Simon Gray

CORSHAM Centre A deservedly beat Biddestone Social last night to claim pole position in the Premier Division.

The heavyweight clash was won 1-0 by the defending champions who are now on course for a third successive top flight title.

But the champagne is still on ice as they could still be beaten to the number one spot if they lose at home to Holt on Sunday and Biddestone beat basement side Bradford News.

Last night's match at Meriton Avenue in front of a crowd of over 150 might not have produced the expected goal fest but was still a tremendous advert for junior football, with match referee Steve Cook, players and supporters of both clubs deserving much credit.

The match started at a frantic pace as the Centre took the game to Biddestone Social and had a couple of half chances to open the scoring but were unable to find a way through a well organised Biddestone Social defence.

The commitment of both teams was personified by Biddestone Social midfielder Robbie Lardner who suffered a gash to his head after a clash of heads with the Centre's Craig Gingell, but he was quickly bandaged up and returned to action.

He went to hospital immediately after the game for further treatment.

The only major talking point of the first period was the penalty that Biddestone Social thought they should have had but didn't get when their shout for a spot kick after Jamie Lyons had been bundled over in the area fell on deaf ears.

The Centre were unlucky not to take the lead after 50 minutes when James Lye hit the underside of the bar, but the opening goal seemed only a matter of time away as in the 65th minute the woodwork came to Biddestone Social's rescue again as Simon Gray's shot rattled the post.

Biddestone Social were dealt a cruel blow when they lost key centre half Steve Casey through injury and after 70 minutes the Centre made the breakthrough when a Liam Ralph corner was flicked onto the bar by Craig Gingell and Simon Gray out jumped Biddestone's defence to head home the rebound for what proved to be the winning goal.

Biddestone Social continued to battle away looking to add to their 18 match winning run, but they didn't really threaten a Corsham Centre defence, in which Dan King was outstanding.

With seven minutes remaining Biddestone's Dan Lardner got the ball in the net, but his effort was ruled out as the linesman had already flagged for offside.

Biddestone Social had no complaints at the final whistle as they knew they had been beaten by the better side on the night, but over the season they were happy with their performance as the only two games they have lost to date have been against the champions-elect.

The management duo of Dan Lardner and Danny Jones can be very proud of what they have achieved and should the Centre suffer an unexpected loss against Holt their could still be another twist in the tail of this already amazing season.

Westbury Rangers A 2, Holt 4

HOLT had the perfect build-up to their match against Corsham Centre A with a stunning 4-2 victory over Westbury Rangers A who, according to their manager Shaun Gardiner, were dreadful on the night, but Holt might prefer to say they played really well to claim their surprise but well deserved win.

Westbury Rangers took the lead through their top scorer Marc Lanfear. Rob O'Harrow drew Holt level before Rangers regained the lead through Matty Smith.

Holt were all square prior to the break thank to O'Harrow's second of the night.

Holt bossed the second half and thought they had gone in front for the first time when O'Harrow fired home what would have been his hat-trick goal, but it was ruled out for offside.

But O'Harrow wasn't to be denied and it wasn't long before he claimed a goal that counted to seal his three timer and give Holt a 3-2 lead.

The game was made safe when Neil Grant scored Holt's fourth and all-important goal that allowed the visitors to Meadow Lane to avenge their 3-1 defeat from the opening day of the season.

British Lion 5, Potterne 4

POTTERNE were able to field only a scratch side for their Division One match away at British Lion.

They were without key players Myles Hickton and Jamie Campbell while British Lion had to make do without Andy Stonestreet, Shane Holloway and John Stockman among others, so with both sides entering the game without their full strength squads it was a typical end of season clash that could have gone either way.

After 45 minutes the game looked to have won by the Lion before a second half fight back gave Potterne hope of nicking a point.

The Lion started brilliantly and immediately ripped into the visitors and after ten minutes took a deserved lead, when the enigmatic Andrew Webster latched onto a through ball and lobbed it over Mark Goddard to make it 1-0.

Webster doubled the Lion's lead after 30 minutes when he calmly controlled the ball on his chest before turning and firing past Goddard. With Lion totally dominating the first 30 minutes it was no surprise when they made it 3-0 when Darren Brown stepped up and curled a 20 yard free kick into the bottom corner.

Five minutes later Webster completed his hat-trick and the Lion's fourth with a free kick into Goddard's top corner.

Whether the Lion thought the game was over or Potterne finally stepped up a gear is open to debate but the village side pulled a goal back just before the break.

A deep corner found centre half Steve House and his back post header made it 4-1.

The Lion started the second half playing far to deep in their half and allowed Potterne to come onto them.

On the hour Jamie Bayes fed off a long ball and his shot was deflected past Mark Stonestreet to make it 4-2. Five minutes later Potterne made it 4-3 though there is some debate that Bayes controlled the ball with his hand before calmly finishing into the bottom corner.

Potterne's amazing recovery was complete with 20 minutes left when Bayes was left free to finish from close range and tie the scores at 4-4.

With Lion somehow throwing away a four-goal lead, the game was there for Potterne to take but it was the Lion who grabbed the crucial next goal.

