CITY OF SOUTHAMPTON YOUTH LEAGUE U/18 - Sunday 30 Sept 2007

The Salvage Cup kicked-off in some style, with several high-scoring games catching the eye. Top scorers were John Elkin’s Colden Common ‘A’ who disposed of Littleton Juniors ‘B’ 10-1 after initially going a goal behind. Two goals from Mark Course put Common ahead by half-time, after which they hit top form with further goals from James Quigley and a third from Course for his hat-trick. An amazing final ten minutes saw Common add another six goals, Quigley and Course taking their personal tally to four each. A well-deserved goal from the hard-working Rob Pike and a quality strike from Fraser Leach rounded up the goal-scoring, but right-midfielder Greg Young caught the eye with some clever play and a hand in several of the goals. One of the contenders for the Division 1 title, AFC Hiltingbury, followed-up last week’s ten-goal feast with an 8-0 victory against Division 3 side St Francis Phoenix, with several of the goals having a degree of fortune about them. William Lane opened the scoring on 15 minutes after a through-ball from Tom Richards saw the centre forward surge through and slot the ball past the keeper. A minute later Sam Tresman ran through only to be brought down in the box, Sam Oliver finding the bottom corner from the spot. Oliver’s free kick was then headed into his own goal by a St Francis defender and Adam Chamberlain played in man of the match Jonny French to score the fourth on 36 minutes. St Francis regrouped and started to make a game of it and Hiltingbury had to wait until the 65 minute to add to the score. Sam Oliver chased a long through-ball to put pressure on the keeper and the ball fell kindly for William Lane to find the unguarded net. The sixth followed when Tom Richards passed to Jonny French who held off the defender’s challenge to finish well. A delightful four-man move saw Sam Tresman bury the ball in the net with an incisive finish to make it 7-0 on 81 minutes and Sam Oliver rounded off the scoring by slamming the ball into the bottom corner, via a slight deflection. Hiltingbury’s Ian Oliver said “credit must given to the St Francis team who never gave up and in particular their keeper, Danny Martin, who produced a string of fine saves”. Other teams finding the route to goal easily were Botley Village ‘B’, 8-1 winners over Ryde United, Hythe and Dibden who beat S&D ‘B’ by the same score. Tadley Calleva continued their excellent form, 8-3 at home to fellow Division 2 side Itchen Youth, and St Francis Youth edged out QK ‘B’ 5-4 in this meeting of two Division 4 sides. Botley Village ‘A’ put their early league form aside to earn a narrow 6-5 victory away to Worthys, Division 4 side Granley Rovers saw off Division 3 Cherbourg 7-1 and Westwood beat Warsash Wasps 4-1 in an all Division 1 tie.

In league action, QK ‘A’ and Clarendon resumed last-season’s Division 3 title-tussle, now both promoted to Division 1. QK gained revenge for an end-of-season reversal, running out comfortable 4-1 winners, while elsewhere, early pacemakers Hamble ASSC were on the wrong end of a 4-2 score-line at Mich & Tims. Goals at both end in the game between Division 2 leaders Sholing Athletic and S&D ‘A’, Sholing edging it 5-4. McFarlane put S&D ahead but Sholing soon equalized and stormed into a 5-1 lead. However, S&D wouldn’t lie down and fought back with goals from Astridge, Newman and a second from McFarlane. Only a series of saves from the Sholing keeper prevented the equalizer and they held on for the win. More goals came at Hedge End, where the Rangers lost 7-4 to Winchester Castle. The only draw of the week was at the Division 3 meeting between Oakley and Wyvern, the teams sharing ten goals. Bartley maintained their perfect early-season form with a 2-1 win over Bashley. The two games in Division 4 also produced plenty of goalmouth action; Mich & Tims ‘B’ maintained their own good form as leaders, becoming the top scorers in the League after inflicting a 10-1 defeat on Hamble Club. TC Woodman are also unbeaten after inflicting a first defeat on Colden Common ‘B’, 5-2.