Robson Taylor Chippenham Sunday League News 2007/08  RSS feed | About

Dan Sloan

THE Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News-sponsored Team of the Week award for March 9, 2008, has been awarded to Third Division side The Crown FC.

For the first time for many weeks there were more than two clubs in with a chance of winning the award winners but, although Second Division sides Chippenham Police and The Horse and Groom and Fourth Division Somerford all recorded fine victories their achievements were topped by eventual winners, The Crown, whose victory over Pheasant FC in Division Three was deemed to be the outstanding result of the day.

Chippenham Police boosted their hopes of beating the drop from Division Two with a 6-1 demolition of Pig and Whistle United to end their seven match-losing streak.

For the first time in many weeks the police were able to field a strong side and it paid dividends, assisted by the fact that United played without a recognised goalkeeper. Paul Mills opened the scoring in the first half and Neil Parsons made it 2-0 with his first of four goals. United pulled a goal back but Parsons put the police 3-1 up before the break with a great solo effort.

Parsons sealed his hat-trick when he scored from the penalty spot. James Parfitt made it five with an audacious lob from 40 yards, with the goalkeeper was out of position, and Parsons completed things to continue his impressive scoring form.

At the foot of the Division Two table Westbury -based Horse and Groom were without manager Tim Beecham and he maybe tempted to stay away more often as his team claimed only their second win of the season as they trounced fellow strugglers Audley FC 6-2.

James Sweetman put the Horse in front but Audley fought back to level matters. Sweetman restored the lead for the Horse and Groom but once again Audley hit back to tie the scores. Ben Derrick headed the Horse into a 3-2 lead and from then on it was all one-way traffic as Stuart Bennett added number four before Sweetman completed his hat-trick with the hosts' fifth.

Dan Cox claimed goal number six with a massive assist from the Audley goalkeeper, who helped the ball over the line.

Fourth Division promotion seekers Wanderers suffered a shock 4-2 defeat at home to Somerford, who avenged their 4-1 loss from the start of the season.

Somerford edged the first 45 minutes to lead 1-0, thanks to a great team move that was finished of by Wayne Burry's brilliant diving header.

Wanderers squared things up not long after the restart but a spectacular 25 yard volley from Burry saw Somerford retake the lead.

They doubled their advantage when Kevin Jenn scored his first goal for the club and they stunned their Wanderers even further when Alex Braithwaite made it 4-1. Wanderers pulled another goal back but it wasn't enough to stop them from suffering their first loss in six games.

Devizes-based Crown FC threw the race for the Third Division title wide open as they produced the result of the day when they beat previous leaders Pheasant 3-2.

Pheasant went into the game bidding to extend their 12 match unbeaten run, but it proved to be unlucky 13 for the Chippenham-based side who suffered their first loss since the middle of October which saw them surrender pole position to Biddestone White Horse.

Dan Sloan made a welcome return for Mark Adamson's Crown side and he put them in front on eight minutes after good work from Jack Fisher. Pheasant managed to restore parity but Crown regained the lead on the hour mark when Ashley Bartells found the target after being set up by Tom Slater.

Dan Sloan increased the Crown's lead even further in the 75th minute with a superb individual effort. Sloan beat three players before unleashing a thunderbolt from 28 yards to make it 3-1. Pheasant pulled a goal back in the 90th minute it was a matter of too little, too late, as Crown deservedly took the points.

12:54pm Wednesday 12th March 2008

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