THE Taunton Saturday league made an impressive start to their Mavis Tate Cup campaign with a 9-1 defeat of the Frome Sunday league at Bridgwater Academy last Wednesday.

They are now through to the semi-finals where they will meet holders Perry Street & District next Wednesday (8pm). Taunton have not entered the competition for many years but decided to take part after rule changes allowed for evening games. Nick Buttle of Sampford Blues and Craig Berry of Middlezoy, both league committee members, are co-managing the side.

The Taunton squad, which includes 15 players from six clubs, started strongly on the excellent 4G surface and went ahead after two minutes when Senna Clapp was played in behind the Frome defence to score the opening goal.

It was Clapp who added to the tally on 18 minutes following good link-up play with fellow striker Matt Pounde.

Frome struggled to get into the game with the Saturday league team strong in the tackle and playing some quick, neat passing football which left very few opportunities for Frome to settle.

The central midfield pairing of Dean Quinn and Max Cushing gelled well together and were instrumental in dictating play.

Pounde increased the lead on 24 minutes with another neat finish to give a much-deserved margin.

To their credit the Frome outfit did not give up and looked to redress the position they found themselves in and probed the Saturday league’s defence on occasions.

However the back four of Ollie Brewer, Alex Clapp, Chase Billett and captain Ed Frampton remained solid, with keeper Ben Fellows showing neat hands when called on.

A number of further opportunities were created prior to half time for the Saturday League but not taken.

A couple of personnel changes at half time led to Paul Organ replacing Senna Clapp up front and Matt Holmes replacing Ollie Brewer at left back.

Frome started the second half the brighter and got a goal back on 58 minutes with a ball across the box that was put in after a scramble.

This re-ignited Taunton’s appetite for more goals and they came in abundance with Pounde responding two minutes later.

Then just two minutes after that Organ opened his account.

Goalkeeper Gerhard Mayr was introduced moments later along with Liam Moore for Fellows and Gracie Fellows respectively.

Winger Ryan Vickery kept the momentum going by showing his prowess in front of goal getting, on the score sheet with a well-executed shot on 70 minutes.

Clapp came back on for Pounde as rolling subs were the order of the day and completed his hat trick with an audacious chip on 74 minutes.

Organ got his second after 83 minutes with Holmes completing the rout two minutes later.

Taunton – Bridgwater Sports: Ben Fellows & Paul Organ; Locomotives: Ed Frampton (capt), Matt Pounde, Ryan Vickery and Dean Quinn; North Petherton: Senna Clapp, Ollie Brewer, Josh Gracie and Gerhard Mayr; Middlezoy Rovers: Alex Clapp, Liam Moore and Max Cushing; Sampford Blues: Matt Holmes; Milverton Rangers: Chase Billet.

West Somerset Rose Bowl Second division Milverton Rangers took on Middlezoy Rovers Reserves and at half time with the scores level at 1-1 were doing quite well.

Milverton got an early goal after a great run by Chase Billett with Pete Chapman scoring, but conceded within seconds of the re-start when Steve Hall scored for Rovers.

Milverton came out flying and played some nice football, opening up the game and scoring a total of six against the tiring Rovers.

Both Craig Plumridge and Cy Rich scoring three each with some screamers between them.

Division One With Locomotives out of action Bridgwater Sports had the chance to open the gap at the top of the table.

And they did it in style with a 3-0 win over Porlock.

Bottom side Bishops Lydeard picked up a valuable point at home to Wyvern with a 1-1 draw thanks to a Dave Richardson goal. Pete Watts scored for Wyvern.

Staplegrove reserves moved out of the bottom two thanks to a 1-1 draw at North Petherton. Player Manager Scott Reynolds chased down a through ball and was stronger than the defender and managed to get around the keeper to put the ball into an open net. Senna Clapp got his side back into the game a few minutes later with a well-taken goal. Had it not been for excellent performances from both keepers, Ben Saddington of Grove and Gerhard Mayr of Pethy, it would have been a much bigger scoreline.

Division Two There was no change at the top of this division with the top two sides both winning.

Alcombe Rovers beat Watchet Town reserves 2-1 with Andrew Gubb getting both goals. Ian Lowe responded for Watchet.

The Gallery dominated the first half against Minehead reserves and could have been seven or eight goals up but somehow went into the break 1-0 down to a Felix Ndiomo strike.

In the second half The Gallery found their shooting boots and within ten minutes were 5-1 up.

They continued pressing and added another to make it 6-1 in the final minute.

Dulverton Town travelled to Morg-anians and went home with all three points after a 1-0 victory thanks to a Harry Harrison goal.

Division Three Alcombe Rovers reserves beat Norton Fitzwarren 2-1 with both goals scored by Janusz Jansielouk. James Potter replied for Norton. Tone Youth reserves beat Exmoor Rangers 4-1 on a pitch that was not conducive to decent football.

Tone dominated the first half but were wasteful with chances until Steve Scorse converted with a well- timed volley.

Exmoor equalised early in the second half through Ben Gregory.

But Chad Nixon was on the pitch for just 30 seconds before he scored a sensational volley.

Although Tone were reduced to ten men they raised their game to secure the points with further goals from Mark Blight and Steve Scorse’s 20 yard volley.

Division Four Ash Rangers were the only one of the top three sides playing and they had an easy afternoon at Porlock reserves where they won 8-0.

Porlock struggled to cope with the movement of Ash Rangers’ midfield from the outset although the game remained tight at half time.

The second half continued in the same way until Ash ran away with it by the end.

Tom Wadham hit a hat-trick, Jake Odey and Benn Bartlett both scored two and Harvey Puddy added the eighth. The battle between fourth-placed North Petherton reserves and fifth-placed Wiveliscombe was a tightly contested affair with Pethy coming out on top 2-1. James Harris scored for Wivey.

Division Five Conner Fletcher, playing his first game for Fivehead, played a key role with two goals as they beat Nether Stowey 6-2.

Nick Blazeley also scored two with Kev Sweet and Dan Edmunds adding one each.