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The first silverware of the 2005-06 Uxella League campaign goes to Clearwater after they upset the odds to claim the Dave Hobbs Cup with a 3-1 win after extra time over favourites Tiger Old Boys.
The Tigers actually took the lead earlier in the game when they successfully converted a penalty but a quickly taken free kick from Sam Mullins saw Steve Spencer race through to equalise for Clearwater. The scores remained level at one a piece after ninety minutes play and so the game went to extra time during which Clearwater were forced to replace Steve Spencer as he went to hospital with a broken wrist. His replacement was 50-year-old Derek Mullins who announced himself to the game by lobbing the Tigers keeper to put Clearwater 2-1 ahead. However, the Tigers were then awarded a second penalty when Clearwater centre-back Craig Matthews was red-carded for handling on the goal line but the resulting spot kick cannoned off the crossbar and away denying the Tigers the opportunity to level the scores again. Carl Gyner then made the game safe for Clearwater when he scored at the other end to make the final score 3-1 and to put Clearwater's name on the cup.
Meanwhile, in the First Division of the Uxella League, leaders and champions-in-waiting Woolavington signalled their intention to keep their tempo high until the very end after they thumped Blake Old Boys 12-0 away from home. Marcus Butler and Ian Bellinger both registered hat-tricks while Jake Chidgey and Matt Blackmore both bagged two each. Matt Fursland and James Prowse completed the rout.
Cross Rifles warmed up for their upcoming Tom Bell Trophy semi-final with an impressive 6-2 home win over Ashcott after a hat-trick from Carl Jones, two from Adam Kinsey and one from Paul Cornish, his first league goal of the season. The victory also eases their fears of relegation as they are now four points clear of third-from-bottom Huntspill Crowns.
The Rifles' opponents in their semi-final clash will be First Division rivals Red Tile and they were also victorious in the league today after coming away from Flag Old Boys with a hard-fought 2-1 victory. The game was very evenly contested with no score at the interval. Tile's player-manager Andy Staunton then scored two goals in quick succession to give the visitors a valuable cushion but Jamie Stewart responded for Flag to set up a tense final quarter. Tile held firm however and will gain a lot of confidence from an away victory over a side as organised and committed as Flag.
While their illustrious first team were contesting their cup final Tiger Reserves got on with league business and added another victory to their recent impressive sequence of results after beating Huntspill Crowns 3-0 at home.
In the Second Division the title race is set for a nailbiting conclusion on the final day after Maltshovel Sports played their game in hand on Puriton United and not only went level on points with United after a home victory over Cannington but also won by a 10-0 scoreline to further erode Puriton's previously handsome goal difference superiority down to a mere two goals. Paul Organ and Jordan Meaker both bagged hat-tricks and were joined on the scoresheet by Andrew Skidmore, Dean Organ, Andrew Barnett and Paul Davis.
Woolavington Reserves were also victorious at home as they put five goals past Grasshoppers '05 without reply. Their scorers were Tom Presley(2), Anton Bolton, Matt Brewer and Richard O'Carroll.
Goals from Danny Roberts, Kev Andrews and Stuart Croker gave Admirals a 3-2 home win over Tor Sports which means that Admirals now leapfrog Tor into fourth place in the table.
(Story First Published: 16.04.06) |
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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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