Marshalls Park (red) take on Hall Mead in the Essex Cup

Girls book semi-finals spot

Marshalls Park’s under-14 girls booked an Essex Cup semi-final spot after a 4-0 win at Hall Mead.

After a goalless first half, Greta Kurkauskaite broke the deadlock and Emily Dempsey added a hat-trick to take her tally for the season to 25.

The Year 8 boys played an indoor cricket friendly against Palmers, who scored 79 in their innings.

Adam Garson, Lewis Byford and Bradley Byford all bowled well for Marshalls, but they could manage only 43 in reply.

Daniel Carter performed well with the bat.

Marshalls take on Bower Park in three Havering Cup football matches next week.

The Year 9s play on Tuesday, the Year 11s on Thursday and the Year 10s on Friday.

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Shenfield Academy began their new year in style with a 9-1 rout of South Essex College.

And the squad, working in association with Colchester United, remain unbeaten in the Youth Conference League after outclassing their rivals in a clinical display.

Shenfield showed their class early on, despite a difficult pitch, as they produced a number of flowing moves to create early chances for strike duo Yeshaya Lomotey and Liam Smith.

Lomotey broke the deadlock when rifing a shot past the South Essex keeper and Shenfield netted four more times before the interval, including an outstanding team effort which ended with a fine cross from Matt Newman for Sam Duhig to finish.

Shenfield rung the changes in the second half, but Lomotey took his tally in the match to five, making it 28 for the season.

The in-form front man has earned regular call-ups to the Essex squad this season, along with team-mates Charlie Rolls, Matt Newman, Liam Smith, Connor Witherspoon, Matt Williams, Josh Bardealeau and Chris Gregan.

But Shenfield are expecting a much harder game next time out, when they visit Dagenham & Redbridge.

Shenfield High School’s under-16s booked an Essex Cup semi-final place yesterday (Tuesday) with a convincing 7-0 win over Hall Mead.