Sweet 16 keep Rovers in hunt

JUNIOR FOOTBALL

THERE were an astonishing 71 goals scored in the six MARLEY ETERNIT UNDER-13 DIVISION ONE matches played, with the top five teams all winning.

That resulted in a three-way tie for top spot and just eight points covering the first eight teams.

Marlborough Rovers maintained their 100 per cent record as four goals from substitute Sam Coates and hat-tricks for Fergus Owens and Cameron Savory proved to be the mainstay of their 16-1 victory over Repton Casuals White. Harry Finnerty replied.

Alexander dos Santos led the way with four goals — half his team’s total — as Chasetown scored eight without reply against Rocester. James McDonald (2), James Castledine and Ben Keates completed the rout.

Rolleston Red held all the aces in their encounter with Rolleston Silver. A Daniel Wildman treble and doubles for Jordan Taylor, Joe Wilson and Mark Worth proved decisive in their 12-0 success.

Callum Brassington and George Critchlow both scored for Uttoxeter but failed to stop the charge of Newhall Lions, who ran out 6-2 winners. Lions’ goals came from George Rothwell (2), Lewis Jones, Jamie Russell, Thomas Simms and Jack Bradley.

The League’s main sponsors, East Staffordshire Borough Council, have helped out once again by sponsoring two more divisions, the first of these being ESBC UNDER-13 DIVISION TWO, in which unbeaten Willington Blue increased their lead at the top to six points following their 6-2 win over Stretton RS.

Lewis Lowndes scored a hattrick for Willington and was supported by goals from Alex Hillier, Gregory Ordish and Sam Tidmarsh to see off the challenge from Stretton’s Connor Richins and Joshua Hale.

Liam Dakin picked up Winshill Green’s goal as the draw experts did it again, this time with a 1-1 stalemate at Newhall Cougars.

Newhall Panthers fared slightly worse as they went down 4-2 at home to Doveridge. A Jack Pearn double lost out to the visitors’ Jack Tierney (2), William Harrison and Luke Morgan.

The Stretton Swifts trio of Daniel Brearley, Thomas McCloughlin and Dominic Staley ensured there would be no joy for opponents TS Sports as the latter lost out 3-0.

Ashby Ivanhoe and Ashbourne Aztecs both took advantage of the top two in TRENT TROPHIES UNDER-14 DIVISION ONE not being in action, closing the gap and making it a four-way tie for second place.

Ivanhoe knocked in four without reply at Alrewas Colts through Tom Nolan (2), Leon Mann and Callum Pass, while a Jake Smith double ensured Aztecs just eclipsed a goal from Doveridge’s Ben Atherton.

Bottom team Willington picked up an excellent point in a 2-2 draw with Belvedere Park Blue — one of the quartet of teams in second.

Willington’s Jake Smith had his brace of goals cancelled out by Blue’s Wayne Morris and Joseph Shaw.

Gary Cotterill netted twice for Rocester Red, but they were unable to match the four goals scored by Gresley Juniors.

Winshill Gold moved to the head of HARDY SIGNS UNDER- 14 DIVISION TWO with a 7-2 win at Barton Rovers.

The home side’s Samuel Crisp and Patrick Trethowen were outgunned by a hat-trick from Gold’s Callum Webb, who was supported by Cameron Gaunt (2), Matt Brennan and Keelan Tompkins.

Nine points cover the first nine teams in this congested division and Stapenhill Swans Blue moved up to joint second place after building on a 5-0 half-time lead at Netherseal St Peters to run out 13-0 winners. Five goals for Layton Shorthouse and a treble from Jack Harris were the highlights.

The unfortunate Stretton Eagles once again found themselves getting the worst of it as they ended up on the wrong end of a 20-0 scoreline at Measham Welfare. Four goals for Connor Ellis and hat-tricks for both Liam Hynard and Jordan McFarlane led the way for the home team.

Also failing to find the net were Newhall Lions as they lost 9-0 at Rolleston. Ellis Adams’ five goals were backed up by Bertie Winstone (2), Jordan Wright and Jordan Knowles.

In a high-scoring match at Midway, the home side just pipped visitors Anglesey Swifts 7-5, with Connor Ellis (4), Connor Hall, Lewis Mansfield and Richard Smith doing the damage.

The TRENT TROPHIES UNDER-14 KNOCKOUT CUP clash between Newhall Tigers and Marlborough Rovers was a repeat of the previous week’s league match and Rovers once again triumphed, but this time by the slightly smaller margin of 4-0.

James Frost, Alistair Hawthorn, Kerr Horn and Harry James saw Rovers through to the next round.