The Grove and Acle Rangers, both suffered defeats this week as the Premier division title race begins to hot up. Despite taking the lead and then missing a host of chances The Grove went down 3-2 at home to AFC Wanderers. Gary Bee and Craig Clarke scored for the home side whilst Martin Owen 2 and Luke Tuttle were on target for AFC. Acle Rangers found themselves going down 4-2 at a Dog House side still on a high after reaching the Senior Cup Final. In a repeat of last weeks semi final Marlborough and Wymondham Rangers took a point each after a 2-2 draw, as did Norwich Busmen and Silver Fox. Costessey Sports took the lead at Poringland, two goals from Matt Elwin and a Jonny Causton free kick gave the home side a 3-1 win.
Hellesdon closed Reepham lead at the top of 1A to twelve points after a 1-1 draw at Aslacton, and there was a good win for Fiveways as they beat Hainford YCOB 2-1. Vale Longo went down 2-0 at home to North Walsham, whilst Eaton FC shared six goals (Simon Nicholl 2, Chris Sandell) with Norman Wanderers Res. 1B leaders Aylsham Sunday took a point in a 2-2 draw at Norfolk CCSC and are three points clear of Haig FC who thumped Hillside OB 7-1. St Faiths looked to have suffered a Senior Cup hangover as Sprowston Rovers came back to form with a 6-2 victory and Prince of Denmark beat Earlham Utd 6-3.
One of the days shock results saw 2A leaders The Castlegate go down 3-1 at home to Norman Wanderers A, a result that Castlegate say their opponents fully deserved. Dussingdale bounced back from last weeks defeat to beat Deopham 5-1, Michael Hawker scoring for the visitors and The Griffen won 3-2 at River Garden, with Gavin Nixon and Anis Dida scoring for Garden. DCS Rapid, despite a rare goal from Nick Williamson, went down 3-2 at Upton. Ross Cook scored the other goal whilst The Stores moved off the bottom of the table after beating Acle Wanderers 6-3. Wanderers replace The Stores at the bottom. In 2B, new signing Dean Parfitt was outstanding for leaders Rose Tavern as they beat second placed PL Rangers 4-1. Lewis Chapman, Oliver Bennison, Michael Robinson and Rhys Meredith scored for Tavern whilst Chris Leveridge replied for a PL side that were full of praise for their opponents. Great to hear. Third placed Bayer were held to a 1-1 draw by Spixworth and Ribs Rovers hammered Hethersett Ath 9-1. Sporting Farmhouse scored five whilst winning at The Gordon and Acle Rangers Res recent good run came to an abrupt halt as the mornings bottom side Poringland Wanderers Res came away with a deserved 5-1 victory. Jonny Aldis 2, Dale Simpson 2 and Richard Middleton scored for a Poringland side for which David Gilfillan was outstanding.
It’s tight at the top of 3A where only three points separate the top four teams. Sprowston Royal Oak are the new leaders after a 5-2 (James Lawrence 2, Darren Maxey 2, Liam Doyle) win at Hellesdon Res. Previous leaders Sporting Longdale were held to a 3-3 draw by The Reindeer and Wellington Pink Uns won 2-0 at Mad Moose. Hockering are fourth after winning 3-0 at Dancing Farmers. Heartsease Casuals failed to follow up last weeks victory as they slumped to a 4-1 home defeat to Temple Bar and Newsman Celtic drew 1- at Caseys Cosmos. In 3B, second placed Moles rest had a 3-1 home win over Unicorns Res whilst AFC Oak went down 2-1 (Sam Brewster) at Hingham Sunday.
Riverside Rovers still lead 4A on goal difference after a 4-1 home win over DEF FC and still have two games in hand over second place New Buckenham who won by the odd goal of five at Earlham Colney. Temples had a good 5-2 win at Hockering Res, whilst Eaton Young Boys went down 4-2 at home to Constable Crusaders. One Love Utd closed the gap on 4B leaders Briston Wanderers after a 7-3 win at Eaton Beehive and Salhouse stay third as they won 6-2 (Oliver Harper 3, Martin Woolner, Chris Newton, Neil Woolner) at Windmill Elite. Bell Inn beat Chapelfield Rovers 6-1. Tom Frost and Richard Tubb scored for Drayton as they came from behind to win at Spixworth Res, and Wendene Wanderers took a point in a 1-1 draw at Hethersett Res.
