With 12 new teams joining Division Three this season there are a number of unknown qualities battling for the silverware.
Cavalier FC are the only team of the 13 that could boast league experience as a team although just three victories from their previous 47 outings wasn’t the form of champions, so a match away at league newcomers Trowbridge Wanderers, who boasted many experienced players, should have been a daunting task for the whipping boys.
But Cavalier coasted to a comfortable 6-1 win, with Dan Rance and Roger Wiltshire scoring twice whilst Antony Butler and Michael Stone were also on target, with Ferris Lamrabet bagging Wanderers’ consolation.
Stonewood Builders BFC got the better of fellow newcomers Cannings Rangers, with a brace from Tom Blower and goals from Mike Hopkins and Tom Carter earning them a 4-0 win. Hat-tricks for Darren Applegate and Kevin Bance helped earn Corsham Park a comfortable victory over fellow new boys Evana Designs. James Goddard’s goal was Evana’s lone reply in a 7-1 loss whilst Joe Masson’s first half effort made up Corsham’s seven.
FC Bradford are another of the newcomers who have players with a vast of former league experience so it was little surprise that they proved too strong for former Frome Sunday League side Westbury Conservative Club, who slumped to an 8-1 defeat.
Mark Robinson struck the first three of Bradford’s goals, Ashley Styles added the next two and Steve Bryant made it 6-0 before Andrew Gould replied for the Conservatives.
Further goals from Josh Maguire and a fourth of the morning for Robinson made up Bradford eight. Both The Grapes United FC and Buttercross FC were new to the league, but like many of their fellow newcomers they featured players who have previously played in the league.
Buttercross may have taken a half-time lead through Scott Nash but the Chippenham-based side ended up on the wrong end of a 7-3 score line. Lee Fielding struck three whilst James Ponsford, Nathan Walker, Stephen Toogood and an own goal saw Grapes to their victory.
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