CHAMPIONS OFF TO WINNING START

Peter Symonds, chasing a third successive Hampshire Colleges League title, made a positive start with a 4-3 victory over Richard Taunton’s at Hill Lane.

But coach Rob Kitley has some defensive frailties to resolve before his much changed side host Itchen at Bereweeke Avenue, writes Mike Vimpany.

For the past two seasons, PSC have barnstormed their way to success on the back of midfield powerhouse Harry Bayles, Max Kirwan’s goals and numerous positive contributions from elsewhere.

But a host of the key components of the PSC side which has dominated recent college soccer have moved on, leaving key positions to be filled.

As always, Symonds are dangerous going forward and, rather than having a 2-0 interval lead through Ben Sunley and Jo Sutherden, ought to have been out of sight by the break.

But when RTC got in their faces and clawed one back through the enigmatic Efu Kazadi the visitors visibly wobbled.

The problem was Tauntons’ couldn’t keep their own back door shut and when rookie keeper Tom Wood didn’t get the defensive ‘wall’ set up as he might have liked, the influential Ant Croucher drove a low free-kick into the unguarded bottom corner and restored PSC’s two-goal cushion.

Ben Huckin, probably Tauntons’ best player, had the hosts back in it at 3-2 – his goal setting up a frenetic finale.

Sutherden had what looked a perfectly good fourth PSC goal ruled out for offside, then Josh Corner smashed a screamer against the woodwork.

Amid the mayhem, Sunley got his second for Symonds’ but, as the referee glanced at his watch, the defending champions were undone by a massive throw to the far post by Elliott Perkis and Arshia Sheibatzadeh bundled it home.

Itchen’s matches with Peter Symonds are invariably a good watch – and James Taylor’s charges warmed up with a 4-1 win over promoted Poole Grammar.

PGS took the lead from a Jaco Castillo-Macphearson penalty and repelled Itchen until just before half-time when the Bitterne side scoring twice in quick succession.

Ethan Taylor converted the game’s second penalty and then skilfully set up Jack Barnes to make it 2-1 at the break.

In the second half Itchen were in total control with Taylor scoring an excellent team goal for the third.

The Poole keeper was in fine form saving many Itchen chances before James Smith competed the scoring at 4-1.

Farnborough and Barton Peveril shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw – Matt Rickman, impressive in midfield, cancelling out Jake Wilson’s strike for boro’.