EAGLE BITTER UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

NEWSLETTER NO. 192 SEPTEMBER 2005

Joseph joins Arrows management team

Steve Joseph has rejoined Harrowby as joint manager after a spell as assistant manager of neighbours Bourne. Joseph had a brief spell as Harrowby manager in 1998 and was more recently reserve team boss at Harrowby Fields before leaving to join the Wakes midway through last season.

The Arrows’ new look side has found the going tough as summer appointment to the helm Jason Harrison has had to rebuild from scratch. Additions to the squad since the opening days of the season are Paul Miles and Steve Young, both with Southern League experience at Grantham and Buckminster full back Jason Bowers who has been sidelined in recent weeks after a head injury suffered against Blackstones required 17 stitches. Former Harrowby striker Robbie Williams has rejoined the club after a two year break from football and will be looking to recapture the form that made him a feared marksman in previous spells in Arrows colours.

Scotney reaches milestone

Veteran marksman Dave Scotney reached a career milestone on 3rd September when his two goals against Desborough took his tally in UCL football to the three hundred mark. All Scotney’s goals have been scored for top flight clubs, and he is believed the first player to have reached this landmark since the Premier Division started in 1972. Exactly half of the player’s triple century were scored for Bourne, with 91 goals for Boston, 30 for Blackstones, 16 for Holbeach and 13 for Spalding completing the tally.

At 42, Scotney is one of a number of veteran campaigners offering strike options to Poachers boss Bob Don-Duncan. Early season signing Gary Bull, a widely travelled ex-professional with the likes of Nottingham Forest and Barnet, is a mere 39 years of age, while recent recruit Ian Williams from Stamford is just 34! He has been recruited to cover for the absence through suspension of another seasoned campaigner Micky Nuttell and last season’s leading marksman Danny Matson who has been sidelined with a knee injury.

Recent additions to the Boston squad are experienced goalkeeper Ian Baker who numbers Taunton and Bideford among his previous clubs and former Grimsby Town youngster Matt Stares who had a spell on work experience with the Poachers last term. In keeping with current trends Boston have also signed two foreign players, Czech Radek Chumchal and Portuguese Wilson Almeida.

Pitch problems overshadow fine Saints start

Vandalism at the club’s Westwood Road ground has overshadowed Premier newboys St Ives’ fine start to life in the top flight. Damage to an oil tank at the ground, coupled with heavy rain, resulted in a leak onto the playing surface at Westwood Road. Following consultation with environmental health officials the pitch was ruled out of action while the affected area was dug up and relaid.

Warboys and Huntingdon moved quickly to offer the Saints their facilities for matches against Bourne and Wellingborough, but unfortunately the loss of their own ground was accompanied by a loss of momentum after St Ives had kicked off their Premier Division career with a hat trick of victories, and both matches on the borrowed grounds were lost.

A return to Westwood Road is earmarked for 1st October when Woodford are scheduled to visit in the FA Vase.

Summer signing Craig Donaldson netted the club’s first Premier Division goal on 13th August as St Ives surprised Woodford 1-0 at Westwood Road

Stotfold part company with Kent

Stotfold have parted company with assistant manager Tyrone Kent, who joined the Eagles in the summer. With manager Jim Benton and coach Scott Grant both featuring in the team, chairman and former manager Phil Pateman has been recalled to dugout duty for now.

One time Leyton Orient youngster Michael Gonzagle has been a recent addition to the Stotfold playing staff while defender Ryan Frater has now committed himself to the club after starting the campaign with Bedford Town.

Injury hit Desborough embark on recruitment drive

A series of injuries to key players has given Desborough a few early season headaches, so new manager John Munton has had to move into the transfer market to bolster his squad.

Goalkeeper Paul Beresford and defenders Mark Pallett, Nathan Mitchell and Rick Kimbell are among the absentees so some rearguard recruitment has been a priority for Munton who has snapped up Raunds skipper Andy Brown and Graeme Hodgson from Stamford, who is reunited with Ar Tarn assistant Bryn Gunn, a former colleague at Arnold. Arriving in midfield is another capture from Raunds, Pete Sneddon.

Wakes promote Spafford

Bourne have handed coach Shane Spafford the post of assistant manager at the Abbey Lawn following Steve Joseph’s departure to Harrowby.

On the field additions to the Wakes’ squad are ex-Lincoln United full back Paul Bartle and wide man Andy Smurthwaite who has returned from Cottesmore.

Veteran Bourne striker Darren Munton was in the news recently for an achievement in his other sport – cricket. He scored six sixes in an over in the John Wilcox Cup final to help Market Overton win the trophy.

Three new faces for champions

Cogenhoe have been busy strengthening their squad in recent weeks after being hit by injuries to captain Richard Bunting (knee ligaments) and Brian Page (broken foot).

