Player-boss Cameron Anderson is backing his Hemingfords United young guns to come good in the Cambridgeshire County League top flight.

The local lads have endured a difficult start to the Kershaw Premier Division campaign after picking up only two points from their opening seven games.

Anderson named eight teenagers in his starting XI for a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Fulbourn Institute last Saturday and took plenty of positives from their performance.

They conceded twice before hauling themselves level by half-time thanks to goals from 17 year-olds Harry Sargent (scoring for the fourth time in five appearances) and Louis Bald.

But a frustrating second half followed as Hemingfords fell behind again on the hour before being stung by a late counter-attack goal which sealed their fate.

“So many of our lads are playing men’s football for the first time,” said Anderson. “We didn’t expect them to adapt to the physicality of the league straight away.

“The football we’re playing is very positive but we need to be more clinical if we are to get the rewards for it.

“We’re improving week by week and there is a great togetherness in the squad so I’m confident we can start to pick up wins.”

Fellow locals St Neots Town Reserves are also experiencing a tough start to the campaign. They were beaten 4-2 by Bar Hill last Saturday.

Eaton Socon had Nathan George dismissed in the second half as they fell to a second successive Kershaw Premier Division defeat.

Mark Garwood’s men were thumped 5-1 at high-flying Cambridge University Press. The hosts hit three late goals after George saw red.

Joe Keech had earlier halved Eaton Socon’s arrears from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.

Brampton threw away a three-goal lead before recovering to claim victory in a thriller at Ely City Reserves.

Wayne Ambler’s men eventually triumphed 5-3 with strikes from Alex Shepherd and Nick Garner proving crucial.

Eynesbury Rovers Reserves produced a five-star Friday-night showing when thumping Foxton.

Ryan Baxter and Lee Bassett put Mark Spavins’ men on top before Gianni Battezzato struck the goal-of-the-game.

Bassett and Shane Fox added further goals in the second period to seal a 5-1 triumph for an Eynesbury outfit due to host Comberton last night (Tuesday).