First blood to South Petherton after cup classic

Crewkerne back on top in Division One

CHALLENGE CUP, Quarter finals

Barrington 1 Perry Street 2

AFTER A goal less first 45, goals from brothers’ Kieran and Jay Bailey in the last 10 minutes helped Perry Street battle back from 1-0 down to book their place in the last four.

Misterton 1 Combe Res 2

STEVE Every was amongst the goals as Combe secured a semi-final date with South Petherton after a hard-fought 2-1 win at Unity Lane.

South Petherton 3 Lyme Regis 2 aet

THIS game had been billed as arguably the clash of the season so far - and a sizeable crowd at Lightgate Lane weren’t disappointed as South Petherton and Lyme Regis served up a thriller.

The early exchanges were tight, Pethy striker Rich Hebditch’s pace caused the Lyme defenders one or two anxious moments. But it was the visitors who went closest to opening the scoring when Julien Simier found space in the box before crossing to the far post where Rob Thomson guided a side footed effort onto the post with ‘keeper Jardine MacKenzie beaten all ends up.

Ten minutes before the break Ashley Caddy did well to deny Dean Ritchie but the opener was just around the corner. A complete mix-up on the edge of the Lyme box presented Ritchie with the simple task of slotting into an empty net.

With Lyme’s 4-5-1 formation failing to create too many clear-cut chances, the hosts missed a golden chance to double their lead 10 minutes after the restart when Hebditch weaved his way to the byline before crossing to the far post where Smith, at full stretch, failed to keep his effort down with the goal gaping.

Hebditch latched onto a long through ball for a one-on-one chance nine minutes from time but Caddy stood tall and saved well.

With just six minutes remaining Lyme sub Harvey Brimicome jinked his way past four tackles before being impeded on the edge of the Petherton D. Up stepped Mark Bailey to curl home the resulting free-kick to force extra-time.

There was drama within seconds of the restart. when Joel Gosting flashed a shot into the net over Jardine MacKenzie’s shoulder.

But Lyme couldn’t hold on. Mike Gilyatt made it 2-2 five minutes later and the winner came from Dean Smith in the 102nd minute.

There’s a home semi-final against Perry Street at stake when Merriott Rovers, still seeking their first win in 2011, travel to Beaminster tomorrow.

TOMMY TABBERER CUP, Quarter finals

Forton Reserves 1 Chard Rangers 2

A LAST minute John Mason penalty proved decisive as resurgent Chard Rangers knocked-out last season’s runners-up.

Hinton 1 Shepton Beauchamp 3

CUP Favourites Shepton Beauchamp disposed of hosts Hinton courtesy of strikes from Sam Murley, his 20th of the season, Dan Smith and George Pugson.

BILL BAILEY CUP, Quarter finals

Combe A 2 Farway Utd Reserves 1

CENTRE-Back Chris Haynes’ sending-off proved the turning point as the Saints came from behind to win after extra-time with goals from Darren Brown and Mark Biss.

A Cup Final against either Winsham Reserves or Crewkerne Reserves at Beaminster awaits Combe or tomorrow’s semi-final opponents Misterton Reserves. This one could go all the way to the dreaded spot-kicks.

Drimpton 1 Crewkerne Reserves 6

THE leaky Drimpton defence was breached half a dozen times as Aaron Hodges moved to 19 for the season with a hat-trick for the Tigers whose other marksmen were; Richard Crabb (2) and Nick Francis.

Luso-Chard 3 Misterton Reserves 6

JERRY Hill and Connor Fletcher both scored twice as Misterton Reserves beat Luso-chard for the third time this season. League top-scorer Marco Quedas took his tally to 31 with a penalty.

Winsham Reserves 5 Lyme Bantams 1

WINSHAM'S hopes of a cup double are still alive after a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Lyme Bantams at Baker’s Field.

