Peter Raynbird reviews the Division 1 matches played on the 24th October

In Division One there was plenty of goals at the Charles Chute Recreation Ground in Sherborne where the home side Sherborne St John FC lost 6-5 to Basingstoke Labour Club FC. It was the first league defeat of the season for the previous league leaders Sherborne, who now slip down to fourth position, with their rivals all winning. Sherborne Manager Trevor Livingstone’s problems have worsened since this match too, as his keeper Darren Gary had to go off with a knee injury and his regular centre back Sam Hilton, who has been with the club since their debut season in this league, played his last game for the club in this eventful league match (leaving the country to go traveling). The star man in the match was the Labour striker Cameron George who scored five of the six and has already scored fifteen this season. Sherborne who took the lead through Ibrahim Waheed, it came following a long clearance from keeper Darren Gary. George soon equalized and by half time he had completed a straight hat trick to lead 3-1. Sherborne then lost Gary with outfield player Cobie Judd taking over, but in the 48th Sachin Rae did pull a goal back for them to make it 3-2. Matt Kelly who recently transferred from Tron FC, played through for George who made it 4-2 and regained the two goal advantage, but again Sherborne came back with a goal from James Lovell. Kelly then made it 5-3 to the visitors, but it was their keeper Sam White who made three one on one saves when Rae was right through to keep them in front. Waheed then stuck again to make it 5-4, but George then netted his fifth after taking a pass from Ryland Willows. Sherborne did manage another when Waheed completed his hat trick from a penalty kick, but in the end it was Dan Poulter who went home the happier manager.

Hook FC are now the clear leaders in the division after their 10-1 win at Silchester against a weakened DJS Telecoms FC. It was in the 22nd minute when Aaron King gave Hook the lead from a Pete Silvester assist and within the next two minutes Silvester, made it two before Andy Parker made it three. Dave White headed home a cross from Andy Parker and before half time scored his second from a Silvester pass. It became 7-0 from an own goal and Silvester made it eight when he converted a pass from James Westwood. It was then when DJS scored their lone goal. It came from a penalty after Westwood put in poor tackle and Jason Freathy converted. There was no respite for the luckless DJS who conceded three late goals. Neville from a Westwood pass, White from a free kick and King scoring their tenth.

Overton United FC ‘A’ had their first league win after six matches and it was the fancied Basingstoke Athletic FC who they defeated 3-1. In the 21st Ben Wooton and Joe Lake combined for Jamal Rose to beat acting keeper Kieran Challis with a long range shot. Early in the second half stand in keeper Challis was beaten again when Nathan Rae who has joined the club after being dropped by Hampshire Premier League outfit Stockbridge FC, curled in a nice volley for a two goal advantage. Athletic came back in the 63rd with a goal from Dale Bristow following a pass from Nathan Reid and chances fell to Lee O’Grady, Bristow and Darryl Tyson before Overton scored their third. It was in the 70th.when the keeper left a free kick taken by Regan Harwood , as it looked like the ball was going over, however it hit the bar and Charlie Palmer followed up to net the rebound.

Hampshire Irons FC came back with an unexpected 2-0 win against Tadley Calleva FC ‘A’ to take over second spot in the league table following their disappointing cup defeat the previous week. Perhaps it was not such a surprise, as Irons have already beaten Tadley this season when they met at Barlow’s Park and won 2-1. Tadley manager Bradley Nash thought otherwise, saying after the game, “We had 75% of the game and came away with nothing. We could have been three or four up before they scored” with two good chances missed by Barry Stafford and Pete White hitting the bar. It was Ben Haskins who did the damage. Charlie Henry was fouled and from the resulting free kick Haskins beat the struggling keeper Darren Maunder low down. With Maunder injured and unable to continue Lee Champion took over in goal and was never troubled, although Tom L’Heurehx missed a good chance for Irons. It was ten minutes from time Henry went on a solo run, took on a couple of players and his lob beat Champion for Irons to make sure of the points. Tadley did have a goal disallowed for a controversial offside, but on the day it was missed first chances which proved to be their downfall.

Unbeaten Tron FC remain second in the Division Two table following a convincing 6-1 win over Winklebury Wizards FC. The previous week Wizards took them to a penalty shootout with a 1-1 draw before making their exit from the North Hants May Cup, but this week Tron knew what to expect from their young opponents and took the lead after just eight minutes through Ben Nicholls. Wizards held them until the break but from the restart Tron went 2-0 ahead when a combined move between Stuart Austin and John Ervin led to Jamie Ballantyne scoring (although Wizards felt their defender Dom Stevens put into his own goal). There was no doubt about the next in the 50th when Richard Kalwarczyk had a tap in after good play from Ben and Sam Nicholls. In the 62nd Scott Winterbourne took advantage of a slip by Gordon Birch to make it 3-1, but there were no more errors from Tron. Sam Nicholls scored with a well placed 25 yard free kick and Ben Nicholls went on to complete his hat trick, both goals coming from assists by Richard McCoubrie.