Humberston desperate to continue good form

MICK Woolford has urged his Humberston players to avoid complacency following their superb top-of-the-table clash with DMS FC.

The pacesetters in Division One of the Grimsby, Cleethorpes & District Sunday Football League went head-to-head last weekend.

Both teams were at full strength as they tried to preserve their unbeaten starts to the season.

And what followed was a game worthy of its billing, as the two heavyweights battled out a thrilling 1-1 draw.

"At last we saw a game worthy of the top of the division," said Woolford.

"I told my players before the game that we don't get a lot of days like this so make the most of it.

"I'm sure Paul Knox from DMS would have said something similar. The neutrals enjoyed it as much as we all did."

He added: "This weekend we take on Cromwell who are a decent side and we expect another good test.

"They drew with us last time but we've got to win. We must not be complacent and must play like we did last weekend with some really good football."

Humberston created the opening opportunity last weekend when Louis Grant shot straight at Jamie Glover. But Craig Mitchell was unlucky not to give DMS the lead when he shot wide.

The first real decision for referee Pete Jagger came when Grant went through and as he rounded the keeper he seemed to be clipped. The referee waved play on as Grant hit the floor.

Humberston's Freddy Cass and DMS' Stefan Melin both went close.

DMS then had their best period of play before Tom Summers was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball and DMS took the lead from the spot through Mitchell.

Humberston were now rocking and keeper James Swann made several saves before half-time.

Humberston came out in the second half a different team and finally got the equaliser from the spot after another handball, this time by Michael Jacklin. Grant stepped up and fired home the equaliser.

Callum Day hit the bar, Gary Cross went close, Darren Hanslip had a shot cleared off the line and Renzie Lobendhan should have done better from close range.

But, despite the pressure, Humberston defended very well. Carl Price went close towards the end but a draw was a fair result in the season's top game to date.

Elsewhere, GTF Seas won 3-1 at Cromwell thanks to a Bobby Lewsam hat-trick. Nicholas Brown replied for Cromwell.

Seas secretary Mick Rouse said: "This was a good end to end game against an organised Cromwell side.

"Both sides had chances and we took more of ours. Our back four was exceptional and we had good shape and movement."

Seas next face Brigg Servicemen's Club from the Scunthorpe Sunday League's top flight.

"All players are available at the minute and we should give them a good game. They'll not be used to the likes of Bobby Lewsam, arms and legs pumping away, bearing down on them," added Rouse.

"We are lucky to play on decent well-grassed pitches nowadays.

"It definitely improves our game and we turn up to win."

Champions Birds Eye Pelham made their intention clear when they beat Empire Utd 7-0.

Gary Nimmo bagged a hat-trick, with two from Luke Todd and one apiece from Lee Romaniw and Michael Steer.

THE Imperial Red Star turn their attentions to the cup this weekend after their superb victory over the Division Two leaders.

Joe Burns scored both goals as the Red Star lads saw off Inkworks 2-1 on Sunday.

And Imperial secretary Dave Duff was delighted with his side's showing against the title chasers.

"It was a cracking game against the team who have every reason to be top," he said.

"We stepped it up and as a team performance this was one of the best since I took over.

"We could not choose an outright man of the match as the passing and work rate were top notch across the board."

He added: "We were 1-0 ahead when keeper Joe Raio pulled off a super save to keep us in front before we went to 2-0.

"All credit to Joey McLaughlin who is running a really good Inkworks outfit.

"Division Two is wide open at the top, where there are some quality teams."

This weekend, Imperial take on Pepperells from the Scunthorpe Sunday League in the Lincs Cup.

"This will be another tough game against opposition who have won this cup before and the league title," added Duff.

"We'll have a strong side out and we are going to give them a good game especially if we play like we did last weekend."

Crows Nest 1sts took the opportunity to leapfrog Inkworks into top spot after their 2-0 victory away to AFC Wybers.

Their scorers were Gareth Leaning and Adam Edwards.

Healing had another win, this time 5-4 against Immingham Town, with Danny Freeman bagging a brace.

Steven Grimbleby also doubled up for Town.

Police are beginning to move up the table. They beat Caistor Rovers 6-2, with three goals from Ashley Vasey and one each for Gareth Chandler, Sean Mayall and Steve Peck.

In Division Three, Cleethorpes Town (Matthew Powell, Luke Mascall, Callum Robinson) beat East Trans Pelham 3-0 and remain top.

Millfields (Leeroy Metcalfe 4, Scott Harris, Craig Norman) – on the same points but having played more games – lead the chasing pack after their 6-2 victory away to Buddies II FC (Luke Lapsley, Gentjan Hoxha).

The Cricketers (Andy Pearson 2) won 2-1 away to AFC Nitro, while Cleethorpes Utd (Tommy King 3, Paul Horsefall 2) won 5-0 away to Keelby Utd.

Into Division Four, and Wheatsheaf (Will Clifford 3, Jack Stevens) continue to set the pace with a 4-2 victory away to Crows Nest 2nds (Marc Musgrove, Reece King).