All looked good for the Seasiders when Rob MacKenzie fired them into a seventh minute lead. But the hosts were level before on the half-hour through player-manager Richard White.

The second-half was one-way traffic and the hosts cruised through to a semi-final with Crewkerne Town Reserves with further strikes from Brian Tillotson, Rob Long, Danny Slade and Steve Long.

KENNY HODGES CUP, Quarter finals

Hawkchurch Res 1 Combe B 6

JON Smith’s goal was a rare highlight as the Hawk’s were well beaten by the Saints for whom Jay Stewart struck twice.

Ilminster A 3 Hinton Reserves 1

SINGLES from Josh House, Adam Cox and Tom Wallis helped the Blues cruise through to the last four.

Waytown Hounds 4 W & M Chinnock Res 3

A DAN Rudge double couldn’t save The Chinnocks as they crashed out 4-3 at the Hounds’ kennel in Netherbury.

ARTHUR GAGE CUP

CREWKERNE Town, with eight straight wins under thir belts, will be slight favourites as they entertain Millwey Rise in the pick of tomorrow’s quarter-finals. Winsham United are also looking powerful - expect them to edge past Forton Rangers at Baker’s Field Last season’s runners-up Perry Street Reserves could have their hands full when they entertain Netherbury. The other tie looks like a close one. But Ilminster Colts’ improving form may prove too much for struggling Thorncombe.

JACK VENN CUP

CREWKERNE Rangers’ alarming slide (no goals in three games, six back-to-back defeats) makes them rank outsiders ahead of the visit of Beaminster Reserves. A high scoring encounter looks likely as Dowlish & Donaytt entertain Hawkchurch whilst Shepton Beauchamp’s fine run could be extended as visitors Uplyme have lost several key players. South Petherton Reserves’ poor form ‘on the road’ could give Forton Rangers half a chance in the day’s other tie.

REG EGLON CUP

THORNCOMBE will be underdogs as they travel to Waytown Hounds in tomorrows semi-final. The other tie is too close to call with Barrington entertaining Chard United.

PREMIER DIVISION

IT’S 16 months since South Petherton were last beaten in a league game on their own Lightgate Lane turf. The victors that day, Barrington, are Pethy’s tomorrows opponents. With only one win in 11 it would be a remarkable effort if the Yellow Hammers were to pull off a repeat - especially given Pethy’s imperious form this season. West & Middle Chinnock must beware a Lyme Regis backlash as they look to recover from their Challenge Cup exit last weekend. Despite their next-to-bottom position Perry Street will be slight favourites for the trip to take on an Ilminster Reserves side that have lost their last five and shipped 25 goals in the process. With the Division clearly split into two groups, Misterton can climb to the top of the lower group with a win against Farway at Unity Lane.

DIVISION ONE

Norton Ath 1 Crewkerne Town 2

NORTON Rangers have picked up a couple of players and it showed as they stretched title-chasing Crewkerne Town to limit in a game packed full of chances. Adam Dawe put the Tigers ahead but they needed Kev Wheeler’s late header to secure the three points and a return to the top spot.

DIVISION THREE

WINSHAM and Crewkerne should both return home with the points after trips south to take on Farway and Lyme Bantams respectively.

DIVISION FOUR

Chard Rangers Res 3 Chard Utd Res 1

THE Jocelyn Park-derby was decided by a second-half brace from top-scorer Luke Finn.

Thorncombe Res 6 Barrington Res 4

THORNCOMBE Reserves trailed three times before finally seeing off with six players on target against Barrington Reserves in a goal-fest at Horseshoe Lane.

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Argyle demise gives Glovers hope

Stansfield tributes continue

THE demise of local rivals Plymouth Argyle will be a sobering thought to both Yeovil Town’s management and fans alike as to what the consequences can be for a football club in these tough economic times.

Being the most westerly club in the Football League must be a challenge; whether it be the cost of travelling to away matches, attracting away supporters to make the trip which helps swell the crowd, or just enticing players to the area.