Utility player Stuart Smeathers has returned to Compton Park after starting the campaign with Rugby, while another familiar face back in Cogenhoe colours is Fazel Koriya, who has switched from Long Buckby. Latest addition to Adam Sandy’s squad is former Kettering midfielder Adam Bridgeford from Brackley.

Raunds rebuilding continues

Raunds player manager Nick Ashby has continued to revamp his squad in the early weeks of the campaign. Five new players have checked in at Kiln Park in recent weeks, mainly to extend the Shopmates’ range of attacking options. Sol Benjamin has been recruited from Whitworths, Matt Curtis has arrived from Desborough, Mohamed Ali has signed from Long Buckby and James Fox has been snapped up from Matlock. Completing the new faces is ex-Kettering defender Matt Harris.

Midfielder Carl Tallents is back in training after recovering from a shoulder injury, but the Shopmates are now without defender Martin Mitchell after the player was injured in a car accident.

Injuries blight Yaxley start

Yaxley have made an encouraging start to the season despite a host of injuries which have tested the strength of the Cuckoos’ squad to the limit.

Midfield trio Ricky Hailstone, Steve Burns and Lee Blewett have all suffered ankle injuries while Mark Paul’s free scoring start to the campaign has been halted by a foot injury. Better news is the return to action of defender Chris Lenton after a scan on his knee resulted in him receiving the all clear to resume playing.

Reserve team boss Nigel Clarke faces a break from the game while he recovers from a hip operation.

Two new faces for St Neots

St Neots player manager Steve Kuhne has added to the depth of his squad by bringing in two more new faces at Rowley Park. Ex-Daventry and Barton midfielder Callum Brown and Arlesey front runner Craig Reynolds are the latest additions to the Saints’ playing staff.

Midfielder Ricky Dear could be missing for the rest of the season with a Gilmore’s groin injury while Simon Claridge is another long term casualty with an achilles tendon problem.

Stones strengthen squad

Blackstones have responded to an indifferent start to the campaign by bringing in three new faces. Former Harrowby defender Darren Glover has checked in at Lincoln Road, along with Ashley Stevens who scored goals aplenty for Deeping last season, and left sided midfielder Kevin Ainslie who has returned to Stones colours after a spell with neighbours Stamford.

RAF midfielder Ian Matthews has returned to action following a knee injury while defender Gavin Barnes has had the plaster cast removed from his broken wrist.

McKenzie goals boost Robins

Former Kettering striker Michael McKenzie has been in fine form since joining Buckingham from Newport Pagnell in an early season move – he has scored six goals in his first four matches for the Robins.

Other new faces in the Buckingham squad are left back Lee Grant, midfielder John De Souza and striker Gary Cook, all signed on dual registration from Aylesbury. Cook scored twice on his Robins debut at Desborough. Eve of season signing George Ogbonna has spent two weeks with Scottish League Hamilton Academicals on trial, but looks set to stay with Buckingham for now.

Buckingham have welcomed Paul Stanley back to the line up following suspension.

Rangers lose playmaker

Deeping’s star midfielder Guy Last has left Outgang Road to play professionally in Dubai. The former Peterborough United youngster was snapped up by Rangers late last season and proved a big influence in his time in Rangers’ colours.

Spalding midfielder Stefan Dancy has become the latest addition to Vince Adams’s squad, while goalkeeper John Feetham is now back in action after recovering from a long standing hand injury.

Sparkling start for Spencer – despite penalty problems

Northampton Spencer have enjoyed their best start to a season in years, despite missing four penalties out of five in the early weeks of the season. Top scorer Darren Frost is again among the league’s leading marksmen but has been the main culprit in the catalogue of penalty failures. When the Millers were awarded a spot kick in the Vase game with Cranfield Adam Wigley assumed the responsibility but he too failed to hit the target.

Spencer’s good start has resulted in a 150% increase in attendances at Kingsthorpe Mill.

Midfielder Steve Jelley is likely to miss the entire campaign with a cruciate ligament injury.

Buckby hit by injuries

Long Buckby have had a disappointing opening to the season after injuries bit deep into their squad. Ankle problems have sidelined Lee Botterill, Dave Drinkwater and summer signing Steve Blackwood while Adrian Redmond and Pat Roach have been ruled out by knee trouble.

Buckby have midfielder Jon Crockett back from suspension and have signed widely travelled defender Roy Willmott and county youth selection Courtney Francis who earned a quick first team call up after a four goal debut in the reserves.

Cottingham contingent increased at Stewarts & Lloyds

Rob Clark has added to the contingent of former Cottingham players in his Occupation Road squad by snapping up midfield pair Paul Djeneralovic and Gary Owen.

Another new face in S&L colours is experienced goalkeeper Richard Lavin, who was first choice with neighbours Corby Town last term before switching to Rugby in the close season, while full back Scott Marshall has joined from Blackstones.

Holbeach strike force depleted

Holbeach’s strike force has been depleted in recent weeks with Tom Gosling ruled out through suspension and summer signing Jamie Graham imprisoned after an incident outside a Peterborough nightclub.

