Duston Garage (Bosch Service) Star Award :
Kettering Nomads for knocking holders & UCL high-fliers Peterborough Northern Star out of the NFA Junior Cup.

Northamptonshire FA Junior Cup:
“A sailor must have his eyes trained to the rocks and the sands, as well as the North Star”, says the proverb. Kettering Nomads did just that as they successfully navigated their way into round three, eliminating runaway UCL Division one leaders Peterborough Northern Star. Having gone a goal down, Peter Norton and Mark Jackson both struck back as Nomads shocked the cup holders to win 2-1. The count is piling up as a further three UCL sides went out to Combination opposition, taking the total so far to eight. Thrapston Town, conquerors of Earls Barton last time out came up short against a determined Harpole side who clung on to also win 2-1. A brace from Callum Pallett ensured that Moulton dumped out perennial strugglers Burton Park Wanderers 4-2, whilst Ryan Suter and James Feasey struck to put out Woodford United Reserves.
It was not all one way traffic however as there were defeats for Finedon Volta, Kislingbury and Stanwick. Volta ran Irchester United close, but despite a second half fight back, goals in the first and forty-fifth minutes proved decisive for the UCL side who clung on to their 2-1 advantage.  Chris Brown netted Volta’s consolation. Kislingbury simply ran out of legs chasing down ON Chenecks who emerged 4-2 victors whilst Bugbrooke enjoyed a bountiful hunt on the road at Stanwick romping to an 8-0 victory.
A brace from Antony Martin secured Milton’s passage at the expense of Peterborough league side Kingscliffe, whilst Corby Kingfisher dumped out Oundle Town 4-2. Spratton were unable to make it a hattrick of wins however, crashing out to Eye Sports by the same scoreline. The last remaining Town League side Harlequins proved too strong for Daventry Drayton Grange who slumped to a 5-2 exit.  Queen Eleanor meanwhile rediscovered that winning feeling putting out Deanshanger, sole survivors of the North Bucks League 4-1. Glen Moore opened the scoring for the victors.
Michael Chong netted twice for Weldon who defeated neighbours Gretton 6-2. Despite missing a penalty, fortune very much favoured the visitors as they benefitted from two own goals before strikes from Derek Simmons and Paul Djeneralovic settled the tie. Shain McAllindon and George Donnelly recorded the consolation efforts for Gretton. In the other all Combination tie, Shaun Wilkes grabbed four as James King Blisworth cleaned house at Corby Khalsa. Kris Charles and Lewis Curtis completed the 6-0 rout.

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:
With leaders Weldon engaged in Cup action, Harborough Town played their game in hand and reclaimed top spot with a 2-0 home win over Heyford Athletic. Dragoslav Kunic was once again the star of the show for Pegasus as his brace helped them to a narrow 4-3 win over Whitefield Norpol.  Jack Burrows doubled up as Medbourne recorded their maiden league win of the season in some style, turning over Roade 5-0.

Keystone Roofing Supplies Division 1:
A chill wind did little to rouse the spirits of despondent Cold Ashby in their tie with Wootton St George. The early pacesetters left Cold Ashby with all three points and top spot in the division after running out 4-1 victors. The result leaves the hosts with an unenviable 100% record of five defeats from as many games.
Earls Barton made the short trip to Ringstead and ran the host close before going down 3-2. Alex Wills netted the winner for Ringstead.  Stanion’s woes continued as they lost their fourth game of the season 4-0 away to third placed Welford Victoria.

Rothenberger Tools Division 2:
At the foot of the table Weedon matched Cold Ashby’s record slumping to a 4-2 defeat away to Burton United. Stephen Hendry scored two for Burton. Ristee faced a tough task as they entertained leaders Danesholme Vikings, and may feel that fortune has well and truly deserted them. Despite showing dogged determination the hoodoo that hangs over them continues as they went down 2-1. The division’s highest scoring tie of the day was the game between Islip United and Old Grammarians. There was drama aplenty as the Tollbar side went a goal up after 23 seconds. Jason Lee netted the first of his two goals from the spot, before Amrish Jarni restored parity for the visitors. Islip took the lead twice more only to be pegged back on both occasions. When Jake Wesby netted their fifth goal, Islip must have thought themselves home and dry, before a rash challenge two minutes from time allowed Mark Fletcher to convert the second penalty of the game, and set up a tense finish. Islip however held on for the 5-4 victory.
Bective’s inability to kill teams off continues as they almost allowed a two-goal lead to slip against Corby Strip Mills. Kodie Shatford scored to cancel out Gary Norman’s early effort, before Paddy O’Brien and Nathan Smith put the hosts ahead. Danny Ward’s late effort for Strip Mills induced some feelings of déjà vu in the Bective ranks, but they held on for the 3-2 win. Russ Eggleton and Simon Barby netted the goals that saw Clipston leave Great Doddington with three points in the bag, whilst Wollaston edged out local rivals Ranelagh 2-1.

