It was the first round of the Challenge cup last weekend and the mismatch of the day was between The Park from the Premier Division who managed to get double figures against lowly Paynes Park from Division Three with the eventual score finishing up at 12-

It was the first round of the Challenge cup last weekend and the mismatch of the day was between The Park from the Premier Division who managed to get double figures against lowly Paynes Park from Division Three with the eventual score finishing up at 12-1.

Green Man Ickleford came out victorious with a 1-0 win in a hard fought game against Walsworth. Division One leaders Shillington found the going difficult against Cannon from the Premier Division and went down 3-1. Scoring for Cannon were Jason Harrison from the penalty spot, Steve Hay and Scott Halsey. Kcinsatop had an easy passage through to the next round thanks to a fine 8-1 win against Wilbury.

Athletico Hitchin, who have been having an excellent season in Division Three, had a hard game away to reigning Premier Division champions Red Star and nearly caused a huge upset before finally losing out 4-3 after extra time.

A young Athletico side only had two shots during 90 minutes but scored from both going into a 2-0 lead. Red Star then moved up a gear and really applied the pressure during the last 10 minutes and managed to get a goal back through the inspirational Dale Clark.

Then with the last kick of normal time veteran goalkeeper William Bianchi volleyed in a left footer to take the match into extra time. A bullet header from Simon Drury and a goal from the clinical Micky Smith made it four for Red Star before Athletico got a late consolation goal. Jackmans Jackdaws lost to fellow Division one side AC Malone 2-1 thanks to a brace by Kyle Stephenson.

Shillington Sunday from Division Two upset the form book by winning 3-1 against Chequers Stotfold from Division One. Due to the Challenge Cup there was only a limited league program last weekend.

The one game played in the Premier Division saw HTS Barleycorn win 8-3 away at Crown Stotfold. The result means that Barleycorn moved up to third in the table. In Division One Kcinsatop Reserves moved to the top of the table by beating SMU 3-2. The game of the day in Division 2 saw Broadmead beat Dynamo Letchworth in a seven-goal thriller. Broadmead applied the early pressure but it was Dynamo who broke away to score first and take the lead. From then on Broadmead took control for the rest of the first half.

Their persistent pressure paid off when Greg Bradbury tucked away the equaliser following a goalmouth scramble. Ashley Reynolds' persistence in the box was rewarded with a goal and he then turned provider for Rob Pike to slot home the third. Just before half time Broadmead added the fourth as Greg Bradbury calmly slotted into the corner.

The second half saw a very different game with Broadmead being constantly put on the back foot as Dynamo fought back. Two early goals by Dynamo led to a fraught and sometimes scrappy encounter but Broadmead managed to close out the game and hang on for the win. Clifton Sunday picked up another three points following their 2-1 win against Cannon Reserves. Rob Drayton getting the goal for Cannon.

In Division 3 Wanderers Reserves will rue several missed chances as they lost 2-1 to AC Malone Reserves. Darren Matthews opened the scoring for Malones in the first half before Wanderers levelled in the second half through Mick Tennison. However, it was Darren Matthews who popped up again to get his second and win the match for Malones.

It was also the third round of the Herts Sunday Intermediate Cup last weekend but unfortunately the three teams representing the Hitchin Sunday League were knocked out. North Herts Hatters had an away day to forget as they lost 4-0 to Maylands AFC. Wanderers' game against Sun & Harrow was far from exciting as neither side created many chances.

The Sun & Harrow opened the scoring mid-way through the first half from a quickly taken free kick. Wanderers came out fighting after the break and applied a lot of pressure but the scores were only levelled after Jas Badeshia pounced on a badly taken goal kick and rolled the ball to Gavin Fowler who fired into the roof of the net. Sun & Harrow then sealed the game 20 minutes from time with their only shot of the second half. HTS Barleycorn Reserves lost 5-1 away to Turnford Geese. Information compiled by Dave Rush (daverush99@yahoo.co.uk).