Match Reports from Division 3 & Combination Division. A 5 star display by Connor Simpson sees the Lions off to a great start

In Division Three there was mixed emotions for the two new boys of the League. The Wheatsheaf started their first ever Sheppey Sunday League campaign with an action packed game against Park Regis A which really was definitely a game of two halves. The game got off to a tentative start with no clear cut chances early on. Wheatsheaf pressure proved too much and a defensive lapse of concentration let in Timmy 'Twinkle Toes' May to open the scoring for the Wheatsheaf with the goal keeper getting a touch. Then, a neat through ball by Club Captain Grant Bartlett put Paul Zweck through who coolly slid the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2 . The first half goal scoring was rounded off by Bartlett who got enough on the ball to direct it in to the back of the net off his chest, making it 3-0 at half time. The second half saw Park Regis 'A' come out of the blocks quickly and tallied up two early goals in the first ten minutes with strikes by Joe Brown and Ricky Frost to make it an exciting 3-2. Then against the run of play Zweck assisted Paul Coombs with another neat through ball, leaving Coombs to bravely toe poke it in to make it 4-2. From then on the fight back was on with Park Regis 'A' clawing it back to 4-4 with goals from Brown again and Dan Tye. Once again Timmy 'Twinkle Toes' May managed to get The Wheatsheaf's nose in front with a cool finish leaving Park Regis 'A' to equalise late with a goal from James Rogers to make the final score 5-5. Late on Bartlett had the best chance to clinch the winner but his well placed shot went wide. The other Divisions new boys the Fox & Goose got a stark lesson from the Nags Head side with a 10-1 drubbing. Goals from Gary Toms, Anthony Unsworth, Michael Bond, Darren Delport, 2 from Andy Turner, a Nathan Ward hat trick, and an own goal saw a sorry looking Goose side off, with Sabeur Trabelsi scoring the consolation. Isle of Sheppey Academy Reserves and Red Lion C cancelled each other out to finish with a 0-0 draw, and Classic Real and Aviator Reserves battled out a 2-2 draw with goals from Ross Faloyo and Jack Kingsford with Darren Morgan and Steve Woods replying for the Aviator.

All the League’s new sides kicked off their season in the Combination Division with Connor Simpson being the star of the Division and the League this week with a five star performance for Sittingbourne Lions in their game against Murston Hammers. The game started brightly with both sides having a fair share of the ball but it was the Lions that grew into the game and a move down the left hand side released Lee Clarke to open the scoring. Lions continued to press and were rewarded a 2nd when Connor Simpson rounded the keeper to give them a 2-0 half time advantage. The second period continued to see the Lions dominate and soon made it 3 after some good work down the right from Lloyd James who played in Simpson to drive home from the edge of the area. The rout was over when Simpson then made it 4 from the penalty spot before Nick Coles made it 5 latching onto a cross from Lewis Fryer. Simpson then helped himself to his 4th of the game to make it 6. The Murston consolation goal was a well worked free kick by Greg Joseph to make it 6-1. The prolific Simpson completed the hammering by scoring his 5th of the game to make the final score an impressive 7-1 to the Lions. Teynham Gunners played against their local rivals Lynten in their first outing in men’s competitive football for the first time in their Club’s history and came out winners with four goals to nil. The game was closer than the score line suggests but Teynham capitalised on some good fortune and made sure they finished their chances in front of goal. Teynham kept Lynten busy in defence with Beau Spree getting his hat-trick, including a penalty, and left back Jordan Cox getting the fourth with a long range strike from the left wing late in the game to complete their first Sunday of the league. Manager Mark Spree said he was encouraged by the good performance and teamwork from the whole squad. Swale Knights found themselves twice coming from behind in this game to equalise but a bizarre goal from the Range Rovers Athletic goalkeeper Shane Sutton sealed the points for the Rovers. Sutton punting the ball up field which saw the ball bounce before the Knights keeper who clearly misjudged the bounce and could only watch the ball sail over his head into the empty goal. The Knights ill discipline cost them dear by having Bullen and Hayes sent off and two goals from Steve Curtis gave the Rovers victory with Ricky Wigglesworth scoring both the Knights goals. Inter Milton looked like they were heading for a draw with Cheema when a last gasp goal from Sam Rough sealed the points for Cheema. Goals from Darren Garrett and Gordon Wright for Cheema and strikes by Aaron Blackbourne and Phil Austin for Milton looked like they had shared the points until Rough’s late show. Queens Head got their first win of the season under their belt with a 2-1 win over Sporting Sittingbourne with goals from Luke Rowland and James Hewitt with Ed Panting grabbing the goal for Sporting.

League Secretary Mark Rogers said “I am very pleased with the way the opening day has gone we only had two games not fully covered by 3 Qualified Assistants and at the games I was at the standard of football was very good. So I am very pleased.”