The dream Herts Sunday Senior Cup final did not materialise but it was not total disappointment. The new-look Dun Cow tea reached their fourth final in five years, only bettered by two other sides since the competition began. They were inferior to S&N F

The 'dream' Herts Sunday Senior Cup final did not materialise but it was not total disappointment.

The new-look Dun Cow tea reached their fourth final in five years, only bettered by two other sides since the competition began.

They were inferior to S&N Fairway in the opening 20 minutes before the game evened out before half-time. S&N were limited to just two chances, one a glaring miss, the other a superb save from Ash Mawer.

With 25 minutes remaining, the breakthrough came. A 30-yard pass from Scott Mahoney led to Adam Furness finding the corner of the net.

Cow came strong in the last 10 minutes when a delicate chip from Ryan Jenner allowed Furness to deliver the killer second.

Unfortunately, Bedwell Athletic mirrored West Ham's game on Sunday with Spurs.

They outplayed Ashwell for the first half an hour, and were two in front. Tony Wells opened the scoring when he saw the keeper off of his line and lobbed him from fully 40 yards from a free-kick. Good teamwork for the second goal saw the ball passed around the box and into Steve Underwood to fire home.

A goalmouth scramble led to a shot deflecting off Chris Mathews into the net just before the break.

Ashwell had their tails up and started the second-half the better side, and when a corner was only half cleared, the ball was knocked in from close range. Bedwell kicked off and immediately went back in front. Some good team play culminated in Dean Wylie supplying a cross for the on-rushing Az Mason to supply a calm finish into the bottom corner.

Ashwell restored parity again when a free-kick was floated into the box, Adam Buckingham tried to clear with a diving header but unfortunately it agonisingly went in off the far post for an own goal.

The winner came when a long goal-kick from the keeper bounced once and Az Springham could do nothing with the looping header which sailed over his head.

Nirankari Sports Sabha stayed top of the Premier Division as Andrew Levy was among the goals with a hat-trick against Old Red Lion. In reply, Gary Smith netted on his debut and Danny Hillard tucked away a penalty.

Bottles kept up the pace as Warren Grieve bagged a hat-trick. Richie Vannon and Dean Horsley were also on target against Station.

Division One is now realistically open to four teams after an incredible result at the top. Just two points separate them now, with still six matches involving them to come!

Despite falling foul of the weather at Canterbury Way, the teams jumped in their cars and trotted along to Barclay School.

MBDA were in front when Ray Downes tucked away a penalty after Jamie Campany was scythed down. Campany made it two from Ade Barry's cross before league leaders Pin Green got back in it just before half-time when Paul Ryan flicked home from close range.

Tom Younger scored a terrific volley from six yards after Barry had crossed again, before adding another when he swept home from Alex Burman's flick-on.

Pin Green woke up again and got to within a goal when Alex Lawrence slid home an own goal and Sean Soards hit a terrific volley. They also hit the post, having earlier hit the bar, but it was Younger's day as he netted again from Gav Bowler's pass and got his 30th goal of the season when Alan Kenney's cross was not cleared.

Lee Allinson (two), Kenny Slack, Terry Pateman, Stu MacKenzie, Michael Bunker and Dan Gregory were on target as Probuild stayed second after hitting seven against Stevenage Colts Old Boys for the second successive week.

John Johnston went nap, bagging all five for Pig and Whistle in their trouncing of Breachwood Lions.

It was only one-nil at the break before Johnston added four more in the second-half. Jason Milburn and Darren Bartlett were the creators, all of which were virtually in the six-yard box. George Harrison scored a consolation.

Peartree saw off SCS in both games of a double header.

James Khakpour-Smith opened the scoring with a diving header, Paul Orchard made it two before putting a corner on the head of Jordan Dineen to complete the scoring in the opening game.

Khakpour-Smith back-heeled the ball into the box to Steve Cobb for the opener in match two. The favour was returned for Khakpour-Smith for the second, Adrian Wenn then scored with a 35-yarder. Dan Curtin netted from a free-kick and Wayne Clark scored his first for the club after yet another Khakpour-Smith assist.

The other game saw Coopers gain a creditable point in a difficult season. Dexter Dowse gave Royal Oak the lead before top scorer Calvert Garnes doubled it.

The change of ends gave Coopers the advantage of the wind, and from a corner, Kevin Childs swung the kick straight into the net.

