WG PARR TROPHY: With the weather causing huge disruption to the fixture programme of the Robson Taylor, Chippenham Sunday League, it was no surprise that the Westernsport Trophies sponsored WG Parr Trophy semi-final matches were also hit.
With April's final at Corsham Town's Southbank Ground certain to be an all-First Division affair all that remains now is to find opponents for Potterne after they beat AFC Calne 5-3 at Avebury Sports Ground today.
The other semi-final match between Coyote and Atworth United scheduled for Southwick was one of 23 postponed due to waterlogged pitches and there wasn't one area in the county that beat the over night deluge that led to the calling off of all but five games.
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Potterne went into the game against their First Division stable mates as favourites to reach their first ever final and they didn't disappoint their band of travelling fans, but things should have been a lot easier than the final scoreline suggested it was as Potterne led 5-0 before they let AFC Calne back into the contest.
Just as the two league meeting between the sides had produced dramatic late goals in favour of Potterne it looked at one stage as if AFC Calne which have the luck with them on this occasion, but it wasn't too be as Potterne managed to withstand a late onslaught to book their place in the final.
The conditions at Avebury were not great for football, with persistent rain and wind that made entertaining football hard to play, but which in the end turned the game into a thriller.
Potterne had the advantage of the wind and the slope in the first half and they made the most of it and had the majority of the play and missed an early chance to take the lead when Steven House went close in the fifth minute. House brought the ball down from a throw-in and swivelled to get his shot on target but a fine save form Aaron Ward in the Calne goal denied the opener. Potterne continued to press and scored the opening goal in the 18th minute when a cross from the right wing found Myles Hickton who chipped keeper Ward from six yards.
Potterne found the net again in the 22nd minute when Jamie Bayes picked the ball up wide on the right, stepped inside and curled the ball home from 18 yards to double the villagers' lead. Potterne continued to press and although their were dominating proceedings they were unable to add a third despite having a succession of corners as Calne defended well and only a goal line clearance kept out a Ben Giles shot.
Potterne scored their third in the 32nd minute when they were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal and Doug Dickson's shot wind assisted shot rocketed in to the net, giving keeper Ward no chance.
AFC Calne went close to pulling a goal back in the 41st minute when Aaron Clegg picked the ball up just in side the box but a great save from Mark Goddard in the Potterne goal denied him.
With Potterne in the ascendancy they immediately went on the attack again at the start of the second period and Myles Hickton went close in the 49th minute but his effort was well saved by Ward. Then in the 51st minute a great run by Steven House down the left almost resulted in him adding number four, but his shot rebounded of f the post and he unselfishly crossed the ball to Jamie Bayes who had the simple task of scoring from one yard and giving Potterne a four goal lead.
AFC Calne pressed hard looking to find a way back into the contest, with a series of corners and free kicks but were unable to break down Potterne's defence.
Potterne then made it 5-0 in the 70th minute when Myles Hickton picked the ball up wide on the right and ran to the goal line and crossed for Jamie Bayes who was on hand to knock the ball home to complete his hat-trick.
At 5-0 Potterne would have been forgiven in believing that they had already had the game won, but Calne started their brave fight back that in the end proved in vain.
Calne scored direct from the restart when Ryan Kelleher rolled the ball back to Dean Fry who beat Potterne's keeper Goodard from inside his own half. The goal gave Calne a massive lift and they threw bodies forward in search of a second and it came on 72 minutes when Simon Dance unleashed a thunderous shot from 25 yards which flashed in to the goal. Then in the 78th minute Calne were awarded a penalty after a tangle of legs and Mark Dolman took the resulting spot kick and calmly slotted it past Goddard in the Potterne goal, making it 5-3 with 12 minutes to go.
Calne continued pressing looking their fourth goal but were denied by good defending and goal keeping. Mark Dolman went close in the 88th minute but his shot rebounded off of the crossbar.
Potterne could have scored in the last minute when Ben House went on a good run down the left and cut inside but his shot was well saved by Ward.
AFC Calne never gave up and put Potterne under pressure in the closing minutes but the villagers held on for a well-deserved victory.
Both teams should be proud of the effort and commitment they showed in very difficult conditions, and praise should go to match referee Pete Lowe and his assistants who all had a good game.
Potterne will have a two week wait to find out if it will be either Coyote or Atworth United that they will face in the final as it is hoped that the second final will take place at Southwick on March 30, but this has yet to be confirmed.
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