The first week back after the holiday break saw South-East Essex Primary Mini Soccer League teams involved in League Cup action for all age groups with teams battling for semi-final spots.

Notable winners included Southend Manor, in the Under-9 Lions Cup, who knocked out Elmwood Colts after an exciting game which was eventually settled by penalties.

In the Under-12s Lions Cup there was a surprise defeat for Division One Canvey Orient at the hands of Second Division Rayleigh Boys by a 4-1 scoreline with Clark grabbing a hat-trick.

The all Division One clash ended 4-3 to Newtown over Rockets. The winners recovered from being three goals down at half-time with Hallett (2), Chesterton and Russ getting the goals.

Another comeback was witnessed in the Tigers Cup when Kingdown Rangers recovered from being 2-0 down at Southend Manor to triumph 3-2.

A double from Moxom and a single strike from Cuthbert settled the issue here.

The all Great Wakering fixture was a very tight game as was expected and it all came down to the nerve of the Lions side, who finally roared to victory over the Tigers by virtue of a penalty shoot-out.

Outside the cup, Young Cannons, in Division Six of the Under-10s, managed their first ever win in over two years with a 1-0 success over The Dons. McDonough nabbed the priceless goal.

On the spot - Rayleigh Boys (orange shirts) go on the attack during the Under-9 Tigers Cup tie with Hawkwell Athletic and eventually won on a penalty shoot-out

Picture: MALCOLM STOCKWELL

Results

Under 8

Lions Cup round 3: Hawkwell Ath 0, Elmwood Colts 0, Hawkwell won on penalties; Wickford Town 3 (Pheby, Donn, Slamons), Canvey Orient 0; Southend Manor 3 (Bowen 2, Sharpe), Blues Youth 2 (Webb, Cuthbert).

Tigers Cup round 3: Rayleigh Leopards 2 (Everett, McQuibban), Kingdown Rangers 0; Leigh Rockets 1 (Reynolds), Rayleigh Tigers 0; Island Boys 0, Benfleet Tigers 0, Benfleet won on penalties; Elmwood Colts 1 (Bedford), Hamlet Court 2 (Miles, Porter).

Lions West: Leigh Rockets 1, Hamlet Court l.

Lions East: Ashingdon 2 (Maynard, Smith), All Stars 1 (Perkis); Catholic 0, Rayleigh Lions 0.

Lions Central: Blackgate Gunners 1 (Slivey), Deaneswood 3 (Smith 2, Biggs); Rochford 0, Thundersley Rovers 4 (Soilleux 2, Howard 2); Shoebury Boys 2 (Lee, Maybey), Hullbridge 3 (Pighini 2, Fisher).

Tigers East: Rayleigh Pumas 0, Blues Youth 1 ; Ashingdon 4 (Watts, Whiter, Grech 2), All Stars 0; Fairfax 0, Benfleet 1 (O'Hanarhan); Catholic United 0, Deaneswood 2.

Tigers West: Hawkwell Ath 0, Canvey Orient 5.

Under 9

Lions Cup round 3: Dons 1 (Worton), Rayleigh Boys 0; Southend Manor 1 (Kerr), Elmwood Colts 1, Manor won on penalties; Rockets 1, Northwick Boys 1, Northwick won on penalties.

Tigers Cup round 3: Rayleigh Boys 1 (Houghton), Hawkwell Ath 1 (Clatworthy), Rayleigh won on penalties; Rochford 4 (Smart 2, Goodhead 2), Hamlet Court 0; Elmwood Colts 2 (Wallings 2), Dons 1 (Ayre); Catholic United 1, Castle Rangers 8.

Division 2: Shoebury Boys 2, Brit Ath 1; Kingdown Rangers 2 (Richardson, Bremner), Beech United 0.

Division 3: Ashingdon 1 (Winch), Great Wakering 0; Hotspurs 0, The Dons 1 (Chapman).

Division 4: Hullbridge 2 (Barnes, Doe), Benfleet Villa 1; Northwick Boys 2 (McKay, Kemsley), Canvey Orient 0.

Division 5: Hotspurs 0, Beech United 2 (Samuels 2); All Stars 8 (Norris 2, Lever 4, Jay, Smith), Golden Manor 0.

Under 10

Lions Cup round 3: Rayleigh Boys 4 (Clark 3, Blake), Canvey Orient 1 (Cook); Kingdown Rangers 4 (Reason 2, Newnham, Brodrick), Deaneswood 1 (McGregor); Rockets 3 (Sperring 2, O'Neil), Newtown 4 (Hallett 2, Chesterton, Russ); The Dons 0, Ekco Whitecaps 1 (Giles).

Tigers Cup round 3: Southend Manor 2 (Slade, Andrews), Kingdown Rangers 3 (Cuthbert, Moxom 2); Rockets 0, Beech United 3 (King, Lone, Whitehill); Hullbridge 1 (White), Westering Tigers 3 (Ford, Little, Ellis); Great Wakering Lions 1 (Lovely), Great Wakering Town 1 (Deer), Lions won on penalties.

Division 1: Benfleet 2 (Hollingsworth, Randall), Westering Tigers 2 (Watson).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.