TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Ashton looking good after back-to-back wins (From Wiltshire Times)

TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Ashton looking good after back-to-back wins

1:30pm Monday 10th September 2012 in Sport

AFTER suffering relegation from Division One at the end of last season, Steeple Ashton have made a positive start in their bid for an immediate return to the top flight.

Neil Taylor’s side followed up their opening day success over Westbury Town with a 6-3 victory away at Melksham Town A for whom it was their first game of the season.

Ashton stormed to a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from the ever-youthful Mark Barnett who scored on two minutes after his long range effort was misjudged by he home keeper.

Ashton had the chance to double their lead on 11 minutes but Nathan Holloway saw his penalty hit the post.

Ashton eventually made it 2-0 in the 19th minute when Marc Sheppard picked out Guy Rowley who curled his shot in.

Rowley returned the favour a few minutes later when he set up Sheppard for Ashton’s third.

Ashton were caught napping on 23 minutes as they allowed Melksham to get back into the game, Wesley Frith scoring.

Melksham give themselves a fighting chance when they reduced the gap to the odd goal on 32 minutes, Bradley Butcher finding the target.

Ashton settled their nerves just before half time when Marc Sheppard’s corner was smashed home by Rowley for his second of the afternoon.

The second half saw Melksham reduce the deficit on 56 minutes when keeper John Jones missed a cross which fell kindly to Dan Kirk, who netted to reduce the arrears once more.

However, Ashton pushed forward and took a 5-3 lead thanks to a second from Sheppard.

Sheppard’s goal seemed to kill off Melksham as Ashton went onto complete an impressive result when Guy Rowley capped a fine personal performance with his third of the contest and Ashton’s sixth of the game which is the first time since the 2008/09 that the villagers have managed to bagged as many goals in one game.

Heytesbury 2 Calne Eagles 4

CALNE Eagles overcame Heytesbury 4-2 in an end-to-end encounter that was only settled in the final minute when Calne striker Adam Bewley scored his team’s fourth.

Calne opened the scoring after only two minutes when Stuart Windsor headed an Adam Bewley corner against the crossbar and recent signing Russell Driver prodded the rebound over the line.

Heytesbury responded immediately through Paul Arnold, who finished superbly from just inside the box after a swift counter attack.

Once again Calne retook the lead, this time through Karl Sharratt who skillfully beat his marker before firing his shot under the body of keeper Stuart Green from a tight angle.

The rest of the first half was real nip and tuck with both teams creating numerous guilt edge chances to score.

Heytesbury’s pacy striker Joe Martin was denied by a great save from Andy Windsor, following a passing move that had left the Calne’s defence chasing shadows.

Martin was also denied by an excellent last-ditch tackle from centre back Rich Maslen.

At the other end Karl Sharratt skimmed the crossbar with a rasping drive and also sent a much easier chance wide of the post when he ran through one-on-one with the keeper. Adam Bewley and Stu Windsor also both missed chances to extend their team’s lead.

In the second half Calne seemed to be coping better with the searing heat and started to take control of the game.

They increased the score to 3-1 when Windsor once again popped unmarked in the box to head home an Adam Bewley cross.

With 20 minutes left Heytesbury gave themselves real hope of a comeback when Joe Martin's header was parried by keeper Andy Windsor and agonisingly slipped past Sam Rogers on the post.

Thereafter, Heytesbury threw caution to the wind and pushed forward in numbers in search of an equaliser.

Substitute Leigh Kennedy was denied by a great reaction save by Andy Windsor after he got on the end of a teasing cross from Chris Baker.

Kennedy was also denied by a superb last-ditch block tackle from full-back Kevin Hamersley. Tom Evans also denied Joe Martin with a well-timed tackle in the box.

With five minutes left Calne’s Bewley went clean through on goal, but the normally clinical striker sent his shot wide of the post.

However, Bewley made amends in the final minute when he tapped in from 6 yards, after good work from Windsor who had made another lung busting forward run in the draining heat.

The 4-2 scoreline saw Calne Eagles pick up their first-ever victory at Heytesbury Park at the fifth attempt and maintain their good start to the season.

The Lamb 8 Broughton Gifford 1

RICHARD Stevens' Division Three winners from last term, The Lamb, began life in Division Two with a resounding 8-1 thumping of Broughton Gifford who, after back-to-back losses look as if they are going to face an uphill task in they bid to get back into Division One at their first attempt.

Bradley King-Taylor’s opener for the Lamb was quickly followed by a fine strike from last season’s top scorer Sam Stevens, but despite taking a 2-0 lead the Lamb were pegged by Broughton for whom Gary Turk reduced the arrears.

Broughton were then undone by a bizarre goal that saw Chris Turk who put through his own net to give Lamb a 3-1 interval lead.

The second period was bossed by the Lamb who found their scoring boots, Ryan Underwood made it 4-1 and his second of the game took it to 5-1.

Simon Pickett scored Lamb’s sixth, Underwood completed his hat-trick with goal number seven and it was left to Sam Stevens to put the icing on the cake with his second and his team’s eighth of what was a very productive afternoon for the Trowbridge based side.

Westbury Town 2 Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves 5

MANY people had expected newly-promoted Westbury Town to do really well this season and thought Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves would struggle.

But things haven’t turned out as expected as after two games Westbury have failed to take any points while Wanderers have a perfect record following their 5-2 win at Westbury.

Westbury started their game with Wanderers with just nine players but despite their lack of numbers they took the lead through Daryl Maxwell.

Wanderers were making hard work of their job but fashioned an equaliser on 20 minutes via Michael Cooksey who was on hand to turn in Elliot Blanks cross.

Westbury regained the lead with a stunning goal from Ryan Earny whose well timed diving header gave the hosts a 2-1 lead.

Westbury were hoping to get to the break with their lead intact but on 44 minutes Wanderers drew level for a second time, this time Cooksey turned provider for Tom Pang who drew the scores level.

Westbury were up to full strength for the second 45 minutes but their 11 men were undone on 55 minutes, an excellent Will Bayley corner was headed in by Ben Rogers.

Michael Cooksey added to his first half effort with a 25 yard thunderbolt and he completed the scoring and his own three timer when he scored from the penalty spot after Will Bayley had been brought down in the area.

For Cooksey it was his fourth goal in two games which his double what he scored in the whole of last season.

MATCH OFF: Worton & Cheverell v Bratton

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