CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Sibbick puts Social into last four (From Wiltshire Times)

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Sibbick puts Social into last four

1:30pm Monday 4th March 2013 in Sport

AT THE third time of asking, the Leighton Sports pitch beat the elements and the Eric Hughes Memorial Cup quarter-final between White Horse and Biddestone Social finally took place.

It may have taken several weeks in coming but, as expected, the Premier Division leaders and cup favourites prevailed, winning 4-1 and subsequently booking a semi-final berth against local rivals Biddestone White Horse.

The visitors started brightly and it wasn’t long before they were in full stride.

In the 10th minute Tyler Sibbick got his first sighter of goal, forcing the best out of Rich Hunt in the Horse goal from 30 yards.

A period of sustained pressure finally paid dividends though when, two minutes later, Danny Jones lost his maker and headed home a Dan Lardner corner at the near post to make it 1-0.

Despite their admirable work rate the hosts were unable to cut open Social’s back line with anywhere near the same frequency they have managed against lesser opposition in Division Two this year, and in the 24th minute their job became all that much harder when they found themselves 2-0 down.

Ryan Baggs floated a ball into the penalty area, with Sibbick rising highest and sending a cushioned header over Hunt.

On the half hour mark the Horse finally created their first chance of any real substance, Jordan Gullis’ effort beating keeper Lewis Porter, only to be blocked on the line by Gary Blackwood.

To rub salt in the wounds Social went straight down the other end and effectively placed one foot in the semi-finals, Sibbick getting the better of centre-back Pete Ayton and finding the net from the narrowest of angles to put his side 3-0 up.

Undeterred White Horse battled on and Danny Clarkson was denied a rare goal two minutes before the break, forcing Porter into a full length save that preserved the away side’s three goal cushion at the interval.

The second half was a more even encounter, and White Horse gave themselves a lifeline in the 62nd minute when Ayton fired home from the penalty spot, after Christ Stiles was adjudged to have been fouled by Baggs, to make it 3-1.

Although the Horse’s belief was renewed with the goal, they were forced to continue feeding off just scraps and any lingering hopes they were clinging on to were lost nine minutes from time when Sibbick was gifted too much time on the edge of the penalty area and picked his spot to claim his hat-trick and seal victory for his side.

The 4-1 victory keeps Biddestone’s hopes alive of picking up four pieces of silverware, whilst defeat for White Horse means they can concentrate solely on winning promotion from Division Two.

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