Week ending 9th December by Mason Norton

Two of the three scheduled County Cup ties took place this week. On Wednesday night, AFC North Kilworth booked their place in the semi-finals of the Senior Cup, winning 3-1 in the all-LSL tie at home to Barrow Town, with Josh Williams, Taylor Sharpe and Tyler Garrard scoring for the hosts. The draw also took place on Wednesday night for the semi-finals, which saw North Kilworth drawn at home to Hathern, the tie to be played at South Kilworth Road on Wednesday 7 February, kick-off at 7.45pm, and the winners of that game will be the first LSL side to reach the final of the Senior Cup since Ashby Ivanhoe in 2013. 


The Saturday Intermediate Cup saw Everards Brewery Division One leaders Anstey Town book their place in the next round with a 3-0 win at Beaumont Park over County League reigning champions Houghton Rangers. James Merriman gave Town the lead, and the job was finished off by a brace from sub Jordan Small in the second half. Sutton Bonington were due to travel to Lodge Farm to face Loughborough United, but whereas last Saturday, it was a frozen pitch that did the damage, this week, it was a waterlogged pitch that scuppered the game. That tie has been re-scheduled for the third attempt next week- as such, their Tiger Cup first round game against Ashby Ivanhoe Knights, which has already been postponed twice, has been postponed again, and will now be played in the New Year. 


Notwithstanding SB, the County Cups will return after Christmas on January 6, with the quarter-finals of the Saturday Intermediate Cup and Saturday Trophy. The draw for them was also done on Wednesday, and the Intermediate Cup will see all three of the LSL sides through so far face County League opposition. Hinckley LRFC Reserves travel to Syston to face Brookside Athletic, Anstey Town will have a bit of local rivalry, going away to Glenfield Town, whilst Leicester Atletico will host FCV Grace Dieu, with the winners of the Loughborough United-Sutton Bonington tie facing Community Football Academy, who defeated Ingles Development in the last 16. The Saturday Trophy sees an all-LSL tie in the last eight, as Everards Brewery Division Two leaders Loughborough Students Development welcome Sileby Town Reserves, whilst Melton Town Academy will be at home to Dunton & Broughton United Reserves, whilst Mountsorrel Amateurs will face the winners of one of the two outstanding last 16 ties, which will try again at the third time of asking next Saturday.