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Five Uxella League teams went into battle in the second round of the prestigious Somerset Sunday Challenge Cup but by lunchtime only one remained.
Pawlett United are Bridgwater's last hope in the competition after they won 5-2 at home to Bath side Talbot Wanderers thanks to a four-goal salvo from in-form striker Lee Mitchell and an exquisite 25-yard chip from Lee Harvey.
For the other Bridgwater sides it was a case of "let's concentrate on the league" with Squib Madrid in particular struggling to raise a team for their away tie at Bath's Moonshine Gladbach. In the end they managed to field nine men and worked their socks off against a rampant home side before eventually going down 13-0.
Flag Old Boys and Grasshoppers '04 both had the misfortune to find themselves away to the top two sides from the Taunton Sunday League and the end result proved the same in both games.
Flag visited reigning Taunton Sunday champions Perfecto Allstars and were on the end of a 6-0 thumping. While Flag travelled with a bare bones squad of twelve their opponents fielded a very strong side and five man bench peppered with former Taunton and Bridgwater Town players. Flag did well to keep the score down to only 2-0 at the interval but the extra effort they were having to put in eventually told as the game wore on and they were unable to hold back the tide at the end.
Grasshoppers '04 faced a similar proposition in the form of AFC Legends, the other big name from the Taunton Sunday League, who also fielded a number of Western League players and who proceeded to give the young Hoppers side a real footballing lesson. Again, despite a valiant rearguard effort from the Bridgwater side the end result was 6-0 to Legends.
Cross Rifles briefly gave hope of a second Bridgwater team in the hat for the third round when they took an early lead at home to Yeovil-based Great Western. Man-of-the-match Adam Kinsey played in team mate Craig McGann for a fine strike but once again the opposition proved too strong for the Uxella League team and the Rifles eventually went down 1-4.
There was a single game played in the top division of the Uxella League itself with Railway Club narrowly winning 1-0 "away" to fellow Cranleigh Gardens-based Bunch of Grapes after a Nigel Gillard goal.
Meanwhile it was business as usual in the Second Division and the game of the day saw leaders Huntspill Crowns travel to unbeaten fellow title contenders Quantock Pride and with the Crowns claiming all three points with a 4-3 away win after strikes from Paul Burrow, Ian Howgate, John Kear and Jeff Read.
Second-placed Admirals were also victorious on the road, winning 5-3 at Countryman after braces from Andrew Cheese and Daniel Roberts and a further goal from Martin Cheese.
Woolavington Reserves move up to third in the table on the back of their 3-1 away win at Pawlett Reserves after goals from Gary Butler, Rob Matthews and from player-manager Nigel Frith.
The youngsters of Bower United climb to fourth after coming home from Wookey Sports with a point from a 3-3 draw. Wookey had looked to be on course for their first league win of the campaign holding a 3-2 lead with a minute to go but a controversial spot kick decision changed the course of the game with Steve Hall firing home a last gasp equaliser for Bower from the penalty spot. Scott Capel and Jarrid McKay scored Bower's other goals while David Sarjent (2) and Paul Pentney were on target for Wookey.
The game between Bridgwater Wanderers and Cannington was also a closely fought affair with the points being shared after a 4-4 draw. Kev Warre bagged two for Wanderers and was joined on the scoresheet by team-mates John "Dowie" Richardson and Sam Puddy.
In the remaining game in Division 2 Blake Old Boys won 3-0 away to Grasshoppers '05.
(Story First Published: 15.10.06) |
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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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