Foresters frustrate Rutland's hopes of holding on to the Senior Cup

Last season’s MAA Intermediate Cup winners FC Sutton Foresters earned their chance of a tilt at the Senior Cup by defeating the current holders, Ilkeston Rutland, 5 – 1 after extra time in the Semi Final. Lee Shaw netted the opener for Foresters and Channon Davis replied for Rutland. A double for Adie Harris and goals for Dan Fisher and Lee Butler in extra time enabled the Division 1 outfit to claim a place in the Final against another Premier Division side, Bulwell Town. Whichever side is successful will mean a new name on the 66 year old trophy.
In contrast former serial Premier Division Championship winners Old Elizabethans need a solitary point to lift the trophy, after a thirteen year gap, as a result of their 4 – 2 defeat of Bulwell Town, who were hit by a Callum Wilkinson double and goals from Andy Boulton and Tom Blaney, a victory which preserves their unbeaten record. Second placed Rainworth Rangers reduced their goal difference deficit with O.E.s by netting seven goals without reply against winless Steelers. Luke Trainer, Darren Davis and Graham Beavis all claimed doubles and Pat Durkin made up the tally. Radcliffe Olympic III leapfrogged Ilkeston Rutland to claim third place after pipping Beeston OBA by the odd goal in three. Dan Ford’s double did the damage to Beeston OBA whose reply came from Henry Nash. Meanwhile Trent Vineyard’s disappointing season continued with a 4 – 0 defeat by
Wollaton III. Bassingfield moved up a place to fifth as a result of their 7 – 4 defeat of Woodborough United who were hit by Kyle Young’s hat-trick, Dan Moorecroft’s double and also goals from Elliott Collins and Scott Rogers.
Old Elizabethans II are the new leaders of Division 1 following their 4 – 1 defeat of
bottom of the table Derby Deaf who were hit by a Tom Patterson hat-trick and a goal from Tom King. Derby Deaf had netted a last minute goal two days earlier to deny all three points to second placed Mansfield Hosiery Mills who had to be content with a 2 – 2 draw. However Mills got back to winning ways thanks to a Mo Gagarawa hat-trick and goals from
Mark Smallwood, Keith Walker and Joe Wilkinson to record a 6 – 1 victory over
Eaton Hall College. NRU FC retain fourth spot despite a 4 – 2 defeat at Retford by
BAFC Vine. The two other matches both ended in 3 – 3 draws with Ravenshead pulling back from 3 – 1 down against New Houghton Villa, who looked to have the game won thanks to a Corey Andrew’s double and a goal from Dave Richards, only to earn a point in the last minute through Sean Creer Thornton’s double coupled with a Callum Mark’s strike. An exactly similar scenario saw Ashfield FC build up a 3 – 1 half-time lead against
Bilborough Town Academy through Danny Bircumshaw’s double and a goal from
Luke Smith to be pulled back to 3 – 3 by a late rally.
Sutton Travellers remain at the top of Division 2 thanks to a 7 – 3 defeat of
Derbyshire Amateurs. Martin Willoughby with a hat-trick and Nathan Atkins with a double were the main marksmen with Iain Roe and Andrew Marshall completing the tally.
FC Trinity remain a point short of Travellers with two games in hand after defeating
Town Mill 5 - 2 thanks to doubles from Klayton Carthy and Will Parsonage with
Brian Norton also on the mark. Bulwell Town II are up two places to third as a result of their 3 – 1 victory over Nottinghamshire III who were hit by solitary efforts from David Donachie, Lewis Porter and Matt Hancock. Neil Ainslie and Tom Child’s goal efforts for
Alvaston United were matched by strikes for Old Bemrosians from James Lawson and
Gaeton Jamieson in the drawn ‘derby’, whilst Ilkeston Rutland II were pipped 4 – 3 by Southwell St Marys II.