On Sunday leaders MN All Stars had a 6-1 victory over Fighting Cocks, although it was the visitors who took the lead when Carl Bewick beat the offisde trap to score.
Top scorer Steve Howden levelled for the home side and the two goals from Paul Robertson made it 3-1, Howden added his second, the further goals from Martin Sturgeon and a spectacular Craig Adamson solo effort completed the scoring.
Cricketers and Sherwoods played out a 2-2 draw. With only seven minutes gone Alan Tweddle converted a penalty to give the hosts the lead, but as the game progressed Sherwoods came back into the game with two goals from Simon Albeson and Mike Nimmo and it took a goal from David Colley to level scores in what referee Dave Tucker described as an excellent sporting, committed game - a pleasure to referee.
The Falchion picked up another home point as the stuttered to a 1-1 draw against Goodfellas. The home side could not get into their stride in the first half, despite some good play in the opening stages. Goodfellas created a few openings through good organisation and man of the match Chris Tarns inventive play. The Falchon did eventually take the lead through substitute Johnny Parker after he thumped the ball home from close range.
The lead did not last long as Goodfellas midfield pounced on a sloppy pass by the Falchion defence made the task of scoring the equaliser easy for Mark Corry.
St. Augustines recorded an 8-3 victory over the Highland Laddie, the game being effectively over by half time the home side having cruised to a 7-1 lead by the break, goals for the home side came from a superbly taken hat-trick by Andy Cairns, two from Michael Kipling and one each from Mel McEvoy and Kevin Ashworth. The second half was much more evenly contested and Highland Laddie outscored the home side 2-1 to complete scoring, Ashworth scored his second for St Augustines, and two goals from Jamie Irving and one from Chris Holiday scored for the visitors.
Newton Cap ran out 6-3 winners against AXA Insurance. Both teams started well and with the visitors defending well but when a 40-yard shot from Shaun Hunter came back off the post Paul Byrne was there to find the net, Michael Latchum then scored his fourth goal in five games after being put through by Ross Hardacker. The Cappers came on strong and Gowland should have scored when the was put through by Hardacker, at the end of the first 45 minutes Dave Aiken sprung the offside trap to score with a well-taken shot. AXA started the second half well and the pressure paid off when Chris Baines lobbed keeper Tyrone Moore from 20 yards to score. The Cap dug deep and took the lead when Byrne headed his second from a corner. AXA came back again and leveled for the second time when Greg Wilde scored a replica of Baines' strike. Then Matthew Gowland took over and after being put through by man of the match Latchum he netted his first, his second followed soon after when a corner from Hunter found the in-form striker with a turn and volley from 18 yards into the top corner. With Stewart and Latchum winning everything in midfield the Cap looked more composed and Gowland completed his hat-trick from the spot after Michael Kay was brought down after an impressive 60 yard run.
Royal Oak continued their good start to the season with a 2-1 win over AFC Aruba.
The previous Thursday saw a full programme of fixtures. MN All Stars lost their 100 per cent start to the seson when they were held to a 1-1 draw at AXA Insurance. The game was even early on with AXA's Chris Baines having a goal disallowed for offside and seeing another chance go just over, but the visitors were playing the better football and creating more chances. They took the lead after half an hour when Steve Howden stole in at the back post to tap home. In the second half the woodwork came to the rescue of the AXA defence on two further occasions but the home side were also creating chances of their own in an excellent game. From one of these chances Jon Roote thought he had scored but his goal-bound effort was parried away on the goal line by All Stars defender Lee Thompson. The referee had no option and showed the red card to Thompson and Martyn Railton stepped up to fire the equaliser from the spot as the game ended 1-1, a fair result after an excellent game.
Drinkfield played hosts to the Cricketers and took all three points in a 6-1 victory. One for Carl Batty, two for Carl Eeles and a hat-trick for Ian Fraser proved too much for the visitors who replied through John Dean.
Goodfellas lost their first game of the season against AFC Aruba. The home side were two down after just 20 minutes, but after a sluggish start Goodfellas were back in the game with a 40-yard drive from Mark Corry. Goodfellas levelled the scores when a ball from Dave Tarn was met by Emrhys Sheldon. The visitors responed well and two goals in five minutes on the hour gave them all three points. On target for Aruba were Dale Sanderson, Steve Odle, Jamie Gardner and Robbie Corrance.
Fighting Cocks and Royal Oak shared the points in a 2-2 draw. Two Dave Tuschick goals gave Royal Oak the lead but Fighting Cocks stormed back to level with goals from Kevin Fenby and Wayne Raby.
The Falchion bounced back from a disappointing display the previous weekend to put seven past St Augustines. The league newcomers were never really in the game and some excellent passing and moving from the home side paid dividends for the home side. Although the first goal took a long time arriving as chance after chance went begging. Mike Layton struck the first by beating two defenders to score late on in the first half. After the break the floodgates opened as man of the match Mike Layton completed his hat-trick with two great strikes. Captain Gary Tibbett (senior) scored a great free kick from 25 yards, Mike Watt hit a long range drive, Anth Burton scored the goal of the game as he finished off an excellent move and Richard Young completing the scoring late on with a simple tap in.
Newton Cap had an impressive 4-0 victory away to Sherwoods. Sherwoods were unable to stop Wayne North opening the scoring after good work down the right flank. Good work from Paul Stewart led to Michael Latchum making it 2-0 and then North scored his second. Matthew Gowland came on as a sub and it only took him five minutes to make his mark after good work from Hardacker put him in on goal to finish to make the final score 4-0.
Highland Laddie had a 4-1 victory over Haughton with a Chris Holliday hat-trick and a goal from Jamie Irving scoring for the home side and Paul Cooper finding the net for the visitors.
Sunday's fixtures
Division Three Cup first round
Haughton v Axa Insurance
Falchion v Sherwoods
Goodfellas v St Augustines
Newton Cap v Highland Laddie
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