18th October 09

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AFC Hiltingbury went top of Division 1, writes Alan Johns, their 2-1 victory over Lyndhurst was the first defeat for the New Forest side. Calmore Rangers have also made a good start to the season and they took the lead away to Wyvern when Dan Flower took advantage of defensive frailty to tuck the ball in the bottom corner. Uncertainty at the other end saw Wyvern draw level through Aaron Rowles.  Wyvern keeper Craig Broomfield saved well before Rowles turned provider to set up Joe Moore’s fine shot at the start of the second-half. Calmore’s own Moore, striker Adam, drew his team level as their midfield of Adam Cooper and Matt Alford started to take control of the game. Wyvern’s dual strike-force were posing problems for Calmore’s defence but it was Calmore who snatched the points when substitute Eliomar Delgardo had the final touch after a scramble in the Wyvern goal area with ten minutes left. Joe Moore set up John Collings in the final minute but shot tamely leaving Calmore to celebrate their 3-2 win. Hamble United found being top of Division 2 something to enjoy while it lasts and they were shot down 5-0 at Dougland. Bitterne A had an equally unhappy day, losing 7-0 to visitors Hedge End Rangers A and Oakwood just had the better of Shanklin, their 4-3 result suggesting a more evenly matched game.

In Division 3, BTC (Southampton) had the most emphatic result, 5-0 against visitors Cherbourg, although Portswood United’s 5-2 win over Sporting Wessex ran them close. Lymington Town just had the better of St Francis Rovers, just edging it 3-2. Division 4 leaders Crofton Saints’ perfect start was ruined by Hamble Club, the Islanders losing by the single goal of the game. Hedge End Rangers C enjoyed a 4-2 win at Baddesley Park as they enjoy a decent start to the season themselves. Draws are usually few and far between, but there were two in this division, at Hythe, where the Spitfires and Botley Village drew a blank and at Littleton, where the Juniors drew 1-1 with Warsash Wasps.

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Romsey Town completed an early-season Division 1 double over a Winchester side who never got into their stride, writes Alan Johns. The home team were more determined and soon began to dominate and it was no surprise when they took the lead after five minutes. Two further goals before half-time extended their lead in a first half that saw the visitors struggle to make any impact. After the interval Winchester at last got into the game and started to carve out some chances of their own and a fine passing move involving Matt Holbrook and Umar Chaudry was finished off by Ben Jowitt. His well-struck, angled shot gave the Romsey keeper no chance. Although Winchester continued to enjoy plenty of possession, they couldn’t manage to find another goal and Romsey’s direct play enabled them to add two further goals to make it 5-1 at the final whistle. It was a disappointing day for Winchester, although Josh Alexander, Jowitt and Holbrook all had good games. Salisbury City started well against Eastleigh Spitfires and a free-kick from Eddie Cottle found Ben Brown in space to open the scoring on ten minutes. They doubled their lead when another great through ball from Cottle again found Brown. Two goals down a half-time, but although Spitfires came more into the game in the second-half, Salisbury increased their lead after Anietie Akpan was fouled in the penalty area. Brown completed his hat-trick at the second attempt from the spot and Salisbury should have added another goal from the spot but the penalty was saved, making the final score 3-0.

Itchen (Tyro) continued their bright start to the season in Division 2 with a 6-3 win at Hedge End Blues, as did New Milton Town Robins who won 2-1 away to Bitterne Rangers. Marchwood Rangers beat Hedge End Rangers 1-0. Clarendon Juniors bandwagon rolled on at the top of Division 3 by beating QK Southampton 3-0 on their own ground, Testwood United had a 3-2 victory over Hamble Club and AFC Stoneham also enjoyed extending their successful run by beating Alderbury 3-2. League leaders Burridge raced into a an early two-goal lead against City Central in what was arguably the Division 4 match of the day, both goals coming from Candy. City pushed hard and had equalised by half-time and then took the lead from a well-struck free-kick, but Burridge battled hard and were rewarded with a well-taken goal to make it 3-2. The play then went from end to end but City had the better finishing and scored two more goals at the end, to end a very entertaining match as 5-3 winners. Hamble United found their shooting boots and went wild, winning 8-0 at home to S&D, their fast pace earned them a four-goal half-time lead with goals from Jake Bessant’s two and one-apiece from  Lewis Granger and Shane Rose. The second-half was much the same and Hamble doubled their lead with more goals from Bessant, Rose, Jordan Grant and Aaron Trotter. Hamble’s Manager, Glenn Andrews was eager to pay tribute not only to his own team’s performance, but the way that S&D played the game and didn’t give up. Baddesley Park’s 6-0 away win at Botley Village was another high-scoring game and Mich & Tims inflicted a 2-0 defeat on AFC Aldermoor.