In the prestigious Somerset Cup it was a case of "two out of three ain't bad" for the Uxella League as both Tiger Old Boys and Clearwater progressed to the next round.
The Tigers found themselves drawn against Taunton top-flight side Bagborough Rovers who had dispensed with the Grasshoppers in the previous round. This game was a tight encounter for large periods until Bagborough opened the scoring at which point both teams then kept up a continuous pattern of score and be scored against. However, the Tigers eventually wrapped up a 4-3 victory after two-goals-a-piece from Paul Meare and Paul Atyeo. Atyeo was the undisputed man-of-the-match, being at the heart of everything positive that the Tigers did.
Clearwater's win was an altogether different matter as they stormed into the next round with an emphatic 8-0 hammering of Watchet side Rangers Init.
However, the Uxella League's third remaining participants in the competition, Railway Club, found that things just didn't go their way on the day. They started well enough with two goals from the ever-reliable Bob Abrams but when he missed a penalty that would not only have sealed his hat-trick but also put Railway 3-1 ahead the game seemed to turn on its head as opponents Welton White Hart rallied and got back on level terms at two a piece. Then, as extra time loomed, they went one better with a winner in the last minute of normal time to secure a 3-2 victory and dump Railway out of the competition in the cruellest manner.
Meanwhile in the Uxella League's First Division, Woolavington racked up another three points as they continue to play catch up on their fixtures and maintain their ominous climb up the table in the process, now moving effortlessly into third place but still with games in hand on the two teams above them, Railway Club and Tiger Old Boys. Despite missing five first team regulars their strength in depth proved to be more than sufficient as they beat Blake Old Boys 6-1 after a four-goal salvo from Matt Blackmore and two from Matt Fursland.
Flag Old Boys were only one goal short of equalling Woolavington's result as they eventually beat Huntspill Crowns 5-1. The game was evenly poised in the first half with the scores level at 1-1 at the interval but in the second period Flag's fitness told as they made the game safe. Jamie Stewart, Lee White, Mike Taylor, Danny Crossley and Andy White all got on the scoresheet for Flag.
Squib Madrid racked up another victory, this time 2-1 away to Ashcott after goals from Dave Baker and Darren Hill.
Bunch of Grapes and Cross Rifles had to settle for a point each from a scrappy encounter where neither side could put together any kind of fluid football. Daniel Leech scored for the Rifles while Andrew Riley responded for Bunch.
In the Second Division, the game of the day was undoubtedly the clash between leaders Maltshovel Sports and a recently resurgent Puriton United who started the day in third place and who have been enjoying better form of late. It is fair to say that their improvement continues and then some as they became the first team to beat Maltshovel this season, eventually running out 4-3 away winners after goals from Darryl Taylor, Will Beggs, Lee Harvey and Lee Turner who scored with an exquisite chip over the Maltshovel keeper from 20-yards out. Indeed, Puriton were amazed to find themselves 4-0 up with thirty minutes remaining before Maltshovel clawed the score back to 4-3 after strikes from Andy Barnett, Carl Rossiter and Jordan Meaker but United held firm in the dying minutes to complete a famous victory that will give the rest of the division a glimmer of hope that the title race is not yet a forgone conclusion.
The team best placed to take advantage if Maltshovel do hit a sticky patch is Quantock Pride who retain top spot for the time being with yet another victory as they hammered Countryman 9-3 at Meare. James Bawden led the way for Pride as he completed yet another hat-trick which takes his tally for the season to 29 while brother Paul Bawden also bagged a three goal haul. Ricci Williams(2) and Liam Nash completed the rout.
Another team racking up nine goals in Division Two were Admirals who gave bottom side Cannington a 9-1 spanking. Kev Andrews got four of their goals and was joined on the scoresheet by Stuart Croker(2), Andrew Cheese(2) and Danny Roberts. Nathan Chillingworth bagged Cannington's consolation effort.
Tor Sports extended their own impressive sequence of results as they beat Bridgwater Wanderers 5-1 following goals from Phil Johnson(2), John Osman, Alex Joyce and Paul Forster.
Bridgwater Grasshoppers' two sides enjoyed mixed fortunes. A youth-powered Grasshoppers '04 team ran out 3-2 winners at home to Woolavington Reserves after two goals from 16-year-old Reuben Lee and one from veteran Andy Cattle.
Grasshoppers '05, meanwhile, went down 1-3 away to Commercial for whom Scott Hawkins(2) and Olly Pearce scored. Les Hobbs responded for '05 with his ninth of the season.
(Story First Published: 15.01.06) |
