Week ending 12th October by Mason Norton

Tuesday night was supposed to be the rescheduled first round ties in the Jelson Homes Senior Cup. However, the weather had other ideas, and continuous heavy rain from Monday night through to late on Tuesday resulted in two of the three ties involving LSL sides being called off. Both Coalville Town versus Ellistown and Ingles against AFC North Kilworth have been rescheduled for the third time of asking next Tuesday.

Birstall United at home to Magna 73 did pass a late pitch inspection, and the two sides served up a cracking contest. Magna took an early lead through Nic Smith, and led for 10 minutes until Sam Burton equalised for Birstall, who then went in 2-1 up at the break thanks to Billy Tebbatt. However, Magna weren't done and dusted yet, and Arjuna Govia got them back on level terms just after the hour mark. That set up a grandstand finish, but hopes of an upset were dashed when sub Jackson Parkin scored the winner 10 minutes from time, Birstall winning 3-2 to progress to the second round. Magna far from disgraced themselves though, and given that their last County Cup outing at Meadow Lane two years ago saw them beaten in the quarter-finals 7-1 in a very one-sided- and perishingly cold- contest, shows how much Magna have improved certainly this season.

There were no issues with waterlogging in the other tie on Tuesday night, as Kirby Muxloe Reserves took on Heather St John Reserves on a 3G pitch in the one outstanding tie in the first round of the City Goldsmiths President's Trophy. That match was initially abandoned due to thunder and lightning in the vicinity of Kirby on 21 September. It was Heather who came out on top, after Ewan Lilleyman and Finlay Piper gave Kirby a 2-1 lead at half-time, riposting to Jimmy Chandler's second-minute strike for Heather. The visitors though bossed things after the break, Kyle Wooldridge drawing them level, Chandler giving them the lead with his second, and Sam Hankin rounding off three goals in 16 minutes to book Heather's passage to round two.