The Uxella League title race took a decisive turn this weekend as the two main rivals for the crown, Railway Club and Woolavington, locked horns for the second week in succession and, despite having to go to Railway's Eastover Park ground, Woolavington again emerged victorious from a good spirited encounter. The three points they secured arrived via an impressive 4-1 victory after two goals from Matt Blackmore, one from Matt Fursland and an own goal. However, Railway perhaps started the game the brighter, hitting the post on four separate occasions within the first twenty minutes but they were only able to successfully hit the target once during the remainder of the game through Barry Hardwell. As a result Woolavington now go top of the table for the first time this season, sitting two points clear of Railway and with the added cushion of having two games in hand on their closest rivals. As such, barring an unlikely late collapse, they look odds on to become league champions in the next few weeks.
Despite being a little way back in terms of points from the top two, Squib Madrid consolidated their position in third place with an emphatic 6-1 home win over Ashcott after a hat-trick from Vinny Kennedy, two goals from Dave Baker and one from Nathan Huxtable.
Soon-to-be-deposed reigning champions Tiger Old Boys currently sit in fourth place but they will still be hoping to finish in a higher position as they have four games in hand on Squib and kept up their pursuit of the top three with a solid 3-1 away win at Red Tile. The game had been evenly poised at 0-0 at the interval with Tile perhaps enjoying the better of the first half exchanges only to be denied on countless occasions by a superb goalkeeping display from the Tigers' Wayne Trapnell. However, after the break the Tigers soon took the lead when Mark Pope scored directly from a corner with the Tile keeper unsighted. Pope then added a second before veteran striker Paul Meare rose up like a salmon to head home the Tigers' third. There was still enough time for youngster Sam Chillingworth to score a late consolation for Tile but the Tigers look to be back to their resolute best and will already be plotting to regain their crown next season.
The Tiger Reserves side also look to be in fine form at the moment as they racked up another three points from a 4-0 home win over Bunch of Grapes but it took them over an hour to break the deadlock before Paul "Grimmy" Irvine bagged a hat-trick and Leigh Hurford sealed the victory.
In the remaining game in top flight goals from Brian Read and Kevin Watts gave much improved Huntspill Crowns a point from a 2-2 home draw with Blake Old Boys.
Meanwhile, in the Second Division, leaders Quantock Pride saw their scheduled home match with Admirals postponed. This presented an opportunity for their two main title rivals to close the gap which they did to varying degrees.
Second-placed Puriton United found it tough going trying to break down a very organised and committed Commercial side who defended brilliantly for long periods. However, with ten minutes to go 17-year-old Josh Harvey found the back of the Commercial net with a cracking volley to give United a narrow 1-0 win. The three points gained sees Puriton close the gap on Quantock Pride to only two points and they still have a game in hand on the leaders.
Third-placed Maltshovel Sports actually have two games in hand on Quantock Pride but appear to have lost some momentum in recent weeks and this was apparent again today as they were only able to register a single point from a 0-0 away draw at Woolavington Reserves, perhaps proving that goalless draws are like buses - you wait years for one in the Sunday league only to have two come along in successive weeks.
While the once unstoppable Maltshovel appear to be stuttering, former whipping-boys Cannington have undergone a dramatic transformation in recent weeks and notched up another impressive win over a high-flying side, beating fourth-placed Tor Sports 4-0 after two goals from Nathan Chillingworth, one from player-manager Ben Dyer and another from Gordy Addicott.
Bridgwater Wanderers' young side also put on one of their best showings of the season as they won 3-1 at home to Countryman after strikes from Jamie Evans, Dan Luce and Dean Dunn.
(Story First Published: 27.03.06) |
