CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR: Old Road battle back to keep fine start going (From Wiltshire Times)

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR: Old Road battle back to keep fine start going

5:30pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in Sport

OLD Road FC overturned a 2-1 deficit at home to Trowbridge Town Supporters Club to claim a 3-2 win which maintained their excellent start to the season.

Stuart Little put the supporters’ in front before Old Road equalised by virtue of a fortuitous penalty which was tucked away by Adam Foskett.

The supporters’ club regained the lead thanks to second from Little who put his team in front when he scored from the second penalty of the morning.

Old Road’s new fighting spirit showed through in the second half as they got themselves level when Jonny Ingram, who was making his debut, squared things up with a brilliant volley from the edge of the area.

Old Road bagged what proved to be the winner late on and it was substitute Matt Croston who scored it when he hit a 35 yard stunner within minutes of coming on.

Crossblades FC 3 FC United of Chippenham 1

LADY Luck was on Crossblades' side as they entertained FC United of Chippenham at Nurstead Road, with the home team running out 3-1 winners despite being on the back foot for much of the second half.

With several players missing Crossblades shuffled the pack and gave a debut to new keeper Ben McGowan.

It was a bright start for the Blades as FC United struggled to find their feet on a bobbly surface.

Within moments Tim Chilton had played through Carl Jacobi and a last ditch tackle thwarted his dynamic run.

As the half progressed, FC United began to find their feet and with real pace they began to test the home teams defence.

Though having more of the ball, no real chance were created and it was Crossblades who looked more like scoring.

A huge clearance up field by McGowan found Jacobi, Jacobi showed strength to hold off his man and capitalise on a defensive mix-up and poke the ball home.

Furious with this lapse, FC United lost concentration and cohesion. A good tackle by James Squire allowed some swift passing and Jacobi released down the right wing, his pin-point cross being headed home powerfully by Gareth Cole to double the Blades' lead.

Crossblades captain Tim Chilton played several exquisite balls through to Jacobi but the FC United keeper was equal to his efforts and the first half ended a little against the run of play with Crossblades leading 2-0.

Sadly FC United's keeper Colin Hayward was forced to leave the field of play with a nasty ankle injury.

FC United raced out the blocks at the start of the second half, putting the Blades' defence under extreme pressure.

Rattled by this, Crossblades somewhat disintegrated and were not able to string a pass together.

Fearing the worst, Chilton moved to the heart of the Blades defence and brought on Will Wright hoping some fresh legs would stem the orange tide of FC United.

Yet it was only a matter of time before the Blades goal was breached by Alex James and it was 'game on'.

Sensing this game was there for the taking, FC United pushed forward with both wingers showing incredible pace and skill.

Time and time again Liam Matthews and Chilton repelled the attacks and Cole and Ben Owers were able to slowly find more of the ball in the middle of the park.

Dave Young was introduced in the last 15 for Crossblades, and after a lengthy lay off of two months the hitman found some space and the fantastic Jacobi played him through on goal, Young kept his cool and dispatched his effort in to the far corner and put the game to bed with several minutes remaining.

This was a good tempered game very well officiated by Neil Hickton.

FC North Wiltshire 6 Trowbridge Rangers (Sunday) 1

FC NORTH Wiltshire were only able to name 11 players in their matchday squad for the second week running, due to a late pull out and Dan Kelly injuring himself in the pre-match warm up.

This led to a hasty change of formation for the hosts as well as a reshuffle of personnel from the planned starting line up against Trowbridge Rangers (Sunday).

With at least five first team regulars still missing North Wilts were however bolstered by the return from illness of Dan Jackson at centre back who skippered the side in the absence of regular captain Luke Denham and last week's stand-in James Bamford and Jackson was a happy man as North Wilts coasted to a 6-1 win.

The opening exchanges were fairly even with chances a rarity but midway through the half Simon Gray found the back of the Rangers net with a slightly toe-poked effort from within the penalty area to put North Wilts ahead.

