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

DIVISION FOUR: Leaders Steeple Ashton Rangers face a second successive weekend without a game which will see second placed Riverside Renegades close the gap on the long time leaders to just two points if, as expected, they take both points on offer when they host third from bottom North Star B at St Laurence School, Bradford.

Riverside, who defeated nine man AFC Lyneham 20-0 last weekend, will find the Star a much tougher prospect and the Calne-based side will fancy their chances of ending their hosts' six match winning run as they defeated them 4-3 when the sides met in October, thanks to goals from Simon Clifford, Matt Tracey and Dan Allison (2).

Riverside's goals came from Lee Ridout, Ashley Styles and Adam Hurd, but it Joe Taylor who is having a purple patch for Riverside at the moment. Taylor has scored 17 times in six games and now tops the division's scoring chart with 30 goals and it would be a surprise if he didn't find the net again to keep his good run going.

North Star know that they will have to raise their game if they are to have a realistic chance of beating Riverside for a second time, but they have a habit of turning on the style when it matters and they have a good record against sides in the top half of the table. One of the top six teams they have to take at least a point from are Wanderers and Corsham United, but they have to play Corsham again, so the statistics prove that Riverside won't frighten the visitors and if the Star can get Andy Dolman and Dan Allison firing on all cylinders they could possibly cause the upset of the day.

Three Crowns United v Trowbridge Town Supporters' Club

TROWBRIDGE Town Supporters' Club will hopefully have enough players available for this weekend's trip to Chippenham, where they will play Three Crowns United at Stanley Park.

The supporters' club, who had to postpone against leaders Steeple Ashton Rangers last Sunday due to a shortage of players, should welcome back goalkeeper Robbie Newton, Gary McLaughlin and Charlie Rawlings plus a host of other players who were unable to make the game with the leaders.

Kevin Williams's supporters' club are in third place at the moment and if they can maintain the form that has seen them lose just once in nine games they will have an outside chance on nicking a top two place.

Three Crowns United go into the game having already beaten their guests in the knockout cup back in September courtesy of two goals apiece from Mike Cassidy and Kelvin Page that earned Tony Beasley's side a 4-0 success and, although they go into the match on the back of four straight victories, they will have to be at their best if they are to end the hosts' excellent run of results.

The supporters' club will be favourites to take the points, especially if Nigel Penelhum, Nick Buckle and Gavin Target can remain on form, and if Penelhum, who has been a revelation this term, can maintain his high standards then it should be the supporters' club who emerge triumphant from what promises to be a titanic battle.

Three Crowns will play their part in what should be a good game and if they can build on their recent good form they might just nick a point from a game that they should really lose.

Kings Arms (Market Lavington) v Chippenham United RAOB

KINGS Arms and Chippenham United RAOB are locked together on 17 points, so should John Dix's Kings Arms side pick up maximum points when they entertain Richard Thorne's side then the sides will swap places in the table as the only thing separating the sides is United's slightly better goal difference.

Chippenham United have won three of their last five matches while over the same period Kings Arms have managed two wins and a draw so the game should be as closely fought as the one between the teams back in October when the Kings Arms nicked the points when goals from Mark Torr and Julian Fielding earned them a 2-1 success. They will be hoping to do the same again but they will be up against a determined United side who compared with recent seasons are having a great campaign. With five matches to play they could claim a few more points but still having to face three of the top four teams they will see this as a game that they must win if they are to move up the table from ninth spot.

Kings Arms might have to do without manager John Dix, who is recovering from a shoulder operation, but even if he fails to make the touchline Dix is likely to leave the sides in the capable hands of team captain Darren Folkard who is also likely to miss the playing in the game through injury.

The match should produce another close outcome, but unlike the first match Chippenham United are tipped to claim a narrow victory.

AFC Lyneham v Corsham Centre B

CORSHAM Centre B have not played since the start of the month, when they lost 5-3 away at North Star B, and although it looks as if their chances of promotion has passed them after a run of poor results plummeted them from second place down to sixth spot they will be happy to return to action with what should be a guaranteed two points.

The Centre travel to Goatacre where they will be hosted by basement side AFC Lyneham who have lost all 20 of their games to date and in the process have conceded 184 goals.

You have to fear for Lyneham when the Centre visit as Luke Denham and Ashley King's side have already beaten them 5-0, with goals from Warren Jones (2), Chaz Young and Tom Lye (2) in their opening day win.

Lyneham will hope to have goalkeeper Jason Trout and Ben Willmore fit for the game. Both players were involved in an accident on the way to last Sunday's game against Riverside and although Trout started the game a head injury forced him to leave the field at the start of the second half.

Manager Jason Raven will hope for damage limitation but is well aware that with four matches to go, his team is likely to pass the 200 mark for goals conceded unless they can somehow batten down the hatches and shut up shop for the remainder of the season, which is very unlikely. The Centre, who should have a full strength team to pick from, will have few problems in sealing a league double over Lyneham but the question is by how many goals and sadly for the hosts they could suffer another heavy loss.

Wanderers v Old Road Tavern

BERNIE Court, manager of Old Road Tavern, might be forced into playing himself against promotion hopefuls Wanderers this weekend.

Court, who is known as a goalkeeper, might have to play up front as a striker, after his second top scorer Ryan Tyrell was ruled out for the remainder of the season after breaking his wrist in two places during their recent 4-2 against Corsham United.

Court had already been rocked by the loss of top scorer Robbie Burton, who is sitting out a lengthy suspension, and now that Tyrell, who has bagged 12 goals, is out he doesn't expect to bring an end to their three match-losing run.

That said the teams drew three each at the start of February and although Burton netted for the Tavern, Steve Gillingham and Colin Hayward also found the target, so Court will want those two players to shine again.

Wanderers should prove too strong from their guests in the reverse fixture and they know that another slip up will end any chance they have of finishing in the top two, so they will be trying even harder to earn their 10th win of the campaign.

11:53am Friday 21st March 2008

Print   Email this