Football: Cavs boss hoping for fruits of success after crushing Grapes

CAVERSWALL boss Darren McLaren reckons cup success can spark his team into life.

The Staffordshire Moorlands side won through to the fourth round of the League Cup by crushing Grapes Newchapel on Sunday.

And McLaren believes the 4-1 victory can help his team, who are yet to win in the Premier Division, get their league campaign up and running.

"It could be the turning point for us," he said.

"We played well and deserved the win.

"I'm hoping it might help us to go on a run now and we can transfer our form in the cup to the league."

Goals from professional boxer Josh McLaren, the manager's nephew, along with Phil Mannion, Neil Edwards and Matt Stanier saw off a Grapes side who replied through Dan Heler.

"Apart from the first week, when we were trounced by Sneyd, we've not been playing badly," added McLaren.

"We played well again on Sunday and got what we deserved this time."

Caverswall have lost four and drawn one of five games in the Premier so far, but McLaren is feeling positive after Sunday.

"Our main ambition is to stay in the division and we're all feeling positive now," he said.

"We've got games coming up against the teams around us such as Cheadle United, Loggerheads and Shamblers and we want to go on a bit of a run."

United were another team who put poor league form to one side to make progress in one of the knockout competitions.

Daniel Bloor and Jake Alcock both struck twice as United, without a win in the Premier League, saw off Chesterton 5-1 to win through to the second round of the Sentinel Sunday Cup.

Mark Lawton's hat-trick put Premier Division leaders Sneyd on course for another emphatic success.

Josh Graham also scored twice with Adam Bettany and Delroy Fox rounding off a 7-0 victory at home to Butt Lane White Star.

It means Sneyd remain six points ahead of nearest challengers Baddeley Green WMC, having played two games more.

Theo Stair's treble kept Baddeley Green in the hunt thanks to a 3-1 win against Six Towns United, while Dan Jones (2), Nick Jones and Jordan Robinson handed Loggerheads their second win of the campaign with a 4-1 result at home to Shamblers.

Emilio Davola's double helped to keep New Finney Gardens flying high at the top of Division One.

John Barrass, Chris Yearsley and Mark McDonald were also on the scoresheet in a 5-1 victory at home to Social Services.

Grange Park Rangers maintained their title interest with a 4-0 success at Adderley Green, with Haroon Rashid, Nasar Riaz, Bazi Iqbal and Mark Broomhall on target.

Jamie Robinson was the biggest individual scorer of the day with six in Longton Ashwood's 8-1 thrashing of Queens Head, while Aiden Fiedorowicz helped himself to a hat-trick as Goldenhill WMC edged out Knutton Matthey 3-2.

Milton Wanderers closed the gap at the top of Division Two to three points with a hard-earned victory at The Clough.

Mark Groom grabbed both goals in a 2-1 win which leaves them just behind leaders Birches Head.

Keele University are also well placed and their 3-0 home win against Eaton Park, secured by goals from Melvin Kurankye, Mike Hewitt and Junior Rodrigues, means they are five points off the top with three games in hand.

Mike Simcock scored at both ends as Gillow Heath got the better of a seven-goal thriller against Holditch Miners.

James Williamson, Danny Smith and Matt Miceli were also on target for Gillow Heath, with Mike Holt and Danny Jones netting in reply.

There was a similar result at AFC Thistleberry, where goals from John Glasby (2), Rob Masters and Paul Brookes were just enough to see off plucky John Marston.

Shamblers continue to have it all their own way in the Veterans' Division following a storming 14-0 win against Caverswall.

Hat-tricks for Steve Jones and Nick Coxon were the highlights of a one-sided encounter.