Successful local sides Houghton & Wyton and AFC Barley Mow both stepped up their bids for treble success last Saturday.

Houghton & Wyton made progress in the Creake Charity Shield in dramatic fashion as John Johnson hit a late winner in extra-time to sink Brampton Reserves 2-1 in a quarter-final tie.

They are also through to the final of the Hunts Junior Cup final, where they will meet Alconbury, and sit second in Division 2B of the Cambs League as they chase a fourth successive promotion.

It was a case of cometh the hour, cometh the main man for AFC Barley Mow.

Josh Turner, the highest scorer in Cambs League football, struck two crucial goals in extra-time to earn the Huntingdon lads a place in the semi-finals of the John Ablett Cup.

Turner’s brace enabled AFC Barley Mow to shrug aside Bassingbourn 3-1 in a last-eight clash and preserve their unbeaten record since switching to Saturday football ahead of the current season.

The double-strike also moved him to within two goals of a half-century in a stunning personal season.

The Barley boys had earlier levelled in normal time courtesy of an Adam Lacey effort, but were reduced to 10 men when Chris Newman was dismissed for retaliation.

They now face Clare Town in a semi-final early next month, only days before they take on Fenstanton in the Hunts Lower Junior Cup final. They’re also hot favourites for the Division 3B crown.

Buckden strengthened their Division 1B promotion challenge with a hard-fought derby triumph last Saturday.

Darren Scutt hit the decisive goal in a 3-2 triumph at Huntingdon United which earned Jack Goodger’s men a four-point buffer in second spot.

Matt Claxton, Michael Drage, George Pearson and Damian King all found the net as Alconbury remained on the fringes of the promotion race with a 4-1 success against Manea at the same level.

Paxton United boosted their survival hopes in Division 2A. Brian Smith and Chris Pyke fired them to a 2-1 win against Meldreth.