CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP PREVIEW: White Horse bid for cup upset (From Wiltshire Times)

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP PREVIEW: White Horse bid for cup upset

1:06pm Friday 11th January 2013 in Sport

SECOND Division White Horse FC will welcome Premier Division leaders Biddestone Social to Leighton Sports Ground for their presstoprint-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup quarter final clash.

It will be Biddestone’s second quarter final in as many weeks, following their 3-2 win against The Running Horse in the Wiltshire Sunday Cup last week.

Despite the gap in divisions, this will not be an easy game for Biddestone, as White Horse are flying high, have been in scintillating form and are looking good for a promotion place.

They also have hot shots Chris Stiles and Dale Rowland leading their front line, who between them have bagged 37 goals.

Pete Ayton and Dave Appleyard should they play will be two more players who could cause the visitors problems.

Biddestone will hope to bring in a few of players the squad that featured against Running Horse last week but, already overflowing with talent in the likes of Tyler Sibbick, Nathan Phillimore, Martin Johnson and Ryan and Kieran Baggs, the villagers will have plenty more options available to them as they look for a victory that will keep their dreams of completing a unique treble of league title, Sunday Cup and Knockout Cup alive.

Already through to the last four of the Wiltshire Sunday Cup, Mike Rogers takes his AFC Melksham side to Yatton Road as they look to book their place in the semi-finals with only first division Biddestone White Horse standing in their way.

Biddestone have worked really hard to get to this stage but they know that with their mix of youth and experience they will have to dig even deeper if they are to claim the scalp of a Melksham side, who could recall Luke Ballinger for what is certain to be a tricky encounter.  

There is certain to be a side from outside the top flight in the semi-final line up as the third round draw has paired first division stablemates Bradford Renegades and Castle FC together.

The old adversaries met just a week ago and Renegades beat their rivals 4-2 to complete a league double over Tom Perkins side, and in search of a hat-trick of win over their guests they will go into the game as favourites.

With their excellent cup pedigree of two semi-final appearances in the last three seasons, Castle shouldn’t be written off as they have a good chance of causing an upset to send Lance Davis' side out of a competition they feel they can win.

Cup holders Bug & Spider travel to first division Steeple Ashton Rangers for their quarter-final tie and it is going to take the hosts to come up with something special if they are to deny Marcus Lovesey’s side a place in the last four.

Ashton know they have nothing to lose as they will go into the game as underdogs, but after disposing of FC Jager in the previous round Bug & Spider are tipped to have an easier time at St Mary’s.

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