18th February 2009

FOOTBALL: Tigers topple league leaders

By Howard Larcombe

GOALS from Ben Turner, Ben Vine and Sam Dibling helped Axminster Town to a notable scalp as South West Peninsula league division leaders Galpmton United were beaten 3-1 at Sector on Saturday.

It was certainly an eventful afternoon with eight of the visitors finding themselves in the referee’s notebook and Tigers’ manager Ray Self uncharacteristically sent from the home team technical area.

Self was banished for protesting after Danny Galloway was scythed down by a tackle that he considered to have warranted a straight red card not the yellow that was metered out.

But all-in-all it was a  fantastic day for Axminster as Self explained: “We knew we would have to be at our best collectively and we were. ‘The Exmouth game apart that’s four good performances in five games.

‘We weathered the early storm and defended heroically - particularly Richard Challis who was head and shoulders our best player - and, despite falling behind we raised our tempo and got their sluggish back four turning - they just couldn’t cope with teh pace of Sam (Dibling) and Tristan (Gale).”

The Tigers also gave a debut to new signing Scott Well-Burr.
Axminster Reserves were undoubtedly rusty as they enjoyed t heir first run-out for two months. The Tigers went down 2-1 at lowly  Bampton. The Ressies’ visit Winkleigh on Saturday.

Ax Thirds were beaten 5-0 by East  Budleigh Reserves at Boss Hill Cross. The third string visit Hamlin Lane, home of Priory at the weekend.

Millwey Rise moved up a place to fifth in Perry Street League Division two with a hard-fought 1-0 win at  Combe A.

Gary Venn, with his 23rd goal in  Millwey colours this season, bagged the all-important winner against a Saints’ side bristling with Reserves teamers.

Rise have a crucial six-pointer against fellow promotion chasers  Ilminster Town Colts at First Avenue on Saturday.

First Avenue was the only pitch deemed unfit in the entire league on Saturday so  Millwey Reserves’ clash with high-flying Norton Athletic was postponed. This weekend the  Slopers travel to  Hawkchurch for a Division three local-derby.

The Hawks booked a place in the Semi-Finals of the John Fowler Cup with a 3-1 win over Crewkerne Reserves at the weekend.

Not such good news from Hawkchurch Reserves who went down to their 20th successive defeat in a 7-1 loss at Barrington Reserves. The Hawks will do well not to make that 21 when they visit league leaders  Fivehead United on Saturday.

* MILLWEY RISE youngsters Callum Garrett and Ashley Hall have been selected for the PSDL under 18s squad.

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