The Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League IT was a mixed weekend for Stevenage league teams in the county cup. Lee Kitching was the FC Rising Sun hero as they destroyed fellow 100 per centers Horse and Groom. He grabbed a hat-trick. Michael Hatch, Kologo

The Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League

IT was a mixed weekend for Stevenage league teams in the county cup.

Lee Kitching was the FC Rising Sun hero as they destroyed fellow 100 per centers Horse and Groom. He grabbed a hat-trick. Michael Hatch, Kologo Richards and Andrew Davies also netted.

Newcotech were the other Division Two side to make it through. An own goal set them on their way before Tom Bowgett doubled the lead. Adam Paine's pass saw him score again and he completed his hat-trick from Andy Gibb's long punt just after the break. Buntingford Cougars Adults' goal was a scant consolation as skipper Danny Hukin tapped in the fifth to set up a trip to Onnett.

Pig and Whistle beat Roundbush with ease, Darren Bartlett (two), Jason Milburn, Ryan Chilcott, Tom Montague's first for the club, a rare Tony Goldsmith strike and James Thomas on the mark.

Hogshead won by the odd goal in seven against Welwyn Rangers, Brendan Moulton and Ricky Mait each bagging a brace.

There were a couple of all-Stevenage ties too. Pin Green took the lead against Emperors Head through Gazzan Afana from Richard Griffiths' cut-back. Sean Soards then scored an absolute stunner, curling home from 30 yards into the top right corner. Griffiths rolled the ball home despite being wrestled to the floor and Gary Chambers netted for the second successive week from yet another Griffiths cut-back.

Gary Pomfret netted inside five minutes to get the ball rolling and give 10-man Probuild the lead.

Mark Lockyear doubled their money on the hour by heading in a corner before Pomfret netted the goal of the game, Kenny Slack's 60-yard pass was controlled before he volleyed over the keeper's head.

Rapidsource captain Paul Gair pulled one back with a deft volley into the top corner before Slack capped a fine performance with a 35-yard drive into the top corner.

Paul Tully from 30 yards and Paul Saunders' cross-shot twice put Granby St George in front, but Red Lion from Hemel turned the game around to win comfortably.

King Pin United were beaten by last season's cup runners-up from Enfield, Apoel. However, the scoreline does not reflect how the game went as two goals were scored in the last 10 minutes as they pushed on to recover something.

After going behind, they levelled thanks to a 30-yard strike from Danny Lingwood for one of the goals of the season. They fell behind again just before the break and then stretched it just inside the second-half before the late strikes.

Having reached the quarter finals last season, Breachwood Lions' hopes were ended as Langleybury Cricket Club broke and headed home for the opener.

Late in the game, the ball landed in a crowded Lions penalty area, which they were unable to clear and the inevitable happened. Mark Bushey battled to help them get something from the game but a scuffle with an opponent led to both receiving a straight red card.

A fiery game saw both Lee Falanga and John Watson sent-off for Crooked Billet. They were level at 3-3 with five minutes to go thanks to James Ougham and Jamie Gulliver (two), but three late goals took Hornets through.

A Darren Smith brace was not enough for Old Social at Lime Kiln.

ProCladd started with 10 men and found themselves down to nine men after Nicky Swaine was sent-off. Cody Kendrick netted the only goal against Hexton. However, with only three minutes left, the final whistle was blown early due to a fight.

Stevenage Colts Old Boys were hit by two goals from Cheshunt.

Coopers won by default against Highway Hoddesdon (and now host Wormley Rovers), while Norwich Union's inability to field a side at Robin Hood (who now host FC Rising Sun) also saw them forfeit.

The third round is on December 3, where there are three more all-Stevenage ties - Peartree v MBDA, Pig and Whistle v Probuild, and Pin Green v Hogshead.

In the Premier Division Cup, Bedwell Athletic set up a last eight meeting with Mallard.

Tony Wells' shot was wickedly deflected in for the opener, slightly against the run of play. They went two up as Liam Errington lobbed the keeper.

Old Red Lion pulled one back through Joe Delasalle from a set-piece before James Blythe hit a swerving shot from 35 yards to net, thanks largely to some poor goalkeeping. The sides traded a goal apiece in the second-half through second goals for Errington and Delasalle.

Dun Cow set up a crunch with Bottles as Adam Furness set the ball rolling. Alan Collins netted for Broadhall, who were much improved on recent weeks. However, Ryan Jenner and Scott Mahoney put holders Cow through.

Bottles took advantage to go top of the Premier Division again in a cracking game. Leeroy Odd (two), Mark McCullagh and Warren Grieve were on target. AFC Proverbial replied through Ross Kane (two) and Russell Bull.

Nirankari Sports Sabha are hot on their heels after staying 100 per cent, despite being behind. Andrew Levy (two), Adrian Johnson and Jasdev Khangura scored. Andy Pilgrim and an own goal had put Mallard 2-1 up.