Gray was involved again for North Wilts second goal as his fine run and low cross from the right was converted by Dan Deacon from six yards.

North Wilts led 2-0 at half time against Crossblades last week and then self destructed to trail 2-3 before two late goals rescued the twopoints, so the half time team talk centered around keeping focused after the break.

Wilts third goal was a carbon copy of the second as Simon Gray sent in a low cross from the right which Dan Deacon tapped home.

Not to be outdone by Deacon, Gray then bagged his second of the game showing his lightning pace to finish well having been put through on goal.

Gray and Deacon were both hunting a hat-trick and Deacon thought he had his but his shot from the edge of the area hit the far post only to fall to Derek Reed who, making his first ever competitive start, had followed the ball in and smashed it into the net for the home side's fifth of the game.

Elliott Hinton scored Rangers' consolation as North Wilts failed to deal with a free kick into the area which he glanced home to make the score 5-1.

Deacon had another chance for his treble when he was put clean through one on one with the Rangers keeper but he failed to get a shot away and the ball was gathered up.

Gray completed the scoring with his ha- trick goal, beating several players with his twisting and turning run and fine shot.

Gray had been full of running all game, was involved in five of the team's six goals and deservedly picked up the man of the match award from his teammates.

Pig & Whistle United B 4 Oakhill FC 4

SECOND-PLACED Pig & Whistle United B shared eight goals and the points following a surprise 4-4 draw at Oakhill, who were expected to come tumbling back down to earth with a bang after picking up their first win of the season last week.

But the Chippenham side defied the odds and really should have taken maximum points as they led 3-1 and 4-2 before United fought back to claim their point.

Jake Goldsworthy saw his opener for Pig & Whistle cancelled out by a first ever goal for Dan Heap, Dan Payne gave Oakhill the lead and a Joe Court penalty his second in as many games gave them a 3-1 advantage at the break.

Dan Goldsworthy reduced the arrears for Pig & Whistle only for Payne’s second of the morning to put Oakhill two goals to the good for a second time.

Dan Goldsworthy’s stunning turn and finish gave him his second of the game to close the gap and when a second from Jake Goldsworthy tied things up at four each it was job done.

Sportzcoach Dragonz United 3 Melksham Cosmos 3

SPORTZCOACH Dragonz United and Melksham Cosmos remained fourth and fifth respectively in the standings after they fought out a thrilling 3-3 stalemate at Cosmos' Goatacre pitch after they match was moved from Stanley Park on Friday afternoon with the Chippenham complex being deemed unplayable due to the heavy midweek rain.

Sportzcoach started the brightest of the two teams and looked dangerous going forward during the opening exchanges.

On 20 minutes Alex Shaftoe put the visitors ahead with a great strike from outside of the box.

Chances were few and far between for the Cosmos and Paul Walker doubled the lead for Sportzcoach with a curling shot into the top corner. At this moment in time it seemed as though Cosmos would get nothing from the game.

The first half finished with Sportzcoach leading 2-0 and well on top.

Cosmos captain Rich Ayling provided the half-time team talk which inspired an excellent second half performance.

After some great work from Sean Little in the right corner, Marc Scammell’s shot was saved but only into the path of Jason Hull who finished from close range to make the score 2-1.

However, just when Cosmos looked to be back in the game, Mark Bowsher floated in a free kick which bounced over the head of the Cosmos keeper to put the visitors two goals in front again.

Shortly after Marc Scammell continued his impressive form and headed home from a Cosmos corner to bring the score to 3-2.

Cosmos again were back in it and with 25 minutes to go, they introduced former Sportzcoach striker Matthew Bowden.

Cosmos were pushing for an equaliser but it never looked like it was going to happen.

Then with minutes remaining Matthew Bowden ran through the Sportzcoach defence onto a through ball from Joe Griffiths and superbly lobbed the ball over the oncoming keeper from 30 yards and the hosts had finally drawn level and the game finished 3-3.

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