Division 3:
A nine goal encounter allowed Everards to topple Rising Sun and Ise Lodge and claim top spot on goal difference. Scott Collins solo effort complemented doubles from Mark McGinn and Andy Kyle and a treble from Stephen Harrison as they routed hapless Dainite Sports 8-1. Rising Sun dropped points away to Corby Locomotives drawing 1-1. Ise Lodge defeated Crick 4-1. Staverton Park Rangers secured their first win of the season with a 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Wilbarston. Corby Eagles defeated Wellingborough WMC by the same scoreline, whilst Hillmorton went down 4-1 against Wellingborough Saxons.

Division 4:
It may only be a few weeks into the season but early form suggests that it will be a two horse race for the Division Four title. Steve O’Brien shows no sign of relinquishing the Midas touch that he possesses in front of goal as he netted again for leaders Long Buckby Ravens. AFC Wymington are the other prime contenders, giving another impressive show of firepower. Jason Fallaize scored a hat-trick for the Tangerines whose obvious quality in attack was matched by the dearth of said quality in defence. Kettering Park Rovers scored five times and will feel unlucky to lose the game 6-5.
The same could well be said of the all-Corby affair between Talisman and Hearth. The tie ended 6-4 in favour of Talisman for whom Darren Harrison netted three times. Yardley were made to work hard for their win at home to Walgrave Amber. In the end Jack Scally’s double secured the points and a 4-3 win for the hosts. Paul Haigh and Angelo Virelli scored the goals for Kennedy’s that secured them victory over local rivals FC Higham 2-0. Fellow Higham outfit Dragons went down 4-2 to Kingswood, a result which sees the Corby side move third.

Duston Garage (Bosch Service) Reserve Premier Division:
Goals from Adam and Joe Frost set Kislingbury on their way to a 4-2 home win over bitter rivals Harpole, and ensured that their two-point advantage over Weldon, 2-1 winners at Moulton was maintained. Harborough Town slipped to third after a surprise 2-1 defeat away at Bugbrooke ‘A’. Nomads pulled clear of the bottom defeating fellow strugglers Khalsa 2-1 after goals from Andy Harvey and Adrian Hobson. Brett Sandy doubled up as Whitefield cruised to a fine 5-0 win over Gretton, whilst Roade picked up a good win on the road at ON Chenecks ‘A’ 3-1.

Reserve Division 1:
Danny Darker struck another hat-trick for Orchard Park who remain top of the table after a comfortable 3-1 home win over Brixworth. James King Blisworth remain unbeaten and their defence resolute after a 3-0 win away at Medbourne. Simon Trussler opened the scoring for the Tunnelmen who have yet to concede in the league this season. Stanion’s failure to beat Bugbrooke ‘B’ despite a brace from Craig Connor sees them slip to third in the table. Dean Pridmore scored the other goal in their 3-3 home draw.
Craig McBlain struck twice for Locomotives Reserves, but it proved to be in vain as Stuart Schofield and Gavan Heslip netted the decisive goals for Queen Eleanor, 4-2 winners. It was largely a family affair as Neal and Kevin Piggott put Finedon Volta on the way to a 3-0 home win over Ringstead.  A double for Ian Grant saw Heyford home to a 4-3 victory over Weldon ‘A’, a result which sees both sides sit comfortably in mid-table.  Wootton St George edged out Wollaston 4-3.

Reserve Division 2:
A brace from Harry Bindle settled the clash of the top two in favour of Earls Barton, who defeated Harpole ‘A’ 2-0. The result sees the sides swap places. A  7-2 win away at Drayton Grange sees Islip move third on goal difference, ahead of Stanwick, who also recorded a heavy win, 5-1 away at Wilby. John Ogden netted a treble for Stanwick. Old Grammarians also inflicted a heavy defeat on depleted Dainite. Three goals either side of half time saw the Wellingborough outfit home with a comfortable 6-0 win. David Mayhew opened the scoring in the first half, whilst “Veteran” John Bicknell completed the rout late on.  Matt Farrell netted the first and Adam Freely the final goal as Weedon completed the trend of high-scoring games winning 5-2 at home to Crick.