CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON YOUTH LEAGUE U/18 - Sunday 23 Sept 2007

Hiltingbury certainly gave early notice of their title aspirations in Division 1, thumping ten without reply past injury-hit Gurnard. New signing Aaron Elam made an instant impression with an excellent debut hat-trick, earning manager Ian Oliver’s man of the match award. Ahead within the first minute through Adam Chamberlain, Sam Tresman added the second on 10 minutes and Elam’s first goal came on 20 minutes.  Gurnard defended well, but Hiltingbury captain James Atterbury headed home shortly after the break and the fifth was Elam’s second on 54 minutes followed by strike partner William Lane’s goal on 59 minutes for the sixth. Elam completed his hat-trick on 71 minutes with another powerful strike before another debutant, Jonny French, slammed in his first goal for the club on 79 minutes.  With Gurnard tiring, Hiltingbury made it 10-0 with goals in the last four minutes from Tom Langford and Sam Tresman. Oliver paid tribute to the Gurnard team for battling bravely and never giving up, despite losing centre-back Simon Gilpin in the first half, with a dislocated a shoulder. “Hiltingbury showed just how fit they are, with some excellent passing and superb goal scoring” was how Gurnard’s Eileen Payani summed up the game, paying tribute to her side’s captain, Mike Dalchow and winger Charlie Payani. Elsewhere, Clarendon Juniors and Michelmersh & Timsbury fought out a 1-1 draw, M&T took a seventh minute lead from the penalty spot, but Dan Smith leveled 20 minutes from time when he latched on to Spencer Horton’s headed flick on. In the game between last week’s six-hitters, Hamble ASSC had the better of Westwood, edging a high-scoring game 5-3.

Tadley Calleva seem to have settled well, seeing-off Hythe and Dibden 10-1 in Division 2. Sholing Athletic earned another narrow victory, easing past Winchester Castle 3-2 and Littleton Juniors maintained their good start, seeing off the visiting S&D 4-0 Romsey Town fell behind in the first half at Alresford Town and went further behind to a penalty, but after long-range efforts from Sam Melin and Joe Urquhart were easily dealt with by the Alresford goalkeeper, Romsey pulled one back. Fine interplay by Tom O'Meara and Ethan James put Perry Harding through and his low cross was converted by the lively Mitch Holmes. Alresford scored again from long range to make it 3-1 at half time but a superb strike from Perry Harding made it 3-2 and Romsey levelled through Tom O'Meara's first time shot. Romsey were now in control and went ahead when a speculative shot by Joe Urquhart slipped though the unfortunate keepers hands and just crossed the line. The fifth and final goal came when the pacy Josh Wilson broke though the home defence and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper. . The other game saw Hedge End and Itchen Youth share the spoils in a 3-3 draw.

Division 3 has seen Bishops Waltham Dynamos and S&D take the lead, both having high-scoring victories for the second week running. Dynamos had a 6-2 win over Botley Village and, despite falling behind to early goals at Colden Common, from Mark Course and James Quigley, S&D eventually switched on to draw level. Common went ahead again with Quigley’s second, but S&D eventually went 5-3 in front. Course pulled one back but a late goal finished it at 6-4. S&D’s goals came from hat-trick hero Tom Wilkinson, Matt Peach, Tom Annabal and Joe Hill’s first touch after coming on as substitute. Common’s disappointed Manager, John Elkin, picked out Rob Pike as his Man of the Match for his high-tempo display. Wyvern will have been delighted to notch a 3-0 win at Cherbourg and Bartley Youth earned another narrow victory, this time with a single-goal victory over Oakley Youth. Hamble United picked up their first points, beating Bashley 4-3 away.

In Division 4, Colden Common enjoyed a fine 6-0 away Win at Hamble Club, their goals coming from Kieron Brockway (hat-trick), Ashley Vigor, Alex Warren and a penalty from Robert Phillips. Botley Village are off the mark with a 2-1 win over Worthies and QK followed up a five-goal win last week by going one better in a 6-4 demolition of Granley Rovers. Littleton went down 3-1 at home to St Francis and a fine 5-2 win for Mich and Tims over Hythe United competed the day's fixtures.