SOMERSET SUNDAY CHALLENGE CUP, 3rd ROUND:
In their Somerset Sunday Challenge Cup third round tie against GT Sports, two first half goals for Uxella League champions Tiger Old Boys, one from Mike Nicholson and the other a looping 35-yard strike from Paul Hooper to celebrate the birth of his baby daughter Lillian, eventually proved enough to ensure the Tiger's passage through to the next round of the competition. GT Sports did manage to have the better of the second half and even got a goal back but the Tigers held firm for a 2-1 win.
Woolavington were also on cup duty and will also be in the hat for the next round after a 3-1 victory over a physical Bathpool side. Simon Caddy, Matt Fursland and Marcus Butler bagged the winning goals for the Wools.
DIVISION 1:
In the Uxella League's top flight Red Tile secured three valuable points after a comfortable 5-0 home win over a good-spirited Cobblestones side, thanks to goals from Adam Wall(2), Nathan Legg, James Hamilton and Nathan Ford on his debut.
A cracking encounter between Clearwater and Railway Club saw home side Clearwater eventually seal the three points following strikes from Mike Stone(2), Steve Spencer(2) and a rare headed goal from Danny Palfrey.
DIVISION 2:
In the top-of-the-table clash in Division Two Tiger OB Reserves eventually emerged with an emphatic 4-0 victory after a Phil Coombes strike and a hat-trick from Kered Pople. In a match that was quite even at times the real difference between the sides was in how they made use of their set pieces. The first two Tigers goals resulted from free-kicks while Flag were awarded two penalties, both of which were saved, and a re-take as well, by the Tigers' outstanding 'keeper Nigel Venning.
A distinctly below-par Eastover Wanderers side were put to the sword at home to a classy Ashcott outfit who eventually ran out as 9-1 winners. Wanderers' consolation goal came from Dean Fury, his first for the club.
A hat-trick for Paul Baker and two goals from Richard Cattell gave Huntspill Crowns a 5-2 away win at Woolavington Reserves with Tom Presley and Paul Entwhistle getting on the scoresheet for the home side.
DIVISION 3:
In the Chedzoy Lane clash between ground-sharers Bridgwater Grasshoppers and Artillery West Huntspill Boys it was the "visitors" Artillery who felt most at home as they continued their 100% winning record this season with a 5-0 victory. Two goals from John Winter, and one-a-piece from man-of-the-match Mark Raymond, Liam May and super-sub Dean Holman, who scored a cracking goal with his first touch of the ball, was the difference between the two sides. The Grasshoppers went into what is arguably their toughest game of the season missing half a dozen key players through injury but still managed to put up a spirited resistance for a large part of the game and stand-in goalkeeper Nick Northey distinguished himself with an excellent penalty save as well as a number of other crucial stops.
In the Glastonbury derby between Backpackers and Glastonbury Town Sundays it was the visitors Glastonbury Town who came away with bragging rights following an impressive 8-1 away victory. A hat-trick each for James Shaw and George Sellick and further goals from Tom Wood and Sam Vincent secured the three points for the visitors while Stuart Chant successfully converted a spot kick to give Backpackers their solitary consolation goal.
Tor Sports did well to hang on for a point from their 3-3 away draw at Pig & Whistle Reserves. The Pig side created a host of chances during the game but only managed to convert three thanks to Pete Standerwick, Sam Puddy and Aaron Head.
Despite having their goalkeeper sent off after only five minutes of their top-of-the-table clash at Puriton United, Sportsman still managed to come away from the game as impressive 5-2 victors and even survived a further dismissal late in the game. The Puriton goals were scored by the father and son team of Darryl and Dean Taylor but United didn't do themselves justice on the day and manager Richie Jennings later described their performance as the worst by United under his management.
Please note that the Division 3 League Table has now been revised to take account of the demise of Admirals Landing Reserves. All games that featured Admirals Reserves have been removed from the table and each team's statistics have been amended accordingly.
In a separate amendment, Middlezoy Athletic have been deducted three points for their failure to fulfil their fixture against Sportsman on 2nd January 2005.
(Story First Published: 16.01.05) |
