With the postponement of the Fairfax Park game between Cross Rifles and champions Woolavington the focus in the Uxella League turned to second-placed Railway Club to see if they could take advantage as they travelled to fifth-placed Red Tile. It transpired that the footballing gods were firmly with Railway on this occasion as they faced Tile on a day when they were significantly off colour and the visitors were able to cruise to a comfortable 5-1 away win. Indeed, the game looked to be over as a contest by half-time after a first half hat-trick from Railway's John Richards. Then, after the break, Lee Hemsley and Barry Hardwell further increased their lead. Tile's player-manager Andy Staunton responded with Red Tile's consolation effort.
However, the securing of three more points was not the end of Railway Club's good news this weekend. They also saw two other main contenders at the top of the table fall off the pace with surprise defeats.
Third-placed Pawlett United went down 2-0 at their bogey side Maltshovel Sports. The game was a close affair until an hour in when a Steve Davis penalty broke the deadlock and gave Maltshovel a priceless 1-0 advantage. Fifteen minutes later it got even better for the home side as Mike Skidmore doubled their lead and duly secured the victory.
There was an even bigger shock in a high-scoring battle of the old boys, as Flag Old Boys won 7-5 at home to Tiger Old Boys. The Tigers were forced to start the game with only nine men after losing key personnel to injuries, suspensions and work commitments but that should not detract from an excellent Flag performance with the home side racing into a well-deserved 5-1 lead. As the game wore on the Tigers were able to summon reinforcements and when they were back to eleven men the balance of the game began to change and at one stage they managed to claw the score back to 5-4 before Flag produced another surge to make the game safe. Andy White and Jamie Stewart both scored twice for Flag with Kyle Winter, Mike Taylor and Andrew Johnson also getting on the scoresheet. The Tigers responded with strikes from Leigh Hurford, Jamie Chillingworth, Paul Hooper, Paul Meare and Nick Keirle.
In the two remaining games in the First Division there were priceless wins for two sides who have struggled to pick up points so far this season. Start-of-day bottom side Grasshoppers '04 again kept faith with their youth policy as they fielded no less than ten teenagers in their home encounter with Ashcott but their trust was duly repaid with a 4-2 victory after goals from Jack Taylor, Jason Hitchcock, Matt Burgess and Gary Passmore.
Meanwhile, Maxwells managed to come back from a very early set-back after going a goal behind to Bunch of Grapes after only six seconds and also found themselves 3-1 down early in the second half but eventually turned things around to win 4-3. Mark Troman scored a hat-trick for Maxwells which included two penalties. Lee Pearce added the other.
In the Second Division Quantock Pride remain top after a solid 3-0 away victory at Wookey Sports after goals from Nathan Barnard, James Bawden and Lee Goss.
Commercial remain hot on Quantock Pride's heels after they comfortably won their top-four clash with second-placed Admirals 5-0 after goals from Rob Wooley (2), Gordy Addicott, Olly Pearce and Ben Norman. Commercial return to second place themselves after this win, two points behind Quantock Pride, but they do have a game in hand on the leaders.
It was a case of back to winning ways for Cannington and yet another defeat for Huntspill Crowns as fifth played sixth. Cannington eventually won this close encounter 2-1 after a Nathan Chillingworth strike and a Ben Dyer penalty while Paul Burrow responded for Huntspill. Cannington climb to third as a result of this victory.
Bower United, another largely teenage side, were also victorious as they won 4-0 at home to Grasshoppers 05 after goals from Steve Hall, Brendan Pope, Craig Lazenby and Lance Turner.
In the remaining game in Division Two, Bridgwater Wanderers ran out 2-1 home winners over Pawlett Reserves thanks to a double strike from Kev Warre. Simon Coombes responded for Pawlett with a superb effort.
(Story First Published: 18.12.06) |
