Five for Mauden's Lewis

Clifton Colts U-10 0, Manuden 11

LEWIS McDonald was on target five times as Manuden romped to victory on Sunday.

The visitors took an early lead through Lewis McDonald, and further goals came through the first half saw the visitors reached half time with a six goal advantage.

Spirited resistance after the break from Clifton, in particular their goalkeeper, saw the flow of goals slow.

However as tiredness crept in Manuden were able to extend their lead and run out easy winners.

Wake added a second goal, with Patrick Loyer and Josh Howlett also on target, as well as two own goals.

Huntingdon Rowdies U-13 4, Spartak '78 Reds 4

DESPITE Terry Duck hitting the league leaders for four, the Reds were relived to come away with a draw.

Although Reds dominated the first half, they led at half-time by just one goal, thanks to an 11th minute strike by Duck. Kieran Lock, playing as a striker galloped down the left wing leaving defenders in his wake, as he cut inside, he cleverly squared the ball to Duck who placed his shot over the advancing goalkeeper.

The Rowdies drew level on 14 minutes of the second half before adding a second shortly afterwards.

It was now end to end football as the Reds sought an equaliser. The Rowdies played long balls over the top but Low and Mitchison were equal to one challenge.

Low found Procter who sprinted through the middle and threaded a pass to Kieran Lock who cleverly flicked the ball into space for Duck to run on to. Duck took the ball in his stride and slotted it past the advancing keeper to equalise.

One minute later, the usually resolute Reds defence were slow to react to a charging run by the rowdies striker who ran past through the defence and unleashed a shot from the edge of the box that sailed into the net to restore their lead.

Spartak were incensed and rallied with Powell forcing two saves and Duck shooting just wide. Another corner was defended and the Rowdies cleared their lines with a long punt down field which resulted in another goal.

Duck completed his hat-trick to cut the deficit, and deep into injury time, Lock was brought down on the edge of the box.

Rowdies set their wall but Duck slammed the ball over them and into the top left of the net to score his fourth and recover a remarkable draw for the Reds.

Linton Aztecs U-11 3, Great Bardfield Muddogs 4

MUDDOGS won their first game of the season in a somewhat scrappy, yet entertaining game.

Starting well with a high possession of the ball, Muddogs failed to make any real inroads in to the Linton area and a feature of the game was first seen as early as the fourth minute with the defence all at sea it was left for Jones to make a great clearance.

A couple of half chances for Muddogs soon after but nothing came from these.

Another quick break from Linton and a tap in goal resulting from some very bad defending.

With play resulting in a midfield tussle Fairhurst winning the ball fed the ball through to Mercer who was able to make use of his speed and shoot past the oncoming goalkeeper.

Resting on their laurels thinking they secured a half-time share, Muddogs were caught out once again on the break and another goal for Aztecs to lead 2-1 at half-time.

Starting the second half with a higher tempo the Muddogs began to pass the ball a touch better.

The equaliser came when Major, just seconds after returning to the pitch after an injury, scored.

Some goal mouth scraps were seen in second half with Linton hitting the woodwork twice.

With the action being repeated at the other end Cayley turning and scoring inside the box to put Muddogs in the lead for the first time in the game.

Once again taking it for granted thinking they had the points Muddogs allowed Linton back in to the match with another gift of a goal.

Pressing forward with only moments left and after a host of corners which were not taken advantaged of Clarke-Holland finding Fairhurst on the edge of the box who was allowed the time to turn and shoot in to the bottom corner to seal their first win of the season .

Dunmow Rhodes Lions U-8 3, Hedinghams United 0

A FIRST half hat-trick from Nathan Waterfield saw Lions dominate the first half.

The second half was entertaining and hard-fought, both teams put in a solid performance in a fast a physical battle. Some great saves from keeper Harry Sturge helped maintain Dunmow Rhodes Lions unbeaten record.

Dunmow Rhodes U-13 7, Danbury Youth 0

STUART Stanley bagged a hat-trick as Dunmow continued their winning ways. Callum Parradine was on hand to increase his tally by a further two and additional goals by Dan Watt and Dan Clelland cemented the victory.

Nevertheless Danbury kept pushing for a goal and only the heroics of man-of-the-match Dan Barrington prevented them.

Saffron Walden Town U-17 1, Warboys Colts 2

THE Bloods' first game for three weeks ended in disappointment as they went down at home to Warboys.

For the first 20 minutes of the game, Warboys were able to take the upper hand having more speed and commitment, leading to their taking the lead through a scrambled corner.

From here Walden did start to improve and at the half-time whistle had survived without conceding any further goals.

The improvement continued through the second half as the home side started to take control, and they levelled through George Dann with 15 minutes remaining.

Walden continued the pressure right to the end, only to see Warboys take the points with a minute to go, once again from a corner looping in from the right.

Thaxted Rangers Blues U-10, 3 Braintree Town 2

AFTER beating this team last week 6-0 this was an altogether different game with Braintree unlucky not to come away with a point.

Thaxted started the game well with Grayden Thorpe passing the ball for Jack Morris to score in the opening minutes.

Evan Sunshine had to pull off a magnificent diving save low to his right to prevent the visitors from equalising.

Their pressure however paid off and Sunshine could do nothing as a long range lob made it 1-1.

Sunshine had to make another brave save from a corner before Adam Braden scored from close range to make it 2-1.

Euan Slade scored the third for Thaxted however Braintree responded with their second after the home side failed to clear from a corner.

