DIVISION 1:
Tiger Old Boys continued their perfect start to their Uxella League Division 1 campaign with a narrow 1-0 home victory over Pig & Whistle, who themselves had won all of their previous games. The Tigers had the majority of the play but could not convert the numerous chances that they created and it was left to Lloyd Dean to secure all three points with his decisive strike.
Railway Club got their first points of the season with a 2-1 home win over Andy Staunton's Red Tile side. Sam Walker got on the scoresheet for Tile but Railway clinched the victory thanks to a strike from John Richards and a penalty from Lee Hemsley on his debut.
In a good spirited encounter Woolavington kept up the pressure on leaders Tiger Old Boys with a 5-4 home win over Clearwater, thanks to goals from Olly Weston(2), Simon Caddy, Matt Blackmore and an own goal. Clearwater's four replies came courtesy of brothers Wayne and Steve Spencer, one from Martin Webb and, with his first touch of the game, a first goal of the season for Somerset county cricketer, Wes Durston.
In an explosion of goals mid-table Durleigh got back to winning ways with an 11-5 home win over Admirals Landing.
Their new boy Christian Strung latched onto a Rob Snapes cross to open the scoring, then Admirals equalised immediately through James Bawden. After going 5-1 behind, got back to 6-4, but man of the match Strung ended with a personal tally of six goals as Durleigh ran away with it. Their other scorers were Ian Bellinger(2), Jon Doyle, Brett Trowbridge and George Panatiotides with an exquisite chip. Admirals goals came from Kev Andrews(2), James Bawden(2) and Kevin Scoobie.
DIVISION 2:
The top-of-the-table clash at the Bridgwater Sports & Social Club saw Second Division leaders Tiger Old Boys Reserves emerge victorious with a 3-1 result over Flag Old Boys who had gone into the game in second place. Paul Irvine was the difference between the two sides as he completed a superb individual hat-trick. Flag Old Boys responded with a goal from Ashley "Cyril" Knowles.
Paul Frost's Eastover Wanderers chalked up a valuable 2-0 away win at Woolavington Reserves thanks to an opening strike from Andy Riley and a superb back-post header from a corner for Mike Pear, opening his account for the season.
Ben Dyer's spirited Cannington side were unlucky to suffer a fourth straight defeat as they went down 2-1 away at Ashcott, for whom Chris Murphy and Chris Bell got the vital goals.
North Petherton notched their first league victory of the season, running out comfortable 6-1 winners at home to Huntspill Crowns. Mark Mantyk and Shane Mantyk both bagged two goals a piece and Craig Wright and Lee Chamberlain completed the rout.
Chris Lawson-Blake's Cross Rifles went down 2-6 at home to Black Horse in a game that remained tight for prolonged periods but which ultimately swung in favour of the visitors who managed to take their chances more clinically, with a hat-trick each for Jody McKay and Andy Barnett, and who also benefited from an excellent goalkeeping performance from Carl Watts. The three points enabled Black Horse to assume second place in the table at the expense of Flag Old Boys.
DIVISION 3:
A rampant Puriton United made it four wins out of four with a 6-2 victory over Pig & Whistle Reserves. Two excellent strikes from Lee Mitchell, including a superb lob over the keeper, were supplemented by two from Will Beggs, one from Rich Harvey and a 35-yard screamer from the prolific boots of Darryl Taylor.
A youthful Sportsman side continue their ascent up the Division 3 table, moving into second place with an 8-1 away win at ten-man Middlezoy. Two sharp finishes in quick succession from Daryl Cock and well-taken strikes from Andy Skidmore and Jordan Meaker gave Sportsman a 4-0 advantage at the interval. In the second half they continued in the same vein with a second from Meaker, one from Steve Davis and two rare goals from Simon Dodden.
It was definitely a game of two halves at Tor Sports in Glastonbury as Bridgwater Grasshoppers went in at half-time with a 2-1 advantage thanks to two good goals from veteran campaigner Andy Cattle, only to see the game slip away from them in the second half yet again as a five goal salvo from Joel Hopper, and further strikes for the home side from Nigel Cove(2) and John Osman gave Tor an 8-2 victory.
It was honours even at Admirals Reserves as they drew 3-3 with Glastonbury Town Sunday. Two goals from Stuart Crocker and one on his debut from Steve Haddy for the home side were matched by goals from Glastonbury's Dean Hunt, Sam Vincent and Tim Salter.
In the other match in Division Three Andrew "Beaver" May's Artillery West Huntspill Boys continued their impressive start to the season, racking up their third successive win with a 3-1 home victory over Countryman.
(Story First Published: 03.10.04) |
