Worle Rangers started the new season with a defeat against Axbridge Town.

Axbridge Town 2

Worle Rangers 1

A NEW-look Rangers took to the pitch with high hopes for the Division 3 season ahead.

The back four with Wilson and Quick had a familiar feel to it though, with Jakeman in goal. There was a welcome return for Imrie and Martin Williams at right back, supported by Bray in midfield.

Axbridge made Rangers pay for a high defensive line when their attacker broke through to score. Rangers recomposed themselves after this and Owen looked to free Stephens and Raymond on the flanks.

Rangers pressure from set pieces told later on in the first-half and it was Imrie who scored to make it 1-1 at half-time.

The second half was a similar story, but it was Axbridge who took the lead following a defensive mix-up. Craig was added to the fray for a creative spark and Prime came on and was strong at right back.

Unfortunately, Rangers were unable to add to the score line which ended in a 2-1 defeat.

Martin Williams looked assured at right back with a strong performance, but it was the returning John Imrie who pipped him to the Curry Garden man of the match.

Shipham 2

Wedmore 0

SHIPHAM got their Division 3 title challenge off to the best possible start with a 2-0 win over Wedmore.

Shipham controlled the first-half, but chances came and went before Adam Parsons and Kyle Hobden combined on the edge of the area, allowing Hobden to give Shipham the lead at the break.

Shipham extended their lead four minutes into the second half, when Lee Stacey put a ball over the top to Matt Hollow, who crossed for Chris Green to volley home. Wedmore came back into the game in the last 30 minutes, but the defence held firm and Shipham ran out 2-0 winners.

Man of the match went to Kyle Hobden.

Kewstoke Lions Res 0

Wrington-Redhill Res 2

NEWLY-promoted Wrington opened their Division 4 campaign with a great win over Kewstoke.

Wrington had to wait until the 30th minute to score when Louis Rouvaris gave the keeper no chance with a great strike from 12 yards.

Manager Julian Moss was able to start two of his new signings Dave Pullin and Paul Faulkner, both players marking their debut with great performances. New keeper Jean luc Rouvaris looked comfortable between the posts with some neat handling.

It was the keeper who set up his brother for his second of the match on 40 minutes with a long goal kick that Louis was able to outpace the defenders and chipped the advancing keeper for a 2-0 lead.

On 55 minutes, Tom Johnson replaced the hard-working James Marshall up front and nearly scored with his first touch from a corner. Wrington introduced another new signing Lee Brean, whose fresh legs helped out Pullin and Paul Burnett in midfield.

Wrington were able to show off their new second kit with thanks to sponsor Nick Taplin of Marco Pierre Whites restaurant at Double Tree by Hilton Cadbury House. Wrington’s man of the match was Dave Pullin.

Shipham Reserves 5

South Park Rangers 2

SHIPHAM Reserves’ Division 5 season started at home against South Park Rangers and registered a 5-2 victory.

Shipham conceded a goal early on, but intricate play from Sam Nicholas on the half-hour saw him equalise. A swift counter-attack and impressive first-time finish from South Park put the visitors in the lead again.

With more great play, Nicholas was able to beat the offside trap to level for the second time, leaving it 2-2 at the break.

The second half saw Shipham playing well and South Park struggled to keep up with the home team’s pace and skill from the front three, and strong battling qualities of the midfield, including an impressive debut from Bradley Thomas.

Shipham’s third goal came as their keeper sent the ball long, sending the South Park centre half into a scramble and he nudged it past his own goalkeeper.

Paul Stead earned a free kick, which he took himself, and the ball ricocheted off the man on the line allowing Nicholas to complete his hat-trick.

More great work from Paul Stead sent James Bailey clear to be brought down in the penalty area earning a penalty, which he converted to make it 5-2 to Shipham.

The man of the match award went to Sam Nicholas, narrowly ahead of Brad Thomas.

