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For all the latest news, reports, results and tables from the 2006-2007 season…

 

            Cropley’s Suzuki Boston Sunday League

           

 

SUNDAY LEAGUE week-by week reports 2006-2007

NOVEMBER 2006

 

November 26 round-up

 

Workforce Unlimited Premier Division

 

Boston College had the better of the first half against fellow title contenders the Newcastle and should have taken the lead just 15 minutes in when the usually reliable Dean Seiner found himself in a one-on-one with the keeper. But this time he fired his shot wide of the gaping goal. His team, though, took the lead when young Jamie Skinner scored a superb goal, firing into the top corner. But it was a short-lived lead as just five minutes later the Castle equalised against the run of play. Michael Gardner sent a great cross and Mark Lovelace headed home to score his 21st goal of the season. The second half was a different story as the Castle took control. Mark Lovelace added yet another goal to his tally, with a super lob over the keeper. With five minutes remaining, Lee Dakin rolled the ball into the net to complete the score. The Castle also saw two players cautioned for dissent – Ty Fravigar and Kev Bushell.  Jamie Kuhn was outstanding in his first game back following a six-week lay-off through injury.

 

The Magnet started the game with only 10 men and the Mill soon made them pay.  Darren Elding crossed for Danny Maddison to volley home a mere 20 seconds after the start. But the Magnet bounced back and equalised just before the break from a Richard Stukins corner. In the second half the Mill got the benefit of a disputed penalty that Andy Brown converted. And the Mill then dominated the game for a good spell but failed to kill off their rivals as chances went begging. The Magnet equalised for the second time – another dubious spot-kick – and Jimmy Britton made no mistake, smashing the ball home. The Mill thought it was all over when the took the lead for the third time in the 88th minute. Rob Marsden converted an Andy Brown cross. But Stukins drew the game level with a thunderbolt from fully 40 yards out.  With the Magnet pushing for the win Jimmy Britton bulldozed his way through with a good dribble to side-foot home and win the match for the Magnet in the last minute.

 

Workforce Unlimited Division One

 

The celebrations of a super 4-0 victory rang rather hollow for the Axe and Cleaver as they lost their influential talisman Stuart Bartholomew, who suffered a double fracture to his leg which will be operated on later this week. The Axe have seen a vast improvement in their play and dedication. And from the off against Railway they created several opportunities to break the deadlock, one of which was taken when the tricky feet of Bartholomew set up his opposite winger Nicky Syndercombe to fire home on 20 minutes. Within 10 minutes the home side had doubled their advantage when Bartholomew released Martin Jolly to drill a low cross into the box where a desperate lunge from the visitors defender saw him turn it past his own keeper. The Railway did have a few chances but, like their hosts, the finishing was far from clinical and the score remained at 2-0 until the second period. The Railway started to get back into the game after the break but the Axe defence held firm and they killed off the game mid way through the half as Syndercombe turned provider to allow Stephen Favell to slot home. They then quickly scored their fourth – Syndercombe completing a brace. It was only in the final minutes that Bartholomew was felled in the box bringing the game to a halt. The Axe wished to thank their opponents and the referee for their post match concern for Stuart and all send their best wishes to him for a speedy recovery.

 

The Brit were involved in their third seven-goal thriller of the season. This time they emerged on the winning side. They were the first to strike with Ian Morris going one-on-one with the keeper and slotting home calmly. An identical “goal” was disallowed shortly after following a disputed offside decision! Harchester then pulled level through Adam Lester and the teams went in to the break on level terms. The visitors then took the lead with Anthony Slater slotting home on the break – the Brit’s makeshift keeper Mark Haines given no chance with either of the goals. The Brit’s Michael Langley equalised with a delightful chip from the corner of the box into the top far corner. Substitute Mick Rawson then made an instant impact by bringing the ball down well for Karl Melton to strike neatly into the bottom corner. Ian Morris completed his brace to get Rangers’ fourth – taking his personal tally to seven in four games! Harchester’s Slater grabbed his second of the game to set up a frantic last 10 minutes, and Harchester nearly grabbed a point from a late Dominic Cridland free-kick. But the Brit held on to take all three points.

 

The Carpenters Arms started their game brightly against the Black Swan, Coningsby, by hitting the bar twice early on and were then rewarded for the early pressure – Pete Coonan tapping home a Declan Wilson cross after 20 minutes. The Carps made it 2-0 soon after when Wilson played in an unmarked Leon Pycock to knock home his ninth of the Season.  Coningsby pulled one back before the break Sam Taylor forcing Neil Blackman to toe-poke the ball into his own net! Chances went begging in the second half with the game turning a bit scrappy. Carps got the decisive third goal midway through when Michael Lomax and Scott Wiseman combined to lay on for Wilson to get his goal.