The Tigers are still searching for a reserve team manager after Nick Keeble decided not to take on the role shortly before the start of the season. Club stalwart Alan Wright is holding the reins on a temporary basis.

Trio of recruits for Fords

Ford Sports have added three new signings to their squad. Midfielder Chris Evans has returned to the fold after missing most of last season through work commitments, while wide man Spencer Freed has returned to Royal Oak Way after kicking off the season with Blisworth. Completing the new arrivals is striker Lee Bradley, a former Rushden & Diamonds youngster.

Potton rebuilding continues

New Potton manager Ian Donnelly has continued his rebuilding at The Hollow by signing former Stotfold favourite Paul Garrett who had a brief spell with Potters Bar at the start of the season. Donnelly also returned to his former club Hitchin to snap up striker Bilal Hassan on a short term arrangement.

Doughboys hit the ground running

Newcomers Wellingborough Town 2004 have hit the ground running with a fine start to their UCL career which has seen them start with a seven match unbeaten run.

The Doughboys’ debut against Huntingdon on 20th August was played in a carnival atmosphere in front of a bumper crowd of 380 as the Mayor of Wellingborough Patricia Raymond declared the ground open. Subsequent games have seen further crowds of 280 against Olney and 250 against Eynesbury.

On the playing front the club’s star capture is ex-Kettering Town defender Craig Norman who spent eight years with the Poppies after beginning his career with Chelsea. Stewarts & Lloyds defender Jonathan Dean is another recent arrival at the Dog & Duck.

Wellingborough have signed a second former professional cricketer in ex-Northants player Chris Goode, who joins another ex-County Ground man John Hughes in the squad. Goode was with the Cobblers as a youngster before putting his football career on hold to concentrate on the summer game. With chairman Paul Joy an umpire in minor counties’ cricket and secretary Laurie Owen a Northamptonshire CC scorer the Doughboys certainly have connections aplenty to the cricket world.

Green quits at Burton Park

Burton Park have had an early season managerial change with Grantham based boss Geoff Green leaving Latimer Park just three games into the new campaign through work commitments.

Green’s assistant Kevin Townsend has taken the reins with reserve team boss Kenny Gordon stepping up to work with the senior side.

Mick Titcombe, Nick Swinfen and Adam Newman are all back in action after missing the start of the season through injury.

New signings galore for Romans

Returning managerial duo Bob Reed and John Dower have been busy adding to the squad they inherited at Irchester on the eve of the season. Adam Boughton and Daniel Avis, who both played for the co-managers at Kempston, have linked up with the Romans along with Carl Townsend, recruited from Bedford League football, and Martyn Cain, who rejoins the Romans from Thrapston.

Star capture is striker Mark Reed, but the former Berkhamsted and Arlesey man’s debut has been delayed after he suffered back injuries in a road accident.

Director of Football and former first team boss Steve Whitney has taken over the running of the Romans’ reserve side which will dovetail with the newly assembled under 18 side this season.

Irchester’s first competitive match under the Alfred Street floodlights saw them beaten 2-0 by Peterborough Northern Star in a Knockout Cup tie on 13th September.

Nuttall blow for Chenecks

ON Chenecks’ outstanding start to the season has suffered a setback with six goal marksman Jamie Nuttall suffering a broken leg playing Sunday football.

New additions to the Chenecks ranks are ex-Cogenhoe pair Andy Webb and Rob Spatcher, Moulton striker Justin Ayre and ex-Barnet youth teamer Dan Cockerton.

Sileby embark on recruitment drive

After losing several of their title winning team, Sileby have been active in the transfer market as manager Gary Petts looks to assemble a promotion winning squad.

Defender Grant Stewart and striker Adam Taylor are back in the fold after summer switches to Ford Sports and Rothwell respectively, while other arrivals are Blackstones goalkeeper Jon Kyte, Daventry defender Dave Conway, striker Donovan Reed from Rugby and experienced midfielder Paul Smith who was player manager at Kettering Nomads last season.

Striker Mike Battams will miss the entire season after damaging his cruciate ligament.

Posh use Star facilities

Peterborough Northern Star’s Chestnut Avenue facilities are being used by Coca Cola League neighbours Peterborough United for training purposes this season.

On the field manager Mel Landin’s rebuilding programme has seen him bring defender Phil Anderson back to the club from Yaxley while Darren Hempson has rejoined the club after a break from the game. Star capture is former Arlesey front runner Ronnie Fortune.

More new faces for Thrapston

Thrapston manager Lee Howard has been busy strengthening his squad in the early weeks of the season. Most experienced addition to the Chancery Lane squad is midfielder Jon Shanks, who played Southern League football for Baldock, while Steve Chilton has arrived from Rothwell Corinthians to join brother Mark in the Town squad. Another former Corinths man joining Thrapston is midfielder John Caine, while Simon Richards and Ben Atkins have been recruited from Victoria Millers and Kieran Beeby has joined from local football.

