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Chippenham League

News & Match Reports

Heath and Dickson sign for Potterne

HAVING recently welcomed back last season’s top scorer Myles Hickton, Premier Division Potterne have added two more players to their line-up and are looking forward to bringing more new faces to the team in the near future.

Sutton Benger named Team of the Week

THE Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News-sponsored Team of the Week award for December 28, 2008, has been awarded to Second Division side Sutton Benger.

The 2008-2009 season mid-term report

AFTER weeks of disruption caused by waterlogged pitches, teams from the Robson Taylor, Chippenham Sunday League had been hoping to kick off 2009 with a bang, but the new year began exactly as the old one had finished, but instead of the rain leading to postponed fixtures it was frozen pitches that led to all of the scheduled 30 matches being called off.

United beat the weather and the form book

DIVISION FOUR: The only match to beat the elements on Sunday was the rearranged Fourth Division match at All Cannings between hosts The Kings Arms and Chippenham United RAOB who stepped into to take the fixture at the last moment when their match away at Market Lavington was called off and the hosts' trip to North Star B was postponed.

Potterne bid for top four place

PREMIER DIVISON: With the top three teams from the Robson Taylor, Chippenham League Premier Division in cup action and fourth place Corsham Centre A without a match, Potterne have a chance of moving into the four place if they can defeat basement side Miller Sports.

White Hart Combe keen to return to the action

DIVISION ONE: White Hart Combe who have not played since the defeated North Star A 7-0 at the end of November have seen their lead at the top of Division one slashed to just one point but this weekend should see them get back to action with what should be another comfortable victory over Gary Elliott’s Star side.

FC Bradford bid for top spot

DIVISION TWO: With Division Two leaders Pheasant FC in cup action and second placed AFC Melksham without a game, Pete Collier’s FC Bradford will leapfrog the latter and claim a share of the top spot if they can beat Sutton Benger which should be a formality if they can pick up this week where they left off from last week when they beat Audley FC 12-3.

Three Crowns on course for early promotion

DIVISION THREE: At this stage of proceedings The Three Crowns United, who have already opened up a nine point gap over their rival in Division Three, look certainties to clinch an automatic promotion spot and if they can continue at the rate they are and avoid and cancellations they could book their place in the second division by the end of March.

Leaders expected to reach double figures

DIVISION FOUR: It is likely to be a case of lambs to the slaughter when leaders British Lion play hosts to bottom of the table AFC Lyneham on Sunday.

Top flight games wiped out

PREMIER DIVISION: All five of the scheduled matches from the Premier Division were postponed for various reasons.

Cooper-Avon claim Melksham bragging rights

DIVISION ONE: Foresters Arms blew their opportunity to move level on points with White Hart Combe at the top of the table as they were beaten by Cooper-Avon, who avenged their 3-1 defeat from the opening day of the campaign.

Pheasant fly to the top of the table

DIVISION TWO: Pheasant FC are the sole occupiers of the number one spot in Division Two after they took full advantage of AFC Melksham’s cup involvement.

Three Crowns turn on the style

DIVISION THREE: The Three Crowns United managerial pairing of Tony Beasley and Alan Davis must be very pleased with the way their team have performed so far this season and they must have been ecstatic with the way they outplayed a Lavington (Sunday) side to claim a 6-1 victory with one of their best displays of the season.

Honours shared in top of the table clash

DIVISION FOUR: Game of the day in Division Four should have been the top of the table clash between leaders British Lion and free scoring North Star B.

Selection problems for title favourites

PREMIER DIVISION: Old adversaries Winsley and Biddestone Social are due to meet at Brown’s Park in Freshford and it will be interesting to see if the fixture goes ahead as both teams are believed to be struggling for players.

North Star's unbeaten record is on the line

DIVISION FOUR: North Star B put their unbeaten record on the line this weekend when they travel to Devizes to face pacesetters British Lion in what should be a classic contest between two of the division’s top sides.

Foresters bid for derby double

DIVISION ONE: If Foresters Arms can get the better of local Melksham rivals Cooper-Avon for a second time this season then Pat Johnson’s side will move level on points with White Hart Combe at the top of the Division One table.

Top strikers go head-to-head

DIVISION TWO: With AFC Melksham in cup action, Pheasant FC, who currently share the number one spot in Division Two with Mickey Hawkes's side, have the chance to claim pole position on their own if they can get the better of Hullavington in what promises to be a thrilling game between two very good sides who boast the services of two of the top strikers in the division.

Three Crowns United bid to extend lead

DIVISION THREE: Chippenham-based The Three Crowns United, who already lead Division Three by seven points from Steeple Ashton Rangers, have another opportunity to increase their lead at the summit even further when they visit Lavington (Sunday) this weekend.

Bromham collect Team of the Week award

BROMHAM (Sunday) players and officials have been presented with the Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News-sponsored Team of the Week award for December 21, 2008.

Bromham named Team of the Week

THE Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News-sponsored Team of the Week award for December 21, 2008, has been awarded to Bromham (Sunday) FC.

Biddestone Social's 12 goals of Christmas

PREMIER DIVISION: Biddestone Social and Dog and Fox Ashley remain joint leaders of the Premier Division, but it is Dan Lardner and Danny Jones's Biddestone side who are in the number one spot by virtue of a superior goal difference.

Dudley's double cheers newsmen

DIVISION ONE: With a number of the leading clubs in cup action and with leaders White Hart Combe without a game, Bradford News were looking to close the gap to White Hart to just one point but that was before the midweek withdrawal of Carpenters Arms.

