Week ending 16th March by Mason Norton

A slightly later ramble this week, with this correspondent being surprised with by some friends whilst away this weekend. That, as it turned out, was only the last surprise of the weekend, which produced quite a few as far as the Everards Brewery Premier Division was concerned. We begin at New College, where leaders Allexton & New Parks took on AFC North Kilworth. Miles Tremlett reports:


"AFC North Kilworth stunned Allexton & New Parks 3-1 with an unbelievable performance on Saturday. NK took the lead on 19 minutes through 16-year-old Cole McNulty, who beat the defender for pace on a through ball, one-on-one with the keeper, finishing at the near post. Just after the half-hour, they doubled their advantage when Joe Williams was fouled in the box, the referee immediately pointed to the spot, and Williams got up and converted the penalty. But Allexton pulled one back with one of the best goals you'll ever see at this level just two minutes later. A long ball caught out an NK defender on the turn, bouncing over his head, putting Zak Adams in space. He let the ball take a bounce and then volleyed it from 20 yards, flying over the keeper's head, hitting the underside of the crossbar and bounced in. Brilliant strike, clinical. 


North Kilworth could have folded, but they stood firm and put in a shift, and went in 2-1 up at half-time. Allexton went looking for the equaliser, but couldn't find it, which left gaps at the back. Eventually, 15 minutes from time, North Kilworth sealed the points. A ball into the box as North Kilworth attacked, the ball was sloppily cleared and found sub Harry Hawkins who buried the ball in the back of the net to make it 3-1, put North Kilworth in dreamland, and stun the home support."


In a season where ANP have largely galloped their rivals into the ground, North Kilworth will finish the season with the distinction of being the only team in the Prem not to lose to them this term, having drawn 1-1 at home to them back in August. 


That left Desford & Caterpillar with the chance to move within three points of ANP, and they looked set to do so at half-time at home to FC Khalsa after Connor McGahan scored for them in the first half. But Khalsa mounted an incredible second half comeback with goals from Sean Cheo, Sory Kaba Sherif, Joel Oliveira and Leke Shodunke, Khalsa running out 4-1 winners at Peckleton Lane and cock-a-hoop, having virtually sealed their Premier Division berth for next season. Desford remain on third, behind Aylestone Park Reserves on goal difference. With Aylestone not playing on Saturday, the top of the table remains unchanged, so going into next weekend, ANP will be crowned champions if they win at Magna 73 and Desford drop points away at Burbage & Huncote.


At the bottom of the table, Khalsa's win sees them move up a place to 13th, and puts bottom side Barrow Town on the brink. Though Barrow took an early lead at Hathern, it didn't take long for the Pasture Lane side to get back on level terms and then into the lead. Liam Walton hit a hat-trick, with Ant Berridge and Jack McLachlan also scoring, Hathern winning 5-2, Max Geary and Dean Hopewell scoring for Barrow. If Barrow lose at home to Sileby Town next Saturday, then they will be relegated to Division One. Hathern stay fourth. The only other team in mathematical danger of relegation now are Friar Lane & Epworth, who could have secured their safety on Saturday with a win, but eventually lost a see-saw game 4-3 at home to Sileby, Dan Gallagher, Eduardo de Oliveira and Kyle Nicholls for FLAE, Conner Packwood (2), Grant Ryder and Shaun Smith for Sileby. Lane drop a place to 14th, whilst Sileby moved up three places into sixth spot. 


Sileby's move came at the expense of Cottesmore, who travelled away to Ellistown and were thumped in a game that was over as a contest early on. Tom Vyce's first goal on seven minutes owed as much to Laurel & Hardy as to anything else, poking the ball past the keeper, hitting the post only for the rebound to the hit a defender who finished the job off. One for the dubious goals committee, but not his penalty on 15 minutes, nor a Dan Yadav brace on 30 & 34 minutes, the second being a waltz round the keeper. more Nureyev and Fonteyn than Laurel and Hardy. Cottesmore were shell-shocked, and though Harry Stannard pulled one back for the visitors, Vyce's turn in the box with 20 minutes to go made it 5-1, and Ellistown saw it out safely enough despite playing the final stages with 10 men. Ellistown are in fifth, three points behind Hathern.


In the other games, Highfield Rangers moved into the top half of the table after goals from Luke Rawle and Seon Shippley gave them a 2-0 win away at Thurnby Rangers, whilst Magna 73 made sure of their Prem status for next term with a 3-2 win at home to Burbage & Huncote, Matt Richmond (2) and Arjunia Govia for Magna, Liam Pescott (2) for B&H.