CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON YOUTH LEAGUE U/18 - Sunday 28 Oct 2007

The Second round Salvage Cup games last weekend again threw up some high-scoring games, taking top-spot for finding the net were Romsey Town, 10-1 winners against Bottle Village B. Ramsey started brightly in terrible conditions, going close on several occasions, most notably through Sam Melin who, with just the keeper to beat, twice put the ball past the post. They finally took the lead when a Botley player unfortunately miscued a clearance into his own goal. Romsey continued to dominate and Melin made amends for his earlier misses when he raced from the half line to coolly slide the ball underneath the advancing keeper. A lapse in the Romsey defence allowed Botley to pull one back, but Romsey then scored the third when the hard working Joe Urquhart thumped the ball home. Romsey sustained their pressure to score their fourth by a close range tap- in from Ethan James. Urquhart scored his second and Romsey's fifth after a fine though ball by Gregg Lewis. Tom O'Meara capped a fine first half display by making it 6-0 just before half time. The second half started much like the first, with Romsey playing some fine one touch football, and not allowing Botley to settle. Ethan James scored Romsey's seventh following up a rebound after the Botley keeper made a good save. Sam Melin added his second, Romsey's eighth, after the lively Mitch Holmes created the opening for him. Romsey's ninth came from a Dan Wateridge free kick, headed back across goal by Josh Barnes for Gregg Lewis to tap in. Romsey's final goal was well deserved reward for Tom Munday, whose overall performance was exceptional.

Giant-killer award must go to Division 3 side Bashley, who visited Division 2 leaders Sholing Athletic and triumphed 2-0. Hiltingbury continued their excellent start to the season with their sixth consecutive victory in all competitions, however, this was a very untypical performance from the 1^st Division outfit with Bishops Waltham playing some great football and producing a very spirited performance.  Bishops could have gone ahead from the penalty spot when Matt Peach was brought down, but captain George Brooks lifted his shot over the bar. Rather than being downhearted by this missed opportunity, the Division 3 side took the lead with a superb goal on 49 minutes, a fast break from defence ended with Matt Peach’s calm finish. Hiltingbury responded well and after manager Ian Oliver had rung the changes in bringing on all three subs, Hiltingbury took control of the match.  On 65 minutes Ed Barrow delivered a great cross which Aaron Elam flicked on to the far post for Jonny French to head home.  With 15 minutes remaining Hiltingbury grabbed the winner somewhat fortuitously when, after a goal mouth scramble, Adam Baker cleared the ball off the line only for it to strike Hiltingbury’s Ryan Darvill in the chest and fly into the net.   Manager Ian Oliver was delighted with the win: “To win when we did not play well is an excellent achievement, but credit must be given to Bishop Waltham who fought and worked incredibly hard to make the game very difficult for us.  Their keeper, Kiean Jones produced a string of fine saves in the second half and was surely man of the match”.

Division 1 table-toppers Hamble ASSC squashed any faint hopes that Colden Common B may have had of giant-killing. The Division 4 side went down 9-0 at home. TC Woodman are having an excellent start to their season, but the Division 4 leaders were on the wrong end of a 6-0 score-line when visited Winchester Castle from Division 2. Another Division 2 side, Tadley Calleva, are still enjoying good form and they maintained their perfect start by seeing off Colden Common A, 8-2. Wyvern are a club enjoying better fortune this season, they progressed at the expense of Hamble Club, a 3-0 win for the Division 3 side over their Division 4 opponents. Division 3 strugglers Botley Village A continued their recent history of featuring in high-scoring games, their defence again shipping goals, but as usual they were able to score at the other end, losing 5-4 to Division 1 side Westwood. Top division plays bottom saw Mich & Tims A make the difference tell with a 9-1 win over Granley Rovers and Gurnard’s 4-3 win against St Francis Youth was their first of the season. The remaining games all went with league position, Hamble United beat Oakley 3-1, QK Southampton A are still going well, but only just edged past Hedge End Rangers, 3-2. Alresford Town also had a narrow victory, their tie ended with them just shading their meeting with Mich & Tims B 3-2. Littleton Juniors A also had a 3-2 scoreline, over fellow Division 2 side S&D A.

Only two league games to report; St Francis Phoenix again demonstrated their liking for high-scoring games, drawing with S&D B in their Division 3 fixture. Phoenix were 4-2 ahead but conceded late goals to draw 4-4. QK Southampton B visited bottom-placed Worthys in the only Division 4 fixture and had a comfortable 5-1 win.