IF it was goals you wanted, then there was no need to go further than the Premier Division of the Perry Street league where 26 goals were scored in just four matches, writes Ian Hallett.

Reigning champions Crewkerne Town extended their winning run in the league to 18 as they hit nine goals without reply when they welcomed Ilminster Town Colts to their temporary home at Misterton.

The visitors held out for 12 minutes before going a goal down when Adam Dawe ran on to a long through ball from Jak Flatt before sending in a speculative shot from the left edge of the penalty area.

Ilminster keeper Steve Garland got a hand to the ball, but it fell kindly to Liam Riste who tapped it over the line from close range.

Jamie Spurdle added to his already- impressive tally by finding the net twice in a three-minute spell, before Ilminster created their only real chance of the first half when Lee Aspland sent a 20-yard effort just wide of the upright.

The advantage was increased three minutes after the interval when a corner kick by Spurdle was missed by everyone as it sped across the goal mouth and cleared to the edge of the area where new signing Adam Manley was waiting to drive it straight back toward goal where Riste blocked the ball on the line before rolling it into the net.

Spurdle completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute with an unstoppable volley and then added his fourth eight minutes later with a shot from a very narrow angle.

Riste made it 7-0 in the 75th minute and Dawe got his name on the scoresheet with five minutes remaining when he took his time before coolly slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

Spurdle took his seasons goal tally to 23 as he completed the scoring in the dying seconds.

Ilminster had their moments in the second half and if they possessed someone who could put the ball in the net it could have been a much closer verdict, but they now need to win all four of their remaining games to have any hope of avoiding relegation.

Another club who must win most of their remaining games if they are to avoid the drop are Misterton who failed to hit the target for the sixth time this season in a 9-0 defeat at South Petherton.

Dean Smith netted two early goals for the winners with Lee Richards adding a third before the interval. Further strikes from Richard Hebditch (2), Richards, Danny Rendell, Sam Bourne and substitute Jamie Underwood extended Pethy’s winning run to five while keeping their third consecutive clean sheet.

In a match which was governed by the strong wind blowing down the pitch, Combe St Nicholas reserves ended visitors Beaminster’s recent good form with a narrow 2-1 success.

Craig Every put the hosts ahead in the 20th minute with a shot that took a slight deflection and he increased the lead ten minutes later after receiving the ball when a strike by his brother Steve rebounded to him off a post.

Combe came close to extending their advantage on a number of occasions before Josh Hunter bagged a consolation goal for Beaminster early in the second half.

After taking only one point from their previous three games, West & Middle Chinnock got back to winning ways with a 4-1 victory at Lyme Regis reserves, but they had to come from a goal down after Sam Jones had given Lyme the lead from the penalty spot.

Mark Cawley brought the scores level before the interval and then added a brace in the second half. The winners completed their scoring with a headed goal from Johnny Jackson.

Division One Barrington continued their unbeaten run with a 5-1 victory at fellow promotion candidates Millwey Rise.

Two goals from Guy Dare in the opening five minutes caught the hosts by surprise and they fell further behind two minutes later when James Thompson added goal number three.

Mark Pike pulled a goal back for Millwey on the stroke of half time and they gave a much improved display after the turn around.

But the visitors rallied towards the end and made sure of the points in the last quarter-hour with goals from Dare and Tom Perry to extend their winning sequence to 18.

With only two defeats from their previous 11 outings Netherbury went into their home game against Chard United full of optimism and continued their good form with a 2-1 triumph.

Chris Symes and Tom Franklin were on target for the Ambers with Scott Miller replying for United.

Winsham United had defeated Lyme Bantams 6-1 earlier in the season however the seasiders gained revenge over an under-strength United with a 2-0 success thanks to strikes by Sam Bevis and Shaun Stewart.

Division Three Chard United reserves maintained their four point advantage at the top of the table by beating bottom team Millwey Rise reserves 8-2.

Liam Male took his total for the season on to 24 as he netted four times in the rout. Jamie Brown added a hat-trick and the success was completed with a superb free-kick by Dan Wilcox. Alex Rockett struck twice for Millwey.

Kingsbury shook off the disappointment of the previous week’s cup exit by moving up to second in the table after hitting six goals without reply against South Petherton reserves.

Ben Norman and Lewis Bowditch struck a brace each with the victory being completed by singles from Jake Russell and Luke Monk.

Chard Rangers moved into a much healthier mid-table position following a 1-0 win at Shepton Beauchamp reserves.