It is sad to see that the famous Pilgrims and their ‘Green Army’ supporters look like they will now face relegation, or if not, a very hard job to maintain League One status, but of course it helps Yeovil Town in their own quest to avoid relegation.

However the club cannot get too complacent as teams around them are starting to put little runs together that are inching them either further ahead or catching them up.

The Glovers had their own mini-run that got them moving clear of the relegation zone, but three consecutive losses has plunged them back down on the brink, only enhanced by Argyle's ten point administration deduction.

In all the matches they had enough chances to have won the games early on, and it is a worrying fact that they create and waste so many opportunities, whilst the opposition - despite many fewer shots on goal - score a much higher percentage.

We know strikers are at a premium, but surely you can’t miss as many as Yeovil have; it’s not all bad luck... and manager Terry Skiverton will be aware that at present this is his Achilles heel.

ADAM Stansfield was one of my favourite players, and I believe that if he hadn’t broken his leg in the opening match of the 2002-03 season - from which he never really recovered his form of old - he would have been a sensational player and gone further than League One level with the Glovers and Exeter.

It was great news therefore that Flybe, main sponsors of The Grecians, have honoured him by naming one of their aircraft after him complete with a picture in his Exeter City kit. A great tribute to a great footballer who I think would have achieved more.

Such was his popularity that the Adam Stansfield Football Foundation has been set up to support and encourage participation in youth football across the South West region, and there are no shortage of people and organisations looking to give support.

Bristol Rovers Football Club director Ken Master is walking between the three grounds of Bristol Rovers, Yeovil Town and Exeter City to raise cash for the charity.

Ken (66) whose wife is currently recovering from a major bowel operation will walk from the Memorial Stadium and visit Huish Park on April 2nd when Rovers are the visitors, before continuing to St James' Park and then returning to the Mem in time for the Grecians' visit on April 9th.

Meanwhile, Hereford United supporter Adam Wright and three pals are planning to visit all 92 Premier and Football League grounds as well as his first club Elmore in the space of 80 hours.

They hope to visit Huish Park in mid-afternoon on the first day of their challenge on March 9th before returning to Edgar Street, home of The Bulls, one of Adam’s former teams on March 12th.

Any signed shirts, balls, pennants and other memorabilia will be auctioned at a later date in aid of the foundation.

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Don’t miss that dental appointment

NOW here is a piece of news that you can all get your teeth in to. Everyone has got to eat so dental care is very important, particularly in an era when NHS dentists are not quite as thick on the ground as they used to be.

So you’d think that people lucky enough to be registered with an NHS surgery would try and hang on to it like grim death, but not a bit of it. One surgery I know of has developed such a serious situation with people not bothering to turn up for appointments that it has been forced to take action.

The balance was tipped when 299 people ignored appointments in a single month. The effect on the surgery can be imagined with staff left idle at the whim of patients and time being wasted which should have been spent caring for people’s health never mind the loss of income caused by the no-shows.

Now patients are being warned that they are facing a different sort of filling. If they miss two appointments in one year they will be de-registered from the surgery and their place given to new dental patients looking to join an NHS practice.

So the message being drilled home seems to be that patients ignore an appointment they make to a valuable community resource at their peril.

Now wash your hands please ...

IN the glorious nanny state in which we live there is no subject too small and no action too minor to escape advice from authority. The powers that be are keen to avoid being sued for any hint of negligence which might attach to them if they haven’t pointed out glaringly obvious things such as you might fall if you walk down steps.

My latest contact with this overkill of official information came in a community hall where there was a notice pinned up advising people using the toilets to wash their hands afterwards.

Not only is there nothing wrong with this but such hygiene is to be actively encouraged, but what I found a bit of an insult to people’s intelligence was what the notice went on to discuss in some detail. Believe it or not, there was then line after line about the correct way for people to wash their hands!

