COMBE St Nicholas reserves have lost their place in the final of the Challenge Cup after the disclosure that they had included a number of ineligible players in the semi-final defeat of Crewkerne Town.

They were due to face Shepton Beau-champ at Forton Rangers on Good Friday.

On Saturday Combe were looking for some consolation when they entertained South Petherton in the premier division of the Perry Street and district league and gave a good account of themselves in the opening period which ended without score.

But Petherton took full advantage of the slope after the interval when a double strike by Lee Richards in the closing quarter hour brought a 2-0 success to move them within two points of Crewkerne at the top of the table.

Ilminster Town Colts may be without a point and holding the basement position, but they brought praise from Shepton Beauchamp boss Anthony Smith after his side had won 4-0.

Smith said: “I was impressed with the way they battled, they have a few useful players and never gave up throughout the 90 minutes.”

Kris Hastings netted twice in the first half to put Shepton in control and after the break, man-of-the-match Jon Spendlow added a third before Dan Smith completed the scoring.

Division One While runaway leaders Barrington were making progress in the Arthur Gage Cup, Millwey Rise extended their unbeaten sequence to four by winning 3-1 at Pymore to consolidate second place.

Goals by Keith Forsey and Zak Meaker had given Rise a half time lead before Dean Obstancias reduced the arrears.

However, any hopes of a comeback by the Dorset side were ended when Mark Pike regained the two-goal cushion for the winners.

Pymore’s hopes of avoiding relegation were not helped when fellow strugglers Luso-Chard ended a nine match losing run in winning by the odd goal in three at basement boys Farway United. The winners’ goals were scored by Jose Pinto and Bruno Fernandes.

In the closing minutes of their cup defeat at Chard United two weeks ago, Forton Rangers keeper Adam Smith ran into the opponents penalty area in a bid to reduce the arrears when his side were awarded a corner.

And when the move broke down he failed to get back into his goal in time to prevent United scoring to complete a 5-2 success.

But on Saturday, against the same opponents, he attempted the same ploy and became his side’s hero when he slotted the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble to earn Forton a 2-2 draw.

Tom Newport bagged a goal in each half to put United seemingly well in control, but Andy Stevenson pulled a goal back with five minutes remaining before Smith found the net in the sixth minute of injury time to bring his side a share of the spoils.

Division Three Kingsbury got back into action for the first time in three weeks and picked up maximum points courtesy of a narrow 2-1 win at Shepton Beauchamp Reserves.

Following a goal-less first half, the visitors found the net through Jake Russell and Luke Monk with Jordan Brain getting Shepton’s consolation from the penalty spot to take his tally to twelve for the season.

With only one league defeat in their last seven outings, Chard Rangers were confident of completing the double over Millwey Rise Reserves and that confidence was rewarded when they hit four goals without reply.

Recent signing Ian Nottley opened the scoring in the 15th minute after an effort by Mike Bagg was ruled out for off-side. Alan Mansell added a second from a free-kick, with second half strikes by Bagg and Alex Thompson completing the scoring.

Dowlish & Donyatt were forced to come from a goal down on three occasions before gaining a point from a 3-3 draw at South Petherton Reserves. Mark Whaites (2) and Luke Bridle were on target for the hosts while Dowlish hit back with goals from Stuart Lee, Jon Bartlett and Dan Vining Division Four Chard United All Stars appear destined to end the season in the wooden spoon position after they suffered a 10-0 reverse at fast improving Hinton St George.

Ian Bambury netted four times for the winners with Kenny Forbes and Ross Jewell adding two goals each. Singles by Danny Baker and Shane Jewell completed the rout.

Chard Rangers reserves beat Drimpton Reserves 6-1 earlier in the season, but on Saturday Drimpton turned the tables on their hosts by winning 3-2.

Josh Betts gave Drimpton the lead only for this to be cancelled out by a goal from George Best.

Jason Mallett regained the advantage for Drimpton before Martin Clayton struck a superb 40-yard free-kick into the net to level the scores with five minutes remaining.

With less than two minutes left on the clock Rangers failed to clear the ball from their penalty area and Gavin Tanner slammed it into the net from ten yards to extend the visitors winning run to three.

In the day’s only other league match, a fifth minute goal by Neil Reed gave Combe B the lead against Winsham United Reserves, but the match was abandoned in the 21st minute when Winsham’s Darren Partridge suffered a broken leg in what appeared a normal challenge for the ball. Both clubs wish him a speedy recovery.

