Week ending 30th September by Mason Norton

The calendar has turned to October, so it must be time for the County Cups. Although the Veterans Cup is not running this season after talks between the Leicester City League and the County FA, all other men's football county competitions are, and they got under way this week.

Jelson Homes Senior Cup:
Story of the week came on Tuesday night up the Stute, where Hathern upset the apple cart, and put behind them an indifferent start to the season with a 3-2 win away to United Counties League Division One outfit Holwell Sports. Jake Davies (2) and Jack McLachlan scored for Hathern after Max Lowe had scored for Holwell in the first half, and despite a late strike from sub Tom Pope for the hosts, Hathern hung on to defeat Step 6 opposition for the second season running, and their first win in 90 minutes against a Step 6 side since their Loughborough Charity Cup win against Barrow Town back in 2008.

Meanwhile, ongoing floodlight issues meant that Cottesmore had to play their tie on Saturday at home to Northants Combination side Medbourne, who were making their Senior Cup debut after being promoted to the top flight of Northants feeder-league football during the summer. Medbourne are renowned County Cup specialists, having lifted the Saturday Trophy in the past, and they continued that tradition with a 2-1 win in Rutland, Will Rawdon scoring Cottesmore's goal from the penalty spot.

The remainder of the Senior Cup fixtures involving LSL sides in the first round will be played this forthcoming midweek- we'll be back at the end of the week for a Midweek Special.

Coalville Trophy Centre Saturday Intermediate Cup:
There was an upset in the first round of the Intermediate Cup, when Dunton & Broughton United, sitting second in Everards Brewery Division One, tumbled to a 4-1 defeat away to Ambleside Athletic, a mid-table side from the County League's Championship division, which sits three tiers below LSL Div1 in the County FA Saturday Men's structure.

However, all of the other LSL sides in action came through unscathed, with six of the 11 Div1 sides getting byes to the second round. Of the four others, Ingles Development put County League Championship side Kegworth Imperial to the sword with a 6-1 win, Owen Brader with a brace, and Oliver Boyd, Jake Turner, and subs Conor Bennett and Harrison Griffiths adding the other goals. Holwell Sports Reserves went goal-crazy away to Central Midlands League Div1 South side Castle Donington, winning 7-1, with all the goals coming before the break. Tallen Burt led the way with four goals, Tom Concar bagged a double and Harry Worby also got in on the scoring. Leicester Atletico beat the Football & Sports Diploma Academy of the County League Premiership 5-0, whilst Barrow Town Reserves, bottom of LSL Div1, played out a 4-4 draw away to County League Premiership leaders Glen Villa, Barrow winning 4-1 on penalties.

Saturday Trophy:
The County FA have simplified things for LSL clubs this season, with all Div1 sides contesting the Intermediate Cup, and Div2 sides the Saturday Trophy. Five of the nine surviving LSL Div2 sides received byes to the second round, and three others all came through the first round, the biggest scare coming for Rothley Imperial, who won 4-3 against County League 3 mid-table side Sporting Loughborough. Mountsorrel Amateurs defeated County League 1 outfit Leicester Medics 2-0 thanks to goals from Louis Abel and Jake Folwell, whilst Sileby Town Reserves kickstarted their season with a 6-0 win at County League 3 side Woodhouse Imperial Reserves. GNG Oadby Town Development's game at home to County League 1 leaders Stoneygate FC was postponed earlier in the week, and that game will be referred to the County FA's Cup Competitions committee for a decision to be made later next week.

There'll be a Midweek Special to round up the rest of the action involving LSL Premier teams later this week, whilst Ramble Round will be back with action across all the three LSL divisions next weekend. See you then.