Junior football: Duckworth in starring role

DIVISION Two strugglers TS Sports made Rocester work hard to earn their place in the quarter-final of the Burton Junior League Knockout Cup.

Eight places and 22 points separate the two junior outfits in the current standings. But it was just one solitary strike – a Jonathan Duckworth goal on 32 minutes – that proved the difference on Saturday.

Rocester will be aiming to repeat the trick this weekend when they take on the same opponents in the league. Victory will maintain pressure on current leaders Littleover Villa Lions, who top the division on goal difference but face a difficult trip to in-form Uttoxeter Juniors tomorrow. And it is Littleover who Rocester will face in the semi-final of the Knockout Cup.

Manager Dave Stinchcombe praised his side following last weekend's narrow cup win. He said: "It was hard work but we got what we deserved. The lads now have lots of hard work over the next few weeks if they want to achieve their goals."

Jason Brown was honoured with the Little Kitchens man-of-the-match award and also picked up the player-of-the-month title.