Stevenage teams certainly came out on top against their county rivals as four of the five sides in action in round one of the Herts Junior Cup made it through. Steve Stapleton made it six goals in three games with a hat-trick for his new team MBDA Res, th

Stevenage teams certainly came out on top against their county rivals as four of the five sides in action in round one of the Herts Junior Cup made it through.

Steve Stapleton made it six goals in three games with a hat-trick for his new team MBDA Res, the third coming after a flowing move culminated in Andy Jackson's superb cross, while Dave Byatt and Alan Kenney also chipped in at Welwyn Campus.

After a slow start to the season, the most dramatic winners were Athletico Timebridge. Along with an own goal, Kyle Brown and Ryall Swartz also netted in reply to Hatfield Sports' three goals before Alan Bellott's late winner.

Gary Henniker and Kevin Ward helped themselves to a brace apiece as Fox thrashed Bradmore Rovers.

Marquis of Lorne hotshot Carl Thompson was on the goal trail again with a hat-trick, Lee Wilson, Mark Greenall, Ant Alcock and an own goal also saw off Greenacres Tavern.

The only side defeated were AFC Stevenage, Luke Brackenbury's volleyed equaliser not enough at KGR.

In the Premier Division, Mark Barnes was back from holiday for league leaders and current champions Nirankari Sports Sabha. Barnes traded a goal with Bedwell Athletic's Dean Wylie before running riot to add a second-half hat-trick.

The Vooght family was represented by six playing cousins as well as manager Mick for Hermit of Redcoats. His boy John struck when firstly he followed in a shot that the keeper fumbled before out-pacing the defence to chip it past the keeper for his second.

A Shaun McDermott brace drew Broadhall level before Vooght scored from a goalmouth scramble and then after beating two players, made room and fired into the top corner for the goal of the game for his fourth.

Seventeen-year-old debutant Charlie Cook made it five with a volley before 16-year-old debutant Simon Vooght and Bobby Dance put them out of sight.

Dun Cow bounced back from last week's defeat as Adam Furness struck twice more; Scott Mahoney and the impressive new signing Ian Thorne were also on the mark. An Ian Woodfield brace and an own goal were not quite enough in a late rally for Station in a seven-goal thriller.

Bottles took the lead against the run of play through Rob Yates before pressure saw Dean McCullagh strike from 25 yards to double the lead. McCullagh hit the crossbar before First Division champions Mallard inevitably rallied and Craig Reynolds converted a penalty. Bottles' reply was instant as Leeroy Odd fired home but yet another late twist saw Reynolds convert from the spot again.

Despite Joe Chilton's strike for the second successive week for Old Red Lion, they were well beaten. AFC Proverbial ran riot as Russell Bull - back from suspension - banged in a hat-trick, Darren Mortimer struck twice while Dave Morbin and Ross Kane also bagged a goal apiece.

Pin Green won the battle of the top two in Division One after Richard Griffiths' speculative effort went under MBDA keeper Ian Mann's foot for the only goal.

Man of the match Adam MacKenzie got things under way with a superb header and a fine brace from Richard Hall sealed a comfortable win as Probuild thrashed new boys Aston Athletic. Michael Bunker (two), Barry Greenaway, Tony Lister and Terry Pateman were also on target.

Coopers attempted to play for offside, only for the advancing winger Paul Orchard to nip in and strike past new goalkeeper Glenn Collins to put Peartree in front at the break.

On as a Coopers substitute, new signing Jack Bradshaw made an immediate impact, drilling a 30-yard pass to Christian Goodyear, who hit a low strike home. Fellow substitute Sam Delasalle saw a cross-shot turn the game around before a hobbling Goodyear finished Brad Harrison's through ball to finish matters.

Callum Newbury, John Johnston, Tom Montague, Grant Sullivan and Mitchell Fox were on target as Pig and Whistle led Stevenage Celtic Supporters before the break but the game was abandoned, so the committee will decide the outcome.

Biggest winners were Breachwood Lions. Danny Jefferies (hat-trick), Danny Dye (two), Ian Canning (penalty), Mark Harris and Peter Farr netted against Stevenage Colts Old Boys, as did Mark Bushey with his first goal for the club.

In Division Two, FC Rising Sun stayed top after a magnificent late comeback. Andy Davis and Luke Mitchell each netted a brace and Kologo Richards also scored against Granby St George for whom Si Longman (two) and Greg Bradbury were on target.

