Uplyme start season with 6-1 victory

UPLYME 1st took their good pre-season form into their opening game, winning 6 - 1 at home to a physical Merriott Reserves team who finished the game with nine men.

The Uplyme team handled a barrage of off-the-ball incidents with real professionalism as two Merriott players were red carded.

Jonny Day opened the scoring in style after only two minutes, meeting a George Symonds' cross with a great diving header from the edge of the box.

Not to be outdone, skipper Jonnie Harris hit a wonder volley from the touchline near the corner flag to make it two in ten minutes. Two goals from striker Alex Jones and another from Harris meant Uplyme cantered to victory and Niall Fifer rounded it off with a neat finish.

A good start against a team that came to compete in a very different way. Wes Holmes and Jonny Day controlled the midfield in calm fashion, but Oscar Sladen pips the star performer award for his great skills down the left.

Drimpton 3, Uplyme 2nds 2

Season kick-off and a real test first time out against an experienced Drimpton side.

The young Uplyme team, bolstered by the return of former Uplyme favourite Graham White, started brightly but fell behind to a breakaway Drimpton goal.

Uplyme equalised on the half-hour mark through a textbook goal. Marcus Symonds sprayed the ball wide to Freddie Andrews who rinsed the full-back before squaring for Marcus to tap in.

Under pressure as the half wore on Uplyme conceded a second to a low near-post shot, the half finishing at 2-1 to Drimpton.

In the second half the Swallows started to gel more as a team with their pace and fitness causing Drimpton problems at the back. A a deft ball over the top from Dan Huggins putting in Symonds who rounded the keeper to slot home for his second.

Uplyme kept plugging away with Symonds denied his hat-trick with a sweet volley that was inadvertently stopped by the centre back's face, set up by some determined work down the left by Ollie Alner.

With the game entering the last minute Uplyme suffered the sucker punch of a late Drimpton winner to complete the 3-2 scoreline.

Manager Pete Blandamer though his side was worthy of at least a draw, having conceded when the looked the most likely to nick it.

He said: "There were loads of positives. Mikey Sayers in goal looking more assured with every game, the makings of a solid back four (special mention for Rhys Hulbert's goal line clearance), creative midfield and dangerous hard working forwards.

"Man-of-the-match goes to Marcus for his work rate and two goals."

Next Saturday Uplyme Reserves entertain Perry Street & Yonder Hill Reserves at Venlake.