NORTH Warnborough only managed to field nine players, with an outfielder in goal in their debut in the Basingstoke and District Sunday League Division One match, writes TONY SPENCER.

However, they surprised everyone by notching up the opening goal against the odds. Eastrop Eagles, also newly promoted, soon got into their stride, though, with Bobbi Frost slotting home an equaliser, and the visitors cruised to 4-1 lead by half-time on their way to a 9-1 win.

Their goals came from Bobbi Frost, Kirk Smith, and braces from Morgan Davis and Elliott Forsey.

Republic of Chineham and Bramley United were all square 1-1 at half-time, with Stuart Leddy scoring for the visiting Bramley.

Leddy scored again in the second half, along with Colin Bell and Neil Armstrong in a 4-2 win.

Chineham were on top of their visit to Soldiers Return for the first 15 minutes, although the hosts started to reassert themselves.

On 24 minutes, Chineham’s Jamie Dockree piled the pressure on the full back and robbed him of the ball and calmly slotted past the goalkeeper.

Soldiers Return played better in the second half and man of the match Cobi Judd took the ball behind the defence for Matt Kelly to equalise.

With only five minutes remaining, Warren Hill found Alex Izzo on the back post to head Chineham’s winner.

In Division Two, new club Kempshott and Basingstoke Saints was certainly competitive and even all the way through.

Saints opened the scoresheet with an own goal, which was equalised by Ed Quick 1-1. Liam James then scored twice for the visitors, before Kempshott’s Jamie Hope netted from the penalty spot and added a second in open play to level things.

Saints edged ahead again, only to be pegged back to 4-4 as Hope finished off his hat-trick.

Scott Cross made it 5-4, but Chris Bode completed the 5-5 scoreline.

Team FC scored an early goal through Adam Everiss from the penalty spot, but then visitors North Warnborough Reserves edged 2-1 by the interval from Nial Day and Daniel Mellors.

Boro were rampant in the second half, taking the game to 7-2 with Ryan Thorpe outstanding.

Andy Parker scored a hat-trick, one from a penalty, Henry Ransey getting on the scoresheet. At the end Everiss got his second goal for Team.

UWS hammered Chineham Athletic 9-1, with Jake Gorman (4), Ryan Lupton (2), and Tyler Shayler, Chris Rowe, and Craig Short getting one each.

There were only two divisions in the Sunday section this season, which has involved some shuffling of clubs, but we believe we have two competitive divisions.

Certainly we had plenty of goals, with around six per match in Division 1 and the average goals scored in Division 2 was just short of 10 goals a game.