Pheasant bid to hang on to top spot (From Wiltshire Times)

Pheasant bid to hang on to top spot

11:36am Friday 8th May 2009

DIVISION TWO: Come Sunday afternoon the top two positions in Division Two should have been finalized, Pheasant FC are likely to go into their game against relegated Affordable Mortgages Villa in pole position after what should have been a midweek win over The Crown Devizes and should that be the case victory over Villa will give Oli Selman’s side the league title.

Pheasant defeated Villa 7-2 in the middle of April which sandwiched a 17-0 and 32-0 defeat for the Westbury based side who will be hoping that unlike their previous game when they played 90 minutes with seven players they can get 11 players together for what will be their final game in the league.

The victory should be straightforward for Pheasant but by how many goals remains to be seen, but no matter what the winning margin is, Villa who have only managed only one win from 23 games to date can resign from the league with their heads held high as they have defied the odds to see the season out and have not cancelled games due to a shortage of players as other teams have done so. Hullavington v AFC Melksham At the start of play, Matt Wilkins Hullavington side look as if they are destined to finish in fourth place behind, Pheasant, FC Bradford and AFC Melksham but if Hullavington can get the better of Mickey Hawkes, Melksham side then they would leapfrog them in the standings and depending how Melksham get on in their final match against the Pheasant they could actually finish in third place.

Hullavington lost out by the odd goal in a five-goal thriller when the teams met in October when a double from Owen Bryan and single from Darren Whiting saw them claim a fine win, but in the return match Hullavington will fancy their chances of avenging that loss and the home team will be hoping that Ed Wilkins will have his scoring boots on and will bag four more goals to take him onto 70 for the season, but for him to be in with a chance of denying Mark Dolman the overall Golden Boot award he is going to have be at his very best and hope that Dolman has an off day.

The outcome of the game is really hard to call, as Melksham will be up for it as they look to bounce back after last weeks loss to Pheasant but if they are found wanting again then Hullavington may just have it in them to leave their guests wondering where it went wrong after they beat White Hart Combe in the WG Parr Trophy final. The Crown Devizes v FC Bradford FC Bradford go into their match away at The Crown Devizes on a 12 match unbeaten run and Pete Collier’s side will be hoping that it won’t be an unlucky 13 as victory for the Bradfordians over Mark Roberts side will see them finish in the top two, probably as runners up to the Pheasant.

Bradford may have won the previous meeting 9-0 with the goals being shared by Steve Bryant, Mark Robinson, Charlie Powell who are scored two and Lee Radwell and Russell Francis who scored one each but they will not underestimate their hosts at Sands Lane as they know that they have been playing well of late and will be out to finish their season on a high, but on this occasion Bradford should again prove too strong for the Crown and Bradford should look for to celebrating promotion come Sunday afternoon.

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