Jordan Richards hit a hat-trick as Spencer Reserves secured an impressive 8-0 win over Peterborough League side Netherton Reserves in the NFA Lower Junior Cup.
West Haddon made the near 100-mile round trip to Woodston-based Peterborough ICA Sports Reserves but could not come home victorious.
Richard Rogers scored twice for the visitors but it proved too little as the hosts ran in four of their own.
It was a similar story for Corby Pegasus Reserves who travelled down the A47 to Peterborough Sports Parkway and came back on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline.
Roade Reserves hosted Oundle Town, the only side not to suffer from travel sickness. Sam Anderson, John Spooner and Ali Foote all netted for the hosts but Oundle still came away 5-3 victors.
Blisworth Reserves and Corby Eagles both travelled to Banbury league opposition and returned home victorious, although the nargins of victory were distinctly different.
Eagles overcame Woodford A 3-0 thanks to a Colin Hutchison brace and a Steve Harrison goal, while Blisworth ripped apart Middleton Cheney Reserves 7-1.
Town League sides recorded a rare double over Combination sides with both Kingswood and Harpole Reserves falling to defeat on the road.
Harpole face Duston Dynamo in something of a derby tie and were unlucky to lose 4-3 while Kingswood slumped to an embarrassing 5-1 defeat by Yardley United.
Alasdair Duncan bagged a double for Brixworth Reserves, yet North Bucks side Syresham managed to score one more and go through 3-2.
The shock result of the round came at Thrapston, where FC Titchmarsh overcame what is effectively a five division gap to defeat their UCL opponents.
Danny Wagstaff was the hero with both of the Titchmarsh goals.
Despite a nervy start and being on the back foot in the opening exchanges Old Grammarians produced a fine display against Rothwell Corinthians Reserves.
The UCL club crash out at the first hurdle against Northants Combination opposition for the fourth year in a row! Goalscorers were Pete Norris and Kael Talbot.
Further upsets came at Burton Park Wanderers and Raunds, although Nomads Reserves found ON Chenecks Reserves too strong.
Corby Redstar needed a slice of luck to progress against Burton Park Wanderers Reserves, an own goal complementing Jamie Farrell’s strike to put his side through.
Ringstead Reserves crossed the A45 to derby opposition Raunds, and forced the game into extra time. Two further goals in the extra period saw the Combination side move into round two with a 4-2 win.
The remaining matches against rival league opposition although generally positive were much more of a lottery.
Upsets were not just confined to matches against external opposition however as matches that pitted league sides against one another threw up their fair share of surprises.
Third division Clipston were the biggest casualty crashing out to SPA from the tier below.
Phil O’Brien scored the opener for SPA who became the second side to benefit from an own goal to progress in the competition.
Duane Hall and Ashley Taylor netted for Great Doddington either side of a Tom Martin penalty as the Division Two strugglers overcame mid-table FC Higham.
Fellow Division Two strugglers Spratton needed extra time in the match with Milton Reserves, but managed to find a crucial third goal to ease through.
Wollaston and Strip Mills were also drawn together. It was Wollaston who emerged victorious, smashing the league leaders 8-1.
Division Three leaders Drayton Grange had a real fight on their hands against Corby Hellenic.
In-form striker Alex Williams took his tally to eight for the season so far, with five in the last two games as he scored a hat-trick for the visitors.
Drayton Grange rallied and eventually emerged 5-3 winners in this ding-dong cup battle.
Weldon Reserves also endured a hard-fought home tie with Ferrers.
The reigning Reserve Premier Division champions went into the game as favourites despite being a second-string side and ended up grimly hanging on for victory.
A Kyle Jardine hat-trick and a double for Scott Grant helped Weldon through, but it needed a goal from Chris Madden to ensure the progression after Gary Broadway had banged in a treble of his own.
Leigh Butler added a fourth to set up an interesting conclusion.
The remaining ties all went the way of the form book.
Grange Park Rangers had a debut to remember against Walgrave. Lee Cowley scored twice alongside Oliver Judge to seal a 3-1 win, while Jake Hughes and Joe Taylor saw Rising Sun home against Weedon.
Dean King scored twice as Wilby put on a second half masterclass of finishing against 10-man Gleneagles. Paul Ekins scored a late consolation for the visitors with virtually the last kick of the game.
Northants FA Area Cup
A 2-0 home win against Strip Mills Reserves saw Kislingbury Reserves reach round two.
Duston Garage (Bosch Service) Premier Division
The top four remain unchanged after wins for each of the sides.
Blisworth made it four wins from four matches at West Glebe, although opponents Corby Pegasus posed the toughest challenge so far.
Ross Arundell was the chief architect with a double but strikes from Nathan Muir and Andy Seaton were needed to maintain a narrow 4-3 win.
Stanion remain second after winning an ill-tempered game with Heyford 6-0.