Webster met Mikey O'Donnell's long ball and crossed it into the area and although Steve House headed the ball upwards he collided with his goalkeeper Goddard to leave Luke Enderby with a simple tap in to make it 5-4.

With time running out Webster was rather harshly sent off for a second booking and Potterne threw bodies forward, but the Lion defence of Dave Crawford, Gerry Thompson and O'Donnell stood firm.

Despite their defeat Potterne have been confirmed as Division One runners-up.

Coyote 4, AFC Calne 1

COYOTE finished their campaign with a home match against AFC Calne, which had been brought forward from Sunday, and it was the hosts who claimed victory with a 4-1 scoreline.

Tarick Yachou put Coyote ahead when his shot took a massive deflection to give the host the perfect start against their guests who had beaten them 5-1 just over a month ago. Richard Sheffield scored AFC Calne's equaliser from the penalty spot before the break to set up a thrilling second 45 minutes.

Scott Askew, who was on as a substitute, regained the lead for Coyote and a second from Askew, who headed home a fantastic 40 yard cross from Steve Fox, made it 3-1 before Jason Povey wrapped up the win that moved the winners into fifth spot.

Hullavington 3, Crown Cosmos 7

TWO wins in 48 hours for Crown Cosmos means that they go into Sunday's final round of fixtures as Division Two leaders.

Cosmos, who beat Chippenham Police 10-3 on Tuesday night, followed that with a 7-3 triumph against Hullavington last night which means they are now neck and neck with Cooper-Avon at the top with 36 points, but they are in pole position by virtue of a better goal difference of plus two.

Hullavington were shocked by the quality of their guests who were on top form from the very first whistle as they went in search of the goals they need to gain the upper hand on the tyremen.

They were given the perfect start after just 10 seconds when Stuart Skinner gave them the lead. Ben Wright equalised for Hullavington before Brad Newman regained the lead for Cosmos. Hullavington hit back to level matters once more, with Ed Wilkins scoring a brilliant solo effort to tie the game at 2-2.

Dean Potter and Stuart Skinner, who was in great form, scored to give Cosmos a 4-2 half-time lead. A second from Skinner increased Cosmos's advantage to three goals, but Hullavington showed that Will Kibby's side couldn't rest on their laurels as they reduced the arrears with Ben Wright's second goal of the game.

Nathan Sheridan's penalty restored Cosmos's three-goal cushion and Brad Newman's second goal of the night made up the seven.

Crown Cosmos are now in the driving seat for a third successive divisional title win, but they know they are going to have to put in the performance of the season if the are going to beat FC Bradford by enough goals to stay ahead of Cooper-Avon and keep them on course for a league and cup double.

Pig and Whistle United 2, Horse and Groom 4

WESTBURY-based Horse and Groom, who were written off many weeks ago, have staged a remarkable escape act as their 4-2 success over Pig and Whistle United last night has kept them in the division at the expense of Chippenham Police, who have suffered a second consecutive relegation.

Under the guidance of acting manager Chris Fenwick, Horse and Groom have won two and drawn one of their last three games, which is a remarkable achievement as prior to those games they had picked up just five points from a possible 36.

Nathan Mantle twice had the opportunity to put Pig and Whistle ahead from a twice taken penalty, but he saw his first spot-kick saved by the goalkeeper and when the kick was ordered to be retaken Mantle hit the post with his second attempt.

Pig and Whistle did take the lead through Steve Badger, but it wasn't long before the Horse and Groom drew level when Tom Moore fired home the equaliser.

Richard Hunt's second goal in as many games gave Horse and Groom the lead.

Although Hunt doesn't score many goals this will be one that he will remember for a long time as his stunning 35 yard volley was as good as any scored this term by any of his team mates.

Pig and Whistle clawed their way back into the game and a second goal from Steve Badger drew the hosts level for a second time.

The Horse and Groom got their noses in front again when Tom Moore bagged his second of the game to make it 3-2 and the match was won by Tom Large who crashed home his first ever goal for the club as he made it 4-2, but more importantly for Chris Fenwick's side, the victory had seen them pull off an amazing great escape to stay in the division for another season at least.

Bromham (Sunday) 2, AFC Bell 4

DEVIZES-based AFC Bell visited near neighbours Bromham knowing that a point from their penultimate match of the campaign would be good enough to give them the Division Three title and back-to-back championships after winning the Fourth Division title in their very first season last term.

Craig Townsend's side duly obliged and returned home with maximum points in the bag after their 4-2 success, but they didn't have everything their own way as AFC Bell allowed Bromham back into the game as they threw away a 2-0 half-time lead.

Gary Campbell drove home a 20 yard free kick beyond Bromham's stand-in keeper Ady Kember to give AFC Bell the lead and Kember was beaten again from the penalty spot for Bell's second which was converted by Paul Machin after Campbell had been brought down.

AFC Bell player-manager Craig Townsend, who was on as a half-time substitute, reclaimed the lead for his side after Danny Powell's double, the second of which came from the penalty spot, had seen Bromham draw level at 2-2.

Townsend then set up Campbell for his second of the game and AFC Bell's fourth which sealed the championship and allowed them to start the partying ahead of their final match of the season on Sunday at home to Blue Circle.

9:13am Friday 9th May 2008

Print   Email this