Duston Garage (Bosch Service) Star Award :
Daventry Drayton Grange for their efforts in eliminating Rushden & Higham in the NFA Junior Cup.

Northamptonshire FA Junior Cup:
Let the giant-killing begin! Two UCL sides were eliminated in the first of the county cups this weekend. Corby Kingfisher were the first to start, eliminating Cogenhoe Reserves with a 4-3 win. Steve Gibson netted twice fro Kingfisher, alongside efforts from David Scrivener and Lee Genner. They will be joined in the next round by Drayton Grange who dumped out Rushden & Higham’s first team on penalties. Drayton fought back from a goal down to tie 1-1, before holding their nerve to come out 4-1 winners after the spot-kicks. Sadly, these were the sole successes against higher division opposition. Heyford found themselves on the wrong end of a 6-0 defeat at home to Peterborough Northern Star, whilst Cold Ashby crashed to a 9-0 thumping at the hands of Whitworths. Dragoslav Kunic struck for Corby Pegasus away at Bugbrooke St Michaels, but it proved to be little more than a consolation as they went down 3-1.
Stanion had Irchester United on the back foot within the first minute, and would have taken the lead but for a last ditch clearance on the line. However, Stanion went down to 10 men shortly after a deliberate handball on the line. The visitors converted the penalty and it was one-way traffic from there on. In the end it was a comfortable 6-0 win for the UCL Division 1 side. Earls Barton meanwhile frustrated Thrapston Town who were made to work hard for their win. Time and again Thrapston breached the defence only to find ‘keeper Steve Clarke in the form of his life, as he denied them with a series of smart stops. Matt Redding broke Barton hearts on 79 minutes when he robbed the defence on the edge of the 18 yard box and slipped a scuffed effort under Clarke’s body for the only goal of the game.
League sides do however have a 100% record against sides from the North Bucks, Peterborough and Town leagues going into the second round.  Weldon edged past Liberty Stars 1-0, whilst Moulton dumped out struggling Crispins 7-2. Peter Smith was Moulton’s hot-shot, bagging four of the goals himself. Kettering Nomads put 5 past Orchard Park United without reply. Paul Smith snaffled a brace in the rout. Having been four up for most of the game Kislingbury nearly threw it away, but held on to squeeze past Delapre Old Boys 4-3. Kisl’s Danny Smith was another brace-bagger. Spratton smashed Thorplands 5-0 to give themselves some much needed cheer. North Bucks sides Silverstone and Brackley will have to wait another year after defeats to Harpole and Gretton respectively. Eddy Stewart’s double for Blisworth saw them progress at the expense of Peterborough Sports.
Finedon Volta and Welford could not be separated in 120 minutes, with the match ending 2-2. Volta who had had two goals ruled out in normal time progressed after penalties. Keeper Adam Watts was the Volta hero saving two kicks, leaving Dan Hockeridge to step up and put away the decisive kick.
Doubles from David Sheridan and Andy Cox put Khalsa through with a 4-0 win away to Roade. Brixworth also finished up 4-0 winners at home to Ringstead. James Feasey netted twice for All Saints. Callum Snooks and Kyle Boatman were on target to see Milton through with a 2-1 win over Whitefield Norpol. Miah Jones notched the visitor’s consolation. It was a tale of two penalties as Queen Eleanor earned the bragging rights with a 2-1 win over Wootton St George.

Northamptonshire FA Lower Junior Cup:
Adam Jackson and Steve Powell ensured that Whitefield’s Reserves went one better than the first team by defeating Ristee Towers 2-1. The result probably works in Ristee’s favour, allowing them to concentrate on improving their league form. Jay Brown, Matt Hill, Wayne Baldwin and Tyler Amphlett all registered on the scoresheet for Rising Sun as they cruised into round two with a 4-1 win away at West Haddon. Efforts from Beau Bennett and Colm Pacey were not enough to prevent Moulton Reserves from going out to Town League outfit Wombles, 4-2.

Russell Roofing Premier Division:
The sole Premier Division game of the day saw the first all-Leicestershire tie between Harborough and Medbourne. Craig Cassidy, Tom Robson, and Matt McClymont all hit the target for Harborough as they ran out comfortable 3-1 winners.

Keystone Roofing Supplies Division 1:
No games.

