Week ending 25th November by Mason Norton

Three rescheduled first round ties in the Everards Brewery Tiger Bitter League Cup took place this weekend, and the story that both of last season's finalists are out at the first hurdle along with the Premier Division's currently second-placed team.


Holders Burbage and Huncote saw their defence come to an end in round one as they lost 2-1 at home to League leaders Allexton and New Parks, who took the lead in the first half before Liam Pescott equalised for B&H in the second half. It looked like it was going to penalties, but ANP, in an echo of their 2022 Tiger Cup triumph, scored late on to win 2-1, Ayrton Carter-Fell and Kieran Gethins the ANP scorers.


Meanwhile, last season's runners-up Magna 73 exited at the first after losing on penalties at home to Friar Lane and Epworth. Christian Smith gave FLAE the lead, before Jack Bonell equalised for the hosts. A prolonged penalty shoot-out eventually saw the Lane prevail 6-5 on spot-kicks. 


There was also a shoot-out at Desford and Caterpillar, where the shock of the round saw the hosts, second in the Premier, exited against Everards Brewery Division One side Dunton and Broughton United. Desford went in 1-0 up at half-time, but it finished 3-3 after a see-saw second half, Noel Gilbert scoring a hat-trick for DBU, Connor McGahan, Madison Murrell and Louis Rood for Desford, before the DBU won 4-2 on penalties to complete the giant-killing. 


There's still one tie outstanding from the first round, with Sutton Bonington and Ashby Ivanhoe Knights trying again next month at the third time of asking. Otherwise, attention shifts next week to the County Cups, with the next rounds of the League Cup competitions coming up in the New Year.