Joe Ellard scored twice but goals from Craig Cassidy and James Walpole ensured victory after Zak Pugh and Dan Lumb had clawed Roade level.
Michael Betts netted the only goal of the game for Milton against Nomads who seem to be struggling at the higher level this season.
Harpole dropped points against Weldon, and were somewhat fortunate to pick up any at all after starting poorly.
Weldon took the lead from the spot, and a combination of goalkeeping heroics and the woodwork kept Harpole out.
Persistent pressure from the hosts finally forced an equaliser with a quarter hour left, but that was not the end of the drama.
Harpole had a strong penalty appeal turned down, while Weldon saw a potential winner ruled out for a foul.
Brixworth took full advantage and climbed to fifth after defeating Ringstead.
Duston Garage (Bosch Service) Division One
A shock defeat for Corby Locos ended the 100 per cent winning run, and sent the early leaders tumbling down to fourth in the table.
John Gribben had put the leaders ahead but two sloppy goals conceded allowed Medbourne to claim all three points and leap-frog into third.
Kislingbury jumped to the head of the table on goal difference from Earls Barton after victory against Ise Lodge.
The Kettering side opened the scoring with a well worked goal, but were soon begged back after a scrappy equaliser. A fortunate second goal put Kislingbury into the ascendancy.
Ise Lodge pressed high up the field and were made to pay as the visitors struck a third goal on the counter, before capping the win with a sublime fourth.
Luke Coleman and Brendan Smith both scored for Finedon Volta in the derby tie with Earls Barton.
Defensive frailties cost the hosts once again however as Barton made it four wins from five and leave the hosts still looking for an elusive first point.
Both Burton and Stanwick climbed one place after defeating Orchard Park and Wootton respectively.
Jamie Smith scored the only goal of the game for Burton, while Stanwick romped to a 6-2 success.
Tyler Amphlett scored three after his move to the higher level, setting the hosts on their way.
Sam Holmes singlehandedly led the Wootton fight back netting both goals but it was not to be his side’s day.
Duston Garage (Bosch Service) Division Four
A narrow 2-1 win over AFC Rothwell was sufficient to keep Borough Alliance top of the tree in Division Four ahead of Albion Vikings and Higham Town who cancelled each other out in an entertaining 4-4 draw.
Scott McKinnon, Paul Kelly, Scott Kerr and an own goal all registered on the Vikings account.
The two Uniteds also shared the same scoreline in their encounter.
Pete Davis (3) and Aiden Ennis were the Corby marksmen, while Kane Robinson Craig Mills, Jonny Summers, and Daniel Coles found the target for Desborough & Rothwell.
Kettering Park Rovers ran out 6-1 winners over Wilbarston.
Duston Garage (Great Wall Cars) Reserve Premier Division
The day’s only game saw Moulton rip through ON Chenecks A 5-2.
Colm Pacey bagged three of the Moulton goals and created a fourth as Dan Hall and Mark Wright rounded out the scoring.
Duston Garage (Great Wall Cars) Reserve Division One Cup
Craig Trasler’s goal for Wootton was scant consolation as they exited at the first hurdle against Stanion Reserves. Matthew Keenleyside scored twice for the visitors.
Duston Garage (Great Wall Cars) Reserve Division One
A 3-2 reverse at the hands of Corby Locos prevented Weldon A from closing the gap on leaders Stanion, although it was not all bad news for the third string side.
Welford too failed to capitalise after falling to defeat at Bugbrooke B.
Corby Everards picked up a first point of the season against Heyford after drawing 3-3.
Andrew Kyle scored all of the Corby side’s goals. Dayne Wood meanwhile was the standout marksman for Earls Barton who defeated Orchard Park.
Duston Garage (Great Wall Cars) Reserve Division Two Cup
Blaine Stillman’s brace for Wilby was not enough to seal the win against FC Titchmarsh, and it took further goals from Luke Hughes and Liam Danns to ensure the Wellingborough side entered the hat for the second round.
Redstar meanwhile faced off against derby opposition in the shape of Hellenic and had a day to remember in their debut league cup tie, scoring 20 twenty goals in all.
Lee McEwen stood out, scoring seven goals himself, Connor Grant got four, Steve Church a hat-trick and there were braces for Rob Bradshaw and Francis Nelson. Solos for Jak Leese and Andrew Mullentsorgung completed the rout.
Duston Garage (Great Wall Cars) Reserve Division Two
Darren Price and Darren Walden netted the goals that put Spratton on top of Reserve Division Two. Justin Pye pulled a goal back for Higham Town but it the day belonged to the visitors. Jo Silber and Christy Concannon both found the target for West Haddon, but the three match winning run came to an end against Stanwick Reserves.
Duston Garage (Bosch Service) Star Award
This week’s winners are FC Titchmarsh, conquerors of Thrapston Town Reserves in the Lower Junior Cup.
 |  |