Comet Stevenage Sunday League round-up

The Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League got into full swing with plenty of talking points, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info).

Premier Division:

Last season’s champions FC Nirankari were roundly beaten by MBDA. As with the latter’s heavy win last week, they seemed to allow the other side the majority of the ball and the territorial advantage, but some through-balls and good finishing saw them home. Gary Hodgson picked up the ball after a few neat passes just outside the Nirankari box to smash home from 12 yards. Nirankari were piling on the pressure, but MBDA broke again and a brilliant through ball from Ashley Kersey found Kyle Watson on the wing, who smashed home inside ‘keeper Bobby Dhillon’s near post. Minutes later, Watson slid home again after a perfectly weighted ball forward from Craig Sutherill. Nirankari got a goal their possession deserved when a smart ball forward found Jahmell Mullins for a neat finish. Nirankari came out the strongest after the break, but found the back four resolute. When a Sutherill clearance found Kersey, he drilled home from a tight angle at the edge of the eighteen-yard box. A reply came almost immediately when Leeroy Williams cut the ball back for Ricky Case, whose shot deflected past Andy Gibb. The game then became interesting when Andrew Iwediuno’s quick feet saw him tripped in the box, Deji Ojuroye made it 4-3 from the spot. MBDA then took advantage of desperate measures from the champions, Kersey’s smart finish from Louis Hare’s pass stretched the lead to two again, Watson then won the ball on the halfway line and sprinted for goal, slotting across the ‘keeper for his hat-trick. Then, not to be outdone, a ball forward from Jon Lewys found Kersey unmarked, he slotted through the legs of Dhillon to also complete his hat-trick to make it 7-3.

An excellent performance saw Almond Tree United hold a deserved half-time lead thanks to a whipped in Gareth Clarke free-kick, which Nick Collins nodded home at the far post. However, Dun Cow rallied to score two goals in quick succession. The first a one-two which Luke Garwood struck from the edge of the box, the next a deflected shot looping over the stranded ‘keeper from Adam Furness. A defensive mix-up gifted substitute Shaun Marshall with a goal with his first touch. The fourth came in the final minutes when James Dillnutt found himself unmarked from a corner.

There was a lively start and a goal for each side within the first six minutes as firstly, Stevenage Leisure Limited were awarded a penalty after Carl Smith was fouled in the box, he converted it himself. Real Stevenage then hit back when Ricky Goddard snuck in at the back post. A Ryan Ellis free-kick against his old side put Real in front and ten minutes before half-time, Lez Chappell gave them a two-goal cushion. Smith scored a wonderful second goal to set up a nervy finish, but in stoppage-time, Andrew Yates made sure of the points by rounding the ‘keeper to make it 4-2 and make it six points from six.

Broadhall’s poor start continued as both of last season’s top two have no points from their first two games. Ryan Smales grabbed the solitary goal new boys St Nicholas.

Division 1:

Two of the promotion favourites went head to head and it was TC United that came out on top after a tight game. Jimmy Lock put them a goal up with a brilliant finish as he lobbed the goalkeeper from all of twenty-five yards. Chris Benton then pulled off a fine low save to keep them in front just before the break. In the second-half the lead was doubled when debutant Alex Lucy’s shot was parried in to the path of brother Joe, who headed home the loose ball. There was late pressure from Marquis of Lorne but their opponents defence stood strong to take the points.

After only two minutes, Michael Emmings’ quickly taken throw-in found Joe Lee making a great run into the box to smash his cross shot into the net to put AJS Tyres Broadhall in front. Somehow, Coopers United withstood further pressure, then gradually got a foot hold in the game. They equalised on the half-hour from a set play, Steve Harris finishing well. Broadhall restored their lead with a spectacular diving header from Emmings from a delicious cross from Rob Stevenson. Two minutes later, Tom Finch arrived at the back post to head in another Stevenson cross, but a late flag ruled it out. It was costly as some awful defending from another set play saw Ben Weldon equalise.

Louis Gilbert bagged a hat-trick as Odyssey saw off Bedwell Rangers by four goals to two. Ryan Palmer grabbed the other, whist Rangers responded through Ethan Draper and Daryl Thorpe.

Louis Bullock scored the only goal as Putterills beat FC Mallard.

Division 2:

Nirankari Timebridge took the lead after two minutes, but Chequers stormed in front through Ollie Barnett (two) and John Threader. Timebridge pulled one back before Chequers ‘keeper Carl Thompson denied them an equaliser from the spot with a save. However, a repeat performance saw the equaliser this time. Nirankari netted towards the end to nick the points as Terry Pateman (two), Dave Pateman and Bryan Challice were on target.

There were two unsavoury injuries in a game where the points were shared. David Hailey suffered a broken ankle shortly after scoring Broadhall Athletic’s opening goal. This happened whilst Martin Metcalf was off the pitch injured, a double-fracture of the arm was diagnosed for the A1 Trophies lad. Matt Stanton had already kept them in the game with a brilliant save. The second-half started well for A1 and an exquisite ball from Trevor Long through to Reece Munford brought the well deserved equaliser when he slotted past a helpless ‘keeper. Ten minutes later, Broadhall took advantage of some sloppy marking to re-establish the lead through Charles Rogers. A rather fortunate finish from Munford shared the spoils when his cross to the back post ended up nestling in the net.

Hartham Press got their first three points of the season thanks to goals from Aldo Chiapetta, who side-footed home a cross from James Khakpour-Smith and Graeme Hulstrom, who smashed home a Chiapetta corner. They had to withstand a Crooked Billet Boro barrage, which only saw a Dan Hartland goal as a consolation.

