Week ending 3rd February by Mason Norton

This week starts off with the County Cups. Hopes of an all-LSL final in the Saturday Intermediate Cup were dashed, as last year's runners-up Anstey Town lost 3-1 at last season's Saturday Trophy runners-up Community Football Academy, sub Harry Burton scoring for Town, with Jaseem Khamkar (2) and Zak Yusuf scoring for CFA. Congratulations, however, go to Hinckley LR Reserves, who ensured that there will be a LSL side in the final, beating FCV Grace Dieu 2-1, Stan Rossell and Brogan Greenwood scoring late goals as Road came from behind. Grace Dieu though gave a good account of themselves in a close game, and with them currently in a Notts Senior League Div1 promotion spot, and the Notts Senior League Premier currently running beyond capacity, Grace Dieu may find themselves in the LSL next season.


The Saturday Trophy was always going to have a LSL side in the final, with an all-LSL semi at Holywell Park- congratulations go to Loughborough Students Development, who defeated Mountsorrel Amateurs 2-0, thanks to goals from Jack Baker and Callum Hamilton. The Students' opponents are still unknown, as the other semi between County League sides Wymeswold and Mountsorrel Amateurs Reserves was called off- the County Competitions Committee will make an announcement about that fixture in due course this week. Dates of the County Cup Finals will be announced later in February, with the County FA to decide on midweek dates for the Holmes Park matches, which will begin in March and conclude in mid-May.  


The first quarter-final of the City Goldsmiths President's Trophy saw Ingles Development trounce Barrow Town Reserves 8-0, Jake Turner scoring a hat-trick, Louis Clarke scoring a brace, Vinni Bexon, Morgan Brown, Jamie Clarke rounding off the scoring. The other three quarters are pencilled in for February 17. 


In the Chairman's Trophy, there were no games in Groups A & B. In Group C, Rothley Imperial missed out on the chance to book a quarter-final spot, as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Desford & Caterpillar Reserves, Daniel Morris and Callum Pawley for Rothley, Arlie Greet and Harry Taylor for Desford. Victory next Saturday for Rothley against Ingles Development will seal a spot in the knockout stages. Melton Town Academy's hopes of progressing ended on Saturday as they lost 3-0 at home to Sutton Bonington, a James Dann brace and Sam Gee seeing SB home. In Group D, Loughborough FC were thumped 7-3 at home to Sporting Markfield, Reece Dando and Josh Seaton both scoring braces from the subs bench, Harry Crane, James Dyer and Josh Scott with the other Markfield goals, Ciaran McVey (2) and an OG the goals for Luffs. 


It's still early days and a very patchy picture across the four groups, but Loughborough Students are guaranteed a quarter-final spot, as the only two sides that can catch them, St Patricks and Anstey Town, play each other in their remaining game. All of the other spots are up for grabs, with only Dunton & Broughton and Melton Town Academy mathematically out of contention. February and early March should see the picture become a little clearer. Next week's Cup action sees St Patricks take on Sutton Bonington in the last 16 of the Everards Tiger League Cup, whilst the Chairman's Trophy dominates the fixture lists again. 


We'll be back later on this week with a Midweek Special, looking at the Senior Cup semi-final between AFC North Kilworth and Hathern, Leicester Road against Mountsorrel Amateurs in the Chairman's Trophy, and Aylestone Park Reserves against Magna 73 in the Prem, before next weekend sees a Ramble Round the League and a Ramble Round the Cups. See you then.