Week ending 14th September by Mason Norton

In Everards Brewery Division One, the last chance of a team emulating North Kilworth's Div2 Grand Slam of 2021-22 disappeared on Saturday as leaders Anstey Town dropped points for the first time this season, being held to a 2-2 draw in a tempestuous derby between the two tenants of Beaumont Park. Casey Richardson and Darren Taylor had put Anstey in the lead in the first half, before Ouakari Diawara gave Atletico a goal just before the break. Anstey then found themselves reduced to 10 men, but looked set to make it nine wins from nine until 88 minutes, when Khalid Mohamud's shot took a deflection and went past the keeper.

The table shows that Town are still ten points clear of second, but that doesn't tell the whole picture, as fourth-placed Dunton & Broughton United are 12 points behind them, but do have three games in hand. DBU slipped two places from second in the morning table through no fault of their own, after they set off to travel to Thringstone to face Ingles Development, and instead found themselves trapped in the chaos of the M1 northbound because of the accident that shut the motorway in both directions. With the northbound not re-opening until later on Saturday, they never arrived in north-west Leicestershire, and so the match was postponed, with the League's Management Committee again considering the circumstances at their next meeting.

With DBU not so much sidelined as at a standstill, Hinckley LR Reserves took advantage to leap into second, having been fifth on Saturday morning, as they went into double-figures at home to bottom side Barrow Town Reserves, winning 10-0, including seven goals in the first half. There was no hat-trick though, unless you want to give it collectively to the Hinckley bench, as subs Malik Boyce, Stan Rossell and Micah Rowe all scored when they were introduced to the fray. Amongst the starters, Josh King and Brogan Greenwood both hit doubles, Chris Jones, David Mensa-Bonsu and Harry Smith got on the scoresheet, Barrow still pointless.

Leicester Road's jump up the standings came with DBU out of action, Atletico dropping points against leaders Anstey, though still moving up into third, and Kirby Muxloe Reserves losing 3-2 at home to Birstall United Reserves, with goals from Joe Lee, Alfie Shipley and Harry Simpson helping to revive Birstall's promotion hopes, Callum Key scoring for Kirby. Sutton Bonington are another team climbing on up to put themselves into contention, winning 7-1 at Sporting Markfield on Saturday. Sam Gee gave SB an early lead, doubled shortly after by Ayomide Ayodele, before Musa Hashim scored to make it 3-0 after 20 minutes. Jordan Crosland then made it four just before the break and Hashim got a second on the stroke of the interval to make 5-0 at the break. Hashim completed his hat-trick midway through the half, and sub Jack Tormey scored late on, Josh Seaton scoring a consolation for Markfield, who are still searching for their first win, and stay three points adrift of Holwell Sports Reserves and safety. All in all, just three points separate second-placed Hinckley LR from seventh-placed Birstall United Reserves.

And that's how it stands as we embark on the League Cups. Next week sees the first round of this season's Everards Tiger League Cup, the pick of the ties being at Huncote Sports & Social, where the cup holder Burbage & Huncote begin their defence at home to Everards Brewery Premier Division leaders Allexton & New Parks, in a re-run of last season's semi-final won by Burbage and the 2022 final won by ANP, both games settled by late goals. The first round of the City Goldsmiths President's Trophy has one outstanding tie, as Div2 leaders Loughborough Students Development travel to Desford & Caterpillar Reserves, and there's a small smattering of games across the three divisions, including Anstey Town against Hinckley LR Reserves in Div1. As ever, Ramble Round the Cups will look at the best of the cup action. See you next week.