IT WAS a day of mixed fortunes in the county cup. The under-12 Knights suffered a horrendous first half against a far stronger Lea Sports Pirton side from the Bedfordshire League Division One, conceding ten goals. Things improved after the break, but the

IT WAS a day of mixed fortunes in the county cup.

The under-12 Knights suffered a horrendous first half against a far stronger Lea Sports Pirton side from the Bedfordshire League Division One, conceding ten goals. Things improved after the break, but the visitors finally ran out 13-0 winners. Although soundly beaten the Knights never gave up trying and fought to the end, with goalkeeper Jordan Pope pulling off a series of excellent saves.

The under-14 Templars reached the third round of their competition with a comfortable 6-2 win over Buntingford Cougars. Oliver Crew produced the individual performance of the day by finding the net four times while Tyron Saunders was on target twice.

Both the under-14 Crusaders and Knights bowed out of the competition. The Crusaders found Chorleywood Common too strong, and despite goals from Bradley Farrant, Mitchell Tredgett and Callum Bishop's the visitors progressed to the next round with a 10-3 victory.

The Knights put up a fighting performance at fellow Royston Crow side Sawbridgeworth Town before finally going down 2-0.

The under-16 Crusaders were another team to come up against strong opposition from a higher division. Although James King gave the Crusaders a lead mid way through the first half, the home team started to show their class to reach the next round with a 8-1 victory.

The under-18 Crusaders made the best possible start at Borehamwood with Tom Cookman scoring in the first five minutes. Although the home side equalised, further goals from Harry Holland, Oliver Lee, and a second from Tom Cookman made the score 4-1 at the break. The second period was all Baldock with Harry Holland and Oliver Lee both grabbing their second of the match to make the final score 6-1.

In the Royston Crow League the under-10 Templars and Crusaders both secured victories at Knebworth. A goal by Charlie Briggs was enough to give the Templars a 1-0 win, while the Crusaders cruised to victory over Knebworth B with Nicholas Allin and Christopher Birkett both scoring twice and Dan Bracken also found the net in a 5-2 score line.

The under-11 Lancers picked up a useful point as they drew 3-3 with Letchworth Garden City Eagles.

The under-12 Templars maintained their perfect league record with a 4-2 victory at Potton. Declan Sayer led the way by scoring a hat trick, while Joe Frazer-Bossom was also on target.

The under-12 Crusaders recorded another victory as two goals from Iain Robinson and a Jake Chapman goal gave them the points with a 3-2 win over Bishop's Stortford Athletic.

The under-13 Templars continued their recent run of good results with a win over Letchworth Garden City Eagles Reds. James Canning kept up his scoring streak with two goals while Alex Canter grabbed a third to give the Templars a 3-2 victory.

In Division Four, the Lancers were beaten 6-3 by Stevenage Borough Stripes despite two goals from Alex Maguire and a Lewis Worcester effort.

The under-15 Knights got their season back on track as goals from Aaron Slack and Jake Lindsay-Smith earned them an excellent 2-1 win at Letchworth Garden City Royals, while the Lancers continued their winning ways as a hat-trick from Sam Frazer-Bossom and goals from Joel Strickland and Ben Glover gave them a close 5-4 victory at Royston Town Colts.

The under-15 Crusaders were not so fortunate as they were beaten 5-0 at Bennington.

The under-17 Crusaders gained revenge for an early season defeat by Fairlands with a 4-3 victory thanks to two goals from Elliott Snook and one each from Matthew Bolton and Ryan Holt.

Baldock Knights U-13 1 Hormead Hares 0

JORDON Davis' second half goal saw Knights end Hares' unbeaten record on Sunday.

The encounter commenced with a high tempo passing game from both sides but Hormead quickly started to show exactly why they are top of the league, with some very good interplay and soon put Baldock under pressure.

An early move saw a goal-bound effort cleared off the line by Baldock's Thomas Batt and it was clear that this was not going to be an easy afternoon for the home side.

Despite the early Hormead dominance, the Knights started to ease back into the game and Baldock's Harry Nelson's presence in midfield made sure that the visitors did not have matters all their own way.

A good move involving Nelson and Charan Basra gave George Laurence his first chance of the game and was unfortunate not to score, but the league leaders were in no mood to let Baldock take advantage.

Two very good goal-bound Hormead efforts were saved by keeper Josh Dobson and it appeared that the Knights were soon to concede. Hormead did manage to put the ball in the net but an offside decision saved Baldock.

Despite the pressure, it was Baldock who should have gone in at half-time with a goal advantage, after a goalmouth scramble saw George Laurence, Harry Nelson and Davis all involved but to no avail.

The second half started in more open fashion with both teams having good efforts on target.

The Knights broke the deadlock when a clever Stevie Scarlino pass found Davis in space, and his quick thinking saw him lob the Hares keeper to put Baldock 1- 0 up.

Hormead did not let the setback affect their attacking play and they doubled their efforts to try and gain an equalizer, but the goal had given Baldock a resolve that the visitors could not break down, with Jordon Morley having an outstanding game in defence.

The Knights should have put the game beyond any doubt after both George Laurence and Charan Basra had shots go just past the post.

Bishop's Stortford Ath U-11 5 Baldock Town Templars 0

BALDOCK continue to struggle as injuries and holidays again left the team with no substitutes.

It looked good for Baldock to start with as they dominated the first 15 minutes. Captain Elodie Blanchfield created Baldock's first chance after five minutes with a cross from the right that somehow evaded everyone.

Three minutes later and Daniel Nicholson put in a cross and a quick shot on the turn by Mark Rogers brought a good save from the Stortford keeper.

Baldock continued to attack, a long ball from keeper Alex Taylor was flicked on by Rogers and this time it was Nicholson's shot that the keeper saved.

Stortford's first attack came after 15 minutes when Taylor made a great save in a one on one situation. But the resulting corner was well taken and Stortford went ahead somewhat against the run of play.

Stortford were quick to press their advantage, two minutes later a good move down their left wing brought a good second goal. Stortford's third came from another defensive error by Baldock, giving away goals as they did against Hormead the previous week.

This time a poor free kick went straight to a Stortford striker who was quick to punish the Templars.

It could have been four just before half-time but for good work by Sam Kendle as he cleared off the Baldock goal line. Taylor made a fine save at the start of the second half as Stortford continued to press forward, but five minutes later could do nothing as a great shot from the Stortford striker hit the back of the Templar's net.

Baldock finally started to play some good football in the last 10 minutes, Alex Close and Connor Doyle putting together some good passes and getting George Higginson away down the left wing. But Higginson's shot could only find the side netting.

With five minutes to go Baldock were starting to tire and Stortford took advantage with a fifth goal on the break.

Nicholson nearly got a consolation goal in the last minute, latching onto a Judges free kick, but his first shot was saved and his second somehow scrambled away off the line.