It was one of the worst mornings in history for Stevenage clubs in the county cup for the lower division sides (writes Darren Statto Jones). With Nirankari s reserve side reaching the Herts Junior Cup final last season, hopes of emulating them are fadin

It was one of the worst mornings in history for Stevenage clubs in the county cup for the lower division sides (writes Darren 'Statto' Jones).

With Nirankari's reserve side reaching the Herts Junior Cup final last season, hopes of emulating them are fading. Just two clubs out of 14 joined previous week's winners Roebuck Gate in the third round.

MBDA travelled to Hitchin to take on Green Man Ickleford. Two early goals on the small pitch saw them on the ropes, but they hit back quickly thanks to Kyle Watson, Phil Fisher and Danny Hukin. Ashley Kersey headed home after a leveller from the home side to give them the half-time lead by the odd goal in seven.

Green Man restored parity again and the game seemed to be heading for extra-time.

With time up, Kersey slotted home after a scramble following a corner but a magnificent header from 12 yards took the game to an extra half-hour.

Watson's second and Kersey hat-trick strike gave the away side a cushion before a last-minute consolation in a real thriller.

Stevenage Fencing won with ease against Lea Valley Royals Res. Gary Smith headed home the only goal before the break. In the second-half, they ran riot.

Michael Gwilliam, Tom Bowgett, Smith, goalkeeper Leeroy Litchmore from the penalty spot and an own goal was followed by the final nail in the coffin of the side who knocked out MC Racing which came from Chris Tilbury's lovely shot.

North Herts Celtic gave it a real fight before bowing out. They took an early two-goal lead courtesy of Darren Curry, the second a penalty. Thundridge United pulled one back before Celtic went down to 10 men due to injury, having used all three subs. An equaliser with just two minutes of normal time remaining, followed by two in the first period extra-time seemed to take the wind out of the Celtic sails.

However, a real battling performance saw midfielder Dean Wilson skip around two challenges before drilling the ball home. Then, with only seconds left, Sam Lemoir managed to nod in from close range.

In the lottery of penalties, despite Max Howard and Bradley Oliver netting, match scorers Curry and Wilson had their kicks saved, while Trevor Cunningham fired wide as they bowed out.

Stevenage Leisure Ltd lost by a solitary goal at Radlett Village. The lads only travelled with 11 due to work commitments. The home side had a man sent off for pushing Jamie Drackford in the face, but they scored with 10 minutes to go. Carl Smith missed SLL's best chance.

An Ashley Sealy strike two days after his 24th birthday was to no avail as Yorkshire Grey bowed out at Crescent Club. Lewis Sealy (two), Lewis Essam and Joe Whittaker were also on target.

Goals from Brian Challice (two) and Calvert Garnes were not enough as Coopers were beaten by FC Rangers Res.

Stephen Ward's goal was mere consolation for White Lion Walkern at Athletico Hitchin. John Gally scored in Great Ashby's defeat by Real Mail. Leeroy Odd and Terry Lock were on the mark for Athletico Timebridge as they bowed out at Herald United.

Stephen Fahey grabbed the consolation as Broadhall Res were thrashed at Highway Res. Apoel Reserves were easy winners over Red Lion Woolmer Green. Chequers lost at St Albans Royals, while SCS went out at Summers Athletic.

In Premier Division action, last season's top two met. Mallard went in front through a well-taken lob from Glen Lamacraft after good work from Bobby Dance. However, an error by stand-in keeper Tom Henry allowed Leeroy Williams to equalise for Nirankari Sports Sabha.

MH Goldsmith went back to the top of the table after last week's blip. John Johnston pounced for the opener and shortly after the break, Gav Bowler pulled DC Outbar level when his 40-yard free-kick flew in.

Sub Richard Griffiths scored a beauty to restore the lead for Goldsmith, before Mitch Cox pinged in a 20-yard free-kick. Another sub, Ricky Lawrance, supplied Johnston to end the day as he had started it.

Dun Cow are third after a classic. Steve Underwood drove into the net to give Bedwell Athletic the lead before Marc Holmes levelled the scores and Adam Furness put Cow in front.

A bullet diving header from Underwood squared things up before Furness struck twice more to complete his hat-trick.

Underwood then produced his second diving header of the morning and Joel Mason smashed the ball across the keeper into the net for the equaliser. In the dying minutes, Luke Garwood's glancing header from a corner won it for Cow.

Roebuck Scaffolding took an early lead through Gary Pomfret's own goal before a Pomfret corner was met by the head of Dave Morbin for the Probuild equaliser.

Another cross from Pomfret was met by the head of Rich Hall who looped his header home. Terry Pateman struck the decisive goal to kill the game off.

One Division One game did not disappoint as new-look Bottles won a tight and competitive game.

Goalless at half-time, captain Andrew Yates lobbed the ball over the Nirankari Sports Sabha Res keeper to give them the lead.

Sabha hit back and took the lead through Russell Bull and former Bottles striker Piers Le-Grand. Dean McCullagh then won a penalty, which he stepped up to convert. McCullagh crossed the ball for Yates to smash his second into the roof of the net to win it.

Danny Lane, Adam Paine, Mark Phillips and Lee McCarthy netted as Dun Cow Res beat Broadhall. Seventeen-year-old Jake Mongston was again on the mark in reply, as was Dave Stevens.

A low drilled shot from Adam Stevens and James Sheren's audacious back heel saw Pin Green into a two-goal lead. Fox grabbed a share of the points thanks to Dave Sell and Simon Flecknell.

