Week ending 20th January by Mason Norton

It's a shortened Ramble Round this week, as the end of the cold snap didn't quite come soon enough for many clubs, who lost games to frozen pitches.

In Everards Brewery Premier Division, Allexton and New Parks pulled even further in front. Their game at FC Khalsa was moved to the 3G at Beauchamp College, and became a late afternoon kick-off under the lights. With numbers reinforced by postponements higher up the Pyramid, Khalsa were able to field a strong side, but despite a close game, and Tayo Tucker scoring a brace for the hosts, goals from Ryan Charles, Josh Gough and Brandon Jarratt gave ANP a 3-2 win. Their already extensive lead was increased by Desford and Caterpillar being sidelined due to the weather, and Aylestone Park Reserves coughing up a 2-0 lead at half-time to end up 2-2 at home to Highfield Rangers. Aaron Preston scored a brace for the hosts, but second half goals from Yankuba Camara and Raijaun Morris-Laing gave Rangers a share of the points.

With Ellistown also off, Hathern took advantage of their game in hand and moved into the top four with a 2-1 win at Sileby Town. Hathern had the early chances, with Chris Davis hitting the bar, but Sileby caught Hathern on the break, the ball squared across to Isaac Hetterley who rolled it in. The second half of a scrappy game ruined by the wind saw Hathern eventually get on top on the final half-hour, a long throw being missed completely by the Sileby defence, with Liam Walton turning it in in the box for the equaliser, before a sweeping move late on found Jake Davies who curled in the winner six minutes from time, Hathern clinging on in the final stages for all three points.

Magna 73 dispelled most of their lingering doubts with regards to relegation after a fairly comfortable 5-1 win at home to Barrow Town, Callum Morris (2), Arjuna Govia, Matt Richmond and Jake Smith scoring for Magna, Callum Key for Barrow, who remain seven points adrift of safety.

In Everards Brewery Division One, Leicester Atletico drew level on both points and games with Hinckley LR Reserves after thumping Holwell Sports Reserves 10-1, going seven up by half-time. Scorers were Jowa Mbome (2), sub Liiban Ahmed (2), Hakim Barreh, Ilyaas Hussein, Abdiwakil Kasar, Ayuub Moallim, Khalid Mohamud and Ouakari Diawara, with Harry Worby scoring late on for Holwell in a game reversed to Atletico because of the weather.

Atletico and Leicester Road are going elbow-to-elbow in the race for second, with Dunton and Broughton United losing further ground after being held to a 2-2 draw at home to Ingles Development, Ben Jackson and Corey Nelson for DBU, Louis Clarke and Micah Lawrence for Ingles. At the bottom of the table, Sporting Markfield recorded a 9-0 win at home to Barrow Town Reserves, Josh Woolmam leading the way with a hat-trick, Josh Scott (2), Jude Robinson and Josh Seaton scoring, with subs Will Cook and Josh Dolormente also getting on the scoresheet. That win leaves Markfield four points adrift of safety, whilst Barrow Reserves remain pointless.

Only one of the two scheduled games in Everards Brewery Division Two went ahead, with leaders St Patricks winning 3-2 at home to Desford and Caterpillar Reserves, Jack Hickey (2) and Jamie Bottomley for Pats, Acer Szilak (2) for Desford. That all but seals the Pats promotion to Div1, with one point in their last two League games making it absolutely certain.

The Chairman's Trophy was affected by the weather this weekend, with the only game played being reversed, as Div2 leaders Loughborough Students Development beat Div1 leaders Anstey Town 4-2, Quinton Dlodlo, Owain Edwards and Sam Williams for the Students, Joe Harris and sub Darren Taylor for Anstey.

All other games scheduled for this weekend were postponed.

Attention next week turns to the Cups, with the last 16 of the Everards Tiger League Cup dominating next Saturday's lists. We'll be back with Ramble Round the Cups next week, with Ramble Round the Divisions rounding up the rest of the action. See you then.