Rothenberger Tools Division 2:
Bective’s slump continued as they hosted Danesholme Vikings. The visitors cruised to a 4-1 win, with an own goal summing up Bective’s plight. That is now four wins out of four for Danesholme who sit proudly at the top. Darren Mackay won the match for second-placed Strip Mills, after a brace from Wollaston’s Lee Warman cancelled out earlier efforts from Shaun Muir and Darren Ward. Grammarians stay on touch with the leaders after they drew 1-1 with rivals Great Doddington. Sam Meadows ensured a share of the points for OG’s. Islip stay fourth after their 1-1 draw with Clipston. Matt Farrell scored twice for Weedon, but it was not enough as Burton ran out 6-3 winners. Orchard Park meanwhile defeated Ranelagh 3-1.

Division 3:
A 7-4 victory over Wilby sees Corby Everards sitting top of the table this week. Pick of the marksmen for Everards was Ian Scullion who snatched two. Dean King was the surprise package in the game, grabbing a hat-trick for vanquished Wilby. The all Corby game between the Eagles and Locomotives finished in an entertaining 4-4 draw. Darren Burt popped up three times for the Eagles. Ise Lodge were stunned by stubborn resistance from Wellingborough WMC as they were held to a 1-1 draw. Mark Povilions put the icing on Wilbarston’ maiden win of the season, 4-2 at home to Wellingborough Saxons. Dainite’s poor form continues as they went down 6-2 at home to Crick. Neither Hillmorton or Staverton could gain the advantage as they ground out a 1-1 draw.

Division 4:
High-flying Long Buckby Ravens deservedly sit top of the table after routing Corby Hearth 14-2. Ryan Grant (5) and Steve O’Brien (4) did the majority of the damage for the league leaders. AFC Wymington sit second after another high-scoring win. Craig Smith hit a hat-trick as the Tangerines won 6-2. Paul Linnell scored twice for Walgrave Amber as they ensured that it was a miserable day for the Higham Ferrers teams, defeating FC Higham 3-0. Despite a hat-trick from Jack Scally, Yardley lost a none-goal thriller to Kennedy’s, who ran out 5-4 victors. Jake Burgess grabbed a brace for the Finedon outfit. The all Corby tie between Kingswood and Talisman was also settled by a single goal, this time in the favour of Talisman, 3-2.

Duston Garage (Bosch Service) Reserve Premier Division:
Austin Milne netted a treble, and Chris Madden a double as Weldon eased to a 6-2 win over Kettering Nomads. Near neighbours Gretton also secured victory over ON Chenecks ‘A’, thanks to solo efforts from Tom Medhurst and Gary Parks. Roade travelled to Harpole who had not won this season, but the hosts earned their maiden three points with a 3-1 win. Aaron Crampton netted twice for Harpole. Kislingbury hit neighbours Bugbrooke ‘A’ for six without reply, whilst fellow South Northants side Milton took a point from their trip to Khalsa Reserves in a 0-0 stalemate. Harborough Town completed a good day earning the points with a 4-1 win at Pegasus.

Reserve Division 1:
A 6-3 win over Heyford saw Orchard Park climb to the top of the table. Steve Rayner netted twice for the new leaders. A Matt Farr hat-trick in a 4-0 win away to Wollaston sees Blisworth hold off the challenge of Brixworth, 5-2 victors at Locomotives Reserves, to remain in second place. Bugbrooke ‘B’ also found themselves on the wrong end of a hammering, going down 7-1 at Weldon ‘A’. Tim Reid helped himself to a treble in the rout. Luke Taylor and Adam Stanton were the marksmen who saw Medbourne home to victory over Queen Eleanor. Stanion got the better of their tie with Ringstead, running out 4-1 victors, whilst Finedon Volta edged out Wootton 2-1.

Reserve Division 2:
Harpole secured their third win in four games with a 2-1 win over near-neighbours and rivals Weedon. Harri Winters and Chris Henderson were the home marksmen, whilst Josh Bellamy scored the consolation. Craig Kearns, Sean Lexus, and Darren Sturman netted the goals for Wilby in their 3-1 win over Spratton. Earls Barton made the long trip to Drayton Grange and came home with the points after a 1-0 win. Stanwick overcame Grammarians 3-1.