Ian Dawkes rolled back the years to inspire Eaton Socon ‘A’ to Hunts Lower Junior Cup glory.

Veteran Dawkes grabbed two of the goals as they beat Houghton & Wyton Reserves 3-1 in the county showpiece last Wednesday night.

He smashed in a second-minute opener before Blake Rivers doubled the advantage just after the hour mark.

A Shayne Smith own goal gave Houghton & Wyton Reserves hope of a fightback, but that was ended when Dawkes coolly converted from the penalty spot after Adam Walker was brought down.

Victory for the ‘A’ team, managed by Simon O’Connor and Mark Garwood, could provide the start of a cup hat-trick for the Eaton Socon club.

Their reserve side contest the Cambs League’s Creake Charity Shield final later this month before the first team seek to retain the Hunts Intermediate Cup in April.

St Ives Rangers and AFC Barley Mow will do battle in the next county final – the Hunts Junior Cup, which is also being played at St Neots, on April 4.

Those two teams met last Saturday in a crucial Cambs League Division 1B promotion clash with third-placed Rangers beating table-topping Mow 3-1.

Mohammed Islam struck two of the goals with Harry McGregor also on target as Rangers closed to within four points of the leaders – and Dominic Moody’s men also boast three games in hand.

There could be a promotion double for the Rangers club as their reserve side looked set to rise from Division 5B in their debut season.

They remain second despite a 2-0 slip-up at Littleport Town Reserves last Saturday. The Rangers second string are four points behind leaders March Soccer School Academy, but boast five games in hand.

Needingworth United were responsible for the most eye-catching result when thumping runaway Kershaw Senior B Division leaders Red Lodge.

Adam Kay struck twice as Brett Swales’ side roared to a 5-0 success with Tom Dockerill, Cameron Stephens and Dan Williams also finding the net.

That was a helpful victory for second-placed Huntingdon United, who closed to within eight points of Red Lodge following their own 3-0 win at March Town Reserves. Carl Foreman, Jamie Blackwell and Dom Everett hit the goals in that game.

Somersham Town Reserves boosted their Division 3B survival hopes with a valuable 3-1 success at fellow strugglers Benwick Athletic thanks to a Daniel Butler double and Simon Anderson strike.

Fellow locals Bluntisham Rangers Reserves dropped to the bottom of that division after suffering a 5-2 defeat at Wisbech St Mary B.