After the customary flurry of pre-season friendlies involving foes both old and new, the 2006-07 Uxella Bridgwater & District Sunday League campaign officially kicked off in style on the evening of Wednesday 30th August with the now traditional Presidents Cup curtain-raiser at Bridgwater Town F.C.'s Fairfax Park, between reigning league champions Woolavington and Dave Hobbs Cup holders Clearwater, who have since been rebranded as Maxwells 37 Club.
The occasion had far more poignancy this time around following the passing away during the close season of the league's President and all-round local legend, Geoff Harvey. The match itself saw Woolavington cruise to another impressive victory by a 6-0 winning margin after a hat-trick from Matt Fursland and a goal a piece from Ian Bellinger, Matt Blackmore and Marcus Butler. All proceeds from the game went towards Mr Harvey's favourite local charity, the St. Johns Church Renovation Fund, and a special mention must be given to the Woolavington youth team with every single member of their squad making a contribution to the charity on the night.
Sunday morning then saw the league games commence in earnest with the usual suspects hitting the ground running and some surprising other results emerging.
Woolavington hit six for the second time in a few days, this time away to Bunch of Grapes in the First Division as they ran out 6-1 winners. Bunch actually took a shock lead through Lee Fury and worked tirelessly to try and cause an upset with young Chris Pimm outstanding in goal. However, the champions' class eventually shone through and three good goals from Marcus Butler and one each from Jason Jones, Matt Fursland and Simon Caddy duly sealed the first three of what will undoubtedly be a hefty points tally by the end of the season.
Tiger Old Boys will want to stay in touch with Woolavington for as long as possible as they bid the regain the crown for themselves and they did their cause no harm by also registering an opening day victory, winning 4-2 away at Ashcott. The Tigers build up play certainly looked as good as it ever did but they will be slightly concerned by their finishing on the day as their four-goal tally was not satisfactory when compared with the sheer number of chances they created. However, two goals from Nick Kierle and further strikes from Paul Irvine and Jamie Chillingworth eventually proved enough in the end despite two consolation goals from Ashcott's Chris Murphy.
While it will not come as a complete surprise to anyone who has faced them in the Second Division last season, newly-promoted Maltshovel Sports registered something of a shock result by beating longstanding first division heavyweights Railway Club 4-2. Jordan Meaker led the way with a deflected free-kick before Scott Clarke made it two with a 25-yard drive. Steve Davis and a second from Meaker sealed the win while John Richards and Barry Hardwell responded for Railway.
Anything Maltshovel can do Pawlett United can match as they showed last season by winning Division Two under their previous name of Puriton United and they also proved that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the top flight this season as they also overcame one of the top sides in Maxwells 37 Club (formerly Clearwater) by a 3-2 margin. Pawlett had actually looked to be on course for a more comfortable winning margin as they led 2-0 for a spell through cracking strikes from the returning Lee Mitchell and from the prolific Will Beggs. However, Maxwells struck back and eventually levelled the scores after goals from Colin Livingstone and Sam Mullins. But United were not to be denied and Ben Mitchell, brother of Lee, sealed the victory with more or less the last kick of the game.
The other "promoted" team, Grasshoppers '04, who take their place in the top flight as a result of a close season rule change which prevents teams from the same club from operating in the same division, also registered something of a shock result as they came away from a tough trip to Red Tile with a point after a 2-2 draw. Tile took the lead early on through the ever reliable James Hamilton but the Hoppers didn't let this setback affect them as they gradually worked their way into the game, and duly levelled just before the break through a powerful header from veteran skipper John Kervell. Tile then upped the tempo in the second half and got their reward when Adam Wall stabbed home from a scramble in the Hoppers' six-yard box. However, again the young '04 side refused to lie down and equalised once again through outstanding new 16-year-old striker Jason Hitchcock, who flicked the ball past the outside of the Tile keeper and slid the ball home from a narrow angle to send the Hoppers home with their first point in the top division.
In the final game in the First Division, Flag Old Boys showed the kind of resilience that saw them finish in fourth place last time around as they took all three points from a tough encounter with Squib Madrid. Squib started the game much the brighter and dominated the first twenty minutes or so before Lee White struck for Flag to put them ahead against the run of play. The goal seemed to settle Flag and they then saw far greater possession during the middle part of proceedings before Squib again piled on the pressure. However, Flag's rearguard stood firm in the onslaught and a priceless 1-0 victory was duly secured.
In the Second Division many people's title favourites Quantock Pride were surprisingly held to a 2-2 draw at Commercial with Rob Wooley and Alexi Paul registering for Commercial and with last year's Uxella League top scorer James Bawden bagging two by way of reply for Pride, one of which was a 25-yard thunderbolt into the top corner.
Admirals notched up the biggest winning margin in the second flight on the day with a 5-0 away win at Morganians over Grasshoppers '05 after a hat-trick from Kev Andrews and further strikes from Ben Mortimer and Andrew Cheese.
Huntspill Crowns also bagged five as they responded to their demotion to the Second Division with a statement of intent, putting the league's newest, and indeed youngest, team, Bower United (formerly Wembdon St. George youth team) to the sword with a 5-1 away victory after two goals from Richard Cattell and one each from Ian Howgate, Jeff Read and an own goal.
Bridgwater Wanderers also scored five goals away from home as they beat Wookey Sports 5-2 after strikes from Aaron Head, Dean Dunn, Jamie Evans, Kev Warre and Sam Puddy. Conan Carter and Nathan Truckle responded for Wookey for whom new goalkeeper Craig Rothwell was man-of-the-match.
Blake Old Boys commenced their second division adventure with a solid 3-1 home win over Countryman after goals from Yates, Milton and Neal.
Woolavington Reserves also bagged three opening day points from a 4-1 home victory over Cannington after goals from Kev Dibble, Matt Weston, Mark Pope and Gary Butler.
(Story First Published: 06.09.06) |
