Barsham hit top spot after goal romp

09 October 2009

NOTLEY'S LOWESTOFT AND DISTRICT LEAGUE ROUND UP

A MAJORLY reduced programme saw just five league games and one cup match played as the weather took its toll on the Notley's Lowestoft and District League.

With all football matches that were due to take place on council-run pitches last weekend postponed last Friday >, Waveney District Council and operational partners Waveney Norse confirmed the fixtures were cancelled because of the lack of rain in recent months.

The unusually hard surfaces were highlighted as presenting “a genuine risk to player safety,” as well as “longer-term damage to the pitches” themselves.

Waveney Operations Manager Andy Wilson-Sutter said: “The surfaces are bare and bone hard and there is no question of games going ahead with conditions as they are. “Naturally we are frustrated that we have been forced in to this decision and obviously we will work closely with the leagues to ensure any backlog of games are accommodated before the end of the season,” he added.

However, there was some football played on school and village pitches. And in all three divisions those games that were played have affected the top of the tables.

New leaders in division one are Barsham, after they made it four matches unbeaten in another demolition - this time beating bottom of the table Beccles Caxton Reserves 8-1.

The division's leading goalscorer Josh Woolnough fired in a four-goal salvo, with further goals for S King, A Williams, M Howard and N Holmes, as Barsham now head the table on goal difference ahead of Spexhall and previous leaders Waveney Reserves.

Spexhall took advantage of other games not being played to move up to second place as Paul Batley solitary strike gave them a 1-0 win at Corton White Horse Seltic, who remain second bottom.

In division two, Pakefield Re-United moved three points clear at the top of the table after inflicting the first defeat on previous leaders 2-1 at the village side with goals for Stokes and John Attridge.

In the only other game played in the division, Suffolk Punch moved into third after a fine 9-2 away win at tenth placed Tudor.

In the only game played in division three, previous leaders Waveney A slipped into second after a 3-0 defeat at sixth placed Spexhall Reserves.

The unbeaten Waveney Gunners were the beneficiaries of this as they returned to the top of the table.

In the only other match played involving Notley's Lowestoft and District League sides, Norton Athletic Reserves beat South Walsham Reserves 3-1 (D Robinson 2, S Hobart) in the Norfolk Primary Cup first round replay.