 

November 19 round-up

 

Dixie Deane Memorial Cup

 

Boston College were forced to call off their match due to a waterlogged pitch, leaving just two Premier Cup games to be played.

 

The Magnet Tavern against struggling Ship Inn turned in a much-improved performance. The squad was shuffled and John Chand opened the scoring with a superb diving header. Tavern’s man of the match Jimmy Britton hit their second with another great header and he doubled his own tally in the game shortly after. Sitting comfortably the home side were then hit on the break with the Ship pulling a goal back before the interval. In the second half the home side took control and Richard Stukins was brought more into the game, scoring four outstanding goals. Britton completed his hat-trick before Leroy Medina hit a shot from fully 30 yards out giving the Ships goalie no chance. Final score was 9-1 to Magnet.

 

The Newcastle started well against Richard Cropley’s Star Inn side. And after a dull first 15 minutes they took the lead with a well-taken goal by Michael Gardner. The Star had a great chance to equalise five minutes later but with the visitors’ Damian Pugh clear through, he put his shot wide. The Castle were well on top and went 2-0 up through Gardner again just before the break. After the interval the home side took control, knocking the fight out of their visitors. Gardner completed his hat-trick by gamely stepping up to net a well-taken penalty after being brought down in the box.  Mark Lovelace scored four goals (for the second time this season) and Jordan Dixon claimed the rampant Castle’s final goal to make it 8-0.  Jason Cade and Nathan Taylor had a good game for the Star, along with the “once retired” Mark Flinders in goal – whose great skill managed to keep the Castle down to single figures. While the Star were let down by key players, the 11 men on parade never gave up the battle. Referee Mark Bruntlett had a good game in the middle.

 

Workforce Unlimited Shield

 

Britannia Rangers were involved in yet another entertaining round one game. This time, their opponents were Axe and Cleaver. Both sides were guilty of missing clear-cut chances from the beginning – Favell, Jolly and Beecham for the Axe and Burt and Ratley for the Brit. The first golden opportunity to break the deadlock fell to the Axe when Moore, in the Brit goal, brought down Bartholomew. But the keeper made amends with a fine save from the usually reliable Hallam. Both sides continued to create chances and it wasn’t long before the Axe took the lead, a good run and cross from Bartholomew finding Favell who scored from close range. Despite the visitors having an effort cleared off the line, the scoreline remained the same until half-time.  The second period was much the same with end-to-end football – both goalkeepers being called upon to make some fine saves. Fifteen minutes from the end, the Axe thought that they had shot themselves in the foot – Chris Bray needlessly fouled Michael Langley in the area and it was the Brit’s turn to take the resultant penalty.  Lee Nicholson stepped up only to see the Axe’s Peter Cook pull off a great save.  Rangers pushed forward but the Axe were able to breathe a sigh of relief when Steve Bursnell tapped one in at the far post to send his team into their third semi-final in two years.

 

Things finally clicked into place for Eagle Harvesters with a superb second half display. The first period had been an even affair but neither side created clear-cut chances. Harchester started the second half the brighter and lived to regret a one-on-one miss from Chris Massingham. Shortly after, the Eagle took the lead through veteran striker Steve Siggee who fired home an angled drive from the right hand side.  Cruelly, it was an ex-Eagle player who scored the next goal. With a seemingly easy back pass, he somehow contrived to lob his own keeper from 20 yards out! After that error the home side never looked back and after a flowing move saw John McGarel cross for Siggee to claim his second with a powerful header. McGarel added the fourth with a rasping shot. After failing to hit a barn door last week, the willow-like Duncan Browne scored his team’s fifth goal. He stunned team-mates, spectators and opponents alike with excellent control before blasting the ball into the top corner.  But the Eagle didn’t have it all their own way and Alex Tilley – deputising in goal – was forced to pull off some fine saves. A good all-round sporting game well refereed by Helen Fulcher-Ward.

 

Carpenters Arms produced a fine attacking display to see off the Railway and progress to the semi-finals of the Workforce Unlimited Shield. The game started brightly and it was the Carps who broke the deadlock, Declan Wilson cutting in from the left, slipping past two defenders and firing a low shot under the keeper. The game was tight and no further goals were forthcoming in the first half. Early in the second half the Carps took full control. After a neat exchange between Joe Talbot and Pete Coonan, Declan Wilson provided a cross for Coonan to fire home. The lead was extended shortly after when Wilson grabbed his second – a header following a Scott Wiseman cross, and Wiseman then turned from provider to scorer when his shot rebounded in off the post and keeper. Coonan completed a brace with a low shot from a tight angle. The Railway got a late consolation goal, Ashley Horry making no mistake. But it was the Carps who progressed through with a 5-1 victory.

