THE weather played havoc with BFA Cup fixtures on the opening day of the season and only one M A Hart Poole Bay Challenge Cup tie was able to be played.

This match was at Sway where the reigning Saturday League champions accounted for Redhill Rangers 5-0 with goals from Paul Sims (2), Dan Webb, Bill Stride and Jamie Chilcott.

WALKFORD WALK IT

ALL four M A Hart Pickford Cup preliminary round ties were postponed but, in the first round, Charles Williams rattled in four in Walkford's 7-2 triumph over Little Brit Inn with David Ball, John Nicholls and Scott Assinder adding one each.

Fencing Centre managed to avoid falling at the first hurdle for the first time in four years when they put paid to Ringwood Athletic 6-3 courtesy of Chris Draper's four-goal blast and further goals from Jason Cliffe and Dan Cocorachio.

Blair Hyland and Chris Samuels bagged two apiece in JP Morgan's 8-3 drubbing of Bransgore United with the other goals coming via Adam Croker, Ian Kelly, Andy Short and an own goal.

Wallisdown Conservative had a 4-3 majority over FIFA Standards thanks to Mick Ward and a Shaun Stevenson hat-trick, while Chris Forbes, Paul Johnson and Lee Clark got Twynham Rangers through 3-1 against Screw-it Carpentry.

Alex Miller, Ruben Fernandes and Mike Green were the Stourvale marksmen in their 3-1 win over AFC Bransgore, while New Milton Eagles ousted Phoenix 4-2 with goals from Julian Smith, Gary Bokota, Chris Haines and Shahed Miah (pen).

Goals from Ashley Irving and Daniel Wills were not enough to save Branksome Celtic from going out 3-2 to Burley whose goals came via Stuart Davis (2) and Phil Matthews.

Sean Leddy and Matt Voisey netted for Albany Athletic but Magpies replied through Marc Crisp and Shaun Steer to finish 2-2 after extra time and it was the Magpies who squeezed through 6-5 on penalties.

KITTLE CRACKS TWO

IN the BFA Hayward Saturday League, Joe Kittle made a welcome return to the Bournemouth Electric ranks, scoring both goals in their 2-0 victory over Verwood Town in the Premier Division.

Redlynch and Woodfalls United were also 2-0 winners when Ben Read and Andrew Bray accounted for last season's Division Two champions Ferndown Town.

Harrington United, who made a phenomenal start in Division Three last season, were quickly out of the traps in Division One, sweeping Bournemouth Electric Reserves aside 3-0 with goals from Shane Sandever, Keith Palmer and Paul Wilkinson.

Diego Lopez-Sarmiento and Fernando Perdomo struck for Westover Bournemouth Reserves in Division Two but Cobham Sports just got the better of them 3-2 with goals from Jamie Wilson and Ricky Mee.

Dom Burke, Ashley Williams, and Alex Branicki were the Old Oakmeadians Reserves marksmen in their 3-1 success against Redlynch and Woodfalls United Reserves in Division Three, while Parley Sports A and Suttoners Civil A cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw. Lascelles Richardson put Suttoners in front but Chris Burden levelled for Parley 20 minutes from time.

Michael Thompson led the way with a hat-trick when Queens Park Athletic Reserves gave AFC Burton Reserves a 6-0 spanking in Division Six with Alex Joy (2) and Ben Diaper also on target.

James Joseph netted for Portcastrian Reserves but Fordingbridge Turks Reserves just got the better of them 2-1 with goals from Louis Bevis and Gavin Watson.

  • The Merlo Saturday Team of the Week is South Coast Demolition FC of Division Five who beat Division Four side Queens Park Athletic FC 3-1 in the first round of the M A Hart Pickford Cup. They win a Mitre Match football.