DIVISION THREE: Somerford fail in bid to deny Staverton top spot (From Wiltshire Times)

DIVISION THREE: Somerford fail in bid to deny Staverton top spot

3:00pm Monday 23rd April 2012 in News

WITH the race to become Division Three champions one of the closest for many years, it was little surprise that it went right to the final game of the season.

Somerford hosted Corsham Park Rangers not just needing a victory but needing to win by nine clear goals to deny Staverton the winners’ crown.

What was always going to be a tall order for Somerford proved to be just that as although they got the two points they were after, their 5-4 win wasn’t enough to give them top spot.

But they will be happy to have finish what has been an excellent season for Gary Chandler’s side in second spot.

The first 25 minutes was end to end action with both teams having chances but it Somerford stuck first on 26 minutes when Alex Braithwaite picked the ball up ran at the Corsham Park defence and his shot along the ground beat the goalie low to his right hand side.

Somerford’s lead lasted just three minutes when a long throw in from Kane Kauppinen into the area was headed out straight to Matthew Spear who put ball back into area and with the bouncing around Kadir Ayhaw got a touch on it to make it 1-1.

Somerford regained the lead in the 35th minute when a mix up in the Corsham Park defence allowed Ashley Monaghan to round the goalie and slot ball into a empty net.

But back came Corsham Park and on 41 minutes a corner in by David Smith was somehow missed by keeper Dan Quinsey and Simon Young was on hand to slot the ball home to make it 2-2 which is how it remained at the break.

Somerford went ahead for a third time in the 56th minute when a free kick found Chris Yeo who beat the goalie and stabbed ball home for a 3-2.

Corsham Park hit back for a third time, Somerford’s Braithwaite was adjudged to have brought down Matthew Spear in the area and a penalty was awarded.

Keeper Quinsey was not impressed with the decision and was sent off for dissent with Richard Chandler taking his place in goal.

Spear took the spot kick and sent it down the middle to make it 3-3.

Corsham Park switched off and allowed Somerford to score two quick fire goals in the 73rd and 75th minute.

The first saw Yeo beat the offside trap and cut inside to score low to the keeper's right and then a 30 yard free kick from Monaghan deflected in for 5-3.

With five minutes remaining Corsham Park pulled a goal back.

A long ball from Dave Smith was dropped by keeper Chandler to the feet of Kadir Ayhaw who tapped the ball in for his second of the morning.

Corsham pressed for an equaliser but time run out for them they ended up on the wrong end of a 5-4 score line.

North Star B 0 Kings Arms (All Cannings) 2

AT THE opposite end of the table, North Star B needed to avoid defeat at home to Kings Arms (All Cannings) to keep them in the division.

But despite their best efforts, a 2-0 loss saw them replace local rivals The Talbot in the bottom two and it is the Star who go down by virtue of an inferior goal difference of one goal.

Dan Allison went close for North Star in the first half when his effort hit the bar but that was as close as the hosts came to scoring and goals from Shaun Jefferies and Aden Allmark earned Kings Arms their victory which sees them finish the campaign in third place.

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