Key advice stressed the importance of paying particularly attention to the heel of the hand, it talked about... well, it doesn’t matter what it talked about. The fact is that if we now need explicit guidance on how to wash our hands then there really is no hope for us.

What next, perhaps instruction on the correct way to walk to guard against excess heel wear or the correct way to breathe to avoid unduly damaging our nostrils? Surely the best thing such notice writers could do would be to stop writing notices to help reduce the damage to people’s patience.

Even Santa needs a holiday

IT is enough to beggar belief but I have just seen the first advertisement for Christmas! Santa Claus has barely put his sledge in for an MoT and already holiday companies are urging us to book trips out to see him in Lapland next winter.

The Great Man was furious when I contacted him about what was happening.

“What the elf are they playing at?” he bellowed.

“Don’t they know I’m on holiday? It’s bad enough that we can’t land properly on roofs because of solar panels, that the quality of sherry and mince pies left out for me has declined and that so many children now seem to spell Christmas with a “K”.

“Rudolph and I can cope with that, but I won’t have our precious holiday interrupted.

“Surely travel agents can wait until after Easter?”

So all you eager beavers of the travel world, rein back your enthusiasm a bit please because Santa and the rest of us would like a clear break between one Christmas and the next.

Enjoy your break - don’t get shot!

A WEYMOUTH couple were looking forward to a cruise holiday on the Nile to see some of the historic splendours of Egypt. So they were quite pleased when they met someone who had already been on several such cruises.

The man was obviously knowledgeable and gave them all sorts of advice including a suggestion that they try and get seating on the starboard side of the boat. The couple were a little mystified at that comment since, as far as they could tell, a seat on the port side of the boat would give them a much closer view of the river bank and all the sights it might offer.

They queried what the man had said and asked why he wasn’t suggesting sitting on the port side. The man replied: “You are right, it is a better view from there but sitting on the starboard side makes it a much harder shot for snipers!”

The couple said they did enjoy their holiday… but they sat on the starboard side!

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Who will be our next mayor?

IN a non-election year town councillors choose their mayor-elect and deputy mayor in March with both being installed at the ancient mayor-making ceremony late in May.

But for obvious reasons, that cannot happen in an election year (we go to the polls on May 5th) because there is no guarantee that the nominees will be elected to the council.

So a successor to Councillor Michaela Ellis, if there will be one, will not be elected until a week after the election.

Michaela has served a two-year period, the normal term, as the town’s First Citizen with great enthusiasm and dignity, well supported by husband-consort Alan and expecially by her youngest daughter Kelsey, who has acompanied her mum on many civic events over the past two years.

Kelsey has been a great credit to her mum and dad - and, indeed the town. The Ellis and Emmett clans will gather at the Woodmead Halls on Friday, March 4th, along with town representatives and neighbouring civic leaders, for their annual civic night.

Someone asked me last week whether Michaela would be able to serve another term.

The correct answer to that is, I believe, "yes," if no other candidate wishes to stand.

It is customary for the mayor to step down after two years in office if there is another councillor who wishes to stand. In the past, Barbara Austin, one of the town’s most popular first citizens, served two three-year stints.

So who will be our next mayor? That’s a really difficult, if not impossible, question to answer because of the election. It is more than likely that the main candidates will be returned as councillors but with the possibility of 20 or more candidates I don’t think anyone, with the exception of a couple, can be sure about their re-election.

When there is such a long list of nominations, the position on the ballot paper can be a distinct advantage. Therefore, Austin B. (Barbara) and Austin R, (Rikey), providing both of them stand, will be first on the list. But Williams P. (Peter) and Williams S. (Stanley) will be at a severe disadvantage with just 14 councillors to be elected. Some electors start ticking the boxes from the top and then realise they have already ticked 14 names before getting to the bottom of the list. It happens.

If I was a betting man (and I’m not), I would venture to suggest that Owen Lovell, one the council’s most experienced members who has served two previous two-year terms as mayor, could be a potential candidate.

