With the borough council making a second clean sweep of the season to preserve their pitches, just three games went ahead involving local sides. It has meant a huge backlog for some teams already, none more so than Nirankari Sports Sabha, whose county cup

With the borough council making a second clean sweep of the season to preserve their pitches, just three games went ahead involving local sides.

It has meant a huge backlog for some teams already, none more so than Nirankari Sports Sabha, whose county cup game was postponed for a second time.

Other than this competition, they have the KLM Challenge Cup, the Premier Division Cup and still 11 league games to play.

The KLM Challenge Cup games postponed on Sunday will also have to be rescheduled.

Nirankari Sports Sabha Res reached the last eight of the Herts Sunday Junior Cup after a thrilling win at Highgate Redwing.

Russell Bull bagged four more, partner-in-crime Lee Wilson hit another two, while Sam Spencer got the other.

They will now meet Mill End Sports at home on February 10 for a place in the semi-finals. They will avoid holders White Bear United until the final on?April 6 if both sides should progress all the way.

A good-natured Premier Division match was played out at The Thomas Alleyne School.

Away side JAP Builders took the lead with the wind behind them on the quarter of an hour when a free-kick from Martin Young was palmed into his own net by DC Out Bar goalkeeper Kyal Currey.

The scores were level on the half hour when DC captain Gav Bowler charged down two attempted clearances and whipped in a superb cross for Josh Dance to guide his header home from the edge of the six-yard box.

The second half was end-to-end stuff and both teams had good chances.

After a period of applying some sustained pressure, JAP managed to make the breakthrough and seal the victory just three minutes from time.

Young was involved again when he picked up the ball from deep, after beating three players his strike hit the standing leg of Ray Downes as he tried to block the shot and the ball spun into the opposite corner of Currey's net. Possibly another own goal, but Young was claiming this one as they leapfrogged their victims.

The only other game saw the 100 per cent record of ProCladd ended in Division Three at Marriotts School after the game was switched from a soggy Canterbury Way.

Despite only having 11 players available, Stevenage Leisure fielded their strongest side of the season, which they needed on this day.

The deadlock was broken as a poor clearance was picked up by Jamie Drackford and his shot luckily found the net. They doubled the lead when a long ball from the evergreen Ian Morton found Drackford again, he beat the defence and hit a good shot into the bottom corner.

With 10 minutes of the half remaining, the leaders forced a penalty kick.

However, Alex Lucy saved a poor effort from Neil Henderson as Leisure survived.

ProCladd upped the tempo after the break, they hit the post, crossbar and had around 10 good chances. They set up a tense finish when Darren Fletcher shot low into the bottom corner, but they could not force a point.

* Compiled by Darren 'Statto' Jones

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

RESULTS

(Sunday, January 13)

Herts Sunday Junior Cup, round five: Highgate Redwing 4 Nirankari SS Res 7.

Premier Division: DC Out Bar 1 JAP Builders 2.

Division Three: ProCladd 1 Stev Leisure 2.

FIXTURES

(Sunday, January 20)

Herts Sunday Senior Cup, round four: Nirankari SS v Queens Head Sandridge (venue tbc).

KLM Challenge Cup, round two: Dun Cow v Pig and Whistle (MP), King Pin Utd v Stev Leisure (HP3), Probuild v Bedwell Ath (10.15am, Alle), Putterills v Pin Green (CW4).

Premier Division: Mallard v Broadhall (KG3), Nirankari SS P DC Out Bar P.

Division One: Emperors Head v Breachwood Lions (HP2), Stev Colts OB v Peartree (10:30, SP1), Times Club v Pied Piper (CP2).

Division Two: Fox v Royal Oak (RE3), Marquis of Lorne v Aston Ath (10am, SP5), Old Social v Bottles Res (RE5), SCS v Dun Cow Res (PP5).

Division Three: Chequers v Twin Foxes (KG2), Hogshead v MC Racing (CP3), MBDA v A1 Trophies (Barc).

Division Four: Broadhall Res v Nirankari SS Res (10.30am, SP4), Coach and Horses v Rileys (PP1), North Herts Celtic v Stev Fencing (CW1), Roebuck Gate v Ath Timebridge (10am, SP3), Woolmer Grn Foxes v Yorkshire Grey (Wool).]

Invitation Cup: Tom Tiddlers T (2v0) DC Out Bar (KG1).

(All league and Invitation Cup games kick-off 10.15am,

cup games 10am, unless otherwise stated)