A good weekend in the cups saw the Firsts overcome Goldhanger to reach the Group Semis of the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy, while Steve "Fletcher" Beeton made a scoring return to match action as the Ressies qualified from the Wally Castle group stages…

An excellent performance from FC Drury saw them overcome Maldon Sunday League opponents Goldhanger Argyle 3-2, who proceeded to throw a strop and refuse to pay their share of the ref’s fees.

Considering the clubs’ previous best result in the Sunday Junior Trophy had been an 8-0 defeat at the hands of Devon in 2005, this years’ march to the Group Semi-Finals underlines the progress the First Team are making under manager Darren Allen, currently enjoying his first full season in charge.

With midfield goal-machine Rob Tovey grabbing 2, one a sweet low strike from the back-post, and rampaging centre back Jon Andrews the other, goals continue to come from all directions for the Drury boys, who now have a chance for revenge against the Chapple & Wakes Colne side that knocked them out of the Thornavon Cup earlier this year.

Firsts: (4-4-2) Falconer; Cook, Burrows, Andrews, Hunt; Tovey, Newcombe (Taylor), Paris, Long; Love, Brook
Goals Rob Tovey (2), Jon Andrews

The Reserves covered themselves in cup glory, too, with a good 2-1 home win against Northgate Reserves. Marc Stewart pushed himself to the top of the Reserves scoring charts with the first, while it was a happy day for Steve Beeton, who grabbed the winner with a power header.

Beeton, who assumed the First Team captains armband last season only to suffer a horrific knee injury, returned off the bench after a year away from competitive action to score his first goal for the club, and guarantee the Reserves a spot in the draw for the knockout stages of the Wally Castle Invitational Cup.

Manager Matt Tomlin, who assumed the reigns over the summer, was delighted with the result, adding; “Get in there! That was better than Liverpool against Reading, anyway.” Or he would have done, if we’d asked him.

Reserves: (4-4-2) Mark Ager; Matless, Rayner, Gailey, Hall (Beeton); Martyn Ager, Blanchette, Ruffle, Taverner; Wheaton, Stewart
Goals Stewart, Beeton

Both teams now head into crunch league games on the back of confidence inspiring cup wins. Up next for the firsts is a table-top clash with old rivals AFC Lexden, while the Reserves host a dangerous Allstars side who currently sit second in the table and boast a 100% record.