Worle Rangers Res 3

Clevedon Utd B 2

WORLE Rangers Reserves made an excellent start to the new Division 5 season, recording a first home win and a valuable three points.

Clevedon created the better chances early on, but the Rangers defence of Watts, Williams, Jay, Trewern and keeper Hockey held firm. Rangers had chances through Ayers, Quick and Cockle, but the first-half remained goal-less.

After the break, Williams opened the scoring with a low shot. However, the home side conceded almost immediately before Trewern gave Rangers the lead again.

Clevedon equalised from the penalty spot and were looking dangerous, but Williams produced another strong run, followed by a low finish for his second goal and Rangers third.

Special mention to Mickey Ayers who battled well all day and Les Quick, but the Curry Garden man of the match went to Tom Williams.

RESULTS

Division 1: Clevedon Utd Res 8, Berrow Res 1; Hutton 4, Nailsea Utd A 2; Portishead Town A 1, Yatton Ath Res 0; Tickenham Utd 1, Cleeve West Town Res 0; Winscombe Res 4, Churchill Club 70 Res 0.

Division 2: Burnham Utd A 2, Langford Rovers Res 3; Clevedon Dons 5, St George (E-i-G) Res 3; Clevedon Utd A 7, Nailsea Utd B 2; Draycott 2, Congresbury Res 2; Locking Park 1, Weston Super Seagulls 1.

Division 3: AFC Nailsea 2, Uphill Castle Res 0; Axbridge Town 2, Worle Rangers 1; Banwell Res 3, Portishead Town B 0; Shipham 2, Wedmore 0; Westend 4, Winscombe A 4.

Division 4: KVFC 1, Cheddar A 2; Kewstoke Lions Res 0, Wrington Redhill Res 2; Pill Utd 2, Hutton Res 3.

Division 5: Clapton-in-Gordano 1, Priory Rangers 6; Dolphin Ath 5, Portishead Town Colts 6; Shipham Res 5, South Park Rangers 2; Worle Res 0, Portishead Caledonian Thistle 3.

Division 6: Banwell A 0, Axbridge Town Res 5; Berrow A 7, Burnham Utd B 2; Westend Res 2, Wedmore Res 5; Worle Rangers Res 3, Clevedon Utd B 2.

FIXTURES

Atwell Shield preliminary round: Yatton Ath Res v Churchill Club 70 Res (S Clark).

Division 1: Berrow Res v Tickenham Utd (P Maxey); Hutton v Winscombe Res (A Smith); Nailsea Utd A v Cleeve West Town Res (I Campbell); Portishead Town A v Clevedon Utd Res (A Lambourne).

Division 2: Burnham Utd A v Nailsea Utd B (A Raggett); Congresbury Res v Clevedon Dons (L Gillam); St George (E-i-G) Res v Clevedon Utd A (S Acton); Weston Super Seagulls v Langford Rovers Res (R Connelly).

Division 3: Axbridge Town v AFC Nailsea (T Billinghurst); Banwell Res v Shipham (D Poole); Portishead Town B v Uphill Castle Res (D Pinnock); Wedmore v Westend (M Collins); Worle Rangers v Winscombe A (J Skinner).

Division 4: Cheddar A v Pill Utd (J Billinghurst); King Alfred SC v Hutton Res (I Smith); KVFC v Kewstoke Lions Res (K Fox); Nailsea Utd Colts v Cleeve West Town A (N Wakley); St George (E-i-G) A v Wrington Redhill Res (tba).

Division 5: Congresbury A v Clapton-in-Gordano (R Liddiard); Portishead Caledonian Thistle v Shipham Res (J Collard); Selkirk Utd v Portishead Town Colts (B Dancer); South Park Rangers v Dolphin Ath (M Sprague); Worle Res v Priory Rangers (G Bristow).

Division 6: AFC Nailsea Res v Banwell (S Underhay); Burnham Utd B v Worle Rangers Res (F Ferrari); Clevedon Utd B v Berrow A (tba).