It’s carnage in the Sunday Cups

Premier Division leaders Meltis Mexicans were beaten 2-1 by Club Lewsey, Constant & Co were defeated 4-1 by Go Bowling, and Lawson Park Rangers, last season’s winners of this trophy, went down 1-0 to Houghton Town, all three matches being played in the south of the County.

Esquires gave some respectability back to the league with a sound 7-3 thrashing of Stanbridge & Tilsworth and the local derby between Haynes and Caldecote Young Boys produced ten goals, with Haynes getting only one of them on their own pitch.

Atletico Europa won the other domestic game 4-2 after extra time against Queesmen. This was a keenly fought game but Europa always had the extra flair and strength to command the game.

Daniel Chambers opened the scoring for Atletico but Queens drew level with fifteen minutes to go in normal time. Chambers scored his second and then Dayo Shabi powered in number three to put Atletico in the driver’s seat.

Ishmail George was then sent up to the front line and scored for Atletico using his pace and strength and this goal really sealed the game. Queensmen scored a late goal but the tie had already been settled. Yaseem Eemir was adjudged man of the match by the Atletico team.

London Road Supreme had a real go against Dunstable Athletic on Mowsbury Park, sharing ten goals by the end of extra time. Supreme fell at the last hurdle losing 4-3 on penalties.

It was a slightly better picture in the Beds FA Junior Cup, the league’s teams winning half of the matches played.

Mowsbury Athletic travelled to Real KD in Dunstable and despite fielding a weakened side Athletic were 4-0 up by half-time with a couple of goals from Matt Barnes, and the others coming from Jordan Wright and Nick Brown. Real reduced the deficit to two in the second half but skipper Arran Wright and brother Jordan combined to whip in number five to go into the second round of the Cup.

Harrold & Carlton played Houghton Conquest, Harrold holding onto a 2-1 lead, whilst Wootton Wanderers enjoyed a comfortable win 5-2 at home to Bird in Hand Bedford.

Dunton Sunday got a solid 3-1 result at home to Four Kings Dunstable and local rivals Newtown Rangers and Kempston Hammers had a tight encounter, the Hammers taking the tie 2-0 after extra time.

Sharnbrook Casuals were taken all the way by Bury Park Saracens, Casuals holding on to a 5-4 victory after extra time. A great result away from home where the Casuals started solidly going into a 3-1 lead at half time with two goals from Shaun Barnett and one from Jack Hoogstraten.

The Saracens rallied in the second half though, getting back to 4-4 by the end of normal time with Darren Wallenger keeping the Casuals in the game with a fine header. Extra time was a tight affair and Shaun Barnett completed his hat-trick to win the game for Sharnbrook, who now look forward to another trip down south in the next round.

New Inn Biggleswade appear to be less solid this season and suffered a 7-4 reversal at Langford Road to Houghton United.

It was a much better showing in the Beds FA Lower Junior Cup where league teams won seven of the nine matches played. M & DH Clapham travelled to Red Lion Leighton and came back with a 2-1 victory. Grafton Celtics were also on the road to Bushmead Rovers and they too came back to Bedford with a win, 3-1. Bedford Panthers beat southern opposition in the shape of AC Cadoza Reserves, winning that game 3-1.

With our league teams playing each other, Rose Biggleswade hammered Bird in Hand Lower Stondon 7-0, Bellini’s went down 7-1 at home to Dunton Reserves, Fox and Hounds Clapham beat Old Boys 2-1 after extra time and Shillington Pirates destroyed Gardeners Arms Biggleswade 8-3.

The Beds FA Centenary Cup saw ten of the league’s teams go through to the next round.

The Under 21 teams that played in this round did better than expected, bearing in mind that their games were moved to the morning which would have created player availability problems. Luton Central beat Barton Rovers U21 5-0, Brickhill Wanderers ‘A’ U21 took Slip End United Reserves to extra time, winning the match 4-1 on penalties, an excellent result.

Sacred Heart U21 lost out to Boater Luton, but Brickhill Wanderers ‘B’ U21 drove back from Top Bell Leighton with a 3-1 win under their belts, an excellent double for the Bedford club.

Shefford Saints U21 lost 5-0 to Tophill United, and Luton Central U21 lost 4-1 to Luton-London.

Sir William Peel Sandy continued to play excellent football, this week beating FC Dynamo 5-0. Conor Green set the ball rolling with the first goal, and a Jay Pateman penalty made it two by half-time. Alex Bailey cracked in number three with Jay scoring his seond to make it four. The Peelers’ fifth goal by Adam Jones put the icing on the cake when he lashed in a thirty yarder.

Oakley Wanderers travelled to O’Shea’s Luton and flattened them with an 11-0 win. It was 5-0l at half time through a Dan Cotton hat-trick, and goals from Matty Hull and Stevie Yessian. The second half was just as productive for Wanderers. Sam Eyles came off the bench and scored a hat-trick, Ashley Ayles scored a rare goal, with Liam Donovan and Michael Kalyan finishing off the scoring.

Westoning Gijon top scored with 12 at home to Swan (Northall) Reserves. Sandy Titans showed consistency in beating Chalton Cougars 6-4 and AC Mato did well to beat Co-op Sports Reserves 3-0 away from home. Salento and Bedford Old Boys did not have enough to beat their southern opponents Round Green Tavern and Limbury Black Swan respectively.

Altogether, it was a reasonably successful Sunday morning with the teams from the lower divisions shading the honours for the Bedford & District League.

This Sunday it’s back to a full league programme.