AFC Bell stay on course for promotion

10:35am Monday 28th April 2008

Leaders AFC Bell look on course for an automatic promotion spot after they extended their unbeaten run to 16 matches with two victories in four days.

On Thursday night goals from Jonathan Couch and Gary Campbell helped them defeat basement side Corsham Park Rangers 2-1, with Jake Marshall scoring for Rangers.

On Sunday Craig Townsend's side locked horns with local rivals The Crown FC and Mark Adamson knew his side faced an uphill battle as they were missing Dan Sloan, Ashley Bartells and Jason Lucas for the big match at Green Lane, Devizes. But despite the handicap they almost managed to get something from the game but came up just short as AFC Bell won 3-2.

The leaders, who were also understrength, took the lead through Jonathan Couch after seven minutes and Jon Scoffield doubled their advantage in the 17th minute when he drilled home a blistering free kick.

The Crown halved the deficit through Jack Fisher who slotted home on 25 minutes. AFC Bell regained their two-goal cushion before the interval courtesy of Ashton Turner.

The Crown cut the gap to the odd goal in the 72nd minute thanks to Fisher's second of the game, which was a brilliant free kick from 25 yards out.

AFC Bell manager Townsend, who returned from injury a lot quicker than expected, played the last 20 minutes but was unable to make his mark and it was the Crown who wasted a couple of good chances late on to draw level and they will be left thinking what might have been had they gone in.

Westbury Rangers B 0, Biddestone White Horse 1

BIDDESTONE White Horse remain in second spot ahead of their winner-takes-all clash against third placed Pheasant FC.

Matt Unwin took his Biddestone White Horse side to Meadow Lane where they were entertained by Dave Griffin's Westbury Rangers B side who failed to score for a second successive match but they had their chances, with Sam Young going closest for them.

Biddestone White Horse claimed a 1-0 success, with Luke White scoring the only goal of the game in the second period when he fired home the rebound after his initial shot had been cleared off the line by Dave Jones and found a way past replacement goalkeeper Kevin Balchin.

Rangers missed the injured Dale Rowland but they suffered a further blow when Ashley Easton was carried off with possible ligament damage to his ankle.

Biddestone White Horse, who played with some bite for the first time for a while, could still top the table but they have a better chance of finishing in second spot as they hold a one point lead over the Pheasant ahead of their all important battle. If Biddestone beat Oli Selman's side it will guarantee them one of the two automatic places.

Blue Circle (Sunday) 1, Pheasant 2

PHEASANT followed up their 4-1 midweek win over White Horse with a nail-biting 2-1 triumph over Blue Circle (Sunday) which gives them a very good chance of finishing in second spot.

Goals from Nat Auckland, Lee Blackmore, Joe Forester and Gary Lock saw they send down White Horse who replied through Tom Shephard.

Four days after their victory at the cement works, Westbury, they returned to the venue to claim another vital win.

Nathan Phillamore's deflected effort put Pheasant ahead but the cement boys' manager Steve Martin drew his side level when he found the target after his penalty had struck the post and the ball was played back to him and he made no mistake with his second bite of the cherry.

Pheasant reshuffled their pack in the second half. They replaced goalkeeper Tom Jones with Dave Sett and pushed Jones up front and he scored what proved to be the winner with his very first touch.

Both team had further chances to add to their goals but neither side could find the net again and Pheasant were more than happy to see the game out that leaves them with a fascinating match against Biddestone White Horse to look forward to.

Pack Horse Rangers 0, Corsham Park 1

CORSHAM Park Rangers might have just lost out 2-1 to AFC Bell in midweek, but Martin Perrett's side went into their match at Stanley Park against Pack Horse Rangers knowing that a draw against their hosts would be good enough for them to stay in the division at the expense of Westbury-based White Horse.

Corsham Park went one better and came up trumps with a 1-0 victory that saw them pick up maximum points for only the fifth time this term.

Corsham Park's cause was a helped a little when their hosts were reduced to 10 men after 30 minutes after Ryan Bell limped off injured. Although the match produced only one goal but it was a very entertaining contest with chances falling to both sides before and after Jake Marshall netted what proved to be the winner on 59 minutes when he robbed a Pack Horse player of the ball before running clear and unleashing a thunderbolt low to the keeper's right hand side.

Bromham (Sunday) 3, AFC Melksham 2

BROMHAM, who drew 0-0 with Westbury Rangers B in midweek, beat an AFC Melksham side who were let down by the no show of a number of players that in the end proved costly as Bromham won 3-2.

Andy Bartlett gave Bromham the lead but his opener was cancelled out by Chris Dore's first of the game on 21 minutes.

Mike Trigo's first goal of the season saw Bromham retake the lead but a second from Dore in the 79th minute looked to have earned a depleted Melksham side a deserved share of the spoils. However with five minutes remaining Andy Paget first ever goal gave Bromham victory and the goal was worth waiting for. Paget chested down a cross and fired home a fantastic strike to give Bromham win number 10 of the season.