LEAGUE CUP DRAW
GOOD DAY FOR LEAGUE IN COUNTY CUP
This weekend’s results in the various County Cup competitions have, I’m glad to report, seen the league with a representative in every final. In the Sunday Senior Cup second half goals by Danny McKail and Rikki George saw Marlborough beat Wymondham Rangers 2-0 in front of a large crowd at Eaton Park. Wymondham I feel will be cursing their luck a little as they failed to take some good first half chances. Marlborough will face old rivals Dog House in the final after the Premier division side came from behind to beat a battling St Faiths 3-2 after extra time. Bayer FC will be our representatives in the Intermediate Final after a Wayne Nelson hat trick and goals by Ben Williamson and Stevie Davis helped them beat Thetford Independents 5-1. Danny Nelson turned in a man of the match performance. Bell Inn reached the Junior Cup Final after a 3-2 victory over Riverside Rovers. Well done to all.
In the Premier division a hat trick from Aaron Nixon and a goal by Craig Clarke gave The Grove a good 4-0 victory at Norwich Busmen. That win keeps them a point ahead of Acle Rangers who won 5-1 at bottom side Costessey Sports. Silver Fox had a 3-1 home win over Poringland Wanderers.
Reepham Town edged nearer to the 1A title after a 4-0 home win over Aslacton. There was an amazing game at Eaton Park where Fiveways beat Rackheath Green Man 8-5; whilst Eaton FC had a good 3-1 victory at Horsford SC. Windmill Wanderers also had a welcome victory, 2-0 over Vale Longo. Aylsham Sunday are now four points clear at the top of 1B thanks to a 2-1 home win over Sprowston Wanderers, whilst Unicorns beat third placed Haig FC by the odd goal in seven. Norfolk CCSC had a 4-1 win at Hillside OB and Catton took a point in a 2-2 draw with Prince of Denmark.
The Castlegate took a step nearer promotion from 2A after beating Dussingdale Rovers 3-0, but The Otter stay in contention after beating Acle Wanderers 2-1. Neil Stannard and Oliver Ramsbotham both grabbed hat tricks as Deopham thumped River Garden 8-0. Paul Macisaac and Phil Mercer scored the other two. Upton won 4-3 at The Griffen and DCS Rapid beat improving Stores by the same score. A single goal by Matt Seager was enough for Stoke to win at Norman Wanderers A, who were full of praise for Stoke goalkeeper Michael Eccles. PL Rangers failed to take full advantage of the chance to close the gap at the top of 2B as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ribs Rovers. Spixworth hit six without reply against Hethersett Athletic and Acle Rangers Res scored five as they beat The Gordon. James Boyle 2 and Robbie Rout scored for Sporting Farmhouse as they beat Taverham Utd and Poringland Res continued a season of Jekyll and Hyde performances as they lost 2-1 at home to Wymondham Res, a result that leaves them rock bottom.
The top two in 3A continue winning. Leaders Sporting Longdale beat Caseys Cosmos 3-1, whilst Sprowston Royal Oak had a hat trick from Darren Maxey and a goal from Jamie Lawrence to thank for their 4-0 win over The Reindeer. Wellington Pink Uns won 2-0 at Temple Bar, whilst Hockering were held to a 1-1 draw by Mad Moose. Newsman Celtic had a 6-1 win over Dancing Farmers and Heartsease Casuals moved off the bottom of the division after a 2-1 win over Hellesdon Res. Already promoted Heartsease FC are just one win away from the 3B title after a 3-1 (Daniel Bruce2, James White) win at Earlham Utd Res and despite missing four key players Maid Marian had a good 3-1 (Clive Riches 2, Gav Seymour) win at Freethorpe. Mark Radcliffe and Karl Hayward scored for AFC Oak as they beat Unicorns Res 2-1.
The top three in 4A were inactive so Hockering Res were able to edge closer to them after winning 3-2 at Eaton Young Boys. Earlham Colney scored five times in beating Silver Fox Res and there was a 3-3 draw in the game between Caseys Cosmos Res and Sporting Longdale. Constable Crusaders and Temples Property also ended with three goals apiece. 4B leaders Briston Wanderers had a 4-1 win at Wendene Wanderers and are now ten points clear of One Love Utd who were beaten 2-1 (Neil Woolner, Kel Haywood) at Salhouse Rovers. There was a hat trick each for Ben Wigger and Nash Makuave as Eaton Beehive beat Dereham Utd 6-2 and there was a great day for Drayton’s James Tubb as he scored all of his sides six goals as they defeated Windmill Elite 6-1. Chapelfield Rovers had a 4-2 home win over Spixworth Res
DAY OF THE PREMIER IN LEAGUE CUP
The main bulk of the league Cup first round matches were played today, but the Premier Division sides ensured that they were not to be the victim of any shock results. Norwich Busmen led the way with a six goal thumping of Norfolk CCSC, whilst Marlborough put five (Colin Wines 2, Dave Freeman, Jason Armes, Martin McGee) past Unicorns. Costessey Sports had an odd goal in seven win over Fiveways and The Grove hit five without reply at Aylsham Sunday. Wymondham Rangers scored three in beating Hainford YCOB as did Silver Fox who won at Earlham Utd, The top two of 1A, met at Reepham who put six past Hellesdon Ath and North Walsham beat Vale Longo 2-1, Jatinder Dhaliwal with the goal for Vale, whilst Aslacton and Sprowston Rovers both gave good performances against Premier sides but lost narrowly to Acle Rangers and Dog House respectively. Horsford SC also made it through to round two after a 5-0 victory over ten man Green Man.
