WEST Bowling continued their 100 per cent start to the Bradford Sunday Alliance League Premier Division season with a 4-2 win away to Sandy Lane.
After 14 minutes, West Bowling’s Patrick Mumbley took a freekick. That found Adam Jordan in the opposition box, who headed the ball down for Joe Jagger to scramble it over the line.
Three minutes later, Bowling doubled their lead. Paul Hague played a precise ball down the line to Kenny Tafireyi, whose cross into the box was met and hammered home by Jordan for 2-0.
The next goal was a stunner from Jagger, who thumped a shot from 30 yards out straight into the top corner of the net to make it 3-0 at half time.
Bowling pressed forward in search of more goals after the break, and Callum Wheatley made a great run before feeding Jagger, who made it 4-0 with his hat-trick.
The visitors, intent on improving the score further, left themselves a little open at the back, and conceded two late goals to Sandy Lane’s Matthew Cavanagh and Chris Winn, meaning the game finished 4-2.
But with Bowling’s opening game against Bradford Moor YSA called off due to coronavirus, they have only played three times and are still behind Wrose Bull (10 points) and leaders Station Hotel (12 points).
Bull had an away walkover at Oakenshaw, while Station beat Tyersal Sunday 2-1 thanks to goals from Connor Bower and Dominic Staunton.
Crossflatts Village bounced back from last week’s heavy home defeat against Station to win 2-1 at Bolton Woods.
Summer signing Adam Simpson hasn't taken long to settle into life at the defending Bradford Sunday Alliance League Premier Division champions.
The 24-year-old front man made it six goals in his first three games for the club after an impressive double against Woods.
Village went into the game with several key players missing, meaning they could only name 11 players and no substitutes.
There was a recall to action for former joint manager and club stalwart Joe Lunn.
The game also saw the return of midfielder Craig Morris.
Simpson broke the deadlock for the patched up away side after six minutes.
The home side rallied and levelled just after the hour mark thanks to Declan Bradley.
With just under half an hour to go, the Village started to tire and they defended resolutely in an attempt to secure a well-earned point, but Simpson had other ideas. With eight minutes remaining, he burst clear and finished with aplomb to earn his side the victory.
Flatts manager Steve Lewis was delighted with the character shown by his side and said: "I am extremely happy with the lads today, but I would like to praise our keeper Dan Thorpe and our back four of Ryan Jeffery, Joe Lunn, Oliver Metcalfe and Jack Lewis, who defended like their lives depended on it.
"It was also very pleasing that Adam Simpson kept his good run going in front of goal and he won it for us at the end.
“His goalscoring is the reason why I brought him to the club and he's fully justified my faith in him already."
Elsewhere, Bradford Moor hammered AFC Wibsey 6-1 thanks to an incredible five goals from the prolific Mohammed Zakariyah, while Westwood Park edged out Olympic 1-0.
In the Championship, Prospect and Low Moor are joint top with four wins from four.
The former beat Throstle Nest United 6-3, thanks to doubles from Jordan Farrell and Peter Francis, while the latter won 6-2 at AFC Titans thanks to a Kyle Leighton-Bingham hat-trick.
Thornbury Celtic and Peacock Bar continued their good starts to the season. Celtic thrashed FC Queensbury 5-1 and Bar hammered Keighley Town 6-1.
Titans and Queensbury are the only two teams without a win in that division so far.
Woodlands battled to a surprise 3-3 draw at Division One leaders RISlondon, courtesy of a brace from Chris Roome.
Those dropped points for RISlondon allowed Newline to move level with them at the top, after they came from behind to beat Thornton United 5-2.
FC Mill Lane got their first win of the season, as they eased past rock-bottom Rattlers 4-0.
In Division Two, Bolton Woods Socials and Lincoln Barbers both lost their 100 per cent records. Woods lost 2-1 at home to Delius, while Barbers went down 4-3 in a thriller at Esholt.
That allowed Beldon Oddies Reserves to go top after they crushed bottom side Clayton Athletic 9-2.
The league has 13 teams, an odd number, which meant Thackley Juniors 2003 Athletic were without a game at the weekend. They remain on three wins from three.
In Division Three, Northern saw their lead at the top cut to one point, as despite a Steven Warburton hat-trick, they could only manage a 3-3 draw with Shuttle Athletic 2019.
The chasing pack of Shipley Allstars (3-1 against Low Moor Reserves), Great Horton (2-0 against Bierley Bantams) and St Bede’s Sunday (3-2 against Hanson Old Boys) all won.
Meanwhile, Idle United are rock-bottom with four defeats from four. They were hammered at home over the weekend, losing 7-1 to Gomersal & Cleckheaton Sunday.
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