Youngsters in Higham breakthrough

After the departures of several senior players in the summer a number of youngsters have emerged from the Higham colts set up to win places in the Lankies’ first team. Karl King, Adam Walsh and Wayne Munro have all featured regularly in the early season matches, with King making his mark with a hat trick in Higham’s first win of the season against Huntingdon on 3rd September.

Recent additions to the Higham squad are Irchester pair Terry Jeyes and Dave Hiscock and John McLeod from Sunday football.

Transfer trail

The transfer market has wasted little time in swinging into action this season with the last month or so seeing moves aplenty. The latest batch of movers are as follows:-

6. Phil Anderson Yaxley to Peterborough Northern Star
7. Matthew Harris Thrapston Town to Raunds Town
8. Dean King Irchester United to Raunds Town
9. Wayne Simmonds Raunds Town to Wellingborough Town 2004
10. Tom Cosentino Daventry Town to Ford Sports Daventry
11. Spencer Freed Blisworth to Ford Sports Daventry
12. Andrew Webb Cogenhoe United to Northampton ON Chenecks
13. Robert Spatcher Cogenhoe United to Northampton ON Chenecks
14. Mark Reed Harrowby United to Irchester United
15. Terry Jeyes Irchester United to Higham Town
16. Andy Bennett Newport Pagnell Town to Woodford United
17. Jonathan Dean Stewarts & Lloyds Corby to Wellingborough Town 2004
18. Michael McKenzie Newport Pagnell Town to Buckingham Town
19. Fazel Koriya Long Buckby to Cogenhoe United
20. Robert Steele Ford Sports Daventry to Daventry Town
21. Matty Curtis Desborough Town to Raunds Town
22. Martyn Cain Thrapston Town to Irchester United
23. Mohamed Ali Long Buckby to Raunds Town
24. Lee Dorrington Whitworths to Raunds Town
25. Paul Smith Thrapston Town to Northampton Sileby Rangers
26. Donovan Reed Burton Park Wanderers to Northampton Sileby Rangers
27. Gary Evans Irchester United to Desborough Town
28. Matt Cosentino Daventry Town to Ford Sports Daventry
29. Leigh Fox Raunds Town to Harrowby United
30. Matt Kent Wootton Blue Cross to AFC Kempston Rovers
31. Graeme Hodgson Bourne Town to Desborough Town
32. Gareth Errington Long Buckby to Bugbrooke St Michaels
33. Kevin Vigo Northampton ON Chenecks to Daventry Town
34. Dave Hiscock Irchester United to Higham Town
35. Grant Stewart Ford Sports Daventry to Northampton Sileby Rangers
36. Andy Brown Raunds Town to Desborough Town
37. Pete Sneddon Raunds Town to Desborough Town
38. Scott Marshall Blackstones to Stewarts & Lloyds Corby


Old and new take managerial awards

The season’s first managerial awards were won by bosses at the opposite ends of the managerial spectrum. The August prize in the Premier Division was won by Northampton Spencer chief Steve Jelley, who only took the Kingsthorpe Mill reins during the summer while Division One winner Brian Rowland of Sleaford is embarking on his twenty sixth season in charge of the Lincolnshire club!

Spencer collected ten points from four top flight matches in August and also made progress in the FA Cup with a Preliminary Round victory at Ware.

Sleaford enjoyed a perfect start to the new season with a hat trick of August victories, all of them achieved on opposition soil.

Knockout Cup Review: Three giant killings so far

September has seen the Knockout Cup swing into action and three Division One sides have already disposed of their supposed betters from the top flight.

The only upset in the Preliminary Round came at Huntingdon where St Ives came a cropper against Wellingborough at their temporary home. A debut goal from Chris Goode gave the Doughboys a 1-0 success.

That was one of five away victories in the eight ties in the round. Most emphatic winners on their travels were Ford Sports who overwhelmed neighbours Long Buckby 5-1 with a hat trick from Ben Foster and a brace from Chris Trill, while another all Premier derby tie saw Yaxley progress 3-1 at Deeping with Ricky Hailstone, Dale Watkins and Simon Acton sharing the Cuckoos’ goals.

Wayne Mills netted twice in Stotfold’s 3-0 success at Blisworth while an all Division One match saw Peterborough Northern Star spoil Irchester’s floodlight opening party with a 2-0 Alfred Street victory, Gary Roddis and Ronnie Fortune on the scoresheet.

Raunds avenged the previous season’s defeat at Eynesbury with a 2-1 home win this time round, a Chris Bingham own goal and a late Adam Hancock effort putting the Shopmates through, while Potton were run close by Huntingdon at The Hollow, John Coley and Paul Donnelly giving the Royals a 2-1 win. The highest scoring match of the round was Blackstones’ 5-2 home win over Rothwell Corinthians, substitute Ashley Stevens on target twice for Stones.

