Week ending 6th January

After Leicestershire and surrounding areas suffered the worst weather in many years it was pleasing to see 10 games played out of a scheduled 14. A tribute to the effort put in by volunteers to get games played.
In addition the FA published The NLS step6 promotion list and whilst current Premier division leaders Allexton & New Parks were present, Ellistown, who have receipts for the application fee and the smartsheet forms, find themselves not listed and have to contact the FA to find out why.
Allexton and New Parks strengthened their hold on the Premier Division leadership with a 5-0 victory over Friar Lane and Epworth. Ryan Charles was the sole goalscorer as the Parks sprinted to a 4-0 half time lead. They remain undefeated in the league and passed the first milestone of 50 points and stand 8 points proud with 4 games in hand over 2nd placed Aylestone Park Reserves.
Match of the day was at Linford Playing Fields where 2nd placed Aylestone Park Reserves played host to 3rd placed Desford & Caterpillar. Desford came out on top after 2 first half goals from Connor McGaham and Macauley Parnell sentenced the Parks to their first home league defeat of the season, 0-2, but their 2nd successive defeat whilst Desford got back to winning ways after being held to a draw at home by Magna 73 last time out.
Ellistown managed to keep hold of a top 4 spot after their 1st win in 5 starts, 1-3 at AFC North Kilworth. They had to come from behind after a Jack Fallows free kick had given Kilworth the lead, Shea Bates levelling before the break. A 2nd half brace from Tom Vyce promoted him as the Town leading scorer and sent Kilworth to their 4th defeat in the last 6 starts.
Hathern got back to winning ways and 2nd place in the form table with a 2-3 away victory at Highfield Rangers. Christopher Davis and Tom Insley gave the visitors a 0-2 half time lead. In a feisty game the Rangers pulled the game back level as Yankuba Camara and Quinn Johnson found the Hathern net but Liam Walton put the visitors back in front with 25 minutes to go and Hathern then managed to survive the Rangers pressure.
Burbage and Huncote jumped into the top 6 with a 2-1 victory at home to Magna 73. Archie Allen netted a 2nd half consolation for Magna but goals either side of half time from James Graham and Scott Stevenson gave the hosts their 1st win in 3 starts.
Cottesmore Amateurs picked up their 2nd win on the road with a 1-3 victory at Sileby Town. Isaac Hetterley netted for the Town in the 2nd half, off the bench, but the Amateurs completed a season double over Sileby with goals from Mark Tinsley, Will Rawdon and Aaron Ridout.
Division 1 and 2 clubs started the group stages of the Chairman’s Trophy League Cup with St Patricks of div2 entertaining Dunton and Broughton Utd in group A. The div2 side upset the form book by going into a 3-0 half time lead and running out as 9-0 victors with an hat trick from Jack Hickey, added to with a brace from Jamie Bottomley and singles from Brady Doherty, Sean Doy, Nikesh Godhania and Jamie Pelos.
In groupB Kirby Muxloe Res entertained Birstall Utd Res and ran out 3-1 winners after Josh Evans, Dominik Janiarczyk and Jo Kerins cancelled out a 2nd half reply from Alfie Shipley.
There were 2 games in GroupC and Rothley Imps made full use of their visit to Melton Town Academy with a 1-4 away win after Toby Wells netted a pair which was added to by Dan Morris and sub Connor Stevcens.
Sheunesu Kanonda netted the 1st half goal for the Academy as they trailed 1-2 at the break and finally
Desford & Caterpillar Res fought out a highly contested entertaining game in a 0-0 draw with Ingles Res which could have gone either way.