The first fixtures of 2016 got under way this weekend and despite the continuing wet weather, only a handful of games were lost.

Schoolhouse began the new year just as they finished the old one, on top of the Norwich Premier as goals by Luke Winter, Rhys Logan, Sam Applegate, Charlie Bartram and Sam Slater, helped them to a 5-1 win over Aslacton, for whom James Smith replied. The league leaders also praised referee Richard Gostling, who despite an injury prior to the game, had refused to call off.

Riverside Rovers remain three points behind after beating Poringland Wanderers 6-1. Riverside commented that it was a better game than the scoreline suggested but a Jordan Rocastle hat-trick plus further goals by Gavin Lemmon, Shaun Wones and Andrew Maxwell-Stuart made it eight wins from eight.

A Tom Pitchell 30-yard strike was the Poringland reply.

I was at Thorpe School trying to take in two games at once. The first saw Dussindale Rovers take a very early lead at home to Acle Rangers, but the visitors recovered well to storm into a 3-1 lead before half time thanks to goals from Ricky Forder, Nick Davies and Adam Faulkes.

Ross Saunders netted in time added on to make it 4-1.

The POW continued their recent revival with a 6-1 home win over Farmhouse, while Bungay Town beat Bell Inn 3-1, with Bell’s goal coming from Dale Simpson.

In 1A, the top two recorded victories. Horsford United scored five without reply at home to New Buckenham, while second-placed Brooke also scored five of the eight goals in the game with Sporting Longdale. Early pacesetters Vale Longo finally got back to winning ways with a 2-1 triumph over Dancing Farmers, while two goals by Tony Palmer and another by Jordan Plunkett put Windmill Wanderers three up at Anglian Rovers with 20 minutes to go, but they were made to battle for the points as the home side pulled two goals back before the end.

DEF increased their lead at the top of 1B after a 3-1 (goalscorers Fionn Goodwin Wright 2 and John Muir) home win over Sprowston Wanderers, and Salhouse Rovers recorded a good 7-3 victory over William Wanderers. The division’s bottom two, Acle Rangers Reserves and Taverham United took a point each in a 2-2 draw, Salim Lahfa with the Taverham goals.

Mad Moose began 2016 in style as they won 8-0 (Jon Soderberg 3, Michael Adcock 2, Try Lowthorpe, David Kiss and Callum Orrick) at Norman Wanderers Reserves. Mischief stay on their tail after goals by Ollie Johnson, Matthew Whitehead, Theo Chamberlain and Luca Elia gave them a 4-2 win over Brooke Reserves.

Newsman Celtic scored four (Rob Setchell 2 and Matt Giles 2) in winning at Mettingham and DCS Rapid also scored four times as they beat Dynamo.

The big game in 2B saw leaders Phoenix draw 1-1 at second-placed Silver Fox, Kai Savage and Jamie Smith scoring for their respective sides. Trimingham Pilgrims, third, won by the odd goal in seven at Briston Wanderers. Louis Vardigan and Chris Scase with two were the home side’s scorers whilst Adam Buckenham (2), Lewis Amos and Dan Tyrell replied for Pilgrims.

Binham Village also started the year with a good win, beating Costessey Sports 6-2.

Thirteen not unlucky for red-hot Marlborough Under-19s

Winfarthing top Norwich 3A after cruising to a 4-0 home win against Hewett Old Boys.

GaGa are level on points though after beating Sporting Longdale Reserves 6-2. The league’s second-placed team have however played two more fixtures.

The second game I took an interest in at Thorpe School saw stout defending and a heroic goalkeeping performance from AFC Westlegate keeper Chris Kew shut out a decent SNS for more than an hour, before two Scott Woodcock goals and one from Gary Warford broke down AFC’s resistance.

Mad Moose Reserves ran out 5-1 (goalscorers Josh Malin 2, Alex Laskey, Chris Goodwin and Aaron Stuttard) winners at home to Reedham, whilst MC Rovers also won 5-1 as they got back to winning ways against Freethorpe.

With Norwich CEYMS inactive, Hellesdon took over at the top of 3B with a 2-1 win at third-placed Blofield United thanks to a goal in time added on from Tony Burch. Jack Richardson scored the first.

Barracks recorded a 6-1 win at Bunwell AFC whilst Sprowston Athletic scored eight in their triumph at Gressenhall.

Only one game survived in the Under-19 Development League A Division and it saw Attleborough Town increase their lead at the top of the table with a 5-1 (Tom Miles 2, Patrick Kassaga, James Dawes and Joe Evans) win over Long Stratton.

The top two in the B Division saw leaders Marlborough score 13 as they beat Blofield United and Norman Wanderers scored five as they won at St Andrews.

Although the two are level on points, ‘Boro have a game in hand and are yet to lose, while Wanderers have been beaten in one of their 10 league fixtures so far.

Old Catton stayed on the fringes of the title race after a 4-2 victory over Norwich United B.

Catton sit third but remain six points behind Norman and Marlborough.

C Division leaders Drayton had a 6-1 win at rivals Horsford Youth and Litcham moved up to second spot courtesy of a 6-2 success at Sprowston Athletic.

Their goals came from Jake Sheard, who hit a brace, Harry Bammant, Ruben Copsey, Felix Leitao and Charlie Read.

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