The shock result of the weekend came in the Second Division of the Uxella League where an injury hit Bridgwater Wanderers side went to battle with only ten men against leaders Quantock Pride and yet emerged as 4-3 winners after a fine performance full of grit and determination coupled with an outstanding display from goalkeeper Kurt Brown. With Quantock enjoying plenty of possession Wanderers surprised themselves by leading 2-0 at the break after first half goals from Sam Puddy and Shane Thompson and the scoreline remained that way until a late Pride rally saw them level the score at 2-2 on eighty minutes thanks to a bullet header from James Taylor and a Lee Goss strike. However, undeterred, the young Wanderers proceeded to immediately restore their two goal advantage through Kev Warre and Dean Dunn. Despite a second late response from Goss the home side held out for a much-deserved 4-3 victory that really puts the cat amongst the pigeons in the Division Two title race. Not only did Quantock Pride fall to a rare defeat but they also suffered the removal of three further points from their tally following a league ruling that their recent 7-0 win over Grasshoppers '05 will need to be replayed because the official referee called the game off before kick-off due to the condition of the pitch but the match went ahead regardless with a Pride representative officiating.
Staying in the second division, with Quantock Pride being pegged back new leaders Commercial took full advantage as they ran out 6-2 victors at home to Huntspill Crowns thanks to goals from Nathan Huxtable, Alexi Paul, Robert Trice, Darren Hill, Darren Hewitt and Mark O'Brien. The victory coupled with the league ruling means that Commercial now go four points clear of Pride at the top of the table.
Thanks to a separate league ruling where Blake Old Boys were awarded three points following a recent game against Countryman, Blake now leapfrog Quantock Pride into second place after earning three further points as they cruised to a 5-1 win at Woolavington Reserves with Paul Atyeo scoring the home side's consolation effort.
Cannington move up into fourth spot after coming from 1-0 down at half time to win 7-1 against Countryman. Darryl Taylor and Ash Webber both bagged hat-tricks and Nathan Chillingworth completed the rout.
Kev Andrews was in fine form as he scored all five of Admirals' goals as they ran out 5-0 home winners over bottom side Grasshoppers '05.
In the remaining game in the second division Wookey Sports had a bad day at the office as they started with only ten men and then lost another to a broken ankle before going down 5-1 to Pawlett Reserves.
Meanwhile in the first division the top of the table remains unchanged as leaders Woolavington ran out 5-1 away winners at Maxwells for whom Lee Pearce scored the consolation and came close with two other efforts.
Second placed Railway Club were also victorious but left it very late against an impressive Ashcott side who matched them every step of the way only to go down 1-0 to a Carl Tucker sucker punch as he struck the winner for Railway in the 90th minute.
Fourth placed Red Tile were left frustrated after enjoying more than their share of possession in their game against Flag Old Boys but only converted one chance through Damon Jennings while Flag proved the more clinical and duly ran out 2-1 winners after a brace from Jamie Stewart.
In yet another instalment of youth versus experience it eventually proved to be honours even between the teenage promise of Grasshoppers '04 and the 'been there, won that' veterans of Tiger Old Boys as the two sides fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw. Credit must go to the wily old Tigers who started the game with only ten men but never let the young Hoppers run rings around them, using all their know-how and employing the offside trap to great effect on a number of occasions. Despite that the Grasshoppers had looked at one point to be on course for a famous win after goals from the dynamic 16-year-old duo of Jack Taylor and Jason Hitchcock had put them in the box seat but a powerful late fightback saw the Tigers defy the odds as they finished the game the stronger side. First they levelled the scores at 2-2 and even when the Hoppers' Simon Turberfield restored their lead with a superb 50-yard lob with only three minutes remaining the veteran visitors were not to be denied as Jamie Chillingworth went on a mazy run through '04's midfield before unleashing a low drive into the bottom corner to equalise once again with only seconds to go.
In the remaining game in the top flight Cross Rifles got back to winning ways as they emerged as 6-2 victors over Bunch of Grapes. Man of the match Adam Kinsey led the way for the Rifles with two goals while 16-year-old James Bell with his first of the campaign, Paul Cornish, Jason Stephenson and an own goal sealed the win. Ben Whittet and Dean Fury, with a Paul Scholes special responded for Bunch.
(Story First Published: 07.02.07) |
