Sunday League: Humberston have the title in their sights

HUMBERSTON boss Mick Woolford is preparing for two crucial games which will determine his side's fate.

His team are top of Division One in the Grimsby, Cleethorpes & District Sunday League – and are on a high after thrashing Grimsby Warriors 7-1 thanks to hat-tricks from Liam Davis, Louis Grant and a strike from Jon Kirwin.

There are no Sunday League games this weekend because of Grimsby Town's trip to Wembley for the FA Trophy final.

Woolford said: "It will be three weeks before we play again – but we will then be tested.

"We have two games left, one against SW Steelers, the only team to beat us, and finally we entertain DMS in what could be the title decider.

"In our last match, Warriors gave us a good game until half-time but ran out of steam in the second half.

"They are not far off being a decent side, two or three more good quality players would see them hold their own.

"It has been a strange Division One campaign with teams dropping out and others finding it difficult to field a team of committed players."

DMS FC moved into second place with an emphatic 9-1 demolition of Cromwell.

DMS scored with their first attack when Callum Day found Danny Revill whose shot was well saved by the keeper but Gary Cross tapped home from close range. DMS increased their lead when Day's shot was again well-saved, but his cheeky back-heel gave the keeper no chance.

Cromwell started to get into the game and Zane Blow went close but some last minute defending by Stevie Wright kept him at bay.

It was 3-0 when Day raced clear. His shot hit the post and fell to Johnathan Oglesby, who calmly slotted the ball home.

Cromwell were back in the game when a defensive error let in Nick Brown, who slotted home past the oncoming Turner.

DMS soaked up the pressure and increased their lead just before half-time when captain Darren Hanslip's shot was saved, but he was first to react and poked the ball home.

Day hit DMS's fifth with an unstoppable free-kick from 25 yards and it was soon six when Hanslip found Oglesby who fired into the roof of the net.

Matty Hanton scored the seventh when he let fly from 25 yards and the ball sailed into the top corner.

Craig Mitchell scored the eighth from the spot after Oglesby was fouled in the box – and Oglesby completed his hat-trick when he finished from close range to complete the scoring and to keep up the pressure on leaders Humberston.

Crows Nest beat AFC Wybers 2-1 with goals from Luke Neul and Luke Moore. Pat Masterton replied for Wybers from the penalty spot.

Crows manager Terry Hanley said: "This was a good, tight game which could have gone either way.

"We were winning 2-0, but Wybers got their penalty mid-way through the second half and we missed a penalty at the back end of the second half which should have sewn it up.

"Everybody did their bit in a good team effort.

"We did well considering top goalscorers Lee McFarland (injured) and Luke Fanthorpe (suspended) were out."

SW Steelers won 3-2 away at Empire United but came close to throwing the game away, having led 3-0 with less than ten minutes left.

In Division Two, Pattesons won 5-0 against Tap & Spile with a hat-trick from Peter Fuller and further goals from Nathan Crooks and Asa Fisher.

Gary Precious Pattesons secretary, said: "This was a good performance from us. We have to keep winning and plugging away at the goal difference.

"We are now fighting it out with Crows Nest for the title.

"We have two difficult games to come against Wybers but if we keep doing what we do well and work hard we'll see what happens".

Division 2

Immingham Town (Steve Grimbleby 4, Daniel Robinson 2, Ben Coultas 2, Darren Lambert) beat Police (Danny Taylor, Josh Ward, Derek Woods) 9-3. Healing (Danny Jackson 4, Nathan Ballard, Ben Freeman) won 6-1 against Caistor Rovers.

Division 3

Leaders Cleethorpes Town ran in nine without reply from Buddies II FC. Deportivo Empire (Stephen Robinson 2, Kieran Pidd, og) claimed second place after beating The Cricketers 4-1. AFC Nitro surprised opponents East Trans Pelham by winning 4-0 away at Bradley Pitches. Goals came from Stuart Sadler, Louis Volley and Simon Munday (2) in a great game. Humberston Grosvenor (Malcolm Kitt) drew 1-1 with Keelby Utd (Tom Griffiths).

Division 4

Wheatsheaf became the first team in the league to win their divisional title when they beat Cromwell Rovers 5-0 with two goals from Stuart Inch and further strikes from Dean Boon, Paul Metcalfe and Neil Kirwin. Crows Nest 2nds (Louie Schofield 2, Marc Musgrove) beat Clee Community ESL 3-0 and currently occupy second place but they can be caught. SK Smugglers AFC and Blossom Way County (Ricky Gatrill, Gary Kilday) played out a 2-2 draw at the bottom end of the table.

Division 5

Abatis Fire & Security were the only team in the top three in action. They beat AA Property New Waltham 4-0 with goals from Joseph Mitchell 2, Ben Charlesworth and Steve Davis. Old Lloyds (Matthew Freudenberg, Barry Ramsey, Lee Williams) beat AFC Waltham (Thomas Bryan) 3-1. Redstar OB (John Conroy, Alex Smith) won 2-1 against Immingham County. Sporting Saltire (Daniel Cooper, Liam Overton) won 2-1 away to RER Haulage (James Auckland).

Division 6

West Marsh OB was the only team in the top three in action. They won 4-3 away to EAG FC (Chris Duffield, Lawrence Lobendhan 2). Kings Head Waltham (Ben Cousins, Liam Cadden) had a comfortable 2-0 victory over Buddies II Athletic. It was 2-0 before Buddies were reduced to ten men. The score would have been more convincing if it had not been for the Buddies keeper .Seachill Athletico (Oliver Howard 3, Stuart Douglas 2) won 5-4 against Honest Lawyer ( Brad Wright 2, Eddie Fanthorpe, Danny Harrop). Ace Homecare (Carl Carroll, Darren Hanley) won 2-1 away to The County.

Division 7

The Oak Tree got back to winning ways after their cup final defeat with a 6-0 verdict against Laceby Arms. Their goalscorers were Gary Kirwin with a hat trick, Jamie-Mark Dixon with a brace and Brendon Smyth. Advance Alarms (Scott Barber 2, Jayson Graves 2, Leigh Hickinson, Ashley Kiff, Alun Parkin, Ben Whitehead, og) beat AFC Waltham 2nds (Michael Braithwaite) 9-1. LLS Allstars (Nathan Chandler 2) won 2-1 away to FC Ntex. Laceby Acres Utd (Liam Hanslip, Ashley Stephen) won 2-1 against Pelham 1878 (Kyle Young). Winns 2nds won 6-5 against Abatis Athletic (Chris Horsewood 2, Rob Bradbeer, Ben Cowdroy, og).