Sport
Unbeatable Wincanton win every game on way to title Blackmore Vale League May 12 Bradford Abbas 0 Wincanton Utd 2 Congratulations to Wincanton who won every game of the season, only the second team to do so since 2003. Provost Barbarians also achieved the feat in 2015/16.
Going into their final game, the hosts were looking to spoil the party and revenge a narrow 7-6 defeat at Wincanton earlier in the season. United started well and took the lead after former Bradford player Nick Hewlett struck a long range effort. The lead doubled shortly after a low effort
found the bottom corner and this woke Bradford up. A chipped shot went wide, appeals for a penalty were turned down and regular scorer Pete Crabtree skied an effort yards from goal. Ollie Hilbourne then had a header cleared off the line and was tackled when clean through
on goal. The second half was a scrappy affair and the game ended with a Wincanton penalty which Liam Norris tipped onto the bar. Bradford’s match report concluded: “Another great battle against a very good Wincanton team who deservedly go the season unbeaten.”
League determined to finish season Most football leagues in the region decided two months ago to scrap their seasons but one has persevered – the community-based Blackmore Vale Football League. There had been no BVFL games from December 20 until April 4, causing a huge backlog of fixtures. One team, Hazelbury Hornets, decided to call it a day but the nine other teams voted to continue. “We knew there was going to be disruption at the beginning of the year,” says Jamie Denne, media and marketing manager for the League. “But the priority was to get the league done, a tick in the box.” The FA granted a season extension to the end of June. Pitch availability was an issue but alternatives were found and there were no cup competitions to distract. The heavy schedule meant that on occasion, teams Dorset Senior Trophy final Blandford United 1 Merley Cobham Sports 5 Asa Phillips struck twice as Merley cruised to victory. Plenty had travelled down to support Blandford and the game started evenly, with United closest with a long range effort just over the bar. Cobham took the lead on 10 minutes through Matt Groves. Blandford responded, Brad and Taylor Pike causing problems and in the 29th minute, the Royals equalised when Cobham failed to clear a long throw and
JAMIE DENNE: “The good thing about this league is that you get a total mix of players.”
couldn’t raise a side and forfeited a match. But the season will end on June 13, a triumph particularly as the League had to abandon the 2019-20 season. Then, Wincanton United were poised to win the league. This season they have walked it, winning all 17 games. “You tend to get one good team that stands out but the good thing about this league the loose ball was struck home by Mike Johnson. It was Blandford’s best period of the game. But Dan Edwards hit the post for Cobham with a 20 yard drive before Phillips shot home on 40 minutes. Cobham started the second half with more composure. Lee Wilkins scored their third on 59 minutes. Blandford chased shadows, Phillips adding his second and Joe Wickham finished off. Cobham saw out the final 15 minutes to land the trophy, their 32nd consecutive win.
is that you get a total mix of players,” says Jamie. “There’s Wincanton, other teams who are all just friends and some teams in-between. Overall, there is a lot of experienced players.” The league has a proud history, being formed in 1914. Sturminster Rovers is the longest serving team in the league, having joined in 1992. In recent years, the number of teams has varied between five and 12. There is a high turnover, with only six of last season’s 10 teams returning this season in the same form. Indeed, after winning their final game, Wincanton United suggested on Twitter that the team may not return next season. “Final game of the season, and maybe of WUFC as we know it, was played last night, in a wet and cold Bradford Abbas...and made it
17 out of 17.” But Jamie believes there is great potential for the league next season and points out that the nearest Sunday league competitions are in Bournemouth and Weymouth. A Sunday league in Yeovil closed down eight years ago. Jamie is now inviting new entries for the 2021/22 season from communities who want to play men’s Sunday morning 11-a-side football from across Dorset and Somerset. “The main issue with running a team is player availability and the financial side of things,” he says. n Jamie is in the process of producing a detailed record of the BVFL’s history. If anyone has any newspaper articles, club badges or team photos relating to BVFL competitions, please email him on: BlackmoreValeFL @hotmail.com
Tisbury stumble at semi-final Dorset Senior League Cup May 22 semi-final Tisbury United 1 Sturminster Marshall 4 Tisbury were the quicker of the two sides to settle but Stur started to gain the upper hand, taking the lead on 25 minutes with a decent back post header from Jordan Fisk. They then took control of the tie seconds before half time. The Sharks started the second half with much more urgency
and their efforts were quickly rewarded when Marsh poked home from close range and the next 10 minutes saw them push hard for an equaliser. But Stur punished some poor defending with two late counter attacking goals. Despite the disappointment of losing a semi, the team can be proud of their campaign but ultimately on the day the best team won. Stur Marshall will meet Chickerell in the final on May 31. Dan Carter 85
