Hitchin Sunday League: AC Malone win 12-goal thriller in cup

The Division One side were playing Division Two Hitcin Rovers in the Carl Couzens Challenge Cup and Stanton's treble proved vital as they went through 7-5.

Rovers took the lead within two minutes from a corner but Malone responded straight away when great play from Will Payne put it on a plate for Stanton to notch his first.

Payne then was provider again as his corner was smashed in at the near post by Ben Fairey for 2-1 before Rovers roared back with two goals on their own.

AC would have the lead again by half-time though.

Phil Payne won the ball high up the pitch before setting Stanton up and Fairey repaid the favour to Will Payne to make it 4-3.

The second half started excellently for Malone.

Goalkeeper Dan Garcia’s long kick went over the Hitchin Rovers defence and Fairey won the race against the Rovers keeper, nodding the ball over him.

Five then became six when Dion Gibbs’s long ball found Riley Saward who slotted in on his first appearance of the season and another long ball over the top, this time from centre-back Sam Middleton gave Stanton his hat-trick.

Rovers weren’t finished though and two goals in the last 10 minutes added a few nerves if little alarm for Malone.

FC Inter Malone lost 10-3 to fellow Division One side Squirrel Taverners while Chells Rovers from Division One edged through 5-4 against The Cock from Division Two.

Two more Division Two sides faced each other with Sandon beating Buffs 5-0 and another second tier outfit, St Ippolyts won 3-2 against Down & Under from Division Three.

North Herts Hatters were away to Hertford Club De Futbol in the third round of the Herts Sunday Junior Cup but fell to a 2-0 defeat.

In the first round of the Division Three Cup, Kimpton put in a hugely improved performance against undefeated Saint Evenage, but still slipped to a 5-1 defeat.

They set up defensively with the aim of halting Saint Evenage’s goal scoring machine but they were undone early doors with a route one ball that was finished from just inside the box.

The home side doubled their lead before the break from the penalty spot but were lucky to hold that two goal advantage with Cal Taylor’s header from a corner was ruled out for a push.

Kimpton started the brighter in the second half, forcing the home keeper into a couple of quality saves, but unfortunately, they were undone again after 61 minutes on the counter attack.

Nick Jessop of Kimpton was denied by an offside flag before Saints put the game beyond them with two more.

However, with 10 minutes remaining Kyle Males got a consolation goal from the penalty spot after he had been fouled.

In Division One of the league, Coach & Horses had a good 6-0 win at home against Pied Piper to go top while Atletico 99 gained a victory over North Baldock by a solitary goal.

Arlesey Town won 4-2 at home against Troll Campbell in Division Two, jumping above their opponents into third, while Stotfold Juniors moved up two places with a 6-0 win over Ashwell.

In Division Three Khoi Khoi won 4-3 at home to Cronies while Feed Up Warm Up beat Niche 2-1 to move up to fourth.