 

 

November 12 round-up

 

Workforce Unlimited Premier Division

 

The Newcastle inflicted the Magnet’s first league defeat with a convincing 4-1 victory at Rosebery Avenue. The Castle’s top scorer of last season, Michael Gardner, converted a Mark Lovelace free-kick to give the home side an early lead. And it was only 15 minutes later when they doubled their advantage, a Steven Fulcher through ball put Jordan Dixon in and he beat Stukins in the Magnet goal with a well-directed lob. With the Castle taking control and the Magnet defence in disarray, Mark Lovelace had a great chance to make it 3-0 but his effort went just over the bar. He soon made amends though to increase the lead to 3-0 before the break. The Magnet got themselves more into the game after the interval but were denied by a strong Castle defence, they did manage to pull one back when a Richard Stukins shot was parried by Chris Dowse and Ross Nichols made no mistake, but within minutes Ty Fravigar restored the three goal advantage with a great curling shot from 20 yards to make the final score 4-1, the Castle fully deserving their victory.

 

The Ship were outclassed by a strong professional performance from the College with goals being scored at regular intervals. Jamie Skinner opened the scoring after some good teamwork and Peter Lovelace and Stacy Cartwright increased the lead in the first half both scoring well taken 30-yard free-kicks. The second half saw more goalmouth action with prolific scorer Dean Seiner netting five, all coming from some good crosses. Cartwright added his second from the penalty spot after a Ship defender, who then saw red for his troubles, had taken out Daniel White. And Dave Willis notched the final goal, bundling the ball over the line to complete the rout.

 

It was an even start to the game between the Star Inn and Park Avenue and it was the home side who opened the scoring on 18 minutes through David Harker. But Park equalised almost straight away — Richard Barker running through onto a long ball to slot it into the top corner. With the Star again not having a recognised keeper, Daniel Radford bravely took up the position between the stick but with Park creating, and making the most of the better chances they soon fell further behind. Matthew Bates headed home from a brilliant cross from David Slaughter and Scott Hempsall added one to give the visitors a 3-1 half time lead. In the second half, defender Colin Hocknell donned the keeper’s gloves and despite a couple of forays they were unable to peg back the score. Richard Barker completed a brace as he went for a 50-50 ball, side-footing the ball past the keeper. Mathew Bates scored a lovely goal from an acute angle midway through the second period and Jason Keal headed in the final goal following a corner kick from Slaughter. An all-round excellent team effort from Park but the Star were left feeling things could have gone better with a more experienced keeper in goal for them.

 

Workforce Unlimited Division One

 

The Eagle had the better of the first half against a Britannia team searching for their first win of the season, but Steve Siggee, Alex Tilley and Gary Ling were all guilty of spurning good chances to take the lead. And as things went from bad to worse, their defence failed to clear a Brit counter attack and found themselves 1-0 down when Karl Melton, back from holiday, knocked the ball sweetly past the outstretching arms of Kev Lea. The Eagle continued to create chances and Duncan Browne failed to connect on a Siggee pull-back which would almost certainly have seen them level the game. As it was Melton doubled his and the Brit’s tally with a superb solo run rounding the keeper before slotting home. The visitors then saw a goal disallowed and at this point the Eagle seemed to wake up and they finally got off the mark through Gary Ling to halve the deficit. The Eagle had no more to say, though, and the Brit swept to a 5-1 victory with Melton adding a further two and Chris Smith notching his second of the season. With no referee turning up, the Brit’s Dave Burt gamely took the whistle and received good compliments from their opponents.

 

The Carpenters Arms battled their way to a 4-2 victory over the Axe. They opened the scoring when Chris Marshall chased onto a huge Ben Shaw goal-kick to slide the ball past the advancing Axe keeper. The score remained the same until the beginning of the second half when Dex Wilson pounced on some sloppy defending to cross the ball for Leon Pycock to smash home. The Axe rallied briefly to reduce the deficit with a fine strike by Kevin Orton. But the two-goal cushion was restored when Scott Wiseman banged in a 30-yard free-kick and the Carps followed this with a sweetly struck free-kick taken by the influential Pete Coonan, which deflected in off the post.  The Axe did get a second consolation goal off the head of Steve Bursnell, but it proved to be scant reward as the Carps defence steered by Andy James held firm.

 

November 5 round-up

 

Lincs Sunday Cup

 

What a great day for our Boston teams as all three taking part in Lincs Sunday Cup battles made it through to the fourth round – a great achievement.

