THERE was much excitement at the Marsh on Sunday when the two biggest games of the day brought shock results.

Championship title favourites the Market House crashed to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of lowly Clean Connections while Premiership leaders the Belvedere suffered their first league reverse of the season – a 4-1 humbling to arch-rivals the Duke of Albany.

Championship minnows Clean Connections do not often draw the headlines and few would have given them a prayer against a Chapelhay side who had waltzed home 11-0 in the reverse fixture back in September and were just one win away from wrapping up the title.

However, Connections battled for every ball, found a goal in each half from Sam Hayne and Damian Evans, admittedly rode their luck at times but, in the end, thoroughly deserved their moment of glory.

When an out of sorts Derek Puckett, clearly struggling with a groin injury, casually struck the opener in the 27th minute it looked as though Connections’ spirited efforts might just count for nothing.

But nine minutes before the break Reece Boyt slipped in Puckett who sent the ball inches wide when he should have scored and then Hayne netted an absolute corker at the other end to raise expectations.

Connections appeared to hold more belief during the second period and five minutes in Mark Cottingham denied Evans a goal with a fingertip save on to a post.

However, the home side’s luck then changed for the better as George Hutchinson’s drive was handled on the line by Chris Lye allowing Evans to strike a spot-kick straight down the middle after the full-back was red-carded.

With an extra man Connections were able to hold on to their slender lead.

Meanwhile, next door the Duke produced an excellent display of attacking football that saw them lead the Belve 4-0 after just 39 minutes. And the result brings them within three points of the leaders with three games remaining.

Former Duke stopper Paul Bosworth will want to forget this game in a hurry as his confidence appeared to ebb away following a 17th minute howler that gifted the Duke a lead they never looked like giving away.

In attempting to gather Luke Tomlin’s low centre from the right Bosworth managed to redirect the ball into his own net and the hosts never really recovered from this shock.

Ten minutes later it was 2-0 as Rob Sharpe netted his first of the season with a delightful 25-yarder and then it got a whole lot worse for the champions as a drive from Russell North slipped under Bosworth’s body and into the far corner just two minutes on.

Six minutes ahead of the break North ended the game as a contest with his 41st of the season – a half-volley that went in off the underside of the bar.

Belve boss Bobby Darch and Lewis Whyton entered the fray at the start of the second period but the table-toppers only managed to pull one back in the 68th minute through Paul Cole.

Any lingering hopes of a late rally were extinguished as Phil Lee earned a second yellow card and the Duke held on for three vital points.

Tuatara were able to consolidate fifth spot in the Premiership table with a 4-1 defeat of AFC Black Dog who had led right up until the 59th minute at Budmouth.

Owen Foster unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard shot on 25 minutes but following the introduction of Charlie Kenderdine for the second period it was the T-bar who began to dominate.

Sam Roper’s curling effort levelled matters and four minutes later the hosts grabbed the lead when Simon Meadows slotted home.

The Dog continued to endure a nightmare final 20 minutes as substitute Richard Camp hit a third goal and then Kenderdine completed the scoring with a fine individual effort seven minutes from time.

Over at the Grove the Lugger considered themselves a little unfortunate to go down 2-1 in their mid-table encounter with the George.

Grant Chance latched on to a long ball to beat Ian Bickerstaff and the Portlanders added a second when a miss-directed clearance handed substitute John Cameron a simple goal.

The Lugger made a real go of it late on and were rewarded with a well-taken consolation from Steve Fuller.

Back in the Championship, the Dorothy came flying out of the blocks and hit three goals inside the first 15 minutes against Galaxy Windows in an eventual 5-3 success that maintains their title interest.

Carl McClements netted from the spot and then added a second before Ricky Lane struck the third in the early Dot blitz.

Later on McClements completed a hat-trick and Chris Skinner netted a fifth after Nathan Waters, Chris Reader and Sanchez Baker had given the islanders a glimmer of hope.

RESULTS: Weymouth Sunday League Premiership: Belvedere 1 Duke of Albany 4, George (Portland) 2 Lugger 1, Kingswood 5 Rendezvous 0 (w/o), Tuatara 4 Black Dog 1.

Championship: Alex 1 Southill 6, Clean Connections 2 Chapelhay 1, Dorothy 5 Galaxy Windows 3, Old Castle 5 Rock 0.

TONIGHT’S fixtures Len Mahoney Cup Second Round: Punchbowl v Rodwell, Britannia v Railway T, Queens H v Chapelhay.