<Bz44>Rampant Roots breathing down Village's neck in race for the title
Rampant Dandy Town Roots are looking like serious title challengers after beating reigning Commercial League champions Key West Rangers 1-0 at the weekend.
Only goal-difference separates Roots from leader North Village who were one of many sides forced to sit out the action because of Saturday’s foul weather.
A first-half strike by Lorenzo Simmons was enough to ensure the dominant Roots left Southampton Oval with maximum points.
Key West had very few chances and found themselves behind when a quick counter attack ended up with Simmons smashing home.
During the second half Roots continued to bombard the Key West defence and were unlucky on several occasions not to double their lead. MR Onions secured their first win for over three months with a hard-fought victory over Lobster Pot at St. David’s. Both teams had forwards missing due to suspension and goals were always likely to be hard to come by. Onions had an early chance when Nick Briggs headed wide from a free-kick. Pot’s best opportunity came when a defensive error presented Toriano Trott with a clear run at goal. Unfortunately Trott lost his footing and presented the ball to goalkeeper Greg Fraser. Onions took the lead after 35 minutes when Lester Pun released Colin Keane who struck an unstoppable shot into the top right hand corner from the edge of the penalty area. In the second half Lobster Pot came close with a 30-yard lob which just dropped over the crossbar. Pot pushed hard for an equaliser in the last ten minutes but Onions defence held firm.
In the B league Somerset Extros are just a point behind leaders St. George’s after crushing Somerset Bridge Peskies 7-0. David (Burka) Burchall and Rodney (The Key) Bascome both grabbed hat-tricks while Mark Grant got one.
Third-placed Valley blew a hatful of chances against Prospect/Fire but finally got going in the second half to win 6-1. It was all square at the break after Prospect/Fire’s Dean Martin equalised following a Fitzgerald Williams goal. But a second-period hat-trick from Sinclair Vickers and a brace from Jonathan Eve gave Valley all three points.
MR Onions Real Men made sure of the C Division title in the worst way on Saturday - with a walk-over win over short-handed Dockyard Falcons.
Onions Real Men manager Jason Roberts said the C league had been a big disappointment after starting so well last season.
Asked about his title win he said: “It’s not exactly the greatest moment in my footballing life — we won two games against nine men, drew with a full team in the Falcons — then won two games by default and Dandy Town Roots C dropped out.
“It’s not a gratifying championship. It kind of feels like winning employee of the month at a company that gives it to everyone once — even the old lady who does coffee on a Wednesday.
“All I can say, is that the lads stuck with it — driving to St David’s for a 20 percent chance of a game is some commitment, which deserves better that what they got.”
With promotion not automatic Roberts will now press the case for Real Men to make the jump to the B Division and he pointed out that Somerset Extros, who had gone up this season, had done brilliantly in B this year.
“We had some great games against them last year. We also beat B division Boulevard in the Cup and we even gave the A division Robin Hood a decent game, up until the last 20 minutes.”
And he said, despite a frustrating league season, his side had won bragging rights within the MR Onions family.
“We got further than our A team in the Cup and won a trophy while they languish in mid-table obscurity — which will make our end of season dinner more enjoyable for us.”
