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It may be a new year but the script remains pretty much the same in the Uxella League as the "big three" continued their winning ways upon the resumption of hostilities after a well-earned Christmas break.
League leaders Railway Club tightened their grip on top spot after they came away from their trip to Ashcott with all three points after a hard-fought 2-0 victory. Carl Tucker and John Richards struck the all-important goals for Railway.
Second-placed Tiger Old Boys continue to lead the chasing pack as they cruised to a comfortable 5-0 home win over Flag Old Boys. Mike Nicholson and Lee Huntley both struck twice for the reigning champions, with one of Huntley's goals being the culmination of a superb weaving run from one end of the pitch to the other. Mark Pope then capped a fine individual display of his own with the fifth Tigers strike.
In an intriguing clash between this season's surprise package, Red Tile, and Woolavington, a team who have been winning rave reviews from all who come across them, it was Woolavington who eventually emerged as clear winners after a 4-1 away victory. A solitary James Hamilton goal was scant consolation for Tile who put the result down to "a bad day at the office".
In a very tight encounter between Tiger Reserves and Squib Madrid it was Squib who eventually stole all three points with just about the last kick of the game to make the final scoreline 3-2 after it had looked like ending up as a draw. Dave Baker, Mike Hart and Lee Mitchell scored the goals that secured the victory for Squib while Paul Irvine bagged both goals for the Tigers second string.
Clearwater steamed into a 5-0 half-time lead against injury-ravaged Cross Rifles and eventually went on to seal a fine 6-1 away win. Danny Palfrey and Steve Spencer both scored two goals and were joined on the scoresheet by Wayne Spencer and by Sam Mullins who notched his first for the club. Mark Farrow responded for the Rifles.
A Dean Fury goal was not enough to prevent Bunch of Grapes from going down 1-2 at home to Huntspill Crowns.
Meanwhile, in the Second Division powerful Puriton United striker Will Beggs hit yet another three goals to bring his tally to nineteen in just ten starts this season as his side ran out convincing 7-2 winners over a spirited young Bridgwater Wanderers side. Lee Harvey bagged his second "wondergoal" of the season from 35-yards while skipper and veteran goal-machine Darryl Taylor also struck. Lee Turner and Ryan Williams completed the "goalfest" for Puriton while eighteen-year-old Lloyd Hackling also distinguished himself as a stand-in keeper for United with a string of excellent saves.
Two goals from Paul Keirle and one each from Dave Little and Adam Culliford got Countryman back to winning ways with a 4-1 away victory over Grasshoppers '05 to put to an end their recent poor sequence of results. For the veteran Hoppers side their only postitive moment came with a well-struck consolation goal from Martyn Allen as their own slump continues for the time being. However, they are hopeful of turning things around in the coming weeks as a number of exciting new signings become eligible to play.
In a pulsating encounter between Woolavington Reserves and high-flying Quantock Pride the spoils eventually went to Pride but only after Woolavington had given them a severe test as the game went on to finish up 6-5 to the visitors. A hat-trick from Kevin Dibble and one each from Matt Weston and John Cook put Woolavington Reserves within touching distance of a point but Pride's young side eventually prevailed and, in the process, took over top spot in Division Two going two points clear of Maltshovel but having played three games more.
The games between Admirals and Commercial and Cannington versus Maltshovel Sports were postponed while Tor Sports were left kicking their heels after their local rivals Glastonbury Town Sundays pulled the plug on their scheduled derby clash as their club appears to have folded amid a longstanding lack of personnel.
(Story First Published: 08.01.06) |
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| | | | | | | | Div 1 Table Summary
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| Team |
Pts |
| Maltshovel | 30 | | Red Tile | 27 | | Tiger Old Boys | 19 | | Quantock Pride | 17 | | Cannington | 16 | | Abbey Moor | 15 | | Blake OB | 14 | | Flag Old Boys | 10 | | Middlezoy | 9 | | | | |
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| | | | | | Div 2 Table Summary
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| Team |
Pts |
| Highburn | 44 | | Grasshoppers | 41 | | New Foresters | 36 | | NM Sports | 34 | | R.O.F. | 34 | | Puriton | 33 | | Huntspill | 22 | | Knowle | 16 | | Admirals | 14 | | Q. Pride Res. | 10 | | Ramblers | 8 | | North Petherton | 4 | | | | |
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