Goals and drama keep races alive
The second week back for the Bath & District Sunday League didn’t disappoint with a full schedule of fixtures with lots of goals and drama.
The results really begin to shape the leagues as some teams enter the latter stages of their campaign, while there were a couple of shocks that left division title chases still wide open.
In Division 1, PF Loco lost 4-2 at home to Kingsmead.
The hosts would have hoped to close the gap on the visitors with goals from Pintori and Charles but strikes from, Chandler, Ifill, Saunders and Wych gave the Kings all three points. They go clear at the top by two points with a game in hand on second place Batheaston and Loco sit third, six points behind the leaders.
Batheaston could have been level on points with the leaders but had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home against BAS in the other game in Division 1. Luke Corbiere scored for the away side who most have hoped to be leaving with the win only for the home side to snatch a point with an equaliser with only five minutes left.
In the Division 2 there was drama and shocks, making the race for the title and bottom spot very interesting and hard to predict.
Team Nathan AFC beat visitors Lansdown 4-3. TNFC were 2-0 up in nine minutes thanks to Jack Rowlands’ brilliant header which he followed up with clever finishing for a second.
The teams were still level at the break as Lansdown battled and Kit Barnes grabbed a brace of his own for 2-2 at the interval.
Rowlands, nursing an injury, came back on and scored an absolute peach from 25 yards to make it 3-2. After the home team went down to ten men Barnes managed a hat-trick of his own to make it 3-3. It looked set to finish that way, then with the last kick of the game Bradley Weeks poked home after a set-piece to win the game dramatically.
Olympic Victoria and Gringos provided more drama with plenty of goals in a thriller. A double from Andy Rhead and Linford-wood striking had the Vics 2-1 up, then 2-3 down before equalising late on.
Rhead thought he had won it rattling the bar from a free-kick but the hat-trick was out of reach and Gringos earned a draw.
A 0-0 stalemate between Griffin and Trinity finalised things in this league.
Puckle Vale beat Two Weir Town 3-0 with goals from Hanna, Rogers and Preddy.
Heritage Reserves couldn’t continue their form from last week losing 4-7 against Colchoneros FC.
Bear Flat couldn’t continue their form either even after going 1-0 up. Visitors Farrington Albion came back to secure a 1-3 victory. Meanwhile Dunkerton beat Welton 2-0.
■ Corsham Print Wiltshire League
In the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup, Frome Collegians lost 3-0 at home to Corsham Town Reserves.
On Saturday Collegians will hope to bounce back as they host Trowbridge Town.
■ Mid Somerset League
In the Tony Baxter Shield, Frome Collegians Reserves had a 4-1 away win at Somer Valley Sports Reserves. Jack Bradley scored twice for Collegians while Lew Connor and Jimmer Barnes added the others.
Collegians travel to Coleford Athletic Reserves on Saturday.
Paulton Rovers Reserves suffered a 7-1 loss at Mells & Vobster.
Rovers went down after a spirited performance to an impressive Mells & Vobster side.
After an even start the hosts took the lead on 23 minutes as striker Adam Lock opened the scoring.
Two minutes later he slotted home his side’s second and five minutes later a low drive from Luke Litterick made it 3-0. Litterick added his second two minutes later.
In the second half Lock completed his hat-trick on 47 minutes, but the plucky Rovers hit the crossbar through Josh Ayres.
Paulton pulled a goal back in the 50th minute as Aaron Whittock freekick was turned home by centre back Curtis Taylor.
The hosts pressed for more on 58 minutes it was Litterick’s to completed his hat-trick. With 20 minutes remaining Lock made it 7-1, as he grabbed his fourth.
Rovers defended well in the latter stages and Whittock twice had chances.
In the Paulton goal Simon Chivers saw off several good chances and was undoubtedly the visitors’ man of the match.
However Lock who looks more than capable of playing at a much higher standard, was the standout player in the game well refereed by Dave Mott.
Among the results in the Dimmock Green Cup, Wells City A beat Chew Magna Reserves 4-1 at home, while Chilcompton Sports Reserves defeated visitors Mendip Rangers 5-3. Wells host Victoria Sports on Saturday, while Chilcompton travel to Timsbury Athletic Reserves.
■ In line with FA recommendation as a mark of respect for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose funeral takes place at 3pm this Saturday, no games will kick off at that time. Games will be played at either 12.30pm or 4.30pm.