In Round One two more lower grade outfits beat Premier sides. Sleaford surprised Wootton 2-1 at Weston Park with goals from Jamie Shaw and Paul Ward while Sileby edged out Harrowby 4-2 on penalties after four goals were shared at Harrowby Fields, Colin Cooper netting both for the Division One champions.

The second shootout of the competition saw 2004 winners Boston Town edge past Holbeach 5-4 in the shootout, debutant goalkeeper Ian Baker’s save from Paul Langford deciding the contest after the sides finished level at two apiece in the match proper.

St Neots, Boston’s victims in that final sixteen months ago, breezed past Higham 4-0 at Vine Hill Drive with Steve Kuhne scored a hat trick, a feat later matched by Woodford marksman Russ Dunkley as last season’s beaten finalists trounced Olney 4-0 at Byfield Road.

Jamie Moss, Dan Chilton and Scott Coleman were on target for Northampton Spencer as they beat Whitworths 3-0 at Kingsthorpe Mill, while Vinny Shrieves took Newport Pagnell into the last 16 with a 1-0 home win over Bugbrooke. An all Division One tie saw Michael Jacznik give Daventry a 1-0 home win over AFC Kempston.

The Reserve Knockout Cup First Round has witnessed just two upsets so far with Rothwell Corinthians surprising last season’s runners up Deeping 3-2 at Outgang Road and Holbeach beating Eynesbury 2-0 at Carters Park with two goals from Neal Mitchell.

There have been early exits for Reserve Division One champions Yaxley, 3-1 at Desborough, 2004 winners Blackstones, 2-0 at Northampton Spencer and Spalding, runners-up two years ago, who lost at Olney for the second season running. Bourne have notched up the biggest win so far, beating Newport Pagnell 5-1 at the Abbey Lawn, but only after extra time. Darren Munton scored two for the Wakes.

Cogenhoe and Woodford enjoy best FA Cup runs

Cogenhoe and Woodford have both enjoyed their best FA Cup runs this season by progressing to the Second Qualifying Round stage.

The Cooks beat Hanwell 4-1 in the Preliminary Round with goals from Elliott Sandy, Dan Thomason, Brian Page and a visiting defender, and then followed up with a 4-2 defeat of Clapton, the marksmen two goal Fazel Koriya, Sandy and Darren Collins. Woodford did even better winning three ties without conceding a goal. Russ Dunkley and Nicky Gordon were the respective matchwinners in single goal successes against Southend Manor and Wisbech before the Reds cut loose to demolish Harwich 5-0 in the First Qualifying Round with Arron Parkinson, Dunkley, Gordon, Neil Champlovier and Tom Fountain all on the scoresheet.

Other Extra Preliminary Round winners were Wootton, who won an all domestic contest against Desborough 2-0 with goals from Darek Jozwiak and Chris Johnson, St Neots who progressed 2-0 at Wembley with Gary Walker and Steve Kuhne on target, and Stotfold who beat Bowers & Pitsea on penalties after 2-2 and 3-3 draws.

St Neots earned their 15 minutes of fame with their success at Wembley, featuring in Sky TV and the Daily Telegraph’s Wembley to Wembley series, but they were among the many Preliminary Round casualties. There were good wins for Potton, 3-2 at Tiptree with a Wes Byrne double and Northampton Spencer, 4-2 at Ware with a brace from Darren Frost.

The Royals lost 1-0 to ten men Leyton in the 1st Qualifying Round, failing to capitalise on the second minute dismissal of a visiting player, while Spencer bowed out 2-1 to Aylesbury, Tom O’Brien the Millers marksman.

Nine overcome Vase first hurdle

Nine clubs were successful in the FA Vase First Qualifying Round with just five bowing out at the first hurdle of the national competition.

Two clubs sent former winners packing. Spectacular first half goals from Adam Smith and Darek Jozwiak gave Wootton a 2-0 win over 1984 winners Stansted while inaugural victors Hoddesdon were beaten 1-0 by Yaxley who progressed with a Ricky Hailstone spot kick.

Steve Kuhne and Gary Walker were on target in St Neots’ 2-1 derby success at Godmanchester while in form marksman Michael McKenzie scored twice as Buckingham overcame Barkingside 3-1 at Ford Meadow. Another two goal marksman was Northampton Spencer’s Darren Frost as his side saw off Cranfield 3-0.

Peter Rowe, Steve Dean and Tom Hill shared the Newport Pagnell goals in their 3-1 victory at Ware while Mark Lovelace and Wayne Oldacre saw Deeping past Stapenhill by the odd goal in three.

Ashley Stevens was the Blackstones marksman in their 1-0 home win over Central Midlands League champions Dunkirk while Stotfold progressed at the second attempt, Wayne Mills and Michael Gonzagle on the scoresheet in a 2-0 replay win over Tring Athletic.