Pegler makes FC Bradford pay the penalty

DIVISION TWO: Without doubt one of the top matches in the league this weekend was the top of the table clash game at Christie Miller, where leaders AFC Melksham took on third placed FC Bradford and the match lived up to pre-match expectations as AFC Melksham won a seven goal thriller 4-3.

Three Crowns open up seven point lead

DIVISION THREE: Runaway leaders Three Crowns United got the better of their local rivals Pack Horse Rangers in their final match at Buckley Barracks, Hullavington, before they switch pitches to Sutton Benger.

Drown goes from hero to villain

DIVISION FOUR: British Lion remain top of the table following a comfortable 4-0 win against White Horse.

Manager's sadness at club's demise

MANAGER Chris Carr has spoken of his sadness of having to shut down the football club he founded as a teenager.

Colerne aim to give leaders a scare

PREMIER DIVISION: Biddestone Social might have played just one match in the last six weeks but they go into their penultimate game of 2008 top of the Premier Division as joint leaders along with Dog and Fox Ashley.

Pacesetters facing tough challenge

DIVISION FOUR: Pacesetters British Lion are scheduled to entertain White Horse FC at Green Lane, Devizes, and, regardless of the outcome of the match, Adam Bewley’s side will have a good chance of leading the division going into 2009.

Top Chippenham League side quits over fines

ONE of the most successful Chippenham Sunday League teams of the past five years have quit just days before they were due to be suspended by the Wiltshire FA.

Double signing for Winsley

PAUL Ranger, manager of Premier Division outfit Winsley, has added two new faces to his squad.

Bradford News chase winning double

DIVISION ONE: With five sides in WG Parr Trophy action, there is a reduced fixture programme in Division One this weekend.

Collier's boys bid to derail AFC Melksham

DIVISION TWO: One of the top matches in the league this weekend has to be the Division Two game at Christie Miller, Melksham, where leaders AFC Melksham entertain third placed FC Bradford.

Bragging rights at stake in Chippenham derby

DIVISION THREE: Runaway Division Three leaders Three Crowns United are due to host Pack Horse Rangers in their final match at Buckley Barracks, Hullavington, before they switch pitches to Sutton Benger.

Crook brothers join AFC Melksham

FORMER Box Rovers, Hullavington and Miller Sports players Adam and John Crook have signed on for Second Division AFC Melksham.

Cole eager to get back playing with Chippenham Sports

CHRISTMAS has come early for Chippenham Sports and Social Club manager Jason Bull.

Potterne welcome back striker Hickton

HAVING helped Potterne gain promotion to the Premier Division last term as First Division runners-up, their 31-goal hit man Myles Hickton left the club for Third Division Lavington (Sunday) but, to the surprise of everyone, the prolific 21-year-old has now returned to his former side.

Lockwood goes from hero to villain

PREMIER DIVISION: For a second successive weekend, Semington Rovers were involved in the only Premier Division match to survive the elements.

Manning is instant hit for Cooper-Avon

DIVISION ONE: The only match to survive the weather in Division One was the rearranged fixture between Chippenham Sports and Social Club and Cooper-Avon.

Referee's praise for Melksham rivals

DIVISION TWO: Both AFC Melksham and Eastlands were congratulated by match referee Tony Frith for the way they conducted themselves in very difficult conditions at Christie-Miller.

Three Crowns looking good for promotion place

DIVISION THREE: Chippenham-based Three Crowns United are the runaway leaders of Division Three after their 4-0 home success over Three Horse Renegades saw them open up a six point lead on second placed Steeple Ashton Rangers, who have just one game in hand on Tony Beasley’s side who are now starting to look a good bet to take one of the top two places.

Surman gives British Lion four point lead

DIVISION FOUR: British Lion continue to set the pace at the top of Division Four after their 1-0 victory over Somerford saw them open up a four point lead over the inactive Corsham Centre B side and a five point advantage over North Star B who were due to be in cup action.

Colerne hope to ease relegation fears

PREMIER DIVISION: With none of the top five sides from the Premier Division being in league action, all eyes will be on the teams in the bottom half of the table who will be hoping to make a move in the right direction in this weekend’s round of fixtures.

White Hart bidding for swift double

DIVISION ONE: Leaders White Hart Combe may have had their lead at the top of the table trimmed to just two points last weekend, but they should make the most of their nearest challengers Foresters Arms's cup involvement this Sunday by picking up the points on offer when they host North Bradley who they defeated 5-3 just a month ago, with Aaron Merryweather top scoring with a hat-trick.

AFC Melksham favourites for top spot

DIVISION TWO: With the top two sides in Division Two involved in the knockout cup, there is likely to be new leaders come Sunday afternoon and the new table toppers should be AFC Melksham.

Renegades will test Three Crowns United

DIVISION THREE: Chippenham-based The Three Crowns United are the leaders of Division Three and no matter what happens in their match against Three Horseshoes Renegades this weekend, Tony Beasley’s side are certain to remain in pole position.

British Lion bid to increase lead at the top

DIVISION FOUR: British Lion, who currently top the Division Four table by two points from Corsham Centre B, will hope to move further ahead this Sunday when they host Somerford at Green Lane, Devizes.

Semington edge clear of drop zone

PREMIER DIVISION: The only match to beat the elements in the Premier Division was the game at St Mary’s, Steeple Ashton, where Semington Rovers went head-to-head with Maud Heath Sports and the efforts of both Allan and Alice Clarke and the rest of the Semington team were rewarded with a 4-0 victory.

Foresters move up after ten-goal romp

DIVISION ONE: Foresters Arms are in second place and just two points behind White Hart Combe following their 10-1 demolition of a very under-strength Atworth United side who were missing several key players for a match that they always knew would be a tough one.