Week ending 7th September by Mason Norton

In the Everards Brewery Premier Division, Desford stayed top after winning 3-2 at home to Sileby Town thanks to goals from Mac Parnell, Louis Rood and sub Connor McGahan, with Mark Tinsley scoring twice in the second period for Sileby. Desford are two points ahead of both Anstey Town and Hathern. Anstey travelled to FC Khalsa on Saturday and came away 6-2 winners, a brace for Josh Burniston, Harry Burton, Joe Harris, Josh Parker and Jordan Small also scoring for Anstey, Reun Basra (2) for Khalsa. Hathern thumped Friar Lane & Epworth 5-0 in a one-sided encounter at Pasture Lane, Dolton Taylor scoring a perfect hat-trick before the break, including a 25-yard dazzler, before Liam Bailey and sub Tom Kingsland got on the scoresheet in the second half. Thurnby Rangers took advantage of Aylestone Park Reserves being on the sidelines with a surprise 4-1 win at Ellistown despite finishing the game with 10 men, Alfie Mansell (2), Connor King and Callum Key for Thurnby, Sonny Sheasby replying for Ellistown, Thurnby moving into the top four.

There was a bottom of the table clash in Rutland, as Cottesmore and Burbage & Huncote went head-to-head searching for their first points. Report from the Cottesmore Facebook page:

"Cottesmore got off the mark this afternoon in the league after they emerged victorious from this encounter with Burbage. They got off to the perfect start when after only 3 minutes Josh Clark picked the ball up on the left hand side and skipped past 2 players before beating another 3 to find himself in the box and cooly slid the ball past the visitors keeper to give Cotts the perfect start. However following this a blow as Kadeem Price was forced off early with a knee injury and Harry Stannard entering the fray.

Burbage then had a good spell which lead to two important saves from Cotts keeper Alex Brown to keep the home side ahead before the lead was extended on the counter attack as Jordan Smith stretched for a 50/50 with the Burbage keeper and this pressure caused the ball to break to Robbie Dance who made no mistake from 18 yards. HT 2-0.

Cotts started the second half well and almost found the net when Smith caught a shot well only to see it go the wrong side of the post and Charlie Richards drilled an effort from the edge of the box which was saved by the Burbage keeper. Burbage were by no means out of the game and they continued to create opportunities but it was Cotts who found the crucial third when Clark picked up the ball and carried it a full half of the pitch before firing across the keeper to seal the points. James Lewis had a chance but couldn’t find the net after some good footwork and Burbage managed to get a late consolation through Carlton Beardmore, however it was the home side who deservedly took the points and get off the mark after a frustrating few weeks. Cottesmore 3-1 Burbage & Huncote."

B&H remain bottom of the table, with FLAE just one goal better off on goal difference.

Elsewhere in the Prem, AFC North Kilworth and Magna 73 played out a 3-3 draw. Goals from Taylor Sharpe, Joe Williams and Austin Enekwe had left NK 3-1 up, after Fin Thomas had given Magna an early lead, but Thomas scored twice in the space of seven minutes to make it 3-3 and set up a grandstand finish, neither side able to find the knockout blow though. Meanwhile, Raijaun Morris-Laing, Yankuba Rumpuwarch and Seon Shippley gave Highfield Rangers a 3-0 win at Leicester Atletico.