However, Oak restored the two-goal lead when Lee Dowsett smashed home. Another corner saw the score reduced to one as Danny Wardell delivered, Tom Bradshaw flicked on and centre-half Martin Barrett finished from six yards with 20 minutes remaining.

Another Wardell corner saw Steve Harris rise highest to fire in a header from six yards to level the scores.

Division Two basement boys Triage finally got their first points - and three of them at that.

Neil Roskilly netted the only goal of the first part of a double header against ProCladd.

Obviously the euphoria got the better of them and despite another from Roskilly and an Ian Agass strike, Carl Fletcher (two), Rich Shaw (two), Neil Henderson and Phil Whiting gave ProCladd three easy points in the second match.

Rapidsource look doomed with them as Jason Haslam and Ed Smith's goals were not enough against Newcotech for whom Jason Drackford (two), Adam Paine and Lee McCarthy were on target.

King Pin United dominated early proceedings but an own goal saw Granby St George take the lead.

James Wyatt and Dave Holmes turned the game around before Wyatt struck the post with a penalty.

Wyatt did score again, as did Holmes for 4-1.

A long-range effort from Greg Bradbury and a Ben Watson tap-in reduced the lead to one again. Wyatt and Holmes each completed hat-tricks, sandwiching a Si Longman strike from distance.

In Division Three, Bottles Res closed the gap at the top to eight points as Justin Brown and Glen Day each netted a brace against Fox (Gary Henniker and an own goal).

A Daniel Burley hat-trick saw North Herts Celtic heap more woes on MC Racing after their recent form. Darren Curry (two) and a Leigh Pollard penalty finished the job, despite consolations from Steve Teale and Nik Tribe.

MBDA Res met Chequers for the second week running, and again lost a two-goal lead. Daemon Lee slid home the opener before the break and Matt Killian's corner went straight in to double the lead.

Hotshot Carl Thompson prodded home via the post before Darren Day headed in the equaliser from a corner with 10 minutes remaining.

The pick of Sunday's big games sees Probuild travel to Enfield to take on Apoel for a place in the last four of the Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup.

There are also five final places up for grabs in the divisional cups.

* Compiled by Darren Statto Jones (statto@cssfl.co.uk, www.cssfl.co.uk)

RESULTS

Sunday, March 4

Herts Sunday Senior Cup, semi-finals: Bedwell Ath 3 Ashwell 4, Dun Cow 2 S&N Fairway 0.

Premier Division: Bottles 5 Station 0, Old Red Lion 2 Nirankari SS 10.

Division One: Breachwood L 1 Pig and Whistle 5, Coopers 3 Royal Oak 3, Pin Green 3 MBDA 6, Probuild 7 Stev Colts OB 0, SCS 0 Peartree 3, Peartree 5 SCS 0.

Division Two: Granby St George 4 King Pin Utd 6, Newcotech 4 Rapidsource 2, Norwich Union v Crooked Billet (off), Triage 1 ProCladd 0, ProCladd 6 Triage 2.

Division Three: Fox 2 Bottles Res 4, MBDA Res 2 Chequers 2, MC Racing 2 North Herts Celtic 6.

FIXTURES

Sunday, March 11

Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup, quarter-finals: Apoel v Probuild (10.30).

Premier Division Cup, quarter-finals: Bedwell Ath v Mallard (HP2), Nirankari SS v Station (10.15, Bald).

Division One Cup, semi-final: Pin Green v Peartree (KG3).

Division Two Cup, semi-finals: Old Social v Newcotech (RE5), Triage v Norwich Union (PP3).

Division Three Cup, semi-finals: Twin Foxes v Bottles Res (SP5), White Horse v Fox (SP4).

Premier Division: Bottles v AFC Proverbial (MP), Hermit of Redcoats v Dun Cow (10.30, SP1).

Division One: MBDA v Breachwood L (Barc), Pig and Whistle v Coopers (RE3), SCS v Aston Ath (PP5), Stev Colts OB v Royal Oak (CP3).

Division Two: FC Rising Sun v Crooked Billet (KG2), King Pin Utd v Rapidsource (HP3), ProCladd v Granby St George (CW4).

Division Three: Ath Timebridge v MBDA Res (RE4), Chequers v Rileys (KG1), MC Racing v AFC Stev (PP1).

Invitation Cup: Broadhall (0v3) North Herts Celtic (10.30, SP3).

(cup games kick-off 10am, league games

10.15am, unless otherwise stated)