Sally Holman’s name has also been mentioned. She did two years as First Citizen before Michaela, during which time she championed a number of procedural changes in the running of the council. She may well feel there’s more to be done on this front.

But first there’s the small matter of the election to be dealt with...

EVENT OF THE WEEK

IT’S quite a few years since I’ve been to a pantomime in Lyme Regis, usually leaving coverage of the annual production to my esteemed theatre crtic Keith Jenkin.

In fact, I think the last Lyme panto I saw was when I was mayor back in 1985 and I distinctly remember Les Loveridge seranading Jackie in the front row with 'Cindy Oh Cindy.'

So I am looking forward to reviewing this year’s panto, Sinbad The Sailor at the Marine Theatre on Friday evening.

Actually, I got a sneak preview of the show when I attended the dress rehearsal on Monday evening to take the photos for our double page spread on pages 8 and 9 - and it looks to be a really lively show.

I know dress rehearsals are meant to iron out any problems prior to the opening night but I have to say there seemed very few indeed and I think Lyme audiences are in for a real treat this week.

Principals Tina Pavey and Amy Street will get rave reviews if their dress rehearsal performance is anything to go by and look out for the Dame - played by town crier Phil Street. He’s hilarious.

The show runs until Saturday evening (with a matinee on Saturday afternoon) so book a ticket if you haven’t done so already.

How the halls became the greenest in Dorset

AS secretary of the Woodmead Halls management committee I was delighted to hear that one of our members, local builder Charlie Kapur, had been awarded West Dorset District Council’s green champion accolade.

No one deserves it more.

When I joined the halls committee last year the hope of getting a much-needed new roof coupled with a photo-voltaic energy producing scheme was fading fast.

But then Charlie stepped into the breach and in a matter of weeks he had secured funding for the project and within a matter of months the work was complete, making the halls virtually energy free.

He admitted it was a huge learning curve, working against a strict deadline. As a result of his efforts, the Woodmead Halls is now one of the greenest and most energy efficient public halls in Dorset.

Halls chairman Stan Williams paid tribute to Charlie at the last management committee meeting and also mentioned in dispatches Jim Sweetland who also contributed greatly to the initial planning. Well done to both of them.

ELECTION UPDATE: I wrote in this column last week about the runners and riders in the forthcoming town and district elections and mentioned that I thought sitting district councillor Pat Hicks would be standing again.

Pat stopped me in Broad Street this week to confirm that he was definitely standing again.

So with two other declared candidates - Daryl Turner and George Symonds, both standing on a Tory ticket - there will definitely be an election for Lyme’s two district council seats.

Nominations for both town and district elections have to be in by noon on Monday, April 4th with polling taking place on Thursday, May 5th.

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60 SECOND INTERVIEW: Charlotte Cruickshank

CHARLOTTE Cruickshank, has recently moved to Ottery St Mary having spent the last three years in Bridport. Charlotte still regularly commutes to Bridport however, where she works as a shop assistant for Claire Jillings at Candlelight Living in South Street.

Charlotte shares her commute with fiancée Paul Clifton who works for AmSafe Bridport. Despite studying for a degree in the History of Art, Charlotte has only recently reawakened her creative side making bags, bunting and cards, which she sells in Candlelight Living.

Charlotte also recently completed her first mural for a local interior designer after a chance meeting in the town. Animal lover Charlotte also works part time at a stables in Ottery St Mary.

WHAT do you like most about Bridport?

I love the market and what I really like is that all the dog lovers are out as well. Me and Paul are big dog enthusiasts and it’s so nice to see people having a nice time walking their dogs around the market. It makes the place feel alive when you have got something like that. There are some really nice people around and I have made good friends here.

WHAT would you like to change about Bridport?

