CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR: Top sides keep on winning (From Wiltshire Times)

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR: Top sides keep on winning

4:30pm Monday 4th February 2013 in Sport

WITH their pitch at Stanley Park unplayable, FC United of Chippenham reversed their fixture with leaders FC North Wiltshire to Leafy Lane and as predicted it was North Wilts who took maximum points courtesy of a 7-2 win to maintain their promotion push.

North Wilts led 2-1 at the break thanks to goals from Dan Dring and James Bamford with Adam Gerrard scoring for FC United.

A second from Gerrard got the visitors back on level terms early in the second half before North Wilts went on the rampage.

Ross Lye regained the lead for North Wilts and Dan Deacon made it 4-2.  A second from Deacon was followed by a second from Lye and the race was on to score a hat-trick between the two players.

That honour went to Deacon whose third of the game wrapped up the points for the table toppers.

Melksham Cosmos 1 Old Road FC 2

MELKSHAM Cosmos were another of many clubs across the league that gave up home advantage as they travelled to Langley Burrell for a second time this term to take on promotion hopefuls Old Road.

The first meeting back in October had finished in a 2-2 draw so second in the table Old Road were wary of dropping further points against Cosmos but their fears were unfounded as they scraped their way to a 2-1 win.

Old Road took the lead through player-manager Andy Rose who was on hand to turn the ball in after Jamie Smith saw his original shot brilliantly turned on to the bar by the Cosmos keeper only for the fortunate Rose to be in the right place when the ball fell to him.

Scott Austin maintained his purple patch in front of goal as his third goal in as many games doubled the lead for Old Road.

Cosmos halved their arrears via a Marc Bowden penalty before half time and that was how the score stayed until the final whistle as Old Road and in particular left back Matty Jenkins defended heroically as they held out for their win. 

 

Oakhill FC 0 Crossblades FC 6

AFTER a long lay off due to adverse weather conditions, Crossblades were really glad to get back into action against and Oakhill side, who had lost out to Pig & Whistle United B in an 11-goal thriller the previous weekend.

In boggy conditions, both teams brushed off the cobwebs and delivered a lively encounter that was at times feisty.

It was Crossblades who dominated the opening exchanges, playing some attractive football and stringing the ball around the park with confidence. After good work from Squire resulting in a corner.

Captain Tim Chilton’s subsequent delivery was dropped in to his own net by the Oakhill keeper giving the Blades a well deserved lead.

Continuing with the offensive attitude, the Blades used their superiority in midfield to put the Oakhill defence under pressure.

Chilton’s long throw fed Gareth Cole, Cole bared down on the keeper and fired home with an accomplished finish.

With Chris Neate in fine form and the enigmatic James Squire back to his best, the Blades continued to threaten scoring.

Neate, Cole and Carl Jacobi all should have scored before half time to put this tie beyond doubt, but rustiness prevailed and the game remained in the balance at half time.

A few moments in to the second half Chris Neate played through Jacobi who finished with a class that he has shown all season.

Convinced that this was offside, Oakhill players and management several minutes of remonstrating with the referee which threatened to boil over into an otherwise mild-tempered match.

Crossblades dominance was further outlined when Squire played through Carl Jacobi and once again he showed his true class and sent the Blades in to a commanding 4-0 lead.

With Carl Gilbert back in the side after a brief absence, he immediately showed Captain Tim Chilton why he should pick him.

Chilton picked the ball up and sent Gilbert racing through, Gilbert home with a thunderous effort and put the game beyond doubt, at the same time giving Chilton a hat-trick of assists.

Chris Neate then rounded off his man of the match performance by exquisitely playing in Mike Booth, the speedy midfielder beat the keeper to the ball and lobbed him to thunderous applause from his teammates.

MATCHES OFF: Worton & Cheverell v Pig & Whistle United B, Trowbridge Town Supporters Club v Trowbridge Rangers.

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