THE preliminary round of the League Challenge Cup failed to throw up too many surprises last Sunday, but there was one at Barton where the Division One hosts were beaten 2-0 by Division Two side Hanson Sports.

Elsewhere, the other ties went to the form book, although Division Three club Elders Reunited went close to causing a shock against top flight visitors Spotted Dog. Bradley Woods fired the Dog ahead with a free kick midway through the first half and, although Elders were level soon after, Lee Hammond restored the visitors’ advantage from the penalty spot just before the break.

But Elders would not be denied and they forced the tie into extra time when a clearance from Dog defender Mark Briggs struck team-mate Gary Tibbet and flew into the net while only some fine goalkeeping from Ian Potts then kept the visitors in it.

However, a brace from Mark Swanwick in the first extra period was just enough to send the Dog through despite a late Elders reply.

There was another thrilling tie at Topcliffe where the hosts beat fellow Division Three side Vale of York 6-4. Michael Lax scored four times for the visitors but it proved to be in vain as a brace from Shane Bendelow and strikes from Gareth Barber, Michael Cobb, Aaron Bumby and Nige Binks were enough to send Topcliffe into the first round proper.

Robert Thompsons will be one of the favourites to lift the trophy as they eased past third division Knayton 13-0.

Mark Cobb and Stuart Rose both struck four times while Chris Moores hit a hat-trick before Ryan McKendry and an own goal completed the rout.

In Division One, Sportsmans FC remain unbeaten after they thrashed visitors Colburn Town 8-0. Sam Grainger set them on the way inside ten minutes although the match could have gone either way until Scott McNichol and Aaron Ramsbottom both scored in quick succession just before the break.

McNichol then made it 4-0 soon after the restart while Ramsbottom went on to complete his hat-trick before late strikes from substitute Liam Hall and Ed Craven completed the rout.

In Division Two, Nags Head United have started the season strongly and they made it three wins out of three with a hardfought 3-2 home victory over Blue Star. Chris Williams and Adam Hodgeson put the hosts in control inside the opening 20 minutes, although Marc Higgins put Star back into it just before the break. Mike Stimson then restored the hosts’ twogoal cushion midway through the second half but Star refused to give up and Shaun Charlton set up a frantic finale with their second 12 minutes from time, although Nags held on to claim another three points.

Brompton-on-Swale finally got their season up and running with a 5-3 home win over newly-promoted County Arms.

After falling behind early on, David Ptak and Rory Atkinson soon had Brompton in front but they conceded twice more in quick succession to trail at the break. It looked like it was not going to be their day when Tom Stanwix skied a penalty over the bar on the stroke of half time, but he made amends with a fine brace midway through the second half and hope of a late County comeback was ended when Jimmy Krishnan added a late fifth.

In Division Three, Bar One remain unbeaten after a 1-0 home win over West Tanfield.

Roy Smith got the only goal of the game midway through the first half and despite conceding 11 goals in their opening two high scoring draws, Bar One managed a clean sheet to claim all three points. In fact they could even have increased their margin of victory in the second half as a cracking effort from Danny Newton came back off the crossbar, so it finished 1-0.

League new boys Northern Dons are still looking for their first win of the season after they were beaten 8-3 for the second week running, this time by visitors The Academy. Early goals from Miles Johnson, Liam Pallet and Kris Lakos, on his return to the side after an 18-month layoff, set the tone, although Kris Frost did briefly give the Dons something to cheer. Jason Pallet scored either side of the break to make it 5-1 while a hat-trick from Charlie Sherwood then sealed the points.

But the Dons refused to let their heads drop and Frost grabbed two more in the final six minutes to complete his hattrick and suggest that their first win in the league may not be too far away.