DIVISION 1:
Yet again the Uxella League's top flight seemed to be mirroring life in the Premiership as champions Tiger Old Boys went to battle away to title rivals Pig & Whistle on the same day that Arsenal clashed with Chelsea. Both fixtures eventually proved to be evenly-contested scoring draws but the Bridgwater rivals managed to go a goal better than their London counterparts with a 3-3 scoreline. The pattern of the game was set when the Tigers took an early 1-0 advantage only to see Pig equalise soon afterwards through Tony Cook. The Tigers then went 2-1 up but Pig equalised again through Liam Derrick. The goalscoring exchange then went on for a third and final time as Pig's Ian Luke levelled the scores for keeps after the Tigers had pushed 3-2 ahead. The result means that the Tigers 100% record is no more but they remain undefeated and continue to lead the table by a point over Woolavington, who have played two games more.
Woolavington themselves stuttered and spluttered through their away trip to Clearwater but still managed to grind out a 3-2 victory thanks to two goals from Simon Caddy and one from John Wall.
The place for goals this Sunday was the game at Admirals Landing where visitors Durleigh romped home by the amazing scoreline of 18-3. It goes without saying that Durleigh put on an outstanding display on the day but the highlight of the game came from an Admirals player, Adam Knight, who scored a wonder-goal from the halfway line, lobbing Durleigh's keeper and joining his team-mates Lee Turner and Kev Andrews on the wrong side of a rather lop-sided scoresheet. The result leaves Admirals rooted in second-from-bottom position, eight points adrift of third-from-bottom Clearwater while free-scoring Durleigh rise two places to fifth.
In the other game in Division One Red Tile and Railway Club shared a point each in a 1-1 draw where James Hamilton scored Tile's only goal in one of their less memorable encounters this season.
DIVISION 2:
Leaders Tiger OB Reserves racked up another three points thanks to their 6-2 away win at Cross Rifles thanks to two goals each from Leighton Davies, Jamie Chillingworth and, surprisingly for those who know him, from experienced stopper, Jason King, whose second goal of the game was described as a textbook "up like a salmon" header.
Second placed Flag Old Boys, who are currently six points behind Tiger Reserves, but who have two games in hand, kept up the pressure on the leaders in emphatic fashion with an 11-1 home win over Huntspill Crowns. The Flag management had been somewhat concerned in recent weeks that their team had been creating numerous opportunities during games but their strike force were not converting the chances into goals. With their ears still ringing from a pre-match team-talk on this very issue, Flag's two front-men Lee White and Jamie Stewart responded superbly by scoring nine goals between them. White bagged five, Stewart hit four and Kevin Wheddon and Andy White completed the rout.
Eastover Wanderers notched their second victory of the campaign with an impressive 5-2 home win over North Petherton. Andrew Riley(2), Gary Morgan(2) and Tommy Chidgey, returning to the team after a six week absence, hit the decisive goals and their efforts were aided by a superb performance in goal from Pat "The Cat" Roberts.
Woolavington Reserves leapfrogged Cannington at the bottom of Division Two following the clash between the table's basement boys where Woolavington ran out 2-1 winners over Cannington with goals from Tom Presley and Matt Caddy. Cannington's cause was again not aided by being forced to field a team of only eight men and they did well to respond with a goal from Alex Bradley.
DIVISION 3:
With runaway Division Three leaders Artillery WHB enjoying a well-earned break, second placed Puriton United kept up their chase by securing another three points from what turned out to be a tougher than expected encounter at Bridgwater Grasshoppers. United seemed comfortable enough after taking a 2-0 lead, and when the Grasshoppers' Turkish striker Erkan was hospitalised with a suspected broken collarbone, closely followed off the pitch by his team-mate Matt Kinsey with a bad knee injury, it looked like Puriton were home and dry. However, credit must be given to a spirited ten-man Grasshoppers side who, despite being a man short for most of the second half, actually managed to take the game to Puriton, responding with a goal of their own from the returning Les Hobbs and carving out further opportunities before eventually going down 2-1.
Goals from Matt Vowles and Marc Stillwell on his comeback gave Glastonbury Backpackers what seemed like a comfortable 2-0 lead at home to Admirals Reserves but the Bridgwater side also showed tremendous spirit to get back in the game and eventually came away with a point after a 2-2 draw.
Pig & Whistle Reserves' young side came away from their trip to Middlezoy Athletic with all three points after a 3-2 victory thanks to goals from Jamie Evans(2) and Aaron Head. Special mention must also go to young man-in-black Simon Holiday who put on an excellent display of refereeing.
Glastonbury Town Sunday leapfrog Middlezoy in the table after securing a valuable point from a 0-0 draw with high-flying Sportsman. Glastonbury did particularly well considering that they played 75 minutes of the game with ten men after the dismissal of Sam Vincent and were especially indebted to their goalkeeper Scott Middleton for keeping them in the match with a string of impressive saves.
Countryman consolidated their fourth place in the table with a solid 2-0 home victory over Tor Sports thanks to strikes from Daniel Hynds and Chris Franks.
(Story First Published: 13.12.04) |
