DIVISION TWO PREVIEW: Three Crowns out to silence AFC Bell (From Wiltshire Times)

Div Two

DIVISION TWO PREVIEW: Three Crowns out to silence AFC Bell

2:22pm Thursday 4th February 2010

IT'S second versus fourth at Nursteed Road, Devizes where Gary Campbell’s AFC Bell side play hosts to Three Crowns United.

United may just go into the game still suffering from nightmares after their 4-3 defeat against Bradford Renegades a fortnight ago, when they surrendered a two-goal lead as they failed to end their poor run of results. Bell beat their guests 6-2 earlier in the season, with Craig Townsend scoring a four-timer.

And with Townsend getting back to somewhere near his best form the