THREE Barrels reformed this season as a tribute to a close friend, Dave Mason, who died of cancer a year ago yesterday, aged 52.

With the financial help of Allan Roberts of Cabra Motors, a close friend of Mason, and landlord Dave Tipper and regulars of the Three Barrels, the team returned to the premier division of the Basingstoke and District Saturday League.

Roberts bought the team shirts, which are in the colours of Millwall and all bear the name Mason on the back.

Wayne Barber player-manager of the side said: "We all thought it would be a fitting way to celebrate the life of Dave. As he was passionate about his football and always showed a great interest in the pub football team."

Before the weekend, the side won six times in an unbeaten run of seven games. Manager Barber will not be playing for a while, however, as he has a torn achilles in a plaster cast.

The opening game brought a 2-0 win over Oakley Athletic with Ross McCoubrie and Jay Butt scoring. A week later, Tylney Hall were beaten 4-0. Butt scored the first two, followed by McCoubrie and then Barber.

Another 4-0 win followed, this time at Headley as Butt and Ben Vine both helped themselves to braces. Then a Vine brace and a Brian Cook penalty was enough to beat Hook 3-1.

The first dropped points in the league came against Oakridge West when the teams played out a 2-2 draw with Butt scoring twice. The Hampshire Junior A Cup saw an 8-2 win over Brighton Hill SC while against title rivals Bramley United Adam Seward scored both in a 2-1 win.