Crown Cosmos clinch third successive crown

10:35am Monday 12th May 2008

The battle to finish top dogs in Division Two was as good as any witnessed by the league in many years.

Two midweek victories for Crown Cosmos over Chippenham Police, who they beat 10-3, and Hullavington, who they defeated 7-3, saw them head Cooper-Avon on goal difference going into their final matches of the season yesterday.

But their two-goal advantage wasn't enough to guarantee them taking the title from the long time leaders, the tyremen.

Both teams knew that they would have to throw caution to the wind and go for broke if they were to keep their dreams of glory alive.

At half-time in their respective matches Cooper-Avon were drawing 2-2 at Hullavington, while Crown Cosmos were beating FC Bradford 5-0 at their home patch in Devizes.

Gary Newman's Cooper-Avon side raised their game in the second period to score another seven goals to claim a 9-2 victory, but Crown Cosmos also picked up the pace and scored a further eight goals to complete a 13-1 rout of FC Bradford that saw them clinch a third successive championship crown after winning the Division Four title in 2006 and the Third Division title last term when they finished ahead of Cooper-Avon.

Crown Cosmos 13, FC Bradford 1

HAVING scored 17 goals in two matches Crown Cosmos were hoping that they hadn't used up all of their goals ahead of their vital clash with FC Bradford who due to injuries were forced to play regular goalkeeper Gary Brooks in defence and use Mike Embleton as a makeshift keeper.

Embleton did his best but he was unable to keep out a rampant Cosmos side who, after a shaky start, scored at will as they bagged what was on this occasion a lucky 13 goals.

Stuart Skinner was the day's top scorer with six, Julian Alexander netted twice and Jake Davis, Jamie Gale, Nathan Sheridan, Brad Newman and an own goal - which Newman is claiming - made up the 13. Pete Collier scored Bradford's consolation from the penalty spot.

Hullavington 2, Cooper-Avon 9

COOPER-AVON suffered just one defeat all season but still had to settle for second place.

Their second half performance against Hullavington must have led them to believing that they could actually finish top of the pile before news of Cosmos's winning margin started to filter through to Gary Newman's side.

Locked at 2-2 at the interval it looked as if the game was one match too many, but they dug deep and turned the game upside down as they crushed they hosts with a dominant second half display that saw them hit seven unanswered goals. But even then their 9-2 victory saw them come up short of Cosmos.

Ed Wilkins scored twice for Hullavington in the first half, but goals from Tom Robinson and James Worsley cancelled out his double. Robinson's effort was Cooper-Avon's 100th goal of the campaign and for Wilkins his brace took him to 37 for the season.

The second period saw Cooper-Avon cut loose, with Simon Gillatt scoring three, Dave Macey two and James Ponsford and Josh Robinson singles.

The Crown Devizes 10, Horse and Groom 2

WESTBURY-based Horse and Groom, who secured their Second Division status with a 4-2 victory over Pig and Whistle United on Thursday night, travelled to Sands Lane, Rowde, for a return meeting with The Crown Devizes who they beat 2-1 earlier in the season.

But there was no repeat of that scoreline as Mark Roberts's Crown side avenged their earlier loss with a comprehensive 10-2 success.

Darren Thorpe signed off in his last ever game for the Crown with a hat-trick and Simon Drewitt also bagged a three timer. Andrew Beavan-Witts, Kevin Bush, Mark Adams, with his first goal of the season, and Lee Boudebza, who scored his first ever goal for the club, made up the 10.

Dave Jenkins and Alex Clarke replied for the losers who also saw Chris Fenwick miss a penalty.

Pig and Whistle 2, White Hart Combe 5

STEVE Badger, who scored both goals for Pig and Whistle United in their Thursday night defeat against Horse and Groom, was on target again for the Melksham-based side yesterday when they slumped to a 5-2 home loss against White Hart Combe, who finished a very good season in third spot.

Along with Badger, Tom Drewitt scored from the penalty spot for the hosts but goals from Lee Fernandez (2), Matt Windle (2) and Shane Bell saw Combe to their 15th two pointer of the campaign.