The only goal came late in the game when home keeper Terry Crocker was sent off after he was judged to have brought down Tom Warren inside the area.

Stand-in gloveman Alex Pitman could do little to prevent Scott Curtis scoring from the spot. Isaac Patch was named as the visitors’ man of the match.

Another player to receive his marching orders by the referee was John Mason of Thorncombe reserves, but his team-mates overcame the loss to claim a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw at Merriott Dynamos.

Kieran Bailey and Luke Carver were on target for the hosts with Bryan Garrett and an own goal earning the Thorns a point to move them up to fifth.

Division Four Despite the bitterly cold and windy conditions the bottom division’s only fixture was full of entertainment as second placed Combe B overturned a three-goal deficit to draw 3-3 against their guests Crewkerne Rangers reserves.

Goals from Sam Rockett, Liam Adams and Mark Holton had seemed to have put Rangers on course to take the maximum points that would move them up to third in the table.

However, the home side used the slope and the conditions to their advantage after the break and secured a draw with goals from Matt Corrick (2) and Richard Curwood.

Daisy Hutchings Cup ALL the quarter-final ties went the way of the underdogs.

In the all-Division Two encounter, Crewkerne Rangers, who had suffered a four goal defeat by Waytown Hounds three weeks ago, ended their opponents’ three match winning run with a 1-0 victory.

Jack Male netted the only goal of the game midway through the first half and even though the Hounds came close to grabbing an equaliser on a number of occasions, they were kept at bay by some great goal keeping from Liam Sparks.

Following a goal-less first half, Division Four newcomers Merriott Rovers continued their impressive league form with a 4-1 win at Division Three high-flyers Barrington reserves.

Ashley Cooper found the net twice in the victory that was completed with strikes by Craig Gosney and Sam Rowswell.

Wes King converted a penalty for the losers who will now concentrate on their push for a promotion place.

Gavin Herrod and Jack Larcombe hit two goals each for Division Three mid-table outfit Hawkchurch to put them on the way to an excellent 9-3 defeat of Division Two visitors Crewkerne Town reserves.

Kieran Adams (2) and Harry Langdon scored for the Town side who were no match for the rampant Hawks as they secured a semi-final spot at home to Merriott with further goals from Andy Dymond, Stuart Weir, Jon Turner, Ollie Pearse and Jamie Harris.

n Leading scorers: Premier Division – 24 Josh Hunter (Beaminster), 23 Dan Smith (Shepton Beauchamp) & Jamie Spurdle (Crewkerne Town), 19 Mark Cawley (West & Middle Chinnock), 17 Richard Hebditch (South Petherton), 15 Adam Dawe (Crewkerne Town) & Dan Peach (Shepton Beauchamp), 14 Liam Riste (Crewkerne Town).

Division One – 27 Andy Whitefield (Barrington), 16 Sam Dibling (Millwey Rise), 15 Guy Dare (Barrington), 14 Shane Partridge & Tom Stead (Both Winsham United), 13 Stuart Packer (Chard United) & Andy Stevenson (Forton Rangers).

Division Two – 21 Terry Farrell (Drimpton), 19 Bryan Garrett (Thorncombe), 14 Paul Gold (Crewkerne Town Reserves), 13 Simon Denslow (Crewkerne Rangers), Lee Fisher (Thorncombe), Warren Gabbidon (Thorncombe) & Jon Legg (Waytown Hounds).

Division Three – 24 Liam Male (Chard United Reserves), 16 Jamie Brown (Chard United Reserves) & Andy Dymond (Hawkchurch), 14 Jake Russell (Kingsbury), 12 Jimmy Rees (South Petherton Reserves).

Division Four – 28 Ashley Cooper (Merriott Rovers), 15 Graham Cleale (Combe B), 13 Niall Waterhouse (Uplyme Reserves), 12 Aaron Hole (Crewkerne Rangers Reserves) & Ross Jewell (Hinton St George).

n THE league has issued its latest marks for the Fair Play award, which is given at the end of the season in the shape of the Bob Hall trophy. Leaders in the five divisions are: Premier: Ilminster Town Colts 97%, West & Middle Chinnock 87%, Shepton Beauchamp & Misterton 85%.

Division One: Millwey Rise 95%, Chard United & Farway United 91%.

Division Two: Crewkerne Rangers, Ilminster Town A & Uplyme all 95%.

Division Three: Chard Rangers 94%, Chard United Reserves, Combe A & Hawkchurch 91%.

Division Four: Chard Rangers Reserves 93%, Drimpton Reserves & Farway United Reserves 91%.