Ian Woodfield nicked the only goal of the game as Station beat previous leaders Hermit of Redcoats.

In Division One, credit goes to Aston Athletic. After a 16-0 bashing by MBDA, they followed that with an improved performance, losing by five to the same opponents, the next game saw them grab their first point of the season against Coopers last week, and this week they won for the first time as a club. Ashley Muncer gave them the lead on the half-hour and doubled it on the hour with a 25-yard lob. Morning signing Simon Broom added the third against a disappointing SCS (formerly Stevenage Celtic Supporters).

A Steve Cobb goal just before half-time and a superb free-kick by Dan Curtin in the last minute saw Peartree deservedly take the points against Coopers.

In Division Three, leaders Bottles Res won big. John Saunders (hat-trick), Robbie Duckworth (two), Steve Johnson (two) and Paul Dare netted against Twin Foxes (Martin Clark).

Kyle Brown and Dean Cooper gave basement side Athletico Timebridge a two-goal lead. They also hit the bar. MBDA Res, who also hit the bar, stormed back to level at half-time through a Steve Stapleton double and Daemon Lee won it, sliding home from Darren Jones' through ball.

Ben Coles and Steve Bull netted as Crown shared the spoils with Chequers (Carl Thompson and Ant Alcock).

John Batcheldor received the referee of the year award for 2005-6 - based on the marks given by the clubs from each game - at Monday's league meeting.

The following was also decided: SCS versus Pig and Whistle, which was abandoned at half-time at 1-5, will be replayed, as will ProCladd versus Crooked Billet, which went ahead after the referee deemed the pitch unplayable.

Crooked Billet's 3-0 win over Rapidsource is now a victory to their opponents as they fielded an ineligible player, while the Coopers versus Probuild abandonment (2-4) decision will be delayed until the Herts FA have got back to the committee.

Another attempt - the third - was made to increase the referees' fees from £22 per match to £25. The show of hands came out approximately 60-2 in favour and this will be effective from Sunday.

P Compiled by Darren Statto Jones

(statto@cssfl.co.uk, www.cssfl.co.uk)

RESULTS

Sunday, November 5

Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup second round: Apoel 5 King Pin Utd 1, Breachwood L 0 Langleybury CC 2, Buntingford Cougars 1 Newcotech 5, FC Rising Sun 6 Horse & Groom 2, Granby St George 2 Red Lion Hemel 5, Highway Hoddesdon v Coopers (off; away win by default), Hogshead 4 Welwyn R 3, Hornets 6 Crooked Billet 3, Lime Kiln 5 Old Social 2, Pin Green 4 Emperors Head 0, ProCladd 1 Hexton 5, Rapidsource 1 Probuild 4, Robin Hood v Norwich Union (off; home win by default), Roundbush 2 Pig & Whistle 7, Stev Colts OB 0 Cheshunt 2.

Premier Division Cup preliminary round: Bedwell Ath 4 Old Red Lion 2, Dun Cow 3 Broadhall 1.

Premier Division: AFC Proverbial 3 Bottles 4, Mallard 2 Nirankari SS 4, Station 1 Hermit of Redcoats 0.

Division One: Aston Ath 3 SCS 0, Coopers 0 Peartree 2.

Division Three: Crown 2 Chequers 2, Fox v White Horse (off), MBDA Res 3 Ath Timebridge 2, MC Racing v North Herts Celtic (off), Twin Foxes 1 Bottles Res 8.

Invitation Cup: Triage v AFC Stev (off).

FIXTURES

Sunday, November 12

Herts Sunday Junior Cup third round: Bottles Res v West Watford CC (10.00, KG1), Crown v Berkhamsted Rangers (10.00, PP3), Europcar v Chequers (10.30), MC Racing v St Albans Royals (10.00, RE4).

KLM Challenge Cup preliminary round: Broadhall v Stev Colts OB (10.00, SP4).

Division One Cup preliminary round: MBDA v Pig & Whistle (off), Peartree v SCS (10.00, PP1).

Premier Division: Bedwell Ath v Station (HP2), Dun Cow v Mallard (MP), Hermit of Redcoats v Bottles (10.30, SP1), Nirankari SS v Old Red Lion (Bald).

Division One: Breachwood L v Hogshead (Brea), Pin Green v Aston Ath (RE3), Probuild v Coopers (CP2).

Division Two: Crooked Billet v Norwich Union (KG2), Granby St George v Old Social (CP3), Newcotech v FC Rising Sun (HP3), ProCladd v Emperors Head (CW4), Triage v King Pin Utd (KG3).

Division Three: AFC Stev v North Herts Celtic (CP1), Ath Timebridge v Fox (RE5), White Horse v Twin Foxes (10.00, SP3).

Invitation Cup: Rapidsource (0v1) MBDA Res (PP5).

(all games kick-off at 10.15 unless otherwise stated)