Westend 3 Hutton Res 2 - WESTEND'S first fixture of the year was also only the third game since October.

Westend 3

Hutton Res 2

WESTEND'S first fixture of the year was also only the third game since October.

A rusty start was expected, but manager Allard-Morgan was surprised when the home side went on the attack from the off in the Vardon Cup.

A quick succession of chances fell the way of Mike Smith, Rich Jones and Will Joyce, but a combination of last-ditch blocks and some great saves kept the game level.

At the other end, Hutton nearly took the lead when a mis-kick at the back presented a clear shot at goal, but the ball was blasted high over the bar. Home keeper Scott Hunter was alert when called on, making a series of top class saves to keep Westend level.

The defence of Bale, Steve Jones, Sheppard and captain Wearing were more than a match for the Hutton attack, and this provided the platform for the midfield to push on. The half finished goalless.

The second started in disaster as a spilled cross was presented to the on-rushing Hutton forward. The lead however was short lived as the introduction of Ian Wakenshaw for his second spell at the club, provided a fresh attacking approach. A combination of Joyce and Killcoyne fed Rich Jones and his shot was parried to Smith and Killcoyne, the shot being bundled on the line, but Will Joyce was on hand to stab it home.

Good work again from Jones and Killcoyne found Wakenshaw free on the right, his through ball was poked home by Rich Jones, despite clashing with the keeper.

The third followed shortly after when good passing between Bale and Sheppard provided Steve Jones with space to filter a pass through to Smith, who obliged with the third.

A rolling tackle from Wearing resulted in a free kick, and Hutton took full advantage to make it 3-2, but it was not to be enough.

Man of the match was shared between Joyce and Killcoyne.

Weston Super Seagulls 2

Kewstoke Lions 3

THIS was always going to be a tough Knockout Cup game with Kewstoke not playing a match for four weeks over the festive period.

The pitch was hard and frozen in places, and Kewstoke found it hard to play their usual free flowing game. Weston Super Seagulls came at Kewstoke and were not going to make it an easy game with hard but fair tackles all over the pitch.

The first 10 minutes saw most of the play in midfield but a string of misplaced passes put the Kewstoke defence of Phil Hewett, Rich Collins, Leon Brueford and Steve Channing under great pressure.

Then against the run of play Steve Channing broke down the left in a neat passing move with Hockey and Adam Brueford before putting a through ball to Ben Westgarth who squared to Craig Baird who headed in at the near post.

A mix-up saw a Kewstoke player get caught in possession and the Seagulls were in. Kewstoke took the player down on the edge of the box. Club captain and stand in goalkeeper Nic Blake was beaten by the free kick.

Another break just before half time saw Steve Channing beat several players down the left and a neat pass to Ben Westgarth saw Kewstoke take the lead going into half time.

At the start of the second half, Kewstoke lost Rich and Baird through injury, although Brewer and Charlie coming on seemed to swing the game in Kewstoke's favour. Brewer on his first team debut began upsetting the Seagulls defence with his pace and was rewarded for his efforts with a fine goal.

Kewstoke's final change saw Andrew Wilson come on to make his debut on the right. As Kewstoke sat back on their two-goal lead, Super Seagulls began to press. With 10 minutes left the Gulls got a second.

Phil Hockey and Phil Hewett were close but Mike Warburton's man of the match goes to Steve Channing.

Kewstoke's next game is on Saturday at home to Highbridge Town in the last 16 of the Somerset Cup.

Worle Rangers 8

Axbridge Town Res 4

RANGERS got back to winning ways in Division 6 although the score flattered the home side.

Rangers started the stronger, retaining possession well with Liam Willment and Chris McKee looking dangerous up front. Axbridge took the lead from a fine cross and header, but Worle responded well, as Phil Dean followed up a McKee free kick to draw the sides level, and McKee then won and converted a penalty to fire Rangers ahead.

McKee notched his second to put Worle 3-1 up but Axbridge battled back well and pulled a goal back before half time to make the score 3-2 as the sides changed ends.

The goal-scoring did not let up in the second half, Dave Knight and Marc Trewern scored in quick succession to put Worle 5-2 up, but Axbridge were not yet beaten as they fought back with two goals.

A fantastic volley from Jaimie Ingersent with 10 minutes to go ensured victory for Worle, and the icing was put on the cake as McKee completed his hat-trick and Ingersent scored his second.

Rangers man of the match went to Chris McKee.

Results:

Knockout Cup, round 1: Weston Super Seagulls 2, Kewstoke Lions 3.

Vardon Cup round 1: Blagdon 5, Berrow Res 2; Westend 3, Hutton Res 2.

Division 1: East Worle 7, Bournville Rovers 2.

Division 2: Worle Res 0, Selkirk United 4.

Division 5: Dynamo Dury 2, Sparta Kewstoke 3.

Division 6: Dynamo Dury Res 4, St George (EiG) B 1; Sporting Weston 5, Yatton Athletic A 1; Worle Rangers 8, Axbridge Town Res 4.

All other games postponed, frozen pitches.

Fixtures for Saturday

Atwell Shield, round 1 (2pm): AFC Nailsea v Cheddar A (A Fry); Berrow Res v Weston St John's Res (D Pinnock); Churchill Club 70 Res v Congresbury Res (S Clarke); Clevedon Dons v Wedmore (J Skinner); Hutton v Draycott (K Summers); Tickenham United v Portishead Town A (P Fowler).

Knockout Cup, round 1 (2pm): Clevedon United A v Milton Crusaders (G Croker).

Vardon Cup, round 1 (2pm): Clevedon United B v Banwell Res (A Croker); East Worle Res v King Alfred Sports Centre (M Sprague).

Keyes Cup, round 1 (2pm): Sparta Kewstoke v KVFC Res (P Reynolds).

Page Shield, round 1 (2pm): Dolphin Athletic v Weston Super Seagulls (N Brown); Dynamo Dury Res v Wedmore Res (J Geer); St George (EiG) B v AFC Nailsea Res (K Fox); Yatton Athletic A v Axbridge Town (P Fisher).

Davis Shield preliminary round (2pm): Portishead Town B v Winscombe A (N Wakley).

Division 1 (2.30pm): Bournville Rovers v Cleeve West Town Res (Jo Stimpson); Nailsea United A v East Worle (L Gillam).

Division 2 (2.30pm): Clarence Park v Yatton Athletic Res (D Carstensen); Locking Park v Westland United Res (T Billinghurst); Winscombe Res v Selkirk United (C Ham).

Division 3 (2.30pm): Burnham United A v Cleeve West Town A (S Cahill); Nailsea United B v Wrington Redhill Res (J Cooper); Axbridge Town v Kewstoke Lions Res (R Perkins).

Division 4 (2.30pm): Blagdon v Nailsea United Colts (O Lukins); South Park Rangers v Westend (H Hendricks).

Division 5 (2.30pm): Bournville Rovers Res v Kewstoke Lions A (W Dancer); Portishead Town Colts v St George (EiG) (N Rawlings).

Division 6 (2.30pm): Weston Players v Sporting Weston (J Billinghurst); Worle Rangers v Selkirk United Res (M Gavin).