THE top for sides in Journal Division One of the Strat-ford Alliance locked horns last weekend when the top two Ilmington and Halfords both recorded victories.

Leaders Ilmington overcame Stratford Spartak 3-1 with goals from Stuart Eades, Pete Hawkins and Steve Hopkins, while Jim Burke's double for Halfords was enough to see off Badsey Rangers whose solitary reply came from Matt Sollis.

It was a bad day for the Badsey clubs with United crashing out of the Edwards of Stratford Cup after a 5-0 thrashing at Henley Forest.

Herald second division leaders Cubbington surprisingly relinquished two points after a 4-4 draw with Henley Reserves and that result allowed Alcester Lions, 3-1 winners over FISSC, to move closer to the leading pack.

Two of them were involved in knockout action with Littleton edging into the second round of the section's League Cup at the expense of Bidford after a five-goal thriller.

Scott Beresford posted a hat-trick as Studley Nags Head won 8-1 at Badsey United Reserves, while Tysoe lost for a 13th time in 13 matches when Bodrum proved too strong.

Welford now boast a similarly awful record in Cutler Division Three but they went down fighting 2-1 to Red Alert and they were also spared the indignity of not conceding their 100th goal of a troubled campaign.

Adam Balanger and Paul Davis beating Welford's last line of defence for the 98th and 99th time in the league.

Fellow strugglers, Bidford Reserves, had six put past them as Long Compton emphasised their championship claims with a 6-0 win. Steve Gill and Jon Ibotson both scored twice.

The second string of Badsey Rangers salvaged some village pride as two goals for Jason Jones and one for Ben Metrovitch helped overcome Halfords Reserves 3-2.

Results

Journal Division One: Halfords 2, Badsey Rgrs 1; Ilmington 3, Stratford Spartak 1.

Edwards of Stratford Cup first round replay: Henley Forest 5, Badsey Utd 0.

Herald Division Two: Alcester Lions 3, FISSC Res 1; Badsey Utd Res 1, Studley Nags Head 8; Cubbington 4, Henley Res 4; Tysoe 0, Bodrum 2. League Cup first round: Littleton 3, Bidford 2.

Cutler Division Three: Badsey Rgrs Res 3, Halfords Res 2; Long Compton 6, Bidford Res 0; Red Alert 2, Welford 1.

Fixtures for Saturday

RM Smith Cup: Badsey Rgrs v Alcester Lions, Cubbington v Long Compton, Dog & Pheasant v Ilmington Res, Halfords Res v Quinton, Littleton v Bidford, Henley v Studley NH, Southam v Broadway.

Journal Division One: Halfords v Ilmington, Badsey Utd v Stratford Spartak (3.30).

Herald Division Two: FISSC Res v Henley Res, Badsey Utd Res v Bodrum (1.30), Shipston v Tysoe.

Cutler Division Three: Kenilworth B v Red Alert, Badsey Rgrs Res v Welford (1.30), Bidford Res v Blockley.