Pig & Whistle hope to shut the door on a rampant AFC Melksham

11:57am Friday 5th September 2008

AFC Melksham might not match the 18 goals that they put past Eastlands last Sunday, but there is a good chance that they could get double figures when the leaders host local rivals Pig & Whistle United at Christie Miller.

If the likes of Steve Pegler, Wayne Bailey and Owen Bryant are on form again, the Pig could leave Bowerhill with their tails between their legs on the back of their 7-0 opening day loss.

Hullavington also hit the goal trail on the opening as they defeated Christian Malford 11-2 and host The Crown Devizes, who also gained maximum points against Sutton Benger.

Hullavington bagged eight goals in their two encounters with their guests last term and narrowly won the last meeting 2-1, but with Ed Wilkins netting seven times against Malford, the Crown will have to improve again, with Rob Hannah, Kevin Bush, Jason Hillier and Simon Drewitt playing major roles.

Craig Townsend will take his AFC Bell side to Poulton, where they will face an FC Bradford side making their bow this term.

Bell also failed to complete a match,last Sunday's game against Affordable Mortgages Villa abandoned after 75 minutes when they were leading 3-1.

The sides meet for the first time, with Bell the favourites, although Pete Collier's side could spring a surprise, particularly if Mark Robinson - the league's player of the season last year - hits the ground running.

Westbury-based Villa will try to erase the memory of that abandonment, following a broken leg to Charles Ryan, at home to Audley FC who, after a good pre-season, made a disastrous start.

Both teams enjoyed a win apiece from their two meetings last season with Audley winning 6-3 and Villa 6-2 so another high-scoring game could be on the cards.

Christian Malford, without a point in any of their previous 19 matches travel to Yatton Road to take on Biddestone White Horse and are up against it again.

Matt Unwin's home side ought to canter to a second win and could match the 7-0 scoreline from their meeting with Pig & Whistle United on the opening day.

On paper the match at Stanley Park, Chippenham between Sutton Benger and Pheasant should go the way of the latter after an impressive opening-day win over Audley FC while Benger slumped to a 2-1 loss against The Crown Devizes.

Of the two sides Pheasant have the greater firepower in Nat Auckland, Tom Jones and John O'Meara.

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