Most surprising casualties were league leaders Boston Town, beaten 2-0 by Nuneaton Griff, while Vase debutants Huntingdon Town performed well against FA Cup giantkillers St Margaretsbury before losing 3-1 after extra time.

Cups round-up

League Knockout Cup

Preliminary Round Raunds 2 Eynesbury 1; Blackstones 5 Rothwell Corinthians 2; Deeping 1 Yaxley 3; Irchester 0 Peterborough Northern Star 2; Long Buckby 1 Ford Sports 5; Blisworth 0 Stotfold 3; Potton 2 Huntingdon 1; St Ives 0 Wellingborough 1. First Round Buckingham v Ford Sports (12/10); Yaxley v Wellingborough (18/10); Potton v Burton PW (18/10); Higham 0 St Neots 4; Woodford 4 Olney 0; Peterborough Northern Star v ON Chenecks (15/10); Raunds v Stewarts & Lloyds (11/10); Newport Pagnell 1 Bugbrooke 0; Cogenhoe v Blackstones (15/10); Daventry 1 AFC Kempston 0; Boston Town 2 Holbeach 2 aet, Boston won 5-4 on penalties; Harrowby 2 Sileby 2 aet, Sileby won 4-2 on penalties; Northampton Spencer 3 Whitworths 0; Wootton 1 Sleaford 2; Bourne v Stotfold (15/10); Thrapston v Desborough (1/10). Second Round Thrapston/Desborough v Raunds/Stewarts & Lloyds; Boston Town v St Neots (22/10); Woodford v Potton/Burton PW; Sleaford v Buckingham/Ford Sports; Sileby v Northampton Spencer (18/10); Peterborough Northern Star/ON Chenecks v Newport Pagnell; Bourne/Stotfold v Yaxley/Wellingborough; Cogenhoe/Blackstones v Daventry.

Reserve Knockout Cup

First Round Desborough 3 Yaxley 1; Deeping 2 Rothwell Corinthians 3; Burton PW 1 Cogenhoe 4; Holbeach 2 Eynesbury 0; ON Chenecks 1 Whitworths 2; Higham v Irchester; Bourne 5 Newport Pagnell 1 aet; Olney 3 Spalding 2; Stewarts & Lloyds 4 Thrapston 2; Raunds 2 Rothwell Town 1; Bugbrooke 5 Daventry 4 aet; Ford Sports 3 Woodford 1; Wellingborough 2 Long Buckby 1; Sileby v Stotfold (8/10); Northampton Spencer 2 Blackstones 0. Second Round Northampton Spencer v Bourne (15/10); Bugbrooke v Holbeach (15/10); Whitworths v Cogenhoe (15/10); Wellingborough v Desborough (18/10); Huntingdon v Ford Sports; Higham/Irchester v Olney; Sileby/Stotfold v Rothwell Corinthians; Stewarts & Lloyds v Raunds (19/10).

F.A. Cup

Extra Preliminary Round Borrowash 1 FORD SPORTS 1; Chalfont St Peter 1 BUCKINGHAM 0; Wembley 0 ST NEOTS 2; Soham 2 YAXLEY 1; Fakenham 2 LONG BUCKBY 0; Bowers & Pitsea 2 STOTFOLD 2; St Margaretsbury 2 ST IVES 1; WOOTTON 2 DESBOROUGH 0; Southend Manor 0 WOODFORD 1. Replays: FORD SPORTS 1 Borrowash 2; STOTFOLD 3 Bowers & Pitsea 3 aet, Stotfold won 4-2 on penalties. Preliminary Round Willenhall 1 BLACKSTONES 0; Bromsgrove 4 BOURNE 1; Long Eaton 4 BOSTON TOWN 2; DEEPING 0 Norton 0; HOLBEACH 0 Boldmere 2; WOOTTON 1 Barton Rovers 1; Ware 2 NORTHAMPTON SPENCER 4; Harlow 4 NEWPORT PAGNELL 2; Tiptree 2 POTTON 3; ST NEOTS 1 Hemel Hempstead 4; STOTFOLD 1 Clapton 2; COGENHOE 4 Hanwell 1; RAUNDS 0 Beaconsfield 2; WOODFORD 1 Wisbech 0. Replay: Norton 1 DEEPING 0; Barton Rovers 4 WOOTTON 1. First Qualifying Round WOODFORD 5 Harwich 0; COGENHOE 4 Clapton 2; POTTON 0 Leyton 1; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER 1 Aylesbury 2 Second Qualifying Round(24/9) COGENHOE v Staveley MW; Redditch v WOODFORD.

