Tigers set to hunt down wounded strugglers

CREWKERNE Town’s free-scoring front line will be sharpening their shooting boots ahead of tomorrow's trip to Charmouth’s Barrs Lane.

Although the two teams fell through the Premier division trap door together last May, their futures currently look poles apart.

The Tigers, with Nick Murphy having taken over from long-serving manager Budgie Cook, look well placed to make an immediate bounce back to the top flight.

Murphy rejuivenated his squad over the summer adding Paul Gold (Misteron), Kris Hastings (Shepton Beauchamp) and the ex-Merriott quartet of Gavin Charles, Ashley Larcombe, Barry Hayne and goalkeeper Dale Wood.

Hastings has since returned to Shepton but the other new faces have already made an impact with Gold, Hayne and Charles among the diviison one top-scorers and the future looks bright at Henhayes once again.

Opponents Charmouth are, on the other hand, in terminal free-fall having failed to record a win in more than a year (and shipping more than a 100 goals in the process!) since, ironically beating Crewkerne 4-2 in the quarter-final of last season’s Coronation Cup.

PREMIER: With rivals Beaminster inactive and Lyme Regis facing the awkward trip to Farway United both South Petherton and Marriott Rovers could gain ground at the top.

Petherton, after a week’s lay-off, entertain Misterton who have failed to get the better of Pethy in six clashes since they returned to the Premier - a home win appears to be on the cards.

It could be tighter at Merriott where visitors Barrington seem set for a change of fortunes after some close run defeats - a first clean sheet of the season will help.

Meanwhile West & Middle Chinnock, after being denied their first ever Premier win by a last-minute Wayne Behan goal last Saturday in a 1-1 draw with bottom-of-the-table Combe Reserves, will do well to take something from their trip to Ilminster Reserves. The Chinnocks squad has been rocked by the news that winger Damon Hallett faces a lengthy lay-off with a knee injury.

Combe visit Perry Street with both teams hunting a first three point haul of campaign.

DIVISION ONE: League leaders Winsham United’s 100 per cent record could come under threat from the visit of neighbours Forton Rangers to Baker’s Field. The teams met three times last season and, despite the Winsh winning all three, there was precious little between the sides.

Ilminster Town Colts, boosted by a sprinkling of eligible reserve teamers and benefitting from an 89th minute missed penalty, scraped three points by beating Lyme Regis Reserves 3-2 last weekend. The Blues will need to be at their best to contain the goal-laden Netherbury front line which banged in four for the third week in a row in beating Forton 4-3.

Andrew Sochon and the Thorncombe back line will also need to be on their toes tomorrow when they trot out on the infamous Millwey Rise slope.

The Devonians, despite going down 5-1 to arch-rivals Axmisnter Town in an Axminster Hospital cup tie on Sunday, hammered Perry Street Reserves 6-2 in the quarter-final 24 hours previously and are now without a league defeat in 18-months.

Thorncombe went down 2-0 at home to Norton Athletic last weekend - a result which marked the end of Gary Parsley’s 10-years in charge at Horseshoe Lane.

The Norts, who will have been grateful for a clean sheet having shipped 21 in their previous three outings, welcome unpredictable Lyme Regis Reserves.

DIVISION TWO: WITH promotion rivals Beaminster Reserves and Uplyme going head to head Crewkerne Rangers could capitalise with a win at Hinton.

The Rangers showed great character last weekend as they battled back from 2-0 down beat Uplyme 4-2 at Venlake.

Despite propping up the table Chard Rangers are looking much more competetive. A commendable draw at Shepton was followed by a narrow 2-1 reverse on Saturday despite leading at Dowlish & Donyatt.

Shepton had few problems in winning 5-0 at Pymore, last season’s top scorer Sam Murley scored twice.

DIVISION THREE: Crewkerne Reserves’ 11-0 mauling of Drimpton matched their first team’s 11-2 win at Norton the previous week and racked up the biggest win for the club since it was reorganised five years ago.

The match was a personal triumph for Aaron Hodges whose four goals took his tally to nine in three. The Tigers second string, like their first team colleagues, could be amongst the goals tomorrow with the visit of struggling Farway.

Drimpton, having conceded 20 goals in a week will hope for better when they entertain Combe A who added to Farway’s woes with a Warren Gabbidon-inspired 5-1 win at Eastlee Park.

The league’s top scorers Luso-Chard took their total to 39 courtesy of doubles from Renalto Silva and Vitor Ferriera in a 4-0 win over Chard United. Luso enterian MIllwey Rise tomorrow.

Misterton Reseves edged past Winsham Reserves 4-3 in a top versus bottom clash with the winner coming from joint top-scorer Neil Hawkins.

Missy take on improving Lyme Regis Bantams at Venlake whilst Winsham travel to Chard United still looking for their first point.

DIVISION FOUR: League leaders West & Middle Chinnock welcome Chard United to Oxleaze tomorrow without the services of joint top scorer Danny Rudge who has left the club to join former team mate Mark Cawley at Castle Cary.

Despite this the Chinnocks will be favourites although Chard maybe looking to put things in order after last weekend’s 8-2 hammering on their own Jocelyn Park turf at the hands of Ilminster A. Over in the West Combe B continue to impress. The Saints’ fourth string beat Shepton Reserves 2-1 to earn a place in the Reg Eglon quarter-finals.

In the same competition a hat-trick from player-manager Scott Massey couldn’t end Chard Rangers’ losing streak as they went down 5-2 at Barrington for whom Alex Thompson scored twice.

Tomorrow Barrington face the might of the free-scoring Ilminster attack which has netted 13 times in a week.

Pick of the day however could be the local-derby between Thorncombe and Hawkchurch at Horseshoe Lane with the Hawks hunting their first win of the season.

Meanwhile Shepton will be aiming to become the first side ever to shut out Waytown hounds in a league match.

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