Netherton United lose cup thriller despite a goal from their goalkeeper! County Cup success for ICA Sports

A goalkeeper scored a dramatic late equaliser before a late-night penalty shootout decided the winners of the Peterborough League Junior Cup tie between Netherton United A and AFC Stamford Reserves.

The visitors looked likely to make serene progress when goals from Giancarlo Mercuri and Razvan Vladut established a 2-0 lead midway through the second half under the Friday night lights at the Grange.

Action from a win for ICA Sport (dark blue) in the Hunts Lower Junior Cup against Alconbury Weald. Photo Jonathan Paice.

placeholder image — Action from a win for ICA Sport (dark blue) in the Hunts Lower Junior Cup against Alconbury Weald. Photo Jonathan Paice.

But substitute Tom Randall pulled a goal back before Netherton missed a penalty. They did win a last-gasp corner which goalkeeper Stephen Starkey converted – he is usually a centre-forward – to take the tie to penalties.

And it was Stamford who prevailed, but only after a marathon shootout which finished 12-11. The teams get to do it all again this Saturday in a Division Three game at Borderville (2pm kick off).

Action from ICA Sports (dark blue) v Alconbury Weald in a Hunts Cup tie. ICA won 4-2. Photo Jonathan Paice.

Ketton Sports Blue and Sawtry Reserves also won Junior Cup ties on spot-kicks. Ketton won a local derby against Stamford Lions Reserves 4-1 in a shootout after a 2-2 draw. Michael Jordan and Sam Thompson scored for Ketton in 90 minutes. Sawtry saw off Moulton Harrox Reserves 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Two top Division Four sides clashed in the Junior Cup with NXT Gen gaining revenge for a recent league defeat with a 2-0 success. Arslan Ali and Kofi-Kubi Nkansah scored the goals.

In the Challenge Cup Tydd Reserves finished their tie at Stamford Lions with nine men, but held on for a 4-4 draw before winning 4-3 on penalties.

It was clearly an unlucky weekend for Lions whose goals had come from Ryan Brown (2), Frank Sarfo and Dan Sheehan.

Netherton’s first team eased into the next round with a 3-0 win at Thorney with Thomas Lancaster scoring twice.

There were first round Senior Cup wins for Chatteris Town, Leverington Sports and Wittering Premiair. Harry Whittington scored twice in Wittering’s 4-1 win at Whittlesey Athletic Reserves.

COUNTY CUP

ICA Sports made progress in the Hunts Lower Junior Cup with a 4-2 win over Peterborough League Division Four rivals Alconbury Weald at Ringwood. Jamie Cogings (2), Cam Guest and Scott Westley scored the goals.