Thaxted Rangers U-12 6, Maldon Saints Whites 2

TOM Burke gave a match winning performance as Thaxted cruised into the next round of the Knockout Cup.

Tommy Mercer had opened the scoring for the home side before three goals from Tom Burke, the first two in the first half and the third just after the break, gave Thaxted an unassailable lead.

Maldon did give themselves some hope with two quick goals but George Simmons and then Ben Gilbert, with a deflected shot, restored the four goal lead and secured the win.

Manuden U-9 2, Pin Green 2

MANUDEN produced one of their best footballing displays of the season, but were unable to breakdown a determined Pin Green team.

The hosts twice went ahead with goals from Jayden Harrington and despite fine performances from George Mullings and Ben Ashworth Pin Green battled back to earn a draw.

Priory Parkside U-10 A 3, Saffron Walden Town 2

TOWN'S cup run came to an abrupt end at Priory Park with the home side running out eventual winners in a competitively fought but scrappy game.

Walden forced several early corners and then after 11 minutes the Parkside goalkeeper kicked the ball straight to Pitt who first time, belted the ball into the opposition net.

Slowly Parkside came back into the game and a ball through the centre saw a home forward run onto it and slot home.

Walden immediately leveled as they got a free kick outside the penalty box in a central position.

The second half started brightly with some excellent play between Murphy-Moore and Pitt causing havoc in the Parkside defence.

They forced several corners and kept the game pinned well inside their opponents half, without making the breakthrough.

Gradually the game turned in favour of the hosts and the Walden midfield was getting overrun.

Finally the hosts levellrf when a sharp Parkside attack resulted in a well taken goal

Parkside continued to dominate and with less than eight minutes remaining a shot bobbled towards Smith who parried the ball to another striker and he shot home to seal the tie.

Plantation Pumas U-10 1, Saffron Walden A 2

A RAIN sodden pitch did little to dampen the enthusiasm of two teams who came into this match on the back of previous big wins.

Walden are used to big double digit victories, but found sterner opposition from a Pumas side growing stronger week by week under manager Chris Davie, and it was the Pumas who shocked by scoring first - Edward Benfold slotting the ball home after a good strong run down the field.

The visitors were stirred into action and the equaliser came from their lone striker who found himself one on one with goalkeeper Freddie Found and he kept his cool to fire the ball home.

Walden's second, and ultimately winning, goal came from a very well worked free kick that was awarded just before half-time.

The ball was directly in front of, and about 20 yards out from goal. Pumas organised a wall but Walden bypassed that with the free kick passed rather than struck and the goal came from the side foot of the lone Walden player on the post.

The second half continued with the passion of the first and both sides could have scored - the best chance coming from Walden when a cross from the corner skidded along the goal line but no one was on hand to tap it in.

In the end Walden will be pleased to continue with their 100 percent record but Pumas can take pride from holding a usually well drilled side to only two goals and the commitment shown by both teams resulted in an exciting game that was a pleasure to watch.

Newmarket Town Youth U-13 3, Spartak '78 B 5

DESPITE missing a hatful of chances at Newmarket, Spartak '78 took the Cambridgeshire League points on Sunday.

It was the home side that got off to the best start when on two minutes a long clearance up front fell kindly for their forward, who out-muscled the defenders then slotted home from just inside the penalty area.

Despite the superior possession the equaliser was proving elusive, but then on 15 minutes, a penalty awarded for a blatant push on Harry Stark was converted by Jack Holliday, slotting home the rebound after the keeper made a fine save from his initial effort.

Five minutes later, some outstanding approach play by Harry Goddard in left midfield ended with a pass to Mathias Swerdlow, who with back to goal, turned and fired home from an extremely tight angle from just outside the left side of the six-yard area to beat the keeper at the far post.

In the second half David Boyd moved up into midfield and Spartak's attack became more potent as a result.

A great pass from Dominic Byrne in right midfield to Jack Holliday playing wide right, allowed the nippy winger to slot home and collect his second goal.

Despite superior possession and numerous chances the visitors couldn't add to their tally and paid the price on 58 minutes when the home side pulled a goal back.

Five minutes later, in-form Boyd carved an opening for himself, cutting in from the left edge of the area to side-step the keeper and prod home from close range.

Again, further chances for the Blacks slipped by and again, Newmarket made them pay by converting a corner kick on 68 minutes to make it 4-3.

However, in the 70th minute the result was put beyond doubt when a pass to Holliday just inside his own half allowed him to sprint towards goal, outpacing all defenders and thumping his shot past the keeper for his hat-trick

Chatteris Town U-11 0, Spartak 78 1

SPARTAK came away from their fixture at Chatteris on Sunday with another win in the Cambridgeshire Colts League.

The game was made difficult for both sides by the strength of the wind which was bending the corner flags as it came across the exposed Fenland pitch.

Despite the weather conditions disrupting Spartak's normal passing game, the team applied the early pressure and were only denied a breakthrough by the Chatteris woodwork.

The visitors deservedly took the lead after 15 minutes.

Spencer Hill's floated free-kick beat the Chatteris offside trap and was latched onto by the well timed run of Jack Garrett, who, faced with the keeper to beat, slotted coolly into the bottom left corner.

Spartak continued after the break where they had left off in the first half and were again denied by the some good goalkeeping and the home side's crossbar.

Chatteris, to their credit, battled throughout and came close to equalising in the last five minutes, but Spartak held on for the victory.