ADL round-up: APBS drop vital points in Premier Division title race

In the ADL Premier Division, title favourites APBS dropped valuable points in their hunt for their very first league championship when held to a 5-5 thriller against Wendover.

Jamie Spurden put Wendover 2-1 ahead at the break in a topsy-turvy game that saw APBS equalise and take a share of the spoils in the 87th minute. Jack Thomson, Aaron Huddlestone and Tom Shepperd with the other Wendover goals.

APBS, for whom Pat Callaghan bagged a treble, are now seven points behind leaders Haddenham Utd with three games in hand.

Aylesbury Dynamos finally found a positive result when thumping Pond Park Rangers 10-1. Chris Shennan scored five goals, Craig Beale picked up two and there was one each for Jamie Lewis, Eliis Goodin and Taran Ashall.

At the bottom, Long Marston grabbed an important point after a 2-2 draw with Bucks CC, Dave Hurst and Nick O’Donovan netting.

In Division One, St Johns Sports are playing catch up on Leaders Long Crendon and they needed hat-tricks from Ian Pearce and Tom Burton to beat Bucks CC Reserves 6-3.

At the other end, Bedgrove Dynamos finally grabbed a win as they beat second-bottom Tetsworth 3-0 to swap positions, Matt Fellows (2) and Charlie Whitney scoring.

But it wasn’t all good news for Bedgrove as the team they are chasing to avoid relegation, Wingrave, also won when beating Oving 3-0 through goals from Luke Hall, Tom Ellis and Harry Pickering.

In Division Two, Ludgershall went back to the top once more after seeing off promotion rivals Rivets Sports 4-3 as Ollie Newing’s brace was added to by Danny Salim and Mike Dimarcello for an important win.

Haddenham Utd Reserves have six games in hand and could sneak into a promotion slot, especially after they won 5-2 over Long Marston Reserves this week; Andrew Lambie (4) and Sam Hodges netting.

The two sides who were rock bottom in the autumn seem well clear of relegation now.

Long Crendon Reserves eased to 7-2 win over Wendover Reserves thanks to braces from Luca Forchione, Liam Phillips and Liam Gabbard, while FC Spandits Reserves beat Wingrave Reserves 4-1 with Jamie Chesterman (2), Dan Jones and Jason Lohan on the score sheet.

The promotion chase has been blown wide open in Division Three after leaders Quainton Reserves were beaten by in-form Aylesbury Dynamos Reserves 2-1.

Sam Beckett put the away side ahead but a Jens Von Haefen penalty and Chris Cacket’s free-kick turned the game around.

If Quainton lose their last two games, Rivets Sports Reserves will be champions, while if Dynamos win their last six games, they can sneak second.

AC Meadowcroft are the other in-form side in that division as Steve Keating’s penalty made it six wins from six, this time Tring Town AFC Reserves being beaten.

Ludgershall Utd Reserves are unbeaten in three games after a 1-0 win over Bedgrove Dynamos Reserves as Howard Holmes’ goal took them off the bottom.

The Kennedy beat Oving Reserves 4-0 in the final game in the league this week, Brett Collins (2), Timmy Dancer and Jason Fox all scoring.

In the cups, Great Missenden ended FC Mandeville’s Dayla Field Shield hopes when winning 3-2, while New Zealand FC are through to the semi-finals of the Sheffield Jackman Cup courtesy of a 3-1 win over FC Spandits; Musa Schmidt, Kedge Jeffrey and Jake Welsh on target.

Quainton were taken to extra-time by Waddesdon before winning 4-3 as Carl Gunning (2), Charlie Pinnock and Dan Cammock booked their place on the last four.