CHAMPS: Winsham United Reserves beat Misterton

Reserves 2-1 to win the John Fowler Cup for

the first time in their history last Thursday

Photo by HOWARD LARCOMBE

South Petherton poised for perfect league season?

Tim John hat-trick ruins Rovers

A TIM John hat-trick saw South Petherton fightback from a goal down to beat Merriott Rovers and reclaim top spot in the Premier Division.

Rovers led through Mark Smith but Petherton proved too strong and ran out comfortable

winners to extend their 100 percent league record to nine games.

The run gives rise to talk of a ‘perfect season’ but with games against Beaminster (away) and Lyme Regis (home and away) this seems a little premature at present.

The result leaves Merriott with three defeats to their name and desperately needing an extraordinary run, starting with tomorrow’s trip to Perry Street, to keep their fading title hopes alive.

Street have hit the bottom spot following a 3-1 defeat over previous incumbants Combe Reserves. Steve Every, Clive Parsons and Matt Brown scored the goals for the Saints who have given their survivals hopes a massive lift.

A double from Reserve team striker Neil Hawkins appeared to have put Misterton on the way to a valuable three points at West & Middle Chinnock.

But Nick Bond did the same at the other end to salvage a point for the hosts.

Missy have been ordered to replay January 15th’s 2-1 victory over Combe Reserves for fielding an ineligible player.

Ilminster Town Reserves’ feint title hopes are effectively over after they were thrashed 5-1 at Beaminster with only a Richie Middleton OG to show for their efforts.

Barrington return to action with a tough fixture - the Yellow Hammers will be attempting to beat Lyme Regis for the first time in five and a half years when they visit the Davey Fort.

CHALLENGE CUP, Round One

ILMINSTER Reserves have the perfect opportunity to exact some revenge on Beaminster when the two teams meet, again at Beaminster, in the first round of the Challenge Cup.

Twice winners (1963-64, 1976-77) South Petherton entertain outsiders West & Middle Chinnocks whilst the other tie is too close to call with Misterton entertaining Farway United who take part in their first PSL-related game for nine weeks.

ARTHUR GAGE CUP

TWO apiece from Tom Stead and Sam Symes booked Winsham United a home quarter-final against tie against Forton Rangers following a 4-2 win at Lyme Regis Reserves.

Last weekend’s other match saw Norton, with Louis Hockey scoring twice, battle back from 3-0 down to take Millwey Rise to extra-time before going down 5-4.

Rise entertain Crewkerne Town in the pick of the last eight ties.

SOMERSET INTERMEDIATE CUP, Round Four

WINSHAM United are the last PSL team remaining in the County Intermediate Cup.

Phil Loaring’s side head off to Street to take on Tor FC with a quarter-final place at stake.

BILL BAILEY CUP

BOTH Chard United and Crewkerne Reserves trek into Devon for first round ties. Chard take on Farway Reserves whilst Crewkerne must endure the Millwey Rise slope.

KEN HODGES CUP

THE pick of tomorrow’s three ties sees Shepton Beauchamp Reserves, unbeaten at home this season, entertain Waytown Hounds. In the other ties look out for narrow home wins for Chard United Reserves and West & Middle Chinnock Reserves over Thorncombe Reserves and Barrington Reserves respectively.

DIVISION ONE

CREWKERNE Town thrashed Ilminster Colts 9-0 to rack up their fifth straight win and close the gap on the top two.

Barry Hayne (3), Paul Gold (2), Jamie Spurdle (2), Adam Dawe and Harry Charles netted for the goal-crazy Tigers who could be in the market for another stack of goals when they welcome lowly Charmouth to Henhayes tomorrow.

Colts will need to bounce back, and quickly, from their mauling - they have a possible relegation battle with visiting Norton Athletic.

Thorncombe also need points to ease their relegation fears. But a win from the visit of Millwey Rise could be too much of an ask for the Thorns.

Saturday’s mid-table clash at Perry Street saw Forton Rangers head off home with the points after Carl Grinter and Jake Hannis scored in a 2-0 win.

DIVISION TWO

LAST weekend’s shock result undoubtedly came at Jocelyn Park where Chard Rangers led Beaminster 4-4 times before being held to a draw by promotion-chasing Beaminster Reserves.

John Mason, Dave Aston, Mike Bagg and debutant Mike Druce, a recent capture from Perry Street, scored for the Rangers who, after picking up seven points from nine, appear to have a chance of avoiding the drop into Division Three. Manager Justin Mason will be looking for more of the same when his charges entertain South Petherton Reserves tomorrow.

Pethy are themselves in decent form. A 2-1 win over Hawkchurch was their third on spin. Dan Rogers has scored in each of them.

A 3-0 win at struggling Pymore saw Dowlish & Donyatt capitalise on Beaminster’s slip-up and pinch top spot. Matt Vinall, Johnny Bartlett and Leighton Cox scored for the visitors who could put Shepton Beauchamp’s unbeaten league record under threat tomorrow. The latest team to fall to the free-scoring Shepton attack were Hinton who went down 6-1 with Sam Murley netting twice.

The Saints must return to form tomorrow with the visit of Crewkerne Rangers if they are to harbour any hopes of promotion.

Rangers’ own hopes are all-but over after they were beaten 2-1 at improving Forton Rangers Reserves who can leapfrog tomorrow’s opponents Hawkchurch and climb out of the drop-zone with a win on their own turf.

DIVISION THREE

WINSHAM Reserves backed-up their John Fowler Cup final triumph (see report left) with a 4-3 win over Chard United and are now heading towards the calm waters of midtable.

Richard White’s side welcome a Combe A side who have also found some form picking up seven points from their last three outings.

The latest win came in a 4-2 win over visiting Luso-Chard at Slades cross on Saturday.

But it’s Crewkerne Reserves who top the pile. The Tigers extended their lead to three clear points with Justin Sweet and Dave John both scoring twice in a 5-1 win at Farway Reserves.

DIVISION FOUR

THREE of Saturday’s matches, including the top v second clash between Hinton and West & Middle Chinnock, ended in 1-1 draws so Shepton Beauchamp, with Will Aplin netting a hat-trick, made ground at the top with a 7-0 hammering of Hawkchurch United.

Goals from Luke Oliver and Dave Lock saw Ilminster A beat local rivals Barrington for the third time this season.

The league’s bottom two teams are both in action tomorrow. Hawkchurch welcome Ilmisnter A whilst Chard Rangers travel to Combe B.

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