Cups round-up – continued

F.A. Vase

First Qualifying Round BOSTON TOWN 0 Nuneaton Griff 2; DEEPING 2 Stapenhill 1; BOURNE 1 Shirebrook 2; BLACKSTONES 1 Dunkirk 0; Tring Athletic 1 STOTFOLD 1 aet; Sawbridgeworth 2 LONG BUCKBY 0; BUCKINGHAM 3 Barkingside 1; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER 3 Cranfield 0; HUNTINGDON 1 St Margaretsbury 3 aet; London Colney 4 EYNESBURY 1; Hoddesdon 0 YAXLEY 1; Ware 1 NEWPORT PAGNELL 3; Godmanchester 1 ST NEOTS 2; WOOTTON 2 Stansted 0. Replay: STOTFOLD 2 Tring Athletic 0. Second Qualifying Round (1/10) BLACKSTONES v Racing Warwick; FORD SPORTS v Atherstone; Rainworth v DEEPING; DAVENTRY v Wellington; ST NEOTS v Witham; STOTFOLD v Gorleston; Woodbridge v RAUNDS; Thetford v WOOTTON; ST IVES v WOODFORD; Bicester v BUCKINGHAM; Fakenham v NEWPORT PAGNELL; ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS v Welwyn GC; BUGBROOKE v Long Melford; Wroxham v YAXLEY; AFC KEMPSTON v Colney Heath; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER v Ipswich Wanderers.

Bedfordshire Senior Cup

First Round Bedford Town v STOTFOLD (11/10); WOOTTON v Leighton (12/10). Quarter finals (w/c 16/1) Arlesey v POTTON; WOOTTON/Leighton v Barton Rovers; Buggleswade United/Biggleswade Town v Bedford Town/STOTFOLD.

Bedfordshire Senior Trophy

First Round (5/11) Bedford United v AFC KEMPSTON.

Bedfordshire Intermediate Cup

Second Round (12/11) Campton/Corinthians in Sport v STOTFOLD RESERVES.

Berks & Bucks Senior Trophy

Second Round Reading Town v NEWPORT PAGNELL (8/11); Milton United v BUCKINGHAM (9/11).

Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup

First Round (8/10) Haddenham v OLNEY; Aston Park v NEWPORT PAGNELL RESERVES.

Berks & Bucks Junior Cup

First Round (15/10) OLNEY RESERVES v St Johns.

Cups round-up – continued

Huntingdonshire Senior Cup

Second Round (26/11) ST IVES v EYNESBURY; ST NEOTS v YAXLEY; HUNTINGDON v Brampton.

Huntingdonshire Scott-Gatty Cup

First Round (24/9) HUNTINGDON RESERVES v Great Paxton Reserves; YAXLEY RESERVES v Ortonians Reserves. Second Round (5/11) Buckden v EYNESBURY RESERVES; Godmanchester Reserves v HUNTINGDON RESERVES/Great Paxton Reserves; YAXLEY RESERVES/Ortonians Reserves v Huntingdon United GRE/St Ives Rangers.

Huntingdon Benevolent Cup

First Round (8/10) YAXLEY RESERVES v Huntingdon United GRE; EYNESBURY RESERVES v Ramsey Reserves; St Ives Reserves v HUNTINGDON RESERVES.

Lincolnshire Senior Cup ‘A’

First Round (27/9) HARROWBY v BOSTON TOWN.

Lincolnshire Senior Cup ‘B’

First Round (24/9) Caistor v SLEAFORD.

Northamptonshire Hillier Senior Cup

First Round (4/10) FORD SPORTS v RAUNDS; COGENHOE v Kettering; STEWARTS & LLOYDS v Brackley; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER v WOODFORD.

Northamptonshire Junior Cup

First Round (24/9) THRAPSTON v Priors Marston; SILEBY v COGENHOE RESERVES (23/9); WELLINGBOROUGH v Harpole; Wicken Sports v PETERBOROUGH NORTHERN STAR; Northampton Broadmead Saints v DAVENTRY; ROTHWELL RESERVES v Oundle; WHITWORTHS v Corby Caledonian Strip Mills; BURTON PW v STEWARTS & LLOYDS RESERVES; FORD SPORTS RESERVES v Rushden Rangers; BUGBROOKE v ON CHENECKS; RAUNDS RESERVES v Northampton Airflow; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER RESERVES v Milton.

East Anglian Cup

First Round EYNESBURY v Spalding.

Cups round-up – continued

Buckingham Charity Cup

First Round Bicester v BUCKINGHAM (18/10); NEWPORT PAGNELL v Aylesbury Vale (18/10 prov.); Cranfield v OLNEY; WOODFORD v FORD SPORTS.

Hinchingbrooke Cup

Preliminary Round YAXLEY v Cranfield; WOOTTON 0 ST NEOTS 1; EYNESBURY 0 ST IVES 1; AFC KEMPSTON v ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS; BLACKSTONES v STOTFOLD; DEEPING v Barton Rovers; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER v BOURNE. First Round Somersham v ST IVES; YAXLEY/Cranfield v ST NEOTS; Biggleswade United v HUNTINGDON; Godmanchester v BLACKSTONES/STOTFOLD; AFC KEMPSTON/ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS v DEEPING/Barton Rovers; Biggleswade Town v POTTON; NORTHAMPTON SPENCER/BOURNE v WELLINGBOROUGH.

