Peter Raynbirds Saturday round up for division 1

With their third win in three starts, Sherborne St John FC are emerging as early contenders for the Division One title this season; especially following their 2-0 home win against pre-season favorites Hook FC in this exciting league match. It was a very tight game throughout with both goals coming in the second half. Hook had the better of play in the first half and their best chance fell to Andy Parker who broke through and with only keeper Darren Gary to beat shot over the bar. On came Sherborne substitute Ronnie Tamale and his 30 yard lob in the 65th minute proved too good for Hook FC keeper Greg Archer. 1-0 Sherborne. Five minutes later it was 2-0, when another substitute, Sachin Rai, managed to get round the back of the Hook defence after beating two men with a mazey run, he played the ball across the box for Ibraheem Waheed to stroke the ball home. Sherborne almost made it three, when a shot from Rai hit the inside of the post and rebounded just right for Archer to save. Hook pressed strongly in the dying minutes, Andy Parker came closest when he hit the post. Despite an aerial bombardment from Hook in the closing stages, Sherborne’s defence and keeper Darren Gary coped well with the threat and hung on for the three points.

The former Tadley Calleva First Team striker Peter White, who has stepped down to the A team this season, helped himself to six goals in their 9-1 home win against Basingstoke Labour Club. The Tadley manager Bradley Nash was however full of praise for Dan Walkley who was responsible for laying on most of the goals. Labour suffered a severe set back when after just five minutes their key defender James ‘Macca’ McCallion had to go off due to an injury and with five of his regulars unavailable, Labour Manager Dan Poulter knew he would have problems this week. The first goal came after three minutes and it was Dan Walkley finishing off a cross from Michael Abbott. In the 27th White netted his first from a Walkley cut back and by half time White had completed his hat trick to make the score 4-0. Into the second half he added another three to make his tally six. At 8-0 Mark West replied for Labour after a shot by Cameron George was fumbled by the Tadley keeper Gary Harper. The final Tadley goal was put away by Dave Howard late on in the game.

Following the recent resignation of Danny Smith, The new Overton United ‘A’ management team of Colin Phillmore and Derek Burry, picked up their first point of the season, holding visitors Twentyten to a 2-2 draw. They took the lead after 15 minutes through Matthew Bonner following good play by Miles Englefield. Twentyten replied in the 25th minute when a good ball from Jordon Wainwright found Ryan Upton and his cross was headed home by Joe Osborne. In the 65th minute Overton regained their lead when Joe Lake snapped up a poor back pass from Charlie Hill that fell short of keeper Jack Nicholson. The TwentyTen equalizer came in the 83rd minute when Matt Talmage popped up at the back post to head home the perfect cross from Chistian Cox. The visitors almost snatched the winner at the death through Charlie Manning who coasted past three men only to see his shot hit the post, the rebound fell to Frank Spacagna who with a great chance blasted over the bar from inside the six yard box.

Second placed Hampshire Irons FC met Basingstoke Athletic FC and forced a 2-2 draw after trailing 2-0 at Brighton Hill. A 35 yard rocket from Ryan Evans gave Athletic a tenth minute lead and it became 2-0 in the 20th minute when Irons scored an own goal. It was the unfortunate Gavin Curry who made a mess of a goal line clearance and he ended up beating his own keeper Jack Rickard as the ball looped off his boot, over Rickard and into the net for an own goal. Despite this set back, Irons hit back before the break with a goal from Kieran Dent, a firm headed finsih following a cross from Tom L’Heureux. The second half was pretty scrappy with few chances created. With four minutes left to play Ben Haskins saw Athletic’s Keeper James Lounton well off his line in no man’s land and he decided to have a go from 50 yards out, the ball flew into the top corner past the helpless keeper to earn Irons a deserved point.