Arthur Gage Cup With the Division One Cup already in their trophy cabinet, Barrington’s hopes of lifting another piece of silverware remain on course following a 6-2 win at Netherbury.

Barrington took time to settle, but once Thomas Perry put them ahead on the half hour mark there was only one team in it. Paul Oliver made it 2-0 before the interval and Guy Dare added a third soon after the restart. Dare netted his second of the afternoon while a brilliant 20-yard volley from Perry and then a third from Dare completed the visitors scoring.

Barrington took their foot off the pedal in the closing minutes and allowed their hosts back into the game with two goals from Dan Rendell.

Tommy Tabberer Cup As the pitches at Thorncombe and Crewkerne Rangers were considered too wet to play on and Crewkerne Town Reserves handed Drimpton a walkover, the only quarter-final tie to reach a conclusion was at Beaminster where the towns reserves enjoyed their most convincing win of the season by beating Charmouth 7-0.

Jonah Ayunga and Owen Ward hit two goals apiece in the triumph that was completed by Dan Pyett, Josh Trocian and Adam Moss.

Somerset Junior Cup Crewkerne Town produced one of their best performances of the season as they beat AFC Brislington 6-1 in a semi-final tie.

It took the town side 15 minutes to get settled, but once Jamie Spurdle put them ahead there was no stopping them. Liam Riste added a hat-trick in a five minute spell midway through the half and when Jason Rendell made it 5-0 before the interval the crowd must have been thinking of a victory in double figures.

The second half was much more evenly contested and Brislington reduced the arrears with a well-worked goal in the 55th minute.

But the effort appeared to be only a token gesture as Crewkerne came straight back to once again open up a five goal lead with a strike by Adam Dawe to put them safely into the final.

Winners’ manager Ben Cox said: “As far as I know, Crewkerne have never won the Junior Cup, but they did reach the final in the 1947/48 season when they lost to High Littleton. And as my grandfather Freddie was a town player at the time, I am sure he would have been involved.

“Of course on a personal level it would mean an awful lot if I could go one better than my granddad did.”

During that season they also won the league and Challenge Cup, so it could be a good omen.

Leading scorers: Premier Division – 33 Jamie Spurdle (Crewkerne Town), 27 Dan Smith (Shepton Beauchamp), 24 Josh Hunter (Beaminster), 23 Liam Riste (Crewkerne Town), 20 Richard Hebditch (South Petherton), 19 Mark Cawley (West & Middle Chinnock), Adam Dawe (Crewkerne Town), 16 Steve Every (Combe Reserves), 15 Stuart Bicknell & Craig Every (Combe Reserves), Dan Peach (Shepton Beauchamp).

Division One – 37 Andy Whitefield (Barrington), 27 Guy Dare (Barrington), 17 Tom Perry (Barrington), 16 Sam Dibling (Millwey Rise), Tom Stead (Winsham United), Andy Stevenson (Forton Rangers), 15 Shane Partridge (Winsham United), 13 Ryan Gall (Netherbury), Stuart Packer (Chard United).

Division Two – 26 Terry Farrell (Drimpton), 22 Bryan Garrett (Thorncombe), 18 Warren Gabbidon (Thorncombe), 17 Paul Gold (Crewkerne Town reserves), 16 Simon Denslow (Drimpton, includes 13 for Crewkerne Rangers), Lee Fisher (Thorncombe), Jon Legg (Waytown Hounds).

Division Three – 29 Liam Male (Chard United reserves), 18 Andy Dymond (Hawkchurch), 17 Jamie Brown (Chard United reserves), 16 Jimmy Rees (South Petherton reserves), Jake Russell (Kingsbury), 14 Luke Harding (Hawkchurch), 13 Barry Hayne (Merriott Dynamos).

Division Four – 33 Ashley Cooper (Merriott Rovers), 18 Graham Cleal (Combe B), 17 Kenny Forbes & Ross Jewell (Hinton St George), 13 Paul Stuart (Winsham United reserves), Niall Waterhouse (Uplyme reserves), 12 Kev Cavanagh (Chard Rangers reserves), Aaron Hole (Crewkerne Rangers reserves), Sam Rowswell & Danny Rudge (Merriott Rovers).