Chester Vets 0

Holcombe Hasbeenz 1

FIVE key players were missing and just 11 were available for the 500-miles round trip, but Holcs’ golden oldies nevertheless b eat the odds to secure a place in the HA Veterans Cup semi-finals for the first time.

Mind you, they left it a bit late since Paul Briault’s winner came just two minutes from time. Dave Sancto won a corner and Long found Briault, who shaped to pass and instead fired home off the far post to set up a home semis clash with Kingston Upon Hull next Sunday (March 28).

HOLCOMBE’S first team continued their improved form by way of a 7-1 defeat of Chelmsford. Seven different scorers, too, in Dave Hemsley (7 mins), Dave Mathews (28), Andrew West (32), Ryan Ravenscroft (39), Damon Garwood (46), Yasser Khan (50) and Stephen Waldrom (55).

Fair old day for Waldrom since he scored all four goals in the second string’s crucial 4-2 defeat of third-placed Worthing which consolidated second spot.

Andy Cromb and Ian Hinks, helped the 2A's draw 2-2 with Horsham, but Ian Harvey’s goal was but a reply in the third team’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of Canterbury IV.

James Underwood and Richard Ingram got the goals as Holcs 3A's shaded Old Bordenians III 2-1, but although Chris Green and Dajinder Cheema were on target for the fourth string they came unstuck by a 6-2 margin against Sevenoaks 4A.

No joy for the 4A's - beaten 3-2 by Cliftonville II despite goals from Ray Zerafa and Matt Porter - but the fifths had better fortune as they did for Old Bordenians V 3-0 through Chris New, Adam Sanders and Brian Field.

Wayne Errington struck twice and others came from Adrian Hull and Richard Cottam as Holcs 5A's consolidated top spot and a Danny Hancock hat-trick helped the sixth string get the better of Old Willies V. Martyn Ives was also in target in a 4-2 success.

IT’S all set for a thrilling finale to the East Women’s Premier League title race. Any one of four sides could yet come out on top after Holcs recovered from their defeat to Canterbury by seeing off second-placed Dereham 3-2. On target were Charlotte Whealan, Lauren Martin and Jennie Hoyte.

Leisa Randall was the scorer as the thirds shaded Deal 1-0 and while the fourths went down 2-1 to Ashford III - Frances Guard replied - the fifth string got the better of Tunbridge Wells VI in an 11-goal thriller. Mind you, they did have leading second string marksman Gill Griffiths in their ranks and she did bag a hat-trick. As did Karen Major as they won 6-5.

ANCHS’ sixth team showed how much they have improved, over the season, when they held Ashford to a 2-2 draw. They suffered a fair old battering earlier, but goals from Simon Pickard ensured them a respectable 2-2 draw. It was much better than they expected.