Final Triumph for Sports - Marketmen & Pics Win Semi-Finals

There were three local cup ties played on Tuesday evening involving clubs from the Pitching In Southern Football League, two semi-finals and one final.

In the final of the Northamptonshire FA Hillier Senior Cup at Northampton Town’s Sixfields, Premier Division Central play-off rivals AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Peterborough Sports did battle for a third time.

And for a third time, it was the Turbines who triumphed, having already beaten Diamonds twice in the league and once in the League Cup.

Sports had a great chance to break the deadlock in the 65th minute when Liam Dolman brought down Kyjuon Marsh-Brown in the area.

But Dan Lawlor stepped up and sent Dean Snedker the wrong way, but his spot-kick went the wrong side of the post.

However, it was Sports who did break the deadlock in the 78th minute.

And ironically, it was former Diamonds striker Jordan Macleod who did it with virtually his first touch of the ball after coming off the bench.

Then, with only seconds remaining, Dion Sembie-Ferris made sure the trophy went to Peterborough with a low drive past Snedker.

Two other Premier Division Central clubs were involved in semi-final action.

At Leiston’s Victory Road, Needham Market beat Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division side Kirkley & Pakefield 3-1 in the Suffolk Premier Cup to set up a meeting with League Two side Colchester United in next week’s final.

The Marketmen took a 16th-minute lead with a first senior goal for youngster Seth Chambers.

Then on 31 minutes, it was a more familiar marksman in Ben Fowkes who doubled Kevin Horlock’s side’s lead.

The Step 5 side reduced the deficit on the hour-mark with a fine long-range effort from Kyle Haylock.

But the Marketmen made sure of a place in the final in the last minute with a second for Fowkes.

Rushall Olympic won through to the final of the Walsall Senior Cup after a comfortable 4-0 win over Northern Premier League Division One Midlands outfit Chasetown.

The experienced Richard Batchelor gave the Pics the lead on the half-hour mark and the same player made it 2-0 shortly after the break with a 25-yard effort.

Riccardo Calder and Sam Whittall added two more to make it a safe passage into the showpiece final where the Pics will face Chasetown’s league rivals Sporting Khalsa at Walsall’s Banks’s Stadium on May 12th.