CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Somerford throw title race wide open (From Wiltshire Times)

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Somerford throw title race wide open

4:30pm Monday 11th March 2013 in Sport

THE race to become Division Two champions is looking as if it will go to the wire and what seemed to be a two-horse race is now a four-way battle.

Somerford, who beat Aaron Latchem’s leaders Staverton FC 2-1, are very much fighting for an automatic promotion spot.

For Somerford, who beat Goatacre 7-0 a few weeks ago, the result saw them avenge their 2-1 loss from earlier in the season and also gave them their first ever win over their opponents in six attempts.

After falling behind to a Jason Povey goal in the opening few minutes they may have expected the worst, but when Povey’s goal bound shot hit the bar rather than the net Spike Chandler’s side would have been thankful for their lucky break.

The second half began with Somerford in the ascendancy and they got themselves back on level terms through Matt Holdaway before Chris Yeo so many times a match winner for Chandler’s men over the year hit what could prove to be one of his most important goals ever for the club as it sealed a victory that leaves them three points behind Staverton with a game in hand, which means that with four matches remaining they have everything to play for.

Chippenham West End 1 White Horse FC 5

IT WAS a battle for fourth place at Sutton Benger as Chippenham West End locked horns with White Horse, with the home side desperate to avenge the 7-0 defeat back in January.

However, as was the case nine weeks earlier, the Chippenham side were patched up and only managed to field 10 men for the entire 90 minutes.

The numerical advantage effectively handed the visitors the opportunity to keep the pressure on the top three and they didn’t need a second invitation, running out 5-1 winners.

Despite the extra man it was the Horse that were left clinging on in the first 15 minutes, Steve Coleman sending an effort over the bar when he should have done better and Dave Byatt rattling the cross bar from long range.

West End were left to rue the missed opportunities as their guests shifted up through the gears and embarked on a 21-minute spell that saw them score five unanswered goals, Chris Stiles starting the procession in the 19th minute bundling home a Jordan Gullis cross at the far post.

Having broken free of the shackles the only surprise was that it took a further 11 minutes before they got their next, Craig Hatton-Pocklington sliding Dale Rowland through on goal who finished tidily.

Two minutes later the talisman extended his side’s lead racing clean through again and finishing with similar aplomb.

With seven minutes remaining in the half the Westbury side made it 4-0, and from the rarest of sources, as veteran Paul Whale, playing his 20th season for the club, diverted home a Hatton-Pocklington effort for his first goal in two years.

Dave Appleyard made it 5-0 just before the break when his wind-assisted cross flew past Ciaran Lyon in the West End goal.

With the points seemingly in the bag for the visitors and the wind now favouring the home side the second period took on a more even look. Dave Byatt’s goal nine minutes into the half was to prove nothing more than a consolation as the two sides proceeded to cancel one another out.

Miller Sports 5 Wren FC 0

WITH the battle to get out of the division turning out to be a nail-biting affair the fight to stay in the division is just as exciting and a 5-0 victory for Miller Sports over Wren went some way to taking the pressure of Mike Stevens' side who, despite the win, remain in the drop zone but with games in hand on the teams above.

Miller took an early lead when Scott Boyd scored from the penalty spot after a Wren defender handled in the box.

It wasn’t long before Miller doubled their lead, Nigel Decarteret played a long ball into the box and David Jenkins who was playing up front as a make shift striker from his usual position of centre half headed home for 2-0.

Miller continued to cause problems and after a Robert Biggs corner bobbled around the area Paul Walker continued his fine goal scoring form since joining the club with a half volley for 3-0.

It was 4-0 before half time Nick Groves putting in a perfect cross for James Webb to head in at the back post.

Goal number five arrived almost immediately after the restart. Nick Groves unselfishly laying of the ball to Dave Jenkins who smashed home from distance for his second and Miller’s fifth of the morning.

Miller then made three substitutions which disrupted the pattern of play and gave the Wren the chance to counter attack with their first clear cut chance coming in the 70th minute but keeper Alex Coombs pulled off a fine save to deny them a consolation.

Southwick Wanderers 3 Sutton Benger 0

WITH goalkeeper Mark Binns recalled to Southwick Wanderers starting line both Wanderers and Binns kept their first clean sheet for a year to the day they beat Wren FC 5-0.

A 3-0 win for Wanderers over Sutton Benger saw them claim a fourth straight win and sets them up nicely for their meeting with near-neighbours Staverton next weekend.

Southwick who won the reverse fixture 5-3, took the lead on 30 minutes when Carl Davies delivered the perfect cross for Bradley King-Taylor who slotted home to give his team a half time lead.

Bradley King-Taylor turned provider for Southwick’s second, his excellent ball picked out Jack Parker who made no mistake with a crisp finish.

Pete Spong’s fine individual effort sealed the villagers' latest success, Spong picking up a loose ball before rounding the keeper and calmly slotting home to make it 3-0.

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE ROUNDUP, STATS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport