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

Ian Brown

With just over a week before the conclusion of the season, there promises to be no let-up in the race to be crowned Division Two champions.

What started out as a marathon back in September has now come down to a 100 metre dash for the winning line as Cooper-Avon, who have their noses in front at the moment, are being chased down by both White Hart Combe and Crown Cosmos.

All three sides are in action at the weekend, with the leaders, Cooper-Avon, reversing their match from the Conigre, Melksham to Sands Lane, Rowde, home of their opponents The Crown Devizes.

Gary Newman's Cooper-Avon side have lost just once all season and they are unbeaten in their last 18 matches and it would be a huge surprise it they didn't chalk up another victory which if they did would guarantee them a place in Division One next term, but whether as champions or as runners-up is still to be seen.

Cooper-Avon might have a three point lead over second placed White Hart but they can't afford to become complacent as any slip up no matter how small could be punished, but on this occasion the tyremen should have few problems in completing a league double over the Crown, who they beat 4-2 in September to start them on their unbeaten run. James Worsley, Graham Griffiths, James Ponsford and Tom Robinson scored for Cooper-Avon back then, with Robert Hannah and Ian Brown hitting the target for the Crown.

The hosts might be looking for a fourth straight win after victories over Chippenham Police, Bremhill View and Audley FC but being realistic they will be lucky if they can restrict their Melksham-based opponents to under the six goals that would see them reach the 100 mark for the season.

White Hart Combe v Chippenham Police

SECOND-placed White Hart Combe have probably the easiest match of the three promotion chasing sides.

Trevor Rawlings' team entertain Chippenham Police who to date have conceded 111 goals and who could see a few more added to that tally at the weekend as Combe look to add to their 89 goals.

White Hart Combe are due to host the police at Stanley Park and should claim an easy victory.

White Hart are unbeaten in their last 13 matches and beat the police 9-2 earlier this season when James Stone, Craig Fullam and Rob Preston scored two goals each, with the others coming from Jamie Farquharson, Dan Quinsey and Richard Bright.

It would be a surprise if Combe didn't add to their goals for column as they know that the final placing could well be decided on goal difference and of the teams vying for promotion they currently have the worst record.

White Hart Combe will be expecting an easy ride against the police, who are still battling to beat the drop, but they know better than to underestimate their opponents who might have lost their last two matches but they showed what they are capable of doing when they beat Pig and Whistle United 6-1 in early March.

The police won't expect to win the game but they will hope to restrict Combe's margin of victory to a couple of goals and there is no doubting that they will have to work a lot harder than they did in the previous match to claim the points.

Bremhill View Social Club v Crown Cosmos

CROWN Cosmos, who missed out on a game last weekend, still have four matches to fit in from now until the second week in May and are having to play catch up.

Will Kibby's side were in action last night, when they defeated Sutton Benger, and Sunday will see them renew old rivalries with Bremhill View Social Club who were the first team to beat them in the league when they won 3-2 last May.

Since then Crown Cosmos have avenged that defeat with a 3-1 home success that saw Dean Potter (2) and Nathan Sheridan cancel out a Terry Cox goal, but for them to stay in the hunt for a third consecutive winners' trophy they must beat Bremhill View for a second time this season.

That's easier said than done as Martin Belcher's side, who suffered a shock 2-1 loss against The Crown Devizes last time out, will raise their game when they host Cosmos.

The match should be a good one but it won't be for the faint-hearted, as Bremhill won't take any prisoners in their bid to avenge their earlier loss.

A lot will depend on which team have the better players available. If Cosmos have the likes of David Lloyd, Nathan Sheridan, Eliot Williams, Stuart Skinner and cup final hero Dean Potter on hand to weave his magic then he could cast a spell over the hosts and help Cosmos claim what would be a crucial victory ahead of fixtures against Chippenham Police, FC Bradford and Hullavington which will determine where the title will end up.

Horse and Groom v Sutton Benger

WESTBURY-based Horse and Groom look odds-on for relegation, but with three games still to play before they bring the curtain down on what has been a season of highs and lows they could still beat the drop if they can somehow pick up four points from the six available.

Tim Beecham's side begin their battle to stay in the division with a match against Sutton Benger, which will be followed by games against Pig and Whistle United and The Crown Devizes and they will believe that all three games are winnable, especially if they can play as well as they did last Sunday when they came from 4-2 down against FC Bradford to claim a 4-4 draw, but were still left wondering what might have happened as they led 2-0 at one stage.

Sutton Benger, who have 11 points on the board and should be safe from the drop, were beaten by Crown Cosmos last night, but having beaten the Horse and Groom 3-1 a fortnight ago will be favourites to wrap up a league double.

However, with so much at stake the Horse and Groom will no doubt put in another massive effort and if Dan Cox and Tom Moore, who scored two goals apiece against Bradford, can find the net again then they could avenge their earlier defeat with what would be a much needed but surprise win that would see them move within one point of Chippenham Police.

At this crazy stage of the season, shock results are the order of the day and this game could produce another one.

11:58am Friday 2nd May 2008

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