Banyers 1 Meldreth 1 (Banyers win 4-3 on pens) BANYERS progressed through to the semi-finals of the Shelford Energy Cup after a tense shoot-out against local rivals Meldreth. Neither side were able to create much in the way of clear cut opportunities duri

Banyers 1 Meldreth 1 (Banyers win 4-3 on pens) BANYERS progressed through to the semi-finals of the Shelford Energy Cup after a tense shoot-out against local rivals Meldreth. Neither side were able to create much in the way of clear cut opportunities during the first half, with Barry Wood having the hosts' best chance when he skewed wide from an acute angle after knocking the ball past the advancing keeper. Banyers came out strongly after the break in the second half, and took the lead from a corner. Halfacre flicked on Wood's corner at the near post, and from the resulting goalmouth scramble the ball was handled on the line by a defender. The inevitable happened as Banyers were awarded a penalty and Meldreth were reduced to 10 men. Tom Galvin stepped up and neatly placed the ball in the bottom right hand corner. Meldreth then woke up, and despite being a man down, they produced a fighting performance as they pushed Banyers back with neat attacking play. Some 10 minutes later they equalised with a fantastic effort. Having found a bit of space on the left, the Meldreth player launched a shot from the corner of the box that sailed over Richard Barlow, and into the top corner. Stephen Ramshaw and Steve Cawdell came on for the Banyers, and both proved to have a significant impact in the game, Cawdell's mazy runs causing havoc through the Meldreth midfield. Both teams had their chances too win it in the end. Richard Barlow tipped a free kick over the bar and parried another fine Meldreth effort. Adam Smith saw his header hit the bar, and Ratty saw his header aimed straight at the keeper. The only chance of a dull extra 30 minutes fell to Halfacre on the stroke of time but his shot was held by the keeper. Meldreth missed their first spot-kick, and Galvin, Adam Smith, Stephen Paul and Woods all scored for Banyers in the shoot-out, and although keeper Barlow missed his effort he redeemed himself when Meldreth took the fifth effort by diving to his left to keep the ball out and send Banyers into the next round. Banyers: R Barlow, A Smith, M Halfacre, S Paul, G Radford, T Galvin, D Ratcliffe, S Easy, P Matthews, J Clements, B Wood. Subs: S Ramshaw, S Cawdell. Kimpton Rovers Reserves 2 Baldock Reserves 14 BALDOCK grabbed three more vital points in their race for the Division One title with a crushing 14-2 victory over Kimpton Rovers Reserves. The Reds charged into a 2-0 lead with just five minutes on the clock and from then on there was no looking back as they tore their poor opponents to shreds. Adam Shelley took his tally to 21 for the campaign and his 20th league goal with four in the first period. A Mat Ryall double, Paul Martin, Cameron Brawley and Nick Blenkin all netted in a rampant first period that saw the Reds lead 9-0 at the break. After three half-time substitutions the Reds came back out for more, but Kimpton reduced the arrears early in the second period through Sam Gibbs. There reduction of the deficit was short lived as Mat Ryall completed his hat-trick for 10-1. Nick Blenkin took his season's tally to eight with a second half strike. A spectacular goal from James Smith and a double from substitute Sam Crow made it 14-1. Sam Gibbs did grab another consolation, but the day belonged to the Reds as they increased their goal difference and went back to the top of Division One with Magnum not in action.