The most eye-catching fixture of the day was in the Second Division of the Uxella League where the two trail-blazing pacesetters Cannington and Blake Old Boys went head-to-head at the Cannington playing fields. Blake started the game the better and put themselves in a seemingly strong position with a 3-1 lead after goals from Mike Hart, Kev Warre and Les Pope. However, Cannington came back in the second period through Josh Harvey and a Mark Modley penalty before Sean Roberts popped up in the very last minute of the game to level the scores and make it very much a case of a point gained for the home side. The result leaves Cannington in top spot with Blake remaining a place behind only on goal difference.
The situation is just as tight amongst the chasing pack just behind the top two with the next three sides in the table all registering further victories to stay just a point off the top.
Admirals lie third as they continue to bang in the goals with gusto. On this occasion they ran out 7-1 away winners over L & G to make it 38 goals scored in their last five outings. The return of Stu Croker from a long injury lay-off has been a major part of this great run and he scored another hat-trick in this victory. Kev Andrews, Mike White, John Doyle and an own goal completed the rout. Ben Evans scored for L & G.
Bower United's young side lie just behind Admirals in fourth on goal difference as they extended their 100% start to the campaign with a 4-1 away win at Huntspill Crowns after two goals from James Leatherby, one from Brendan Pope and an own goal. Jeff Read replied for Hunstpill.
Bower have a game in hand on the top three as do fifth-placed Bridgwater Wanderers who also maintained their 100% winning record with five wins out of five, but only after being given a stern test by a battling Grasshoppers '05 side. The game was a very even constest that looked to be heading for a draw as the two sides remained level at 3-3 but the Wanderers won it with more or less the last kick of the game to record a 4-3 home victory. Tony Cook, Sean Childs(2) and Dave Baker were on target for the home side while the Hoppers reserves responded through Craig Durant, Ally Witts and via a poachers effort from 54-year-old Scottish local legend, Bob Kippen.
Woolavington Reserves go sixth after a comfortable 3-0 away win at Ramblers after strikes from Adam Kinsey, Mark Pope and Matt Brewer.
In a closely contested local derby between Abbey Moor and Coxley Rovers it was away side Coxley who stole all three points thanks to a Tom Hawkins goal.
In the remaining game in Division Two Pawlett Reserves recorded their first points of the season with a fine 6-2 away win at Sportsman thanks to goals from Kyle Winter, Martin Milton, Steve Palmer, an AJ Mountain penalty and two from Josh Speed. Jack Taylor and Nathan Pascoe scored Sportsman's consolation efforts and they would have added a third had it not been for a fine penalty save from Pawlett Reserves's keeper Andrew Prestwich.
Meanwhile in the top division league leaders Tiger Old Boys notched up yet another victory as they came away from Pawlett United with a 7-3 win after a stunning hat-trick from Ian Bellinger and two goals-a-piece from Lee Huntley and Jamie Chillingworth.
Quantock Pride remain in second place after a 3-1 home victory over Ashcott. Pride went 1-0 down early on but James Bawden was on target again with two more goals before subsitute Steve Lock sealed the win by scoring with his first touch after coming off the bench.
Red Tile remain in third place despite going down 3-1 at home to Railway Club. Tile have been consistently inconsistent so far this season punctuating fantasy football displays like their previous wins over Quantock Pride and Woolavington with performances like this where they simply didn't perform. That should not take anything away from Railway who were well worth the three points on the day with an excellent all-round display that saw Lee Hemsley, Barry Hardwell and Chris Lynham score the winning goals. Andy Smith responded for Tile.
After two successive defeats reigning champions Woolavington got back to both an eleven man line-up and to winning ways with a narrow 3-2 home win over Flag Old Boys after goals from Matt Blackmore, Jason Jones and Jake Chidgey. Flag led 2-1 at the interval after another converted penalty from veteran Martyn Allen and an own goal but the home side came back well in the second half to turn the result in their favour.
Cross Rifles remain the only unbeaten side in the top division after they drew 4-4 at home to Maxwells. That they managed to get a point from this encounter was a major achievement considering they were 3-0 down at half-time after Mike Stone(2) and Danny Palfrey had put the visitors in control of the game. However, the Rifles mounted an excellent second half comeback and despite Mike Stone completing his hat-trick for Maxwells to put the visitors back in the lead at 4-3 the Rifles equalised again from the penalty spot with a minute remaining.
Maltshovel Sports climb to sixth after a solid 3-0 away win over Commercial after goals from Ryan Dray, Aaron Walford and Jordan Meaker.
(Story First Published: 14.10.07) |
