THE dedicated band of players and officials who worked on the Coleridge Road playing surface from 9.30am were rewarded for their efforts when Sports Bar recorded a victory over highly fancied Merriott Rovers in the Somerset Intermediate Cup.

Weston St Johns Sports Bar 1

Merriott Rovers 0

THE dedicated band of players and officials who worked on the Coleridge Road playing surface from 9.30am were rewarded for their efforts when Sports Bar recorded a victory over highly fancied Merriott Rovers in the Somerset Intermediate Cup.

Goalmouth action was at a premium in a passionate encounter, but Sports Bar custodian Garth Flynn coped well with all that came his way.

The all-important goal came in the last minute of the game when a free-kick from Kelly Tyson was flicked on by Lee Neilson in to the path of Kieran Marsden. His bicycle kick was forced over the line by Matt Ware to spark jubilant scenes amongst the supporters.

The Ware brothers were their usual consistent high quality, as were Paul Marsh, Kelly Tyson and Kieran Marsden. Assistant manager Jon O’ Brien deserves praise for a good performance in testing circumstances, but the man of the match accolade kindly sponsored by Edge Barbers of Alfred Street went to Matt Ware.

Cup holders Sports Bar face Axbridge Town in round one of the Atwell Shield on Saturday (1.45pm).

Westend 6

Winscombe A 1

WESTEND had suffered their heaviest defeat of the season away to Winscombe at the start of the season, and were looking to make amends.

The defence of Rich and Bianca Jones, Adam Barnett and Craig Smith dealt well with any Winscombe attack. Westend’s first chance came when Smith won a penalty from Dave White’s through ball, but Bianca Jones’ shot was easily saved.

The first goal came after Mark Puddy laid off to Ross Killcoyne to feed Mike Smith, who then scored. Winscombe responded, but were denied by keeper Mark Rawlins on many occasions.

Westend went further ahead when Barnett won the ball in defence and fed Will Joyce. Barnett continued his run into the box and scored from Joyce’s pass.

After the break, Mike Smith grabbed his second with a close range finish. Winscombe pulled a goal back with a drive by Mark Brown. Westend increased their lead with two goals from Craig Smith.

The afternoon was complete when Mike Smith drilled home from 10 yards to complete his hat-trick and seal a great win for Westend.

Man of the match went to Mark Rawlins.

RESULTS

Division 4: Cheddar A 4, Clevedon United A 1; Westend 6, Winscombe A 1.

Division 5: South Park Rangers 0, Portishead Town Colts 7.

FIXTURES

Hospital Cup semi-final: Kewstoke Lions v Nailsea Town Res (J Skinner).

Knockout Cup preliminary round: Congresbury Res v Bournville Rovers (K Fox).

Atwell Shield round 1: Clevedon Dons v Cheddar A (N Wakley); East Worle v Portishead WMC (M Sprague); Nailsea Utd A v Churchill Club 70 Res (J Billinghurst); St George (E-i-G) Res v Berrow Res (S Clarke); Selkirk Utd v Draycott (T Billinghurst); Sporting Weston v Wedmore (M Gavin); Weston St Johns Sports Bar v Axbridge Town (C Simmons); Yatton Ath Res v Clevedon Utd Res (J Geer).

Division 1: Hutton v Cleeve West Town Res (S Quinton).

Division 2: Winscombe Res v Nailsea Utd B (S Yianni).

Division 3: Cleeve West Town A v Worle Res (A Tremlett).

Division 4: King Alfred SC v Tickenham Utd (K Summers); Nailsea Utd Colts v Hutton Res (T Newbury); Wrington Redhill Res v Winscombe A (N Rawlings).

Division 5: AFC Nailsea v South Park Rangers (J Newbury); Banwell Res v Selkirk Utd Res (L Grindle); Dolphin Ath v East Worle Res (H Hendricks); Draycott Res v Weston Super Seagulls (D Renshaw); Portishead Town Colts v St George (E-i-G) A (N Aston).

Division 6: Axbridge Town Res v St George (E-i-G) B (P Fisher); Wedmore Res v AFC Nailsea Res (W Dancer); Weston Players v Worle Rangers (S Davies); Yatton Ath A v KVFC (D Pinnock).