UCL Review 2015 16

LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP REVIEW: SPORTS MAKE HISTORY

In a 35 th season of open competition, the League Knockout Cup welcomed a first Division One winner as Peterborough Sports took the silverware. Jimmy Dean’s side needed a penalty shootout to beat higher grade Holbeach in a low key final at the Haydon Whitham Stadium, but as the Tigers became their fourth Premier scalp they certainly made history the hard way. Preliminary Round action got underway with wins for the two league newcomers. Two Lewis Leckie spot kicks and a late Dan Jenkins effort gave Oakham a 3-2 success at higher level Rothwell Corinthians while Pradeep Bahrey and Dan Agar scored two apiece in Kirby Muxloe’s 4-2 home win over Sleaford. The tie of the round saw Leicester Nirvana win 2-1 at home to Newport Pagnell thanks to goals from Pearson Mwanyongo and Jordan Nelson. Another all top flight encounter saw Desborough beat Deeping 3-2 at the Waterworks Field with goals from Jake Bettles, Mark Redding and Dodzi Agbenu. Peterborough Sports kicked off their run to the final with a 4-0 defeat of Burton Park, Avelino Vieira scoring twice and Jamie Thurlbourne and Matt Cook one apiece. Oadby breezed past Irchester 4-1 at Freeways Park with Borja Moreno, Ben Stephens, Sam Taylor and Sam Grouse on the scoresheet. Yaxley progressed 2-0 at Raunds with goals from Kyle Nolan and Ricky Hailstone while Holbeach’s run started with a 4-1 home win over Bugbrooke, Josh Ford hitting a hat trick with Andy Tidswell also on target. Goals from Nathan Burrows and Daniel Uche gave Wellingborough a 2-0 home win over Long Buckby but the inclusion of Adam Speight, cup tied with Whitworth, saw the Doughboys removed and Buckby awarded the tie. Boston Town’s first meeting with Stewarts & Lloyds was abandoned after Foundrymen midfielder Alan Campbell suffered a broken leg with his side leading 3-1. The return saw the Poachers capitalise on their reprieve running out 4-3 winners with a Jack Wightwick brace and singles from Jordan Nuttell and Richard Ford. The competition actually started with a First Round tie, Harrowby thrashing lower grade visitors Whitworth 6-2 with Danny Durkin scoring three and Bobby Lee, Christian Andersen and Simon Bolland one apiece. The season’s biggest win in the competition was Eynesbury’s 8-0 demolition of neighbouring hosts St Neots Saints which featured a nine minute hat trick from Rhys Thorpe and four goal haul from Lee Bassett, Matt Bannister also on target. Declan Rogers scored a hat trick in Peterborough Northern Star’s 4-0 win over his old club Huntingdon, Craig Smith the other Star marksman. Rob Hughes, Jon Fairweather and Matt Sparrow took Wisbech through 3-2 at ON Chenecks. Two Dan Agar goals and one from Luis Cabral saw Kirby Muxloe get the better of Woodford 3-2 while a lone strike from Kev Charley gave Oadby a 1-0 derby success at Lutterworth Athletic. Two Alex Beck goals and one each from Jordan Nuttell and Kyle McGuigan saw Boston Town defeat 2015 runners-up Potton 4-2 while Sileby progressed from a tricky visit to Long Buckby, a Stuart Macmichael double, Brian Farrell goal and Matt Jones own goal taking the Premier side through 4-2. Holbeach went through 4-0 against Blackstones with Jordan Thomas, Andy Tidswell, Gary King and Tommy Treacher sharing the goals. Olney came from two down to put out Premier hosts Harborough 3-2, a John Mills double squaring the contest before a Christian Smail spot kick gave the Nurserymen victory. Second half goals from Karl Gibbs and Jordan Macleod gave Peterborough Sports a 2-1 success at Thrapston. Rushden & Higham saw off Buckingham 3-2 at Hayden Road with Aaron Cormack, Dan Turiccki and Jake Reynolds the Lankies scorers. Oakham reached the last 16 with a 3-1 penalty shootout win at Bourne after the sides shared six goals. Two Ben Easson goals and one from Adam Rothery counted for Oakham in the match proper. Two Pearson Mwanyongo goals, the second deep in added time, took Leicester Nirvana through 2-1 at Yaxley while Alfie Taylor and Taylor Orosz gave Cogenhoe a 2-0 victory at Desborough. AFC Kempston beat Northampton Spencer 4-2 in a tie played at Langford. Alex Stoyles, Jamaine Ivy, Ash Fuller and Ieuan Riley shared the Walnut Boys goals.

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