North Beds Charity Cup

First Round STOTFOLD v Biggleswade United; Biggleswade Town v WOOTTON; Cranfield v POTTON.

South Midlands Floodlit Cup

First Round Stansted v EYNESBURY; WOOTTON v Broxbourne. Second Round WOOTTON/Broxbourne v Stansted/EYNESBURY.

South Midlands Reserve Floodlit Cup

Second Round Biggleswade Town Reserves/Hoddesdon Reserves v EYNESBURY RESERVES; Colney Heath Reserves v STOTFOLD RESERVES.

Biggleswade Knockout Cup

First Round STOTFOLD RESERVES v Campton.

Bull the August top marksman

Gary Bull of Boston Town won the season’s first Goalscorer of the Month award with a six goal haul in just three August matches. The widely travelled marksman made a spectacular impact with a four goal debut for the Poachers at Harrowby on 16th August, and he followed up with decisive goals in Boston’s next two games against Stewarts & Lloyds and Blackstones.

Ward and Jones share Goalkeeper of the month prize

The August Goalkeeper of the Month award sponsored by Hereward Sports was shared with Boston Town veteran Simon Ward and Raunds teenager Chris Jones unable to be seperated. Both custodians played four matches in August and conceded just a single goal apiece.

Snippets

AFC Kempston expect their new artificial dri play area and clubhouse and dressing rooms to be completed within the next month. Top scorer last season Matt Kent has rejoined the Walnut Boys from Wootton….New faces at Daventry are Rob Steele from Ford Sports, Michael Jacznik from Roade and Elliott Grey, formerly with Long Buckby and Kidsgrove. Meanwhile manager Tony Perry has taken up another post in local football – secretary of the Daventry Charity Cup competition….Eynesbury have lost the services if veteran striker Jamie Donald who has decided to hang up his boots….Olney have obtained planning permission for an extension to their clubhouse and dressing room building…..New faces at Rothwell Corinthians are strikers Kobie Dee, formerly with Barton Rovers, and Dallie Mandson from Sunday football….Whitworths have signed prolific marksman James Westley, top scorer for Higham for the last two seasons, and the leading marksman among current UCL players with a career tally of 315 goals in the league….Woodford midfielder Tom Fountain is set to be sidelined for around two months after an operation on a fractured cheekbone….A consortium of local businessmen have agreed to fund the construction of a new executive lounge to be built on top of the existing clubhouse building at Wootton’s Weston Park ground.

Leading goalscorers

Premier Division (to 21 September)
10 – G. Bull (Boston)
8 – M. Paul (Yaxley)
7 – D. Frost (Northampton Spencer), S. Kuhne (St Neots)
6 – V. Shrieves (Newport Pagnell)
5 – S. Coleman (Northampton Spencer), R. Dunkley (Woodford), D. Jozwiak (Wootton), M. Lovelace
(Deeping)
4 – B. Foster (Ford Sports), G. McIlwain (Desborough), M. McKenzie (Buckingham), R. Tanner (Raunds),
D. Watkins (Yaxley), M. Wilson (Harrowby)
3 – A. Bascombe, W. Mills (Stotfold), S. Blackwood (Long Buckby), C. Caswell (Stewarts & Lloyds), D.
Chapple (Harrowby), D. Cundy (Holbeach), L. Ellison (Deeping), J. Fox (Raunds), D. Hargreaves
(Bourne), T. Hill (Newport Pagnell), L. Kennett (St Ives), I. Morrison (Potton), G. Ogbonna
(Buckingham), I. Pearce, C. Trill (Ford Sports), E. Sandy (Cogenhoe), I. Williams (Boston)
Division One (to 21 September)
6 – R. Foster (Wellingborough), J. Nuttall (ON Chenecks)
5 – R. Beardshaw (Olney), P. Carey (Eynesbury)
4 – R. Fortune (Peterborough Northern Star), K. King (Higham), J. Shaw (Sleaford)
3 – S. Atkinson, J. Daldy, B. Holley (Whitworths), C. Cooper (Sileby), P. Green, P. Tebbutt (ON
Chenecks), L. Llewellyn, S. Rowland (Sleaford), D. Paling, S. Phillips (Peterborough Northern
Star), P. Pratt (Olney), A. Spruels (Bugbrooke)
Reserve Division One (to 17 September)
5 – S. McDevitt (Stewarts & Lloyds)
4 – A. Bradshaw (Cogenhoe), G. Evans (Desborough)
3 – D. Jarman (Deeping), M. Kelly (Newport Pagnell), D. Munton (Bourne)
Reserve Division Two (to 17 September)
4 – C. Francis (Long Buckby)
3 – M. Cross, G. Walker (ON Chenecks)