Daniel Webb, Tony Webb, Craig Braine and Olly Roworth scored as Emperors Head routed Triage.

Crooked Billet were thankful to good strikes from James Ougham, Michael Krstik and Josh Watson to see off Newcotech.

Norwich Union started brightly and took the lead when the ball was touched to James Anderson to fire home from a free-kick and they increased it when Dave Banks finished off a good move. Rapidsource got back in the game after the break through Deane Cooper, Anderson netted from the spot and from an overhead kick to complete an excellent hat-trick before Jon London netted a consolation. Ed Holloway volleyed home from Craig Dillnutt's cross for Union's fifth.

In a topsy-turvy game, Carl Lingwood netted the opener for King Pin United before Martin Matthews struck twice before the break for Old Social. Lingwood scored again before setting up Lewis Littlechild. Social caused another twist netting through Matthews and Dan Pinkerton. Pin were awarded a penalty with five minutes remaining which Carl's brother Danny Lingwood despatched.

The top two also met in Division Three. Bottles Res would have been forgiven for thinking it was job done as John Saunders netted his seventh league goal and Rob Duckworth added two, the second a peach. White Horse had other ideas as Frazer Triggs pulled one back before brothers Darren and Jason Lovelock struck to give them a draw in the proverbial game of two halves.

Always be on your guard against MC Racing in the latter stages! They may have lost their 100 per cent start but Steve Teale snatched a point at the death. A goal from James Cox had opened the scoring for them against his old club, Hen and Chickens, before a strong header from Simon O'Reilly saw the keeper push the ball on to one of his defenders and Rob Barnes' 10th goal from the last 11 matches from the spot after Keeley Ridge was tripped had put the Chicks in front.

North Herts Celtic were eventually overrun despite Aidy Cocks and Alan Mitchell's strikes. Crown won for the first time thanks to Ben Coles (two), Dan Barnes, Tom Karney and Mike Day.

P Compiled by Darren Statto Jones

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

RESULTS

(Sunday, September 17)

Herts Junior Cup, round one: Ath Timebridge 4 Hatfield Spts 3, Fox 4 Bradmore R 0, KGR 2 AFC Stev 1, Marquis of Lorne 7 Greenacres Tav 4, Welwyn Campus 0 MBDA Res 5.

Premier Division: Bedwell Ath 1 Nirankari SS 4, Broadhall 2 Hermit of Redcoats 7, Dun Cow 4 Station 3, Mallard 2 Bottles 3, Old Red Lion 1 AFC Proverbial 7. Division One: Aston Ath 0 Probuild 8, MBDA 0 Pin Green 1, Peartree 1 Coopers 3, Stev Celtic Supps 1 Pig and Whistle 5 (abandoned 45 mins), Stev Colts OB 0 Breachwood L 9. Division Two: Emperors Head 4 Triage 0, FC Rising Sun 5 Granby St George 3, Newcotech 0 Crooked Billet 3, Norwich Union 5 Rapidsource 2, Old Social 4 King Pin Utd 4. Division Three: Hen and Chickens 2 MC Racing 2, North Herts Celtic 2 Crown 5, White Horse 3 Bottles Res 3. Invitation Cup: Hogshead v Procladd (off).

FIXTURES

(Sunday, September 24)

Premier Division: AFC Proverbial v Bedwell Ath (KG3), Bottles v Dun Cow (MP), Hermit of Redcoats v Mallard (10.00, SP1), Nirankari SS v Old Red Lion (Bald), Station v Broadhall (10.30, SP3). Division One: Breachwood L v Stev Celtic Supps (Brea), Coopers v Probuild (PP5), Hogshead v MBDA (CP3), Pin Green v Peartree (CW1), Stev Colts OB v Aston Ath (10.00, SP4). Division Two: FC Rising Sun v Rapidsource (KG2), Granby St George v Emperors Head (CP2), Newcotech v Old Social (10.30, SP5), ProCladd v King Pin Utd (CW4), Triage v Crooked Billet (PP1). Division Three: AFC Stev v Marquis of Lorne (CP1), Ath Timebridge v Hen and Chickens (RE4), Bottles Res v Fox (KG1), Crown v MC Racing (PP3), MBDA Res v North Herts Celtic (Barc).

Invitation Cup: Pig and Whistle (0v2) White Horse (RE3).