Week ending 11th November by Mason Norton

With the League programme reduced this week because of a County Cup hangover, Ramble Round starts off by taking all three divisions together.

In the Everards Brewery Premier Division, Allexton & New Parks remain leaders, but their substantial advantage was cut slightly as they dropped points in the League for only the second time this season, drawing 1-1 at home to Magna 73, Jordan Brown-March scoring for ANP, Archie Allen for Magna, both goals coming in the second half. The morning's second-placed side Ellistown were without a game, so Desford & Caterpillar took advantage to move into second spot as they beat Thurnby Rangers 3-1, Scott Machin, Ross McGarry and Mac Parnell scoring for Desford, Farran Pope for Thurnby.

Aylestone Park Reserves complete the top four again, after thrashing Barrow Town 11-1 at the Linwood, Marley Spencer (4), Jodi Turner (2), Leo Hicking, Thabo Makombe, Joshua McKinley-Hutchinson, Aaron Preston and Edwyn Worley scoring for Park. The top four are now clear of everyone else, Sileby Town's hopes of keeping pace taking a hit after they were held to a 3-3 draw at Highfield Rangers, Mark Etherington, Isaac Hetterley and Grant Ryder for Sileby, Yankuba Camara, Elie Oliver, Shawn Richards for Rangers.

At the bottom of the table, Thurnby and Barrow both continue to hover just above the drop zone, with bottom-but-one FC Khalsa on the sidelines this week. Bottom side Ashby Ivanhoe Knights would have climbed out of the relegation zone with a win on Saturday, but remain bottom after a second half collapse at AFC North KIlworth. NK led 2-1 at the break, before smashing in four goals without reply in the second period. Reece Hookway scored a hat-trick, Kyle Warren, Harry Wells and debutant Josh Wright scoring for the home side, Brad Walsh scoring for Knights, but unable to spark a chase on this occasion.

In the only other game this week, Cottesmore came from behind twice at home to Friar Lane & Epworth to win 4-2. Curtis Wheat opened up the scoring and the home defence to give FLAE the lead, and despite Kieran Ogden equalising when he got on the end of a corner, but Christian Smith put Lane back in front to give them a half-time lead. Cottesmore though came to life in the second half, and despite having a penalty saved, sub Brenden Parker equalised on the hour, and with the game finally poised, two late goals from Mark Tinsley gave Cotts the points.

There were just two games on the coupon in Everards Brewery Division One. Dunton & Broughton United began the job of trying to reel in leaders Anstey Town, winning 4-2 at Holwell Sports Reserves to move into third spot, Tom Bennett (2), Luke Norton and sub Noel Gilbert scoring for DBU, Tallen Burt scoring both of Holwell's goals, DBU 12 points behind Anstey with three games in hand, and two points behind second-placed Hinckley LR Reserves with two games in hand. Meanwhile, Kirby Muxloe Reserves re-discovered winning ways after a 3-0 win at home to Ingles Development, Callum Key (2) and Joe Kerins on the scoresheet for Kirby.

The two games played in Everards Brewery Division Two left the table unchanged as both of the top two teams recorded thumping wins, Loughborough Students Development recording a 4-0 victory at Desford & Caterpillar Reserves, Joe Aston, Dylan Hacon and Callum Hamilton scoring, whilst St Patricks blew away Rothley Imperial 8-0, Jamie Bottomley smashing a hat-trick, a brace of braces for Brady Doherty and Daniel Higgins and Jack Hickey rounding off the goals. The Div2 game between Mountsorrel Amateurs and Loughborough FC was postponed.