Putterills gained their first point of the season against Herts Fencing in their first goalless draw since March 2007.

Sam Harte and Richard Bell hit the woodwork within seconds of each other midway through the second half, but it petered out into the first scoreless game this season from 88 in total.

In Division Two, Pro-Cladd moved to within a point of the leaders after a stunning last half hour. Jason Lovelock's hat-trick for Marquis of Lorne saw the scores level after an hour.

However, Charlie Barnett (four), George Rowe, Jack Floyd, Neil Henderson, Gary Henderson and an own goal saw the scoreline have a one-sided look about it.

Depleted A1 Trophies were on the back foot from the off against a rampant Hartham Press who moved off the bottom.

Hartham's first goal was slid in by James Khakpour-Smith. The diminutive striker scored again, this time with a header. Andy Parrish then got the third. Daniel Pinkerton slotted home a consolation before Khakpour-Smith rounded off the win with his hat-trick goal.

Michael Cook's penalty was the only goal as Times Club won at Breachwood Lions.

In Division Three, Lee Reece inspired Probuild Res to victory. However, they did it the hard way as Shaun Stuart bagged a brace to put MC Racing in charge.

The scores were level before half-time courtesy of Ian Woodfield and Chris Simpson. Debut boy Dan O'Brien smashed home a penalty to get a goal his performance deserved.

The goal of the game come when Woodfield pulled a ball back to the edge of the box which found skipper Elliott Bunn to smash the ball into the top corner. Bunn then picked up his second of the game. MC pulled another back late on through Darren Pitch.

Daniel Lewis' brace helped make it four wins out of four for Stevenage Colts Old Boys Res at the top of Division Four. Barry Hazleton also netted against Roebuck Wanderers whose reply came from Ashley Goodson.

Dan Hartland and Steve Cornwell both netted hat-tricks with well-taken goals. Marvin Miller and Dan Owers also opened their accounts for the season as Coach and Horses won with ease. Fox Res replied through Ross Walker from the penalty spot and Dave Landon from a free-kick.

stats@cssfl.co.uk, www.cssfl.co

RESULTS

Sunday, October 12

Herts Sunday Junior Cup, second round: Ath Hitchin 1 White Lion Walkern 8, Coopers 3 FC Rangers Res 4, Crescent Club 6 Yorkshire Grey 5, Great Ashby 1 Real Mail 5, Green Man Ickleford 6 MBDA 7 (aet), Herald Utd 4 Ath Timebridge 2, Highway Res 10 Broadhall Res 1, North Herts Celtic 4 Thundridge Utd 4 (pens 2-3), Radlett Village 1 Stev Leisure Ltd 0, Red Lion Woolmer Grn 0 Apoel Res 9, St Albans Royals 3 Chequers 1, Stev Fencing 7 Lea Valley Royals Res 0, Sumners Ath 4 SCS 2.

Premier Division: Dun Cow 5 Bedwell Ath 4, Mallard 1 Nirankari SS 1, MH Goldsmith 4 DC Outbar 1, Roebuck Scaffolding 1 Probuild 3.

Division One: Broadhall 2 Dun Cow Res 4, Nirankari SS Res 2 Bottles 3, Pin Green 2 Fox 2, Putterills 0 Herts Fencing 0.

Division Two: Breachwood L 0 Times Club 1, Hartham Press 4 A1 Trophies 1, Marquis of Lorne 3 Pro-Cladd 9.

Division Three: MC Racing 3 Probuild Res 5.

Division Four: Fox Res 2 Coach and Horses 8, Stev Colts OB Res 3 Roebuck W 1.

Invitation Cup: Emperors Head 4 OT Wetherspoons 3, King Pin Utd 5 J.A.P. Builders 7.

FIXTURES

Sunday, October 19

FA National Sunday Junior Cup, first round: Nirankari SS v Stanbridge and Tilsworth (2pm, Hitchin Town FC).

Herts Intermediate Cup, second round: A1 Trophies v Bradmore Rov (SP3), Broadhall v Nirankari SS Res (SP4), Broxbourne Ran OB v Stev Colts OB (10.30am), Golden Lion v OT Wetherspoons (10.30am), Grange Utd Res v Fox (10.30am), Hartham Press v New Riverside Res (PP1), King Pin Utd v Caesars Palace (KG3), Lemsford P-P Dun Cow Res (away win), Marquis of Lorne v Cannon (10.30am, Marr), Old Albanian v Emperors Head (10.30am), Pin Green v West Herts (PP3), Putterills v Cheshunt (CW4).

Premier Division: Bedwell Ath v Probuild (HP2), Dun Cow v Roebuck Scaffolding (MP1), JAP Builders v DC Outbar (CW1), MH Goldsmith v Mallard (RE3).

Division One: Herts Fencing v Bottles (CP3).

Division Two: Times Club v Pro-Cladd (CP2).

Division Three: MBDA v Chequers (10am, Barc), Probuild Res v Red Lion Woolmer Grn (Alle), Roebuck Gate v MC Racing (KG2), SCS v North Herts Celtic (PP5), Stev Fencing v Stev Leisure Ltd (Alle).

Division Four: Ath Timebridge v Yorkshire Grey (RE4), Coopers v Great Ashby (RE5), Fox Res v Roebuck W (Wool), Stev Colts OB Res v Coach and Horses (10.30am, SP1), White Lion Walkern v Broadhall Res (Walk).

(kick-offs: all cup games 10am and league games 10.15am,

unless otherwise stated)