NIRANKARI Sports Sabha s National Cup hopes ended with a three-goal defeat at Arlesey Town FC against Bury Park SC. It was also County Cup week again where our Division Three sides were in action Unfortunately we won only four of the ten ties. Bottles Res

NIRANKARI Sports Sabha's National Cup hopes ended with a three-goal defeat at Arlesey Town FC against Bury Park SC.

It was also County Cup week again where our Division Three sides were in action

Unfortunately we won only four of the ten ties. Bottles Reserves were the biggest winners, bouncing back from their first league defeat with five from Rob Duckworth, as well as strikes from Glen Day, Steve Johnson, John Saunders and Justin Brown against Ye Old Reds.

Gareth Johnson and Ben Coles netted in Crown's win against KGR.

Carl Thompson's brace saw off Lea Valley Royals Reserves as Chequers came back to Stevenage with their name in the hat for the next round.

The other victors were MC Racing, a Nik Tribe lob and Steve Teale's excellent free-kick left the game level before substitute Tom Kelly and a late strike from Steve Koop saw off Peartree 2005.

Kyle Brown's goal took Athletico Timebridge into extra-time, where Radcliffe Arms nicked another one.

White Horse were well beaten at Briery. MBDA Reserves were beaten by a goal in each half against Hitchin's Division Two leaders George & Dragon (Baldock).

Gary Henniker netted a consolation for Fox in Harpenden against the George. Twin Foxes' ageing side were well beaten by a very useful and youthful AC Finchley Select 'B' whilst Aidy Cocks' penalty was mere consolation as North Herts Celtic were well beaten by White Bear United.

Bottles took advantage of Sabha's break from league action by giving Broadhall their second heavy beating in succession. Leeroy Odd (four), Lee Horsley (two), Dean McCullagh (two) and Piers Le-Grand were on target to send them top of the pile.

Sunday will see the long-awaited return from suspension of Bedwell Athletic hotshot Joel Mason, without him they went second after Liam Errington lobbed home for the only goal of the game against Dun Cow. An Ian Baker brace on his return from injury and another from Adam Hazelton, who headed home from Tom Henry's cross, saw an improved Mallard gain another three points against basement side Old Red Lion to move up to fourth. Ian Woodfield and Chris Simpson were on target as Station saw off AFC Proverbial.

Division One leaders Pin Green were held by Pig and Whistle. Little Gary Chambers turned in a cross at the back post and Richard Griffiths converted a penalty after Gazzan Affana was upended to give them the lead. But two more great strikes from John Johnston saw the Pig to a deserved point.

Aston Athletic are clearly out of their depth, but must be commended on their spirit and have vowed to battle on and see the season out after MBDA won by a rugby score. Jamie Campany top scored with eight goals, Tom Younger hit five, Daz Wilson, Olly Rice and an outrageous 35-yard strike from Rich Parry completed the scoring. Probuild are the only 100 percent side in the division as Michael Bunker (two), Stuart MacKenzie, Tony Lister and Dave Clements netted without reply against Stevenage Colts Old Boys.

Breachwood Lions edged into third after an excellent win. John Harvey opened the scoring from an Ian Canning cross, before Brian Challis equalised for Hogshead. Harvey netted again from an Adam Burnage cross before the break. Canning grabbed the goal of the game when he cut in to curl into the top corner. Stevenage Celtic Supporters v Coopers was postponed, with the Committee to decide on the outcome.

FC Rising Sun are still 100 percent in Division Two. Andrew Davis finished a great run by Chris Bunker for the opener, Adam Bannister equalised for King Pin United before half-time with a looping effort. Kologo Richards scored via an in-direct free-kick past a nine-man wall and goalkeeper before Akers headed home from a long throw-in. Lee Kitching netted from a rebound after some good skill before the impressive Riyston Williams got in on the act for a good team goal. Kitching grabbed his second before Williams did likewise, following up after his initial shot came off the post. Lewis Littlechild grabbed another consolation.

