Uxella League leaders Railway Club consolidated their position at the top of the pile after a narrow 5-4 home win over Tiger Reserves. Jon Neal scored one for Railway but yet again it was Bob Abrams who was instrumental in securing the three points as he racked up four more goals in what is proving to be a prolific campaign. He wishes to point out that he does not consider himself a "veteran striker" and is tired of hearing himself described as such in this column and the local press. With no less than thirteen goals in his last four outings it is hard to argue with him as he is proving more evergreen than a Norwegian fir tree this festive season.
With second-placed Red Tile enjoying a free weekend Tiger Old Boys took full advantage as they went level on points with Tile while remaining in third position on goal difference but with two games in hand after a 4-1 away win at Flag Old Boys. The scoreline masks the fact that Flag enjoyed the better of the first period and were perhaps unfortunate to to go in at the interval a goal down. They then put this right soon after the break when Mike Taylor equalised for the home side. However, the turning point of the game came midway through the second half when Lee White looked to have scored a second for Flag but the effort was ruled out for offside amid much protesting from the Flag players. However, the Tigers went on to make the protests ancient history as they demonstrated once again that they remain the best around at finishing games strongly, scoring three goals in the final fifteen minutes. Lee Huntley and Richard Onslow both got on the scoresheet but the Tigers' man of the moment was Mike Nicholson who scored two to take his total career tally for the club to an amazing 351 goals.
It may have been a foggy morning but Woolavington seemed to have a clear view of goal as they proceeded to go decimal against Huntspill Crowns with an emphatic 10-0 home victory that saw them recapture the scintillating form that had excited so many observers earlier in the campaign. Their goals came courtesy of Matt Fursland (3), Marcus Butler (2), Simon Caddy, Danny Mira, Gary Head, Ian Bellinger and Matt Blackmore.
Squib Madrid ran out 5-3 home winners over Bunch of Grapes after a hat-trick from Vince Kennedy and further strikes from Dave Baker and Darren Hill.
Blake Old Boys put their recent losing streak behind them as they snatched a 3-2 away victory at injury-plagued Cross Rifles in a very tight encounter. Daniel Leach and Craig McGann scored the Rifles efforts but it was Blake who eventually went home with all three points after two goals from Jamie Winter and one from Chris Yates.
A first half hat-trick from Steve Spencer gave Clearwater the spoils from their 3-1 away win at Ashcott for whom James Lacey bagged a consolation goal.
In the Second Division the Maltshovel juggernaut rolls on as they dispensed with visitors Commercial in a comfortable 5-0 victory that further extends their unbeaten start to the season to ten games. The home side started the game brightly and it only took five minutes before they were a goal up thanks to a strike from Dean Organ. They then had a penalty saved before Paul Organ struck to give them a 2-0 lead at the break. Carl Rossiter then announced himself on the game by coming on as a substitute ten minutes into the second half and scoring two goals with his first two touches. Jordan Meaker sealed the win with ten minutes remaining to keep Maltshovel firmly on track for the Second Division title.
Quantock Pride continue to lead the chasing pack as they also won again and also by a 5-0 margin at home to Woolavington Reserves. Two goals from James Bawden and one each from Paul Bawden and Shane Nicholson plus a Woolavington own goal gave Pride the points.
Puriton United got back to winning ways and in some style as they ran out 8-2 home winners over Countryman following a superb hat-trick from Will Beggs, taking his season's total to sixteen, two from Darryl Taylor and one each from Lee Harvey, Lee Turner and Ryan Williams.
Tor Sports continued their impressive recent run of results as they registered a comfortable 6-1 home win over bottom-of-the-table Cannington after a hat-trick from Joyce and further goals from Nathan Truckle, Paul Pentney and David Sarjant.
There was controversy in the game between Admirals and Bridgwater Wanderers which was abandoned after 75 minutes with the scores at 1-1. Dean Dunn scored for Wanderers and Stuart Croker bagged Admirals' effort.
The much-anticipated re-match between the two Grasshoppers sides was postponed due to a waterlogged Morganians pitch and will now be rescheduled for later in the season which, according to some, will make it the second biggest game of 2006 after the World Cup Final.
(Story First Published: 11.12.05) |
