On a frozen, fog-covered morning a number of Bridgwater-based sides put thoughts of the Uxella League temporarily to one side as they turned their attention to the prestigious Somerset FA Sunday Challenge Cup.
With the much-anticipated clash between Tiger Old Boys and Woolavington being postponed due to the lack of a referee and with third-placed Flag Old Boys discovering that their intended opposition had not shown up for their tie, the focus shifted to high-flying Railway Club who had recently equalled the Tiger's points tally at the top of the First Division and who gave Bath side Firehouse a footballing lesson as they ran out 8-0 winners at home. For the third time this season veteran striker Bob Abrams bagged five goals in one match and was joined on the scoresheet by Carl Tucker(2), and Barry Hardwell.
However, two other Bath-based sides enjoyed better results at the hands of Uxella League clubs. Squib Madrid went down 1-2 at home to Milan Bath after extra time while Cross Rifles also lost by a single goal margin, but in an altogether more open game which eventually finished up 7-6 to visitors Dolphin Bath, also after extra time. Rifles captain Jason Stephenson will be somewhat philosophical after this cup tie, coming out of the game not only as man-of-the-match but also having scored five goals of his own but still ending up on the losing side. Adam Kinsey scored the Rifles' other effort, registering his fourth goal in his last three games.
Clearwater enjoyed better fortunes in their away tie to Spaxton Rangers, eventually finishing up comfortable 6-1 winners after two goals from Danny Palfrey and one each from Craig Matthews, Wayne Spencer, John Spence and from Australian super-sub Heath Okely.
Bunch of Grapes on the other hand go out of the cup after being on the wrong end of a 6-0 defeat to a very impressive Welton White Hart side, who operate in the Premier Division of the Frome & District Sunday League.
Bridgwater Grasshoppers are also out of the competition at the first hurdle after putting up a good showing away to Taunton First Division side Bagborough Rovers, going in 1-1 at the interval after a superb shot from 16-year-old stand-in striker Liam Wardle. However, the home side took control of the game soon after the break, stealing two quick goals on the counter-attack and although the Hoppers rallied well in the final quarter with both Turkish striker Erkan and player-boss Dean Waghorn going close to reducing the deficit, Bagborough held firm to ensure that their name will be in the hat for the next round.
Meanwhile there were a couple of catch-up games played in the Uxella League, with one result to report from each division. In Division One the clash between Tiger Reserves and Blake Old Boys had echoes of the previous day's Championship encounter between Southampton and Leeds United where Leeds had come back from 3-0 down to win 4-3. In this encounter the Tigers went even further, coming back from 3-0 down to win 7-4 after a hat-trick from Paul Irvine and further goals from Craig Palmer and Andy Burridge.
In the Second Division the only game played saw Quantock Pride run out comfortable 7-1 away victors over a ten-man Cannington side after four goals from the prolific Lee Goss, two from James Bawden and one from Liam Nash. Steve Addicott bagged Cannington's consolation effort.
(Story First Published: 20.11.05) |
