ASH Rangers strengthened their challenge for promotion in Division Four of the Taunton Saturday league courtesy of a 6-1 defeat of bottom club Porlock reserves.

With the top two teams not playing, Ash closed the gap thanks to two goals each from both Callum Hardy and Benn Bartlett, with one each from Tom Wadham and Jake Odey. Michael Normal replied for Porlock. The match beween Bridgwater Grasshoppers and Galmington Dragons reserves was a game of two halves dictated by a gale force wind.

The visitors had a poor first 45 minutes, lacking composure and giving away two silly goals.

After turning around Dragons came straight out of the blocks and after dominating scored twice in five minutes.

They kept pressing for a winner and it eventually came in stoppage time. Scorers were Dave Chambers, Ollie Cross and Elliot Bevan.

Rowbarton Cup, Round 3 A depleted Gallery side went through to the quarter-finals with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Minehead reserves who provided Gallery with an own goal to get them on their way.

In the last eight Gallery will meet Alcombe Rovers who had a convincing 4-0 victory over Woolavington thanks to two Dave Sowden goals, one from Andrew Land and a converted penalty from Jack Furse. Staplegrove reserves move into the quarter-finals without having to kick a ball as Fivehead decided the challenge was one too far and gave them a walk over.

Rowbarton Cup, quarter final Locomotives beat Westonzoyland to reach the last four but the first division side certainly didn’t have everything their own way. Locos scored in the first minute and reached half time 3-1 up.

Westonzoyland fought back to 4-3 but Locos held out thanks to two great saves from Sam Willamson.

Their scorers were Ryan Mckenna, Ryan Vickery, Dean Quinn and Tom Edwards.

Division One while Locomotives were on cup duty, Bridgwater Sports took the opportunity to open up an eight point gap at the top of the table with a 3-1 defeat of North Petherton but Locos do have three games in hand to reduce the deficit Sampford Blues were victorious 3-1 in a tightly-contested game came against Tony Youth which came to life in the second half when Chris Grave followed up a save to fire home for Tone.

A defensive mistake allowed Sampford to level almost immediately and then the game went from end to end. Both clubs could have scored but finally Sampford stole the advantage when they broke the line and went 2-1 up.

Tone pushed forward but were undone shortly after when a rushed clearance gifted Sampford a third. Sampford’s goals came from Luke Lawrence (2) and Jack Kelly.

Wyvern Rangers were beating Middlezoy Rovers reserves 2-1 thanks to goals from Chris Hale and a Tom Melhuish penalty but Andy Smith equalised for Rovers with a lob over the keeper and Kyran Devitt won it for the opposition with a 40 yard free kick.

Division Two Milverton Rangers had an easy afternoon, beating bottom side Minehead reserves 8-1.

It was a slow start by Milverton as they conceding an early goal to Connery Attwell.

But, once they got the rhythm going, they got goal after goal.

Leading 2-1 at half time, Rangers opened up in the second half to play like they did before the Christmas break.

Craig Plumridge completed his hat- trick with just a few minutes on the clock. The other goals were shared between Callum David, Sam Godfrey, Dave Sharland, Brien Cosgrove and Dan Booth. Division Three There were a couple of games postponed in this division 16 goals were scored in the two games that did get played.

One of those was a 6-2 win for Alcombe Rovers reserves over Galmington Dragons. Lee Todd scored twice for Alcombe with Darren Sherrin, Paul Marcham, Chris Newbold and Jack Bodley adding the others. Chris Tucker and Charlie Bevan replied for Dragons.

Division Five The Gallery reserves have leapt from fourth to top after an odd goal win in nine against Hamilton Athletic Foxes.

Gallery went into a two goal lead but Hamilton soon picked up the pace, keeping a lot of possession, and scored through Chris McKee. Gallery went 4-1 up in the second half only for Hamilton to pull it back to 4-3 as Chris McKee completed his hat-trick.

The decisive goal went to Aaron Harbour with a low drive to make it 5-3. Hamilton scored a tap-in from Dave Sweet with ten minutes left to make it an interesting end to the game. There was another good performance from North Curry who scored all their in the first half on their way to a 4-2 win over Nether Stowey reserves.

Rob Watts smashed home the first in predatory fashion from the six yard box then Joe Gratton rounded the keeper for Curry’s second following a long-distance through ball from James Lacey.

Nether Stowey pulled one back through a freak, wind assisted goal by George Pike.

Curry kept their foot on the pedal and added two more through Watts and right back Nick Jones. Norton Fitzwarren reserves recorded their first win of the season at the expense of Bridgwater Wolves.

Two goals from Lewis Coward and one from Mark Beckhurst earned a 3-1 success.