TOM Wadham notched a last-minute winner to give Ash Rangers a 5-4 victory over Wiveliscombe in the semi-finals of the Seward Cup.

The game was a great advert for lower division football in the Taunton league, played in a good spirit by both sides who were well supported and well officiated by the three men in black. In the open phase of the game it was one way traffic with Ash playing down the slope with Ben Bartlett heading his side in front for a corner after just a few minutes. On 15 minutes Ash doubled their lead when constant pressure ended in Harvey Puddy scoring. Wivey then started to get more into the game and have more possession but Ash scored again.

The Wivey keeper made a good save but the ball was pushed back to Harvey Puddy who accepted the opportunity to give his side a 3-0 half-time lead. If Ash thought the game was already won then they made a big mistake.

Wivey must have had a good talking to at the break as they came out of the blocks wanting the ball much more and it paid off almost immediately when the Ash keeper missed the ball and a defender, desperately trying to clear the ball, just managed to put it is his own net for 3-1. Just two minutes later Rangers restored their three goal lead when sub Tom Wadham scored. Just seven minutes into the second half Roly Kirkbride’s good shot made it 4-2 and that gave Wivvy more hope.

The next goal was going to be all important. If Ash got it then it was game over but if it went to Wivey there was all to play for. Louis Wood of Wivey was becoming more and more influential in helping his side press more forward and that pressure ended in a corner from which Connor Pearce headed home for 4-3.

The game was now really on with both sides desperate for the win and it got even better when the ball was partly cleared by the Ash defence and was returned with a hopeful lob into the six yard box.

Keeper and striker Jake Harris both went for it with Harris bravely getting his head there first to nod into goal for 4-4 with just ten minutes to go. Neither side deserved to lose the game with both sides going for the win and it looked very much like the spectators were going to get a further 30 minutes of entertainment.

But Wadham had different ideas and scored for Ash with just a minute to go to give his side a 5-4 victory and a final against Bridgwater Sports Reserves. The other semi-final was a much more one-sided affair with Bridgwater Sports beating Tone Youth Reserves 6-0.

West Somerset Rose Bowl WYVERN Rangers proved to be too strong from Division Two side Stogursey with a 4-2 victory and their goals from Andy Butler, Chris Hale, Tom Melhuish and Joe Enticott. There were seven goals at Porlock where the home team lost 3-4 to Westonzoyland. Adam Langdon and Lee Hardick scored for Porlock with their third courtesy of the visitors. Milverton Rangers beat Watchet Town reserves 6-2 with Chase Billet hitting a hat trick.

Craig Plumridge got a pair with Lloyd Udall adding one. Mike Williams and Connor Jeromson scored for Watchet. Staplegrove reserves struggled to put out a side with several players away and others cup tied and didn’t do themselves justice at Morganians who won the game 5-2.

Scott Reynolds got one of Grove’s goals with Dave Ryan getting the other.

Gardner Security Cup The game between Bridgwater Sports Colts and Bishops Lydeard Colts couldn’t be decided in 90 minutes with the score at 1-1 and went to penalties which were won by Lydeard 4-3. Kane Squire opened the scoring for Exmoor Rangers against Middlezoy Athletic but Zoy equalised through Will Kelly for the teams to go into the break 1-1.

Exmoor, with the wind behind them, went and scored mid-way through the second half thanks to a Jimmy Baker goal which gave them a 2-1 win. Chris McKee opened the scoring after 30 seconds for Hamilton Athletic Foxes against a depleted Staplegrove Colts side. He then made it 2-0, rounding the keeper to tap into an open goal. Staplegrove fought back to make it 2-2 with goals from debutant Cameron Higgins.

Player manager Phil Hollings-worth scored with a volley from a corner to restore his side’s lead then winger Jake Aired scored a great individual goal with Kieran Shevlin finishing it off after a great passing move for a 5-2 win.

Division One The only game in the division saw Bishops Lydeard reserves lose 2-1 to Middlezoy Rovers reserves. Zoy started off the better team playing down hill dominating the first 15 minutes, resulting in John Doyle directing his header in from close range at the back post.

Lydeard came back into the game making it 1-1 just before the break with a Kirk Poulson goal.

Middlezoy again started the better in the half and could have scored a few more before Adam Prescott scored a 30 yard strike into the top corner.

There was a feisty last ten minutes with some dangerous tackles, and both teams were lucky to finish the game with 11 men.

Division Two Wembdon scored two unanswered first half goals to go in at half time 2-0 up against Dulverton Town. Mid-way through the second half, Wembdon were reduced to ten men after a tangle of legs led to a ‘last man’ sending off.

From the resulting free kick, Dulverton scored through centre half Dave Kelland for 2-1. With ten minutes to go, Wembdon made sure of all three points after Andrew Skidmore turned nicely in the box and slotted the ball home for 3-1. Alcombe Rovers beat the The Gallery 1-0 in the top-of-the-table clash in favour of the leaders thanks to a Lee Todd goal.

Division Three Sydenham Rangers notched another big win, the latest a 6-1 victory over Norton Fitzwarren for whom James Potters scored their consolation. Alcombe Rovers reserves made it a good day for the club by beating Redgate 4-2.

The scoring was spread between Martin Green, Jack Bodley, Adam Rothwell and Janusz Jasielczuk.

Division Five North Curry recorded a convincing 5-1 win over Fivehead. A couple of fine saves from Andrew Male kept Fivehead in the game but it wasn’t too long before Curry took a two goal lead.

Fivehead pulled one back when a goal kick from was flicked on by Adam Male for Nick Bazeley to tap it in.

But by half time Curry had made it 3-1 and added two more in the second period.

Josh Dodimead scored two goals for the victors, Rob Watts and Joe Gratton added one each, while an own goal accounted for the fifth.