Petherton open up gap at top of the Premier division

SOUTH Petherton have opened up a six points lead at the top of the Perry Street Premier division after humbling main challengers Merriott Rovers 3-0 on Saturday.

Petherton have played one more game (six) than the following pack but the victory would have sent out a clear message to the other title contenders, especially champions Lyme Regis.

The third and fourth placed sides, Beaminster and Lyme, were both on Coronation Cup duty on Saturday and will be keen to narrow the gap this coming weeekend.

Beaminster entertain Barrington, sixth in the table with five points from four games. Lyme were due to travel to Ilminster Reserves who sit in fifth place, but this game has been postponed.

Coronation Cup

HOLDERS Lyme Regis kept their hopes of retaining the trophy alive with a 2-1 victory in a scrappy game at Combe St Nicholas and a place in the semi-final.

Lyme took the lead after 20 minutes through Jason Hawker, one of three players drafted into the side by manager Robin Townsend after the Seasiders’ poor performance against Beaminster the week before.

The former Bridport player headed home from close range from an Adam Caddy flick-on after the home team failed to deal with a corner.

Combe got back on equal terms five minutes before the break when they scored from a quick breakaway through Garry Warren. It came from an excellent move from inside their own half which was finished well.

It took Lyme until five minutes before the final whistle to book their semi-final place. Skipper Adam Caddy put the ball away when a Joel Gostling shot was parried by the keeper.

Combe had a glorious chance to make it 2-2 in a one-on-one with the Lyme keeper, Ashley Caddy, but Warren’s touch let him down.

Hutchings admitted it wasn’t a great football spectacle – “not like the old Combe-Lyme games” – but thought that over 90 minutes the home team just shaded it.

He was full of praise for lone front-runner Stuart Bicknell, describing his workrate and performance as “tremendous” and considered it to be a good all round showing.

Ilminster Reserves also got through to the semi-final with a 4-2 extra-time victory over high-riding Beaminster.

Following their excellent 1-0 victory over Premier champions Lyme Regis last week, this was a disappointing result for Beaminster.

The score was 2-2 after full time with Beaminster’s goals coming from Sam Crocker after 20 minutes and Ben Warren (87 minutes).

On target for Ilminster in normal time were Mike Whitfield and Ian Masters with Masters and Paul Stoodley grabbing the extra-time winners.

Beaminster manager Shaun Annettes did not help their cause by using all the substitute which meant that his team played half of the second half and all of extra-time with only ten men as Murray Legg had to go off with a hamstring injury.

Division One Cup

TOP Perry Street performance of the day came from Crewkerne who sauntered into the semifinal of the Division One Cup with a 11-2 victory over Norton Athletic.

Paul Gold hit a hat-trick with Gavin Charles, Barry Hayne and Kev Wheller getting two apiece. Jamie Spurdle and Lee Banks also weighed in with strikes for the Tigers.

Sam Hall and Ashley Rose replied for Norton who admitted they were “played off by the park by some superb football”.

Premier Division

FROM 2005 to 2008, South Petherton reigned supreme in the Premier division, winning the title three years on the trot.

Before that run of success, Petherton’s only othet success in the top flight came in the early 1960s when they won it on two successive seasons.

Last season Petherton were beaten into second place by Lyme Regis but if their performance last Saturday is anything to go by they are determined to win back the league’s top honour. Petherton banged in three goals in emphatic style without reply against their nearest contenders, Merriott Rovers.

Goals from man of the match Tim John, Dean Smith and Danny Rendell secured the points.

Petherton are without a league game this coming Saturday so Merriott will be hoping to make up ground with a home clash with Farway United.

Division One

WINSHAM United continued their unbeaten form in Division One with a 3-2 win at Thorncombe and will surely make that five on the trot when they meet bottom side Charmouth this Saturday. Winsham were coasting to victory with a two-goal lead at half-time, courtesy of goals from Tom Stead and John Simmons.

Stuart Packer pulled one back for Thormcombe after the break Jon-Paul Doyle restored United’s dominance soon with substitute Richard Gorse getting Thorncombe’s second.

Ilminster Colts, second from bottom, found themselves on the wrong end of a 6-1 thrashing by high riding Millwey Rise, George Miles getting the consolation goal, and Forton Rangers picked up a point at home to Lyme Regis Reserves, thanks to an own goal.

Division Two

TOP South Somerset side in Division Two Crewkerne Rangers also conceded six goals to top side Beaminster Reserves, their lone reply coming from Andy Loveless.

Division Three

MISTERTON maintained the dominant form at the top of Division Three, banging in nine goals without reply at home to Farway United Reserves. Ricky Smith top scored with a hat-trick.

Luso-Chard also hit nine away to Drimpton without reply, a hat-trick coiming from Marco Quedos to bring his tally for the season to 14.

Division Four

LEADERS West & Middle Chinnock handed out a 11-1 thrashing ar home to Shepton Reserves with Danny Rudge banghing in four goals.

In second place on the same number of points but lagging on goal difference are Combe St Nicholas B who recorded a 4-2 win at home to Barrington Reserves with Jay Stewart getting a brace.

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