 

Boston College entertained Woodhall Spa (Sunday) and despite the 3-1 victory it wasn’t all plain sailing as they fell behind to an early goal when Pete Dickinson cut in from the right and hit a good cross come shot that flew in by the far post. Dean Seiner levelled the scores before the break with a close range shot following some good open play from the home side. The two teams went into the break all-square. When they re-appeared it was the Boston side who benefited the most from a stern half-time team talk, scoring twice more to cap a good all round performance. Woodhall played some fine football but College were dangerous on the break. Substitute Richard Borrill made a strong run down the right side, taking the ball around the outstretched keeper and slotting the ball home from an acute angle. Seiner netted his second on the break to put the result beyond doubt. 

 

In very windy conditions and against a well-organised and youthful side, the Mill found themselves 2-0 down within just seven minutes away to Immingham Bluestone! But a re-shuffle of the team steered them back on course and just before the break and excellent through ball from Steve Melady found Rob Marsden who rounded the keeper to pull one back. With the wind behind them in the second half the Mill took advantage and began to knock the ball around with a renewed confidence, and after just five minutes they were back on level terms when Marsden released a thunderbolt. This drove Bluestone on as they battled hard for every ball and a Michael Swain mistake saw the home side re-take the lead. Trying to clear, he turned the ball into his own net. The Mill kept their heads though and within 10 minutes it was 3-3 as a Darren Elding pass released Andy Brown who fired home in style. With 15 minutes left on the clock Danny Clayton picked out Marsden who side footed home to complete his hat-trick. The Boston side managed to hold firm until the minutes ticked away and the final whistle was blown to cap an excellent away day for the Mill.

 

The Newcastle turned in a good all round performance against the Fox and Hounds, taking the lead after just 15 minutes the impressive Dion Roberts finding Mark Lovelace who made no mistake in slamming the ball into the top corner.  Jordan Dixon saw a good effort saved denying the Boston side from doubling the score, and it took them until the 40th minute to increase their lead, Roberts scoring his first goal of the season. The Castle increased their lead still further immediately after the re-start when Ty Fravigar also scored his debut goal for the club with a well-taken shot. Chris Hollyoake was unfortunate to head the ball beyond his own Keeper trying to make a clearance to give the visitors a consolation goal. Fravigar then turned provider to enable Lovelace to grab a hat-trick taking the final score to 5-1. Nick Sleaford had a faultless game in the middle.

 

The draw for round four sees College at home to take on Scunthorpe team Pepperells and the Newcastle have been drawn away to Grimsby outfit Ruston Sports.  The Mill are at home to Broughton Town (Sunday). Ties are to be played on December 3.

 

Workforce Unlimited Premier Division

 

The Magnet were firmly in control in their re-scheduled game against Park Avenue, scoring three outstanding goals in the first half. Tavern’s Nick Maddison found the net for the second week running and Lathon Millar grabbed their second. But the best goal came from Paul Alexander who took on four players before volleying the ball into the goal. After the break Paul Vaughan and John Rutherford provided some entertaining midfield action, passing the ball out to the Taverns wingers and it was John Reeson who fired the home sides fourth goal after collecting a good pass from Vaughan for a 4-0 final scoreline.

 

Workforce Unlimited Division One

 

Black Swan Coningsby stared their tie against Railway Hotel at full pelt. A corner from veteran Tony Mumford provided a neat ball for Ryan Anders to head home their first, shortly after Anders turned provider for Graham McMahon to push the ball in at the back post to give the home side a two-goal cushion at the break. After the re-start the Swans continued in a similar fashion, Lee Croft hitting their third following a fine run down the wing.  Railway did pull one back, a deserved reward for their hard work, following a scramble in the box but James Beck soon restored the three goal lead from another corner.  Their final goal came again from Croft with a superb 20-yard strike 10 minutes from time.

 

Harchester started the better but it was Carpenters Arms who grabbed all the goals!  The home side should have taken the lead early in the game, spurning some great chances. As it was the Carps took the lead on the 15th minute when Leon Pycock steered in a Scott Wiseman corner at the near post. Soon after, Pete Coonan played in Declan Wilson who squared the ball for Wiseman to make it 2-0. Wiseman then arrived unmarked in the box to make it 3-0. The second half saw fewer chances but Pycock got his second with a sweetly struck long-range strike. Harchester pushed on but Carps kept a clean sheet, thanks in part to Conor Wilson’s resolute defending and Ben Shaw’s faultless goalkeeping.

 

At the recent monthly management meeting the draw took place for the Workforce Unlimited Shield round one. Games to be played on November 19 are: Britannia Rangers v Axe and Cleaver; Eagle Harvesters v Harchester Utd; Railway Hotel v Carpenters Arms; Black Swan, bye.