Molten Footballs Spartan South Midlands Division Two Aston Clinton 0 Markyate 1 Herts County Sunday Junior Cup Tring Corinthians 4 Markyate 4 AET (Markyate won 3-1 on penalties) MARKYATE made hard work of their match at Aston Clinton in Division Two

Molten Footballs Spartan South Midlands Division Two

Aston Clinton 0 Markyate 1

Herts County Sunday Junior Cup

Tring Corinthians 4 Markyate 4 AET (Markyate won 3-1 on penalties)

MARKYATE made hard work of their match at Aston Clinton in Division Two on Saturday as they missed chances for a more comprehensive victory. The Yate could have been 3-0 up at the break but were denied by some spectacular goalkeeping.

The second half started in the same way as the first with the Yate pressing forward looking for the lead. The goal finally arrived when a sublime 40-yard pass from captain Damen Pickering picked out Rohan Deroses whose first-touch pass cut out the 'keeper to give Aaron Wilson the easy task of tapping the ball into the empty net on 55 minutes. The Yate created a hat full of further chances but again failed to finish some superb flowing football. Aston Clinton almost made the Yate pay but centre half Paul Brown extended himself to block the ball on the line to deny the home side.

Markyate, in sixth place in Division Two, now have 21 points after an impressive start to the season and have already beaten their best-ever total at this level of football.

l On Sunday in the Junior Cup Markyate started well and created some good early chances, the best falling to Eddie Fensome who failed to connect in the six-yard box when it looked easier to score.

Tring took advantage with two goals before half time to take command of the contest and leave Yate bewildered.

Manager Mickey Flitton had some work to do but he sent the Yate out in the second half with two subs and a new 4-4-2 formation, replacing the luckless Fensome up front with left wing back Tom Burton. Within 10 minutes the Yate were on level terms. A through ball from skipper Matt Tibbs put Burton in to slot past the unlucky 'keeper. Then some dogged determination from Pablo Draycott enabled him to steal the ball away from the nervous centre half for Burton to net from close range.

The Yate conceded another from a long, hopeful punt upfield and in response threw on 40-year-old veteran striker Adam North, who found skipper Tibbs to pass the ball into the bottom corner and take the game into extra time. In extra time, North set up a goal for Draycott to make the score 4-3 but Markyate could not hold on and Tring drew level at 4-4 to set up penalties.

North missed the first spot kick but Ian Taylor proved the hero for Markyate, saving two penalties and at 3-1 the Cricketers missed again to give the Yate passage to the next round.