Birstall Stamford defeat dents championship challenge

Leicester and Charnwood Sunday League

IN THE Anstey Sports Bar Premier Division Quorn Royals dented Birstall Stamford’s championship hopes in a closely contested game at Rawlins Academy, Sam Richards 70th minute goal for the Royals being the only goal in the game. Birstall Stamford still top the division by two points from Finchy’s but they no longer have the game in hand.

F.C. Poplar travelled to Anstey Sports with key players missing, on a very wet pitch Pop started brightly with Josh Barr causing Anstey’s defence problems with his pace out wide right and it was his work rate that provided the platform for Dan Bryan to score the first goal and give Pop the lead at half time. Pop pressed at the start of the second half and the game was put to bed when a slick move was well finished by Dan Bryan for his and Pops second.

Birstall Stamford Reserves march on in the Sylvia Haynes Division One with an 8-0 win over third placed Shepshed United. A slightly depleted Burton team travelled to Wreake Valley Syston to take on second placed Sileby Athletic. The home side completed the double over Burton with a deserved win, but the score line was rather flattering to the hosts. A very even and competitive first half ended goalless. Sileby opened the second period strongly and soon established a three-goal lead. Charlie Patel reduced the arrears for Burton but a couple of late goals for Sileby gave them a four-goal advantage that failed to reflect Burton’s contribution to an entertaining game. Dan Orme scored for Burton in the final minute to give the 5-2 score line a semblance of respectability. Joe Hetterley scoring four goals for Sileby with the other scored by Jake Rimmington.

Syston Brookside and Newboys were involved in a high scoring game, and it was Syston who came out on top with a hat trick from Michael Noga and goals from Ryan Carter, Jack Hill and Jacub Kajdana giving them a 6-4 victory over their close rivals. Anstey Sports Reserves and Long Whatton fought out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Callum Ball and Darren Wheelers strikes for Anstey cancelled out by Whatton’s Josh Bowley and Josh Charleston. Two clubs in the lower reaches of the division also shared the points when the game between Kegworth Imperial and Spinney Rovers ended 1-1, Oliver Smith for Kegworth and Cameron Garden for Spinney.

In the AB Wallace Trophies Division Two, Bhudda moved into second place with an 8-1 win over bottom club Athletic Sportsman. Four goals from Joe Butcher-Smith, two from Harry Aulak and goals from Jack Slawson and Chris Willet for Bhudda with Gary Warren scoring Athletic’s consolation.

Verdon Athletic and Racing Alleno both won to go into second and third places in division three. Verdon beat Dishley Rangers 3-1 with goals coming from Luke Garratt, Zach Halfpenny and Nathan Lord, whilst Racing beat Loughborough Stags 4-1.

In the semi finals of the Ryder Transport cup LK United booked their final spot with a 5-0 win against Greenhill Sparrows. LK started fast out of the blocks and started to dominate procession from the off, not allowing Greenhill to settle. LK deservedly took the lead with a Leon Coleman header which was soon followed from a Danny Concannon close range finish. Nathan Earle added the third just before half time. In the second half Greenhill started to push more men forward which left more gaps for LK to explore with further goals being added from Bradley Terrell and a second from Leon Coleman. With the Greenhill keeper (MOM) keeping out fine efforts from Nathan Earle, Jordon Lever, Danny Concannon and denying Leon Coleman the match ball in fine form. They will be joined in the final by Red Cow Rangers who beat Thorpe Acre 4-2.

The Gayford Carrott trophy saw Winchester Phoenix progress to the semi final at the expense of Ballpark Nirvana. A tight encounter saw the sides go in 0-0 half time. Ballpark went 1-0 up before Mason Smith levelled for Phoenix with a classy 30-yard rocket.

Smith followed up with his second of the game making it 2-1 after some clever play from Ben jones. Ball Park were back in it after a decent hit beating the Phoenix keeper at the near post. 2-2 and a cagey affair. Phoenix took the lead from a corner with Nathan Curtis being the most alert to scramble the ball over the line. Ball Park hit the woodwork twice, but Phoenix were too strong on the day.

On Saturday evening New Parks Rangers and GNG met at Holmes Park in the final of the Hardings Transport Chairmans cup. A good crowd were treated to an entertaining game with Division Three’s unbeaten leaders New Parks the strong favourites to lift the trophy.

GNG however soon showed that they weren’t there just to make up the numbers, both sides finding it hard to break down each other’s defence. The deadlock was broken on 30 minutes when Jimmy Rana scored for GNG with a shot from the left of the goal, On the stroke of half time it was 2-0 to GNG when a clearance fell to Neil Stringfellow on the edge of the box and he made no mistake to ensure the underdogs went into the break ahead.

In the second half New Parks attacks were repelled by a well organised defence and some steady goalkeeping, until on 70 minutes New Parks were awarded a penalty for a miss timed tackle in the box which was coolly despatched by Jordan Cufflin Stableford. The final 20 minutes saw an onslaught on the GNG goal, but they held their nerve to lift the trophy.