Crooked Billet made it a three-way tie on 15 points at the top with a win over Granby St George. James Anderson fired home for Norwich Union before Dave Banks headed in an Ian Woods free-kick. Ten-man ProCladd rallied through Cody Kendrick just before the break, but Banks sealed the points from Anderson's back-heel. Jon Pace made his 100th appearance, a week after scoring his first goal.

Jimmy Erwood (two) and Danny Welch netted as Newcotech beat basement side Triage, for whom Neil Roskilly netted. Old Social stayed fifth thanks to Paul Staines (two), Stuart Archer (two), Dan Pinkerton and Michael Potter against Rapidsource. Darren Brittle, Lawrence Allen and Jon London were on target.

Tawhid Juneja and Craig Gilbert scored for Hermit of Redcoats to level the two-goal deficit in the Invitation Cup against Emperors Head.

James Khakpour-Smith opened the scoring for Peartree and also hit a second-half hat-trick, Steve Cob grabbed his first two goals for the club, Ross Jackson netted before Dan Curtin finished a multi-player passing move with a 20 yard bullet into the top corner. Ryan Gregory and Lewis Bray grabbed the consolations for AFC Stevenage.

RESULTS : FA Carlsberg Cup (round one): Bury Park SC 3 Nirankari SS 0.

Herts Junior Cup (round two): Ath Timebridge 1 Radcliffe Arms 2 (aet), Bottles Res 9 Ye Old Reds 3, Briery 3 White Horse 0, Crown 2 KGR 1, George (Harpenden) 4 Fox 1, George & Dragon (Baldock) 2 MBDA Res 0, Lea Valley Royals Res 1 Chequers 2, MC Racing 4 Peartree 2005 2, North Herts Celtic 1 White Bear Utd 5, Twin Foxes 0 AC Finchley Select 'B' 6.

Premier Division: Bedwell Ath 1 Dun Cow 0, Bottles 9 Broadhall 0, Mallard 3 Old Red Lion 0, Station 2 AFC Proverbial 0.

Division One: Hogshead 1 Breachwood L 3, MBDA 16 Aston Ath 0, Pig & Whistle 2 Pin Green 2, Stev Celtic Supps v Coopers (off), Stev Colts OB's 0 Probuild 5.

Division Two: FC Rising Sun 7 King Pin Utd 2, Granby St George 0 Crooked Billet 2, Newcotech 3 Triage 1, Norwich Union 3 ProCladd 1, Old Social 6 Rapidsource 3. Invitation Cup: Hermit of Redcoats 2 Emperors Head 2, Peartree 8 AFC Stev 4

FIXTURES : KLM Challenge Cup (preliminary round): Aston Ath v MBDA (10.00, CP1), Bottles v Nirankari SS (10.00, MP), Crooked Billet v Dun Cow (10.00, KG1), FC Rising Sun v MC Racing (10.00, KG2), MBDA Res v Fox (Barc), ProCladd v Bedwell Ath (10.00, CW4), Rapidsource v Granby St George (10.00, PP5), Station v Chequers (10.00, SP3), Stev Celtic Supps v Emperors Head (10.00, PP1), Triage v Coopers (10.00, PP3), Twin Foxes v Mallard (10.00, SP5).

Premier Division: AFC Proverbial v Hermit of Redcoats (KG3), Broadhall v Old Red Lion (10.30, SP4).

Division One: Hogshead v Peartree (CP3), Pin Green v Breachwood L (CW1), Probuild v Pig & Whistle (CP2).

Division Two: King Pin Utd v Newcotech (HP3), Old Social v Norwich Union (RE5).

Division Three: Ath Timebridge v AFC Stev (RE4), Crown v Bottles Res (RE3), North Herts Celtic v White Horse (HP2)

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

P Compiled by Darren Statto Jones

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