitors progressed to the next round after they converted another penalty and a header late on.

Dave Pateman and Cory Cooper were on target as Timebridge AFC were locked in stalemate at ninety minutes against visitors ASCO. The away side netted three times in extra-time.

Lee Bounsall’s strike was all Hermit of Redcoats had to shout about as Haileybury came to town and did a job.