Cromwell Rovers (Sam Harwood, Anthony Thompson) drew 2-2 with Clee Community ESL (Thomas Stiff 2). Great Coates (Jamie Stow 3, David Fisher 2, Harvey Shaw) won 6-0 against FC United of Grimsby.

Tower Bucharest (George Oliver 3, Jamie Witts, Andy Ross) won 5-1 away to RIS FC (Sean Smyth).

A SIMON Hammerton double helped Division Five leaders Abatis Fire & Security beat Old Lloyds 3-2.

Ryan Whittle scored their other goal, while Lee Williams bagged a brace for the Lloyds boys.

Well-placed Clee Motors won 5-0 away to Crows Nest 3rds.

AFC Waltham (Paul Lidgard 2, Dan Moore, Aaron Roberts) drew 4-4 with AA Property New Waltham (Darryl Doherty 3, Lee Cross).

New Waltham led 2-0 at half-time, but Waltham fought back to 2-2.

It was 3-2 to New Waltham with 15 minutes remaining, but Waltham again equalised through Moore.

And they thought they had grabbed the winner with three minutes remaining as they went ahead, but Docherty earned New Waltham a share of the spoils with an equaliser in the last minute of the game.

Healing 2nds (O Kauss, P Appleton, P Southwall) drew 3-3 with RER Haulage (James Auckland, Simon Peck, Craig Cutler).

East Marsh Empire (Ryan Woolliss 2, David Giles, Mark Hydes, David Smith) won 5-0 away to Immingham County and are in a good position.

And Redstar Old Boys (John Conroy, Lee Ford, James Gibbs) won 3-1 against Sporting Saltire (Roy Ling).

In Division Six, Spiders Web won 5-0 against Kings Head Waltham and remain top of the pile.

Olivers Wine Bar (David Kendal 3, Wayne Russell, Scott Short, Shane Ward, Matthew Cannon) beat The County 7-2 and are also well placed.

West Marsh Old Boys beat Seachill Athletico (Waldemar Porada) 9-1.

Honest Lawyer (Ash Leggett 3, Brad Wright 2, Alan Wilson 2, Gavin Broughton, Johnny Newlove) also won 9-1 against Ace Homecare (Josh Olley).

Grimsby Rovers (Dave Deane 3, Daniel Sunter) beat Electrical Appliances Grimsby FC (Chris Duffield 2, Lawrence Lobendhan) 4-3 in a thrilling match.

Abatis Athletic won 2-1 away to AFC Waltham 2nds and currently occupy top spot in Division Seven.

Oak Tree (Gary Kirwin 4, Jamie-Mark Dixon 2, Anthony Mitchell 2, Brendon Smyth, Damian Tominey) are in close contention after their 10-1 verdict against Advance Alarms.

LLS Allstars (Josh Samways, Adam Ward, Kieron Atkinson, Nathan Paul, Shane Elliot) won 5-1 against Clee Community ESL 2nds (Dean White), while Laceby Arms (Gavin Legg 2, Thomas Leonard, Andrew Osbourne, Chris West) beat Pelham 1878, 5-1.

BBS Couriers (Jason Chisnall 2, Ashley Kiss 2, Nathan Gibbon) went through to the quarter-finals of the Senior Challenge Cup when they beat Blossom Way County 5-0.

Meanwhile, in the Junior Challenge Cup, Laceby Acres Utd won 7-2 against Buddies II Athletic and go through to the last eight.

On target for Acres were Matthew Hardy with a brace, Andrew Garland, Liam Hanslip, Simon Lancaster, Andrew Lewis and Josh Chester. Joe Robinson replied with a couple for Buddies.

SW Steelers progressed to the next round of the Memorial Cup, with a hard fought victory over Pattesons, winning 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

Despite first-choice keeper James Fenty being available again, the Steelers' management kept faith in Matthew Chapman who had played in their last two wins – and his selection was more than justified as he played a pivotal part in a hard-fought victory.

Chapman made a number of saves to deny Pattesons the lead before they did manage to get the ball into the net.

Steelers, though, equalised almost immediately when George Eyole kept a cool head to slot the ball past the Pattesons keeper.

Steelers took the lead for the first time when Luke Borrill raced away from the Pattesons defence and placed the ball past the keeper.

But Pattesons hit back with two goals in five minutes to regain the lead at 3-2. Pete Fuller (2) and Matthew Riley were on target.

Steelers brought on Dave German with 20 minutes remaining and he brought the score back to 3-3 when he curled the ball over the Pattesons keeper with less than ten minutes left.

With no further goals, it was down to penalties and Chapman was the hero, saving Pattesons' first two penalties, including a second save from one kick that was ordered to be retaken.

Kyle Bensley, German and Gaz Deakins all scored for Steelers, but John Waugh missed.

Pattesons scored their third and fourth kicks, so it was left to Matty Stark to fire home the winning kick and put Steelers through.

Also through are Winns 2nds (James Wade, Bob Long, Alex Otter 2, Rich Woodward 2) who thrashed IFK Knottkoping 6-1.