Emperors Head started strongly and a superb strike from Damian Hadlow from outside the box ended up in the corner of Pear Tree goalkeeper Rich Edwards’ net. Edwards kept out further goals with his legs and they turned the game around when Aaron Reed’s run and cross saw Dean Chadderton volley home brilliantly. They went ahead when Gaz Baker went past one defender, before a second took him down in the area. Chadderton grabbed his second from the spot. Ashley Sealy’s spot-kick levelled matters. Chadderton could’ve won it at one end if not for a superb save before Edwards matched him at the other end, tipping over the bar, 2-2 was a fair result.

Breachwood Lions got the first break of the game as Simon Blondell’s pass found Richard Taaffe, who slotted home past the ‘keeper. Rileys Athletic took advantage of Lions giving the ball away cheaply and a sweeping Tom Gallagher shot for the edge of the penalty area looked like it was going wide until it curled just inside the post. Rileys then took the lead via a Ben Warman penalty. Taaffe popped up yet again by bagging his second before half-time to restore parity. Dan Jefferies secured the Lions’ first points of the season with a trademark lob over the ‘keeper.

Division 3:

Dave Clements (two), Chris Bunker and Aaron Penfound were on the mark as Broadhall Icon beat Stevenage Old Town 4-1. A consolation came via a penalty from Gary Linehan when they were three behind.

In a game of two very different halves the points were eventually shared. It was The Old Post Office who took the lead early on with a counter attack at pace. Old Barclavians quickly responded as Michael Schmidt scored his first goal for the club, picking up on a loose ball and firing home to level the game. TOPO then took advantage of the stand-in ‘keepers lack of experience by scoring at the end of the first-half and two quick-fire finishes in the first five minutes of the second-half to put them 4-1 to the good. Barclavians responded with vigour and determination as they begun their fightback. Captain Lee Falanga scored from the spot after Dave Warwick was brought down. They continued to press and dominate possession as Callum Gardiner dispatched a clinical strike to pull another back before Tom Young crossed deep minutes after and Dean Page headed into the corner to level the game. Incredibly, they took the lead as substitute Joe Marshall-Zeal latched onto a Schmidt cross and finished at the back post with his head. With less than five minutes remaining, TOPO levelled an amazing game as a 30 yard strike beat the ‘keeper to level the game at 5-5. Theo Griffith (two), Scott Fielder, Karl Rickaby and Dave Taylor were TOPOs marksmen.

View Point Wanderers were unlucky to lose their first game of the season. They started very slowly as Proverbial United stormed in front thanks to a Josh Stock hat-trick inside fifteen minutes thanks largely to the long-ball game. Wanderers were back in it on the half-hour when some good passing culminated in a good finish from Steve Stapleton. Mike Coombes pulled another back just before the break. Two more from Stock inside the first ten minutes of the second-half killed the game off before player/manager Pete Bannister converted with a cool, side-footed effort to bring it back to it 5-3.

TC Wanderers trailed at half time to an Ashley Watson strike for ABC Taxis, but showed good fighting spirit after the break to grab the win thanks to a Jason Smith brace.

Shaun Skutela was on target as Roebuck Gate shared the points with Granby.

The league website can be found at www.cssfl.info

Results (Sunday, September 11):

Premier Division: Almond Tree Utd 1 Dun Cow 4, MBDA 7 Nirankari 3, Real Stev 4 Stev Leisure Ltd 2, St Nicholas 1 Broadhall 0

Division 1: AJS Tyres Broadhall 2 Coopers Utd 2, Mallard 0 Putterills 1, Marquis of Lorne 0 TC Utd 2, Odyssey 4 Bedwell R 2

Division 2: Broadhall Ath 2 A1 Trophies 2, Chequers 3 Nirankari Timebridge 4, Crooked Billet Boro 1 Hartham Press 2, Emperors Head 2 Pear Tree 2, Rileys Ath 2 Breachwood L 3

Division 3: Broadhall Icon 4 Stev OT 1, Roebuck Gate 1 Granby 1, TC Wand 2 ABC Taxis 1, The Old Post Office 5 Old Barclayvians 5, View Point Wand 3 Proverbial Utd 5

Fixtures (Sunday, September 18):

Herts Junior Cup 1st Round: Broadhall Icon v Zenit St Whetstone (Peartree), FC Cestrehunt v ABC Taxis, Marquis of Granby v View Point Wanderers, Pear Tree v Chirchill Knight (Peartree), Roebuck Gate v Bull Ath (Shephalbury), Stev Old Town v SLM (King George)

Premier Division: Broadhall v Arena-Group (10:00, Shephalbury), Dun Cow v MBDA (10:00, Meadway), FC Nirankari v Real Stev (Alleynes), Stev Leisure Ltd v St Nicholas (10:30, Meadway)

Division 1: Bedwell R v FC Mallard (Peartree), Coopers Utd v MKS Carpentry (Chells), Putterills v Odyssey (Canterbury), TC Utd v AJS Tyres Broadhall (Chells)

Division 2: A1 Trophies v Chequers (10:30, Shephalbury), Breachwood L v Emperors Head (Breachwood), Hartham Press v Broadhall Ath (10:30, Shephalbury), Nirankari Timebridge v Rileys Ath (King George)

Division 3: Granby v TC Wand (Canterbury), Proverbial Utd v Old Barclayvians (King George)

(Kick-Offs: 10:15, unless otherwise stated).