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

Craig Townsend

Having clinched the Division Three title last night with a 4-2 victory over Bromham, Craig Townsend's AFC Bell host Blue Circle at Green Lane, Devizes, where they will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run to 18 matches.

And as they have not dropped a single point from any of their 11 home matches to date, you wouldn't bet against them to complete a perfect home campaign.

When the teams met at the cement works back in October, AFC Bell were triumphant, thanks to their 5-1 success, with player-manager Townsend scoring four of the goals, Jon Scoffield adding the fifth and Wayne Bristow replying for Blue Circle.

The bad news form Steve Martin's Blue Circle side is that the league's top scorer Townsend will be fit and looking to add to the 42 goals he has bagged to date. Unless they can keep the shackles on the prolific scorer then they could well suffer another heavy loss which is a possibly as the Cement boys don't play well away from home. They have only won once on their travels this term and that was when they defeated Chippenham West End Club 5-3 at the end of March.

With the hosts in a party mood they will want to finish the season with another win which they should easily do as they start celebrating a second successive promotion after winning the Division Four title last term.

Churchill Arms v Pheasant FC

PHEASANT clinched promotion to Division Two after they defeated Biddestone White Horse 7-4 last weekend and following AFC Bell's victory over Bromham last night they go into their final match of the season away at Churchill Arms knowing that they will have to settle for the runners-up berth.

Pheasant beat Churchill Arms 9-0 in November when Lee Blackmore top scored with a four timer.

Oli Selman's side, who have lost just three games all season, should have few problems in adding to their points tally and in beating Churchill Arms who have won just one of their last nine games and will be have to improve 100 per cent if they are to avoid a sixth straight loss and possibly another heavy defeat in their final game of the season.

Even though Pheasant are red-hot favourites to collect the points on offer they won't be taking anything for granted as Churchill Arms routed them 9-2 towards the end of last term when Myles Hickton scored five goals for his brother's team and Jamie Bayes contributed to the drubbing with a hat-trick.

But with Hickton and Bayes now at Potterne, Churchill Arms haven't got the same fire power available and if any of the teams are going to score nine this time it will be Pheasant who should add to their 122 goals to move above Riverside Renegades as the league's highest scorers.

Westbury Rangers B v Corsham Park Rangers

WESTBURY Rangers B and Corsham Park Rangers lock horns at Meadow Lane in a match that has nothing but pride riding on it.

Corsham Park were saved from relegation after they beat Pack Horse Rangers 1-0 a fortnight ago so they will approach the game that kicks-off at 2pm in a relaxed mood.

Westbury, who have lost just three of the 12 matches they have played in 2008, will be confident that they will extend that run even further and that they can claim a third win on the bounce and complete a league double over Corsham Park who they defeated 3-2 earlier in the season when goals from Ashley Easton, Matty Mead and Ross Pugh earned them maximum points.

Westbury will hopefully have a full strength side to pick from and manager Dave Griffin will be hoping that his team can create as many chances as they did in their recent success over Pack Horse Rangers. But unlike then, when Liam Griffiths scored the only goal of the match, he will want the likes of Griffiths, Dale Rowland, Rob Youens, Ashley Easton and Ross Pugh to hit the target as Corsham Park will be desperate to finish the season with another victory.

Martin Perrett's side have somehow managed to come good at the right time and three points from a possible six saved them from the drop.

With the bit between their teeth they could surprise their hosts, but for that to happen Corsham must hope that Jake Marshall will receive some assistance in front of goal as he can't be expected to keep coming up with the goods game after game as he has done so in recent weeks.

With home advantage Westbury look a good bet to pick up win number 11 of the season.

1:43pm Friday 9th May 2008

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