One game was played in the Premier Division and saw Tom Cushion score the only goal as AFC Wanderers beat Poringland Wanderers. There was a good win for Windmill Wanderers in 1A as they overcame Norman Wanderers Res 5-2, whilst in 1B; Haig FC took over at the top of the table after scoring six (Wayne Cutting 3, Graeme Turner 2 and Mick Reynolds) at home to Catton FC. St Faiths came from two down at half time to beat Prince of Denmark 4-2 (Will Abbs Dave Waters, Cooly Bishop and Lee Cork) Sprowston Wanderers had a 2-1 win over Hillside OB.
The Castlegate power on at the top of 2A after a six goal home win over Acle Wanderers and are six points clear of The Otter who thumped Deopham 5-0. Dussingdale Rovers drew 1-1 at The Griffen and Upton won 5-2 at Stoke FC, Clarry and Shucksmith scoring for the home side. Norman Wanderers A continue to rise after a narrow 1-0 win against The Stores. Rose Tavern seem to have put their sluggish start to the new year behind them as they recorded a 2-0 at Hethersett thanks to two goals by Michael Robinson, whilst Bayer moved to second spot after winning 3-1 at The Gordon. Spixworth were beaten 2-1 at Taverham Utd where Paul Clarke scored the winner, and Ribs Rovers lost 5-1 (Jonny Aldis 3, Craig Mattocks, Simon Curtis) at Poringland Res for whom Shaun Vincent had an impressive debut. Acle Rangers Res had a much needed 3-1 win over Wymondham Rangers Res.
A 5-1 victory at Temple Bar saw Hockering take over as new leaders of 3A as previous table toppers Sporting Longdale were held to a 2-2 draw by Mad Moose. Longdale were two down after goals by Darren Hills and Craig Hunt, before brothers Nick and Jamie Clark helped rescue a point. There was a great win for Newsman Celtic. Frank Wright scored the winner deep into injury time as they beat Wellington Pink Uns 2-1 and Hellesdon Res shared the points and six goals with The Reindeer. Caseys Cosmos won 2-0 at Heartsease Casuals. A 4-1 (Darren Critchlow (2) Alex Ashmore, Tom Whitmore) win at Hingham has left Heartsease FC needing just a point for a second successive promotion, although with a one hundred per cent record to protect I can’t see them settling for just promotion. Maid Marian had a 7-2 (Dan Cartman 4, Danny Walker 2, Ikky Toyama) win at Unicorns Res and there was an eight goal thriller at AFC Oak as the home side scored five (Karl Hayward 3, Brett Hadley and Mark Radcliffe) in beating Freethorpe.
A Tom Smith hat trick was not enough for Eaton Young Boys as they went down 5-3 at 4A leaders New Buckenham, whilst Riverside Rovers continue to keep the leaders in their sights after thrashing Hockering Res 11-1. Constable Crusaders put four past Caseys Cosmos Res and Temples Property beat Silver Fox Res 3-0. In 4B there were ten goals in the game at Salhouse Rovers, where visitors and league leaders Briston scored six of them. Neil Woolner 2, Kel Haywood, Martin Woolner all scored for Salhouse. One Love Utd won by the odd goal of five (Ronaldo Balde 2, Kevin Akpos) at Chapelfield Rovers and Bell Inn hit eight (Tom Brown 3, Ian Babb 2, Jonathan Holland 2 and George Newbery) without reply against Spixworth Res. Eaton Beehive won 4-3 at Wendene, whilst Dereham Utd and Windmill Elite took a point each after a 2-2 draw. The home side were two goals up with two minutes to go, but Matthew Daynes struck twice to earn Elite a point. Drayton drew 1-1 with Hethersett Res Jon Roy scoring for the home side.
