MINEHEAD Sports sent Exmoor Rangers tumbling out of the Seward Cup with a 10-2 victory on Saturday, but the scoreline didn't fairly reflect a plucky display by Rangers.
Sports were quick to take advantage of Exmoor starting with only seven players, Neil Watson finding the net in the first minute. Tommy Todd made it 2-0 while Rangers were still below strength, and it wasn't long before a good run and cross by Mike Tipper set up Watson for their third.
Exmoor started to get into the game and a couple of defensive errors let them in for two well-taken goals to make it 3-2, and they were unlucky not to go in half-time on level terms.
The second half saw a good competitive start with Rangers looking to get an equaliser, but after 20 minutes Sports went 4-2 ahead when Tipper again crossed for Watson to score.
That proved the turning point, with Sports scoring from virtually every attack, Watson adding three more goals and Todd and young Paul Smith one each.
Six-goal Watson was man of the match.
Minehead Sports: S Hammond, M Tipper, K Griffiths, T Long, S Beauchamp, S Jordan, M Muscroft, T Todd, N Watson, A Elston, A Dixon, sub P Smith (used).
In the first round of the Somerset Intermediate Cup, Porlock handed out a 12-0 caning to Parson Street Old Boys in a one-sided encounter at the Recreation Ground.
They opened their account with virtually the first attack of the game and added five more goals before the break.
The second half continued in the same fashion with Porlock dominating all areas, but it took them 15 minutes to add their seventh goal.
The floodgates then opened again with five more goals completing a 12-0 win in which the main scorers were Paul Long with five and Greg Howard three.
Watchet Reserves and Dulverton Town both suffered 4-2 away defeats, Watchet to Hutton Reserves and Dulverton to Oakhill.
In Division One, Bishops Lydeard dropped two vital points in the title race by only drawing 1-1 at home to Galmington.
Nether Stowey's game at home to Highbridge was cancelled when the visitors were unable to raise a team.
In Division Two, Alcombe Rovers gave a below-par performance in beating Spaxton 3-1.
They made a slow start and Spaxton capitalised with the opening goal, but despite showing no improvement, Rovers managed to equalise before the break through Derek Leitch.
It was much the same story in the second half, and although they went ahead midway through when Simon Antonelli broke free to score a good goal, they were lucky not to be back on level terms when a Spaxton player hit the bar when it looked easier to score.
Two quick substitutions by Alcombe saw Donald Ferguson and Neil Craig come on and it was Ferguson who, after a fine run, squared the ball for man of the match Antonelli to make it 3-1.
Rovers thought they had added a fourth goal when the ball appeared to have crossed the line but it wasn't given.
Alcombe Rovers: R Jackman, M Hill, T Milton, R Baker, G Rackham, J Browning, P Matcham, R Furse, D Leitch, J Hill, S Antonelli, subs D Ferguson, N Craig (both used), L Hough.
In Division Four, Williton went down 5-3 away to Highbridge Reserves.
Division Five saw Nether Stowey Reserves win 2-0 away to Wyvern Foxes, but there were defeats for Minehead Sports Colts, 5-0 at home to Staplegrove Colts, Porlock Reserves, 4-1 away to Moortown, and Stogursey, 5-1 at home to Inter-Sceptre.
RESULTS
Division One: Bishops Lydeard 1 Galmington 1, Nether Stowey v Highbridge cancelled, Staplegrove 4 Norton Fitzwarren 4, Sydenham 3 Redgate 2, Wyvern 1 Bridgwater Sports 2.
Division Two: Alcombe Rovers 3 Spaxton 1, Wellworthy Saints 4 Middlezoy 1.
Division Four: Hemyock 4 Wellington 1, Highbridge Res 5 Williton 3.
Division Five: Wyvern Foxes 0 Nether Stowey Res 2, Minehead Sports Colts 0 Staplegrove Colts 5, Moortown 4 Porlock Res 1, Stogursey 1 Inter-Sceptre 5.
Seward Cup 1st Round: Minehead Sports 10 Exmoor Rangers 2.
Somerset Intermediate Cup 1st Round: Hutton Res 4 Watchet Res 2, Oakhill 4 Dulverton Town 2, Porlock 12 Parson Street OBs 0, Victoria Rangers 6 Ilchester 3, Oval Sports 4 Crown Dynamos 8, Westco 1 Westonzoyland 2, Appletree 12 Chew Magna 2, Weston Ex-Servicemen 6 Bridgwater Sports Res 1, Evercreech Res 1 Bridgwater Foresters 4, Knight Rangers w/o Kingsbury Episcopi, Hartcliffe OBs w/o Bishops Lydeard Res, Combe St Nicholas 6 Civil Service 3, Norton Fitzwarren Res 12 Lyde Utd 2, Sampford Blues 3 Littleton Sports Res 1, Marketeers 12 Martock Utd 0, Middlezoy Res 6 Frome Sportshouse Res 5, Langport 7 Staplegrove Res 1, South Park Rangers 0 Blackbrook 2.
FIXTURES
Division One: Galmington v Bridgwater Sports, Highbridge v Norton Fitzwarren, Nether Stowey v Bishops Lydeard, Redgate v Wyvern, Staplegrove v Sydenham.
Division Two: Bishops Lydeard Res v Sampford Blues, Civil Service v Alcombe Rovers, Porlock v Dulverton Town, Spaxton v Middlezoy, Wellworthy Saints v Knight Rangers.
Division Three: Victoria Rangers v Crown Dynamos, Marketeers v Minehead Sports, Norton Fitzwarren res v Appletree, Wyvern Res v Westonzoyland.
Division Four: Dulverton Town Res v Highbridge Res, Hemyock v Staplegrove Res, Taverners v Exmoor Rangers, Wellington v Bridgwater Foresters, Williton v Bridgwater Sports Res.
Division Five: Minehead Sports Colts v Inter-Sceptre, Middlezoy Res v Cossington, Stogursey v Porlock Res, Staplegrove Colts v Nether Stowey Res, Wyvern Foxes v Moortown.