TO say that a team which smashed eight goals past the Netherton Condors in the first round of the League Cup on Sunday played poorly may sound a trifle harsh.

But according to the boss of upwardly mobile Division Two outfit Northborough, Spencer Johnson, his side produced a poor display in an 8-3 win against a side who play their football in the division below.

Despite a hat-trick for Jordan Graham and goals for Oliver Davies, Callum Reed, Kieran Gregory, Harry Ledger and Evan Ladley, Johnson felt his team had merely gone through the motions to secure their place in the next round.

And while such an attitude may suffice against lesser opponents, the less-than-impressed boss warned that another lacklustre display could see his team dumped out next time.

He said: "It may sound a little harsh as we won the game but it was a poor performance from the boys and they know it.

"We were pretty sloppy at times and just assumed that if we turned up we would win, which is a poor attitude. If we play like that again against other sides we will get beaten – it's as simple as that.

"If the boys want to put together a decent cup run then they need to sort it out, but at least we are in the hat and have time to knock them back into shape before we go again."



WHITTLESEY were not about to make the same mistake twice as they set off in pursuit of county cup honours against Leverington Youth on Sunday.

Having fallen at the first hurdle in the League Cup the previous weekend against Sawtry Blue, Whittlesey this time made sure they would be in the hat for the next round thanks to goals for Jacob Smith (2), Oliver Long and Max Amos for a 4-2 win.

And while manager Steve Pullan had targeted the League Cup, a decent run in the Cambridgeshire County Cup should make up for their early exit.

He said: "Our number one priority is getting promoted and nothing will allow us to become distracted from that but a good cup run will be a nice bonus for us.

"Leverington are a good side and they pushed us hard but we deserve to be through after the kind of performance we failed to deliver last week against Sawtry."



LAST season's beaten finalists Wisbech St Mary however are still in with a chance for League Cup glory.

Goals for Conor Bird, Harley Rust, Luke Whyatt (2) and Ryan Brothwell saw Danny Hughes' side rack up a comfortable 5-0 first round win against Sawtry Yellow.