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

Action from yesterday's Premier Division game between Corsham Centre and Holt (34594/6)

After one of the most thrilling contests to find the Premier Division winners for many years, Corsham Centre A were confirmed as champions for the third successive season yesterday.

Pete Ralph's Centre team were 3-0 home winners over Holt, who were hoping to spoil their celebrations which had started on Thursday after they defeated long time leaders Biddestone Social 1-0 thanks to a 70th minute goal from Simon Gray.

That same evening Holt had defeated Westbury Rangers A 4-2 thanks to a Rob O'Harrow treble and Neil Grant's single, so the Centre knew that they couldn't relax against Holt who were out to cause what would have been one of the biggest upsets for many seasons.

The defending champions went into their match at Meriton Avenue knowing that a draw against Holt would be good enough to give them a third successive top flight title - that was providing that Biddestone Social didn't beat Bradford News by 20 clear goals.

After taking a first half lead, the Centre had too survive a few nervy moments as Holt threatened to be party-poopers but two late goals saw them claim a 3-0 success and the crown.

A nervous Centre side huffed and puffed in the searing heat as they struggled to make a breakthrough despite having numerous chances to take the lead.

The deadlock was finally broken after 25 minutes when Rob Stephens struck from 12 yards to ease the nerves of the Centre's players and supporters alike.

The Centre knew they needed another goal to make the game safe, but as the first half drew to a close chances came and went for the hosts to increase their lead.

The second period was just five minutes old when Holt were reduced to 10 players after they had Ronnie Frost sent off for a second bookable offence.

With the advantage of an extra man it seemed only a matter of time before the Centre would score a second, but it was Holt who went closest to hit the target and only a smart save from Nick Gingell, who brilliantly turned an Oli Gee shot around the post on 60 minutes, kept the Centre's slender lead intact.

Gingell almost went from hero to villain a few minutes later when he failed to collect a cross which seemed destined to end up in the net but was somehow cleared to safety.

That was the closest Holt went to scoring as the Centre eventually added their second in the 75th minute when Holt defender Andy Cryer failed to cut out a Shane Godsell cross and the ball fell to Liam Ralph who thumped the ball beyond keeper Roy Hewitt to make the game safe.

Cryer who then lucky to escape with a yellow card for a reckless challenge on Godsell.

Ross Lye struck the post for the Centre before Simon Gray volleyed home a superb third for the Centre on the stroke of full time.

Centre manager Pete Ralph was quick to heap praise on his side which had been superbly led by captain Craig Gingell as they played seven matches in 18 days as they fought to seal a League and Cup double, having already won the Wiltshire Sunday Cup.

Referee Neil Fautley was excellent in the middle and was deserving of the praise that was given to him, by the teams and supporters alike.

Bradford News 1, Biddestone Social 8

HAVING lost to Corsham Centre A on Thursday night, Biddestone Social knew they needed a miracle if they were to have any chance of finishing in pole position.

For Biddestone Social to win the title, Dan Lardner and Danny Jones's side, who have been brilliant all term, needed Centre to lose or draw and for them to beat Bradford News by an unbelievable 20 goals.

With the Centre winning, no matter what Biddestone Social achieved against the newsmen they would finish as worthy runners-up.

Biddestone Social won 8-1 but they were dealt a huge blow before kick-off as their already injury hit side had to call on John O'Meara to take over in goal after regular number one Rob Smith was involved in a car accident on the way to the game.

O'Meara, who had been expecting to spend the morning at home, arrived in Bradford in time for a slightly later than normal kick-off, but with goals being the order of the day Biddestone Social went at their hosts from the first whistle and took the lead after two minutes when Mike Few unleashed a 40 yard thunderbolt that gave the home keeper no chance.

Within a minute Biddestone Social were two goals ahead, thanks to Shahram Hemarti whose close finish from a Danny Jones cross made it 2-0.

With the game 15 minutes old Biddestone added number three a good work from Gary Banks saw his cross headed home by Gary Blackwood. Biddestone's fourth arrived in the 20th minute and it was probably the pick of the goals. Dan Lardner's delivery was inch perfect to Danny Jones who had a simple tap in to make it 4-0 - the finish might not have been spectacular, but the cross was class.

Lardner then scored his team's fifth goal, after he was set up by Hemarti, but again it was great football from Lardner that resulted in a fantastic finish. The newsmen pulled a goal back through Matty Gurke after 39 minutes but their was still time for Biddestone to add their sixth of the first half when Jones knocked home a Rob Pocock cross.

The goals dried up in the second period and Biddestone had to wait until the 75th minute before they netted number seven which was scored by Hemarti, who was played in by Lardner. Prior to Hemarti scoring, Biddestone were reduced to 10 men following an injury to Gary Banks.

Hemarti completed his first ever hat-trick for Biddestone on 78 minutes when he followed up his own shot that had been well saved to tuck the ball home and leave the final score at 8-1 which meant that Mark Hurkett's Bradford side will join North Star A from the top flight in Division One next season.

Dog and Fox Ashley 2, FC Colerne 1

CLIVE Bancroft took charge of his final game as Dog and Fox manager and his players gave him the perfect farewell present of two points as they defeated FC Colerne 2-1.

The Dog and Fox drew their positions out of a hat prior to kick-off and Nathan Gant drew the short straw and was the first half shot stopper. But the Dog might have unearthed a star of the future as Gant produce a few outstanding save to deny Colerne in a first half that saw Rick Trott give the Dog the lead.

Colerne, who hadn't scored a goal in their previous five matches, managed to end their barren spell when Adam Smith squared things up on 70 minutes. The Dog's winner arrived five minutes from time and it came from the unlikely source of substitute and regular keeper Craig Guthrie who drove home a Russell Whatley cross to give manager Bancroft the perfect end to his couple of seasons in charge.

Maud Heath Sports 2, Box Rovers 3

ALREADY safe from relegation, Maud Heath Sports entertained Box Rovers hoping to finish the season on a high, but it was the visitors to Calne who came away with the spoils after claiming a 3-2 triumph, after nearly throwing away a 3-0 lead.

Kirk Boobyer's first goal of the season, which was also his first since December 2006, put Rovers ahead and Andy Wilkins also registered his first goal of the season for Rovers when he doubled their lead with his first goal since October 2006.

Wesley Newson gave Rovers the cushion of a three goal lead which really should have been enough to see them safely home, but in true Box fashion they let Maud Heath back into the game and goals from Graham Dean and Ali Duncan reduced the arrears to the odd goal, but it wasn't enough as Rovers held out for victory number 13 of the season that was good enough to see them finish in fourth spot.

Westbury Rangers A 4, Winsley 2

WESTBURY Rangers A bounced back from their shock 4-2 defeat at home to Holt on Thursday with a 4-2 win of their own over Winsley.

Goals from Marc Lanfear and Matty Smith weren't enough to save them against Holt, but Lanfear, who will finish as this season's top scorer in the Premier Division, was on target again at the weekend when he scored Westbury second to take his tally to 31 goals.

Westbury's regular number one Nathan Taylor was playing outfield and he opened the scoring for the hosts. Neil Hannaford profited from an uneven bounce at Meadow Lane when he restored parity for Winsley when he fired home from close range after the ball had finished bobbling around in the area.

Lanfear regained the lead for Westbury in the second half and Pete Ayton's penalty made it 3-1 before Martin Little added number four.

Winsley's top scorer Mike Little hit their second, but it proved to be just another consolation, but on another day the scoreline may have been different had Winsley taken their chances and had Westbury's makeshift shot-stopper Nathan Hallett not performed well between the posts.

11:32am Monday 12th May 2008

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