It was the final matchday for the Second Division of the Uxella League and all three rivals for the title, Puriton United, Maltshovel Sports and Quantock Pride, were all in action and indeed were all victorious but it was the winning margins that ultimately decided matters in favour of Puriton United who are the 2005-06 Second Division champions.
United had led the table going into the final day but only by a two-goal superior goal difference over second-placed Maltshovel so it was always going to be important that they not only won their final fixture but did so handsomely in order to seal the title and this they did to the letter as they put Cannington to the sword with an 11-0 trouncing. While many sides tend to rely on one main goalscorer Puriton are fortunate to boast two in the form of veteran Darryl Taylor and the younger Will Beggs and they didn't disappoint when it mattered with Taylor bagging five and Beggs four from this romp. Lee Harvey and Dean Taylor, with an absolute cracker, sealed the win and the second flight crown in the process.
The title went Puriton's way because despite being victorious themselves, Maltshovel's winning margin over Grasshoppers '05 was only 4-0 after an Andrew Skidmore hat-trick and a penalty from Scott Clarke. Clarke managed to get himself sent-off immediately after slotting home his spot kick and team-mate Paul Organ also received his marching orders, as did '05's keeper "Beaver" May from a considerably physical encounter.
Despite falling behind early on to a headed goal from Grasshoppers '04's Steve Moule, Quantock Pride eventually won 2-1 away with the league's top marksman James Bawden scoring the winner midway through the second half to take his tally for the season to 45 goals. However, Pride will have to settle for a third place finish after completing their campaign a point short of the top two and will rue their three point deduction earlier in the season for fielding an ineligible player.
Meanwhile there are still a number of games to be played in the First Division but the story remains the same with Woolavington closing in on the championship by winning yet again as they put six past Red Tile without reply. Jason Jones, Marcus Butler, Matt Blackmore, John Penwell, Ian Bellinger and a Tile own goal gave the league leaders their twentieth victory from twenty one games.
Flag Old Boys also registered a comfortable home victory as they ran out 5-0 winners over Clearwater after strikes from Lee White, Mike Taylor, Andy White, Jamie Stewart and Lee Turner.
Tiger Old Boys won another of their games in hand as they look to close the gap on second-placed Railway Club, eventually sealing a 3-1 away victory over Blake Old Boys after goals from Mike Nicholson, Mark Pope and Paul Meare.
Meanwhile, Tiger Reserves emerged from their barnstormer of a game with Ashcott with all three points as they finished up 6-5 away winners despite trailing 5-4 with only four minutes remaining. Paul Irvine popped up to seal the three points for the Tigers after a hat-trick from Andy Ball and further goals from James Lacey and Christopher Bell had seemingly put Ashcott on course for a shock win.
There was one shock result on the day and it came about at Bunch of Grapes who displayed superb battling qualities in their efforts to avoid relegation, running out 5-3 winners over Squib Madrid following strikes from Lee Fury, Andrew Riley and Tommy Chidgey.
(Story First Published: 23.04.06) |