People’s attitudes. That sounds really awful but I think sometimes people don’t realise what a good thing they’ve got. I think sometimes you need to look around and appreciate what you’ve got. You don’t always appreciate the nice area you live in, I was exactly the same in my hometown where I grew up.

WHAT made you make the leap from working in Boots?

This just kind of happened really, it was amazing. I was selling some cards in here and then Claire asked if I could do some cover and then that was it. I did a couple of days and it just kind of literally came out of nowhere. I didn’t really do anything with my degree for a while, and technically I’m not now, but I’m doing what I enjoy. I absolutely love it, it’s definitely worth taking the jump.

WHAT makes the shop unique?

I love it, I think it’s just got a nice feel about it. So many people say the same and that’s what’s really nice, people enjoy coming in here. So many mums bring their clothes in. They are all second hand clothes so people are getting a bargain but also all the yummy mummy’s can come in and make a bit of money back as well which is nice. We sell clothes for parents on commission; I think a lot of people find that really helpful because when money is a bit tight it does actually help.

WOULD you like to develop your creative skills even further?

I would love to carry on painting murals and I hopefully have another one lined up. I’d just like to keep making my bags and cards and selling them in other places as well. I do keep saying to Paul that when I’ve made my millions it will all be fine and I can support him, but that’s a little way off yet.

HOW did you get commissioned to do your first mural?

It was completely by chance. I was shopping in Country Seats, because there was a little sign in the window saying they had a sale on remnants and I’m a sucker for a bargain, and the guy asked me what I was buying fabric for. I told him and he introduced me to another lady in the shop who was an interior designer and it went from there.

WHO would be your three dream guests at a dinner party?

I really love Ewan McGregor’s voice, I would quite happily just have him sing to me. Rupert Everett because again he has such a lovely voice, so he could just talk to me. The third would be Robert Pattinson because he is very nice looking.

WHAT was the last book you read, film you watched and CD you listened to?

The last film I saw at the cinema was Twilight, I really love the films. I would never really be in to vampires or things like that because I am a good Christian girl but it’s the love story, every girl dreams of being completely loved. The last book I read in full was the last Twilight book. I tend to listen to music on YouTube so I don’t know what the last CD was. I am a ‘Gleek’ though so I love listening to Glee music.

WHAT'S your favourite muiscal and are there any you’d still like to see?

My favourite would be a complete toss up between Les Miserables and Miss Saigon. Probably Les Miserables, that’s the classic. I’d like to see Wicked.

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Pethy keep marching on - but Rovers slide continues

Showpiece Challenge Cup tie up next

ANOTHER thumping victory has extended South Petherton’s lead at the top of the Premier Division to two points.

The latest team to fall under the wheels of the Pethy goal-machine were Ilminster Town Reserves who were crushed 6-0 at Lightgate Lane on a day of red-cards, penalties and heavy scoring.

Rich Hebditch scored twice for the hosts - the second a 20th minute penalty after Blues’ defender Lewis Scutt had been red-carded by referee Simon White for deliberate handball.

Merriott Rovers’ outside title-hopes are effectively over after they went down 6-3 at Misterton where Neil Hawkins took his recent tally to five in three with a brace. Jack Jennings scored twice for the Rovers who remain winless in 2011.

Beaminster jumped above Merriott and into second place with a 3-1 win at Barrington.

Lyme Regis needed Julien Simier’s last-kick-of-the-game penalty to finally break the Perry Street resistance at the Davey Fort. Although The Mothers were themselves denied twice by two superb late saves by Ashley Caddy.

A double from Rob Glentworth helped Combe Reserves take another step towards Premier Division safety as they won 3-1 at West & Middle Chinnock who remain bottom.

The Chinnocks are involved in one of only two top division games tomorrow (due to the scheduled Challenge Cup ties). Manager Nick Eckland and his squad head into Devon for the clash with Farway United.

The other game sees Ilminster Reserves entertain Merriott Rovers with both sides desperate for a win to reignite their ailing season’s.

