DIVISION TWO REPORT: Steeple Ashton clinch promotion (From Wiltshire Times)

DIVISION TWO REPORT: Steeple Ashton clinch promotion

2:00pm Monday 16th April 2012 in Sport

ALL five of the sides in the hunt to become Division Two champions were in action at the weekend and it was Steeple Ashton Rangers who had the biggest result of the morning.

Their 4-1 home success over near neighbours Southwick Wanderers means that they guaranteed a top two placing, but they will have to wait for two weeks to see if they can go up as champions.

Corsham United, who could still overtake them, have two games remaining but they will need to win both to do so. What could have been a potential skin to Ashton chances of promotion proved unfounded as the villagers made the perfect start with Jake Sainsbury giving them the lead on 20 minutes.

A corner from was not cleared by Wanderers and following a goalmouth scramble Sainsabury was on hand to give Ashton their lead.

Complacency appeared to set in for Ashton and it wasn’t long before Southwick got back on level terms before half time when Reuben Spong’s neat through ball found Paul Gittins and he outmuscled Adam Potter to prod home past Nathan Taylor.

The second half saw Ashton raise the pace of the game and they retook the lead through a second from Jake Sainsbury who took advantage of a mix-up in the Southwick area to tap home from 12 yards.

It wasn’t long before Ashton extended their advantage, Sainsbury was clumsily fouled in the box and Lee Mounty coolly stepped up to convert the penalty.

Ashton killed the game off five minutes from time. A neat through ball from Mounty found Sainsbury who slip it past the keeper to complete his hat-trick.

Corsham United 4 Chippenham West End 0

OVER at Leafy Lane Corsham United beat Chippenham West End 4-0 in what was a must-win game for both sides.

The defeat for West End means that the highest finish they can now get is fifth place while Corsham could still lift the title with two victories and a glut of goals in their final two games against The Wren FC and West End again.

Jay Murphy and Stuart Tutty scored the goals that gave Corsham a 2-0 lead at the break.

Murphy was on target again in the second half and with James Hernandez finding the net, Kai Flack’s side claimed a comfortable 4-0 win.

Westbury Rangers B 3 FC Boroughs 2

FC BOROUGHS remain second in the table but their 3-2 defeat at Westbury Rangers B in what was the final game of the campaign for both teams means that for them to stay their they are going to have to hope that other results go their way.

It was Boroughs first loss in 10 games but for Westbury it was a seventh match without defeat and manager Matthew Gardiner will be left wondering why they left it until February before they started playing.

Ian Young’s goal for Westbury separated the teams at the interval but not long after the restart Boroughs drew level through Jack Ellis.

Mark Young put Westbury back ahead when he scored from the penalty spot but it was game on again when Anthony Brown converted a penalty to make it two apiece.

With the game heading for a draw Westbury stole both points when Young bagged his second of the morning in the 88th minute to earn the hosts their 3-2 success which leaves their guests with an anxious wait to see if they can finish in the top two.

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