DIVISION ONE

A Tom Symes goal was enough to keep Winsham United top after a hard-fought win over depleted Lyme Reserves. Winsh’ defender Dan Isaacs was sent-off on the hour for a clash with Lyme’s teenage ‘keeper Will Meech.

Second-placed Crewkerne Town had a much easier time of it as they took their combined league total against Perry Street Reserves to 20 with Harry Charles and Kev Wheeler both scoring twice in an 8-1 rout.

Forton Rangers had a day to forget as they were on the wrong end of a 9-3 score line at Millwey Rise.

Norton tasted victory for the first time since October as they beat Thorncombe 3-0. The Thorns have now lost three on the spin and are now in the relegtion dog-fight.

Ilminster Colts look to be heading in the opposite direction as they extended their unbeaten run to three games with a 3-2 win over Charmouth. Matt Wood smashed home a long range screamer for his first goal in five seasons.

Pick of the games tomorrow is Netherbury’s visit to MIllwey whilst Winsham and Crewkerne have, on paper, good chances to keep their promotion hopes firmly on track when the visit Perry Street Res and Norton respectively.

DIVISION TWO

SHEPTON Beauchamp are clearly one of the form teams in the league. Still unbeaten, Anthony Smith’s side stacked up another big win when they thrashed struggling Crewkerne Rangers 6-0.

Sam Murley moved up to 19th for the season with two as Shepton continued their remarkable scoring sequence which now reads; 6-0, 6-1, 6-1, 5-0, and 6-0 - 15 love!

It was tighter at top of the pile Beaminster where a solitary Josh Hunter goal robbed South Petherton of point.

Down at the bottom Chard Rangers excellent form continued as they took their recent points haul to 11 from 15 as they fought back from two down to draw 2-2 at Hawkchurch.

DIVISION THREE

WARREN Gabbidon’s second hat-trick of the season lifted Combe A above opponents Chard United and into fourth place following a 3-0 win at Slades Cross.

Meanwhile league top-scorer Marco Quedas had his shooting boots on. The Portuguese striker struck four times and went through the 30-goal barrier as Luso-Chard beat Drimpton 5-2.

DIVISION FOUR

HOT on the heels of Quedas is Ashley Cooper who moved up to 24 with a hat-trick in second-placed West & Middle Chinnocks’ 6-0 win at Thorncombe.

But Hinton remain seven points clear at the top after a 4-1 victory over Shepton Beauchamp who stay third.

CUPS ROUND-UP

REG EGLON

A MATT Read goal did for Combe B in the Reg Eglon Cup quarter-final at Waytown Hounds.

DAISY HUTCHINGS

THE anticipated cup upsets never materialised as Forton Reserves and Farway Reserves lived up to their higher division status and disposed of Winsham Reserves (4-1) and Barrington Reserves (4-0).

The other tie needed extra-time before Dowlish and Donyatt edged past Uplyme 4-2.

CHALLENGE CUP

THE undisputed pick of the games tomorrow is at Lightgate Lane where PSL heavyweights South Petherton and Lyme Regis go toe-to-toe.

Lyme are cup holders and have won their last nine matches. There appears to be nothing between the sides - each have won two and there have been two draws in their last six encounters - but I make Pethy very slight favourites based purley on home advantage.

The other two ties could also be close with Perry Street, who lifted the trophy four seasons ago, travelling to Barrington and Misterton entertaining improving Combe Reserves.

TOMMY TABBERER

A GOOD accumulator bet in tomorrow’s ties would be four away wins. Crewkerne must correct a run of five straight defeats if they are to hold off the challenge of visitors Hawkchurch.

Over at Hinton Shepton Beauchamp will feel they can beat anybody at the moment whilst Beaminster Reserves have beaten Uplyme in their last five meetings.

The most intriguing tie is at Forton where the Rangers Reserves, last season’s runners-up, entertain Chard Rangers with both sides on an upturn in form.

BILL BAILEY

Pick of the ties is at Forton where Luso-Chard take on Misterton Reserves. Crewkerne Reseves should have too much firepower for Drimpton whilst home advantage should see Combe A and Winsham Reserves home against Farway Reserves and Lyme Bantams.

KENNY HODGES

ILMINSTER A’s grip on the trophy will be sorely tested by the visit of Hinton and Combe B should be in the hat after their trip to Hawkchurch.

But the other two matches are far too close to call with West & Middle Chinnock off to face Waytown Hounds and a sure-to-be fiesty Chard derby between the United and Rangers’ second strings at Jocelyn Park.

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Yeovil slump back into trouble

Oh for another Leon Best!

YEOVIL suffered their third defeat in a row after a promising recovery at the start of the New Year, and are once again back in a relegation dog fight.

Their inability to convert possession and chances into goals was no more apparent than in their 2-0 defeat to Peterborough United at Huish Park on Tuesday.

This follows a 2-1 defeat against bottom club Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday where Yeovil had 25 attempts on goal, all but two of them in the first half, to their host’s nine!

Despite having 60 per cent of the possession, and battering the Posh defence for long periods, the Glovers could not find a way past a suspect defence in which even England U21 goalkeeper Joe Lewis looked indecisive.

Sam Williams had two chances within 30 seconds as early as the third minute to put Yeovil ahead, before Andy Williams might have done better by waiting to volley the ball rather than trying to beat Lewis with a header following Gabriel Zakuani’s misplaced headed clearance.

Then Oli Johnson had a fierce left foot shot saved by Lewis; all in the first 15 minutes.

Peterborough rarely threatened with Craig Mackail-Smith hardly given a look in by Paul Huntingdon and Max Ehmer, and it looked like it was only a matter of time before the Glovers breached the visiting defence.

However as so often this season, Yeovil failed to deliver the killer punch and you knew that the longer the game went on, the more chance the opposition would sneak a goal.

The second-half followed a similar pattern, and Yeovil’s best chance fell to Ehmer. Lewis failed to catch Paul Wotton’s free kick as he challenged Huntingdon and the ball ran to Ehmer, but his shot from an extremely acute angle agonisingly ran across the face of the goal and out for a goal kick.

As with last week’s match against Charlton Athletic, there was controversy surrounding a possible red card. Zakuani, who had a terrible game, brought down Andy Williams on 65 minutes as he made a run on goal, but referee Gavin Ward whose decisions became more inconsistent as the night wore on, only issued him a yellow.

As feared, Peterborough won the game in the dying minutes in a rare attack. The latest on-loan signing striker Antonio German, who had just come on as a replacement, lost the ball in the centre circle, and a superb ball from Grant McCann saw Mackail-Smith finally get the better of Huntingdon and Ehmer before slipping the ball under Stephen Henderson. Two minutes later Yeovil failed to clear a corner properly and Grant Basey thumped the ball home from close range.

There were positives from Nathan Smith, whose consistency has been one of the highlights of this season, Huntingdon, named npower Player of the Month, Ehmer and Wotton, and Andrew Tutte, who once again easily outshone Johnson, who to me, despite quick feet and a sharp turn of speed, is far too lightweight.

Listening to the radio on the way home, it was reported that Leon Best had scored again for Newcastle United in the Premiership, and it highlighted what a difference a good striker can make to your team. Best scored 10 goals in 15 games at Huish Park in 2006-7 and catapulted Yeovil towards the play-offs. Big, speedy and deadly, he epitomises what the team need right now.

Okay, I know good strikers are like gold dust, but until Terry Skiverton can get his team to turn chances into goals then they are going to continue to struggle.

As I overheard one fan exclaim to his mate as we left the ground: “If you can’t score against the team with the second worst defence in the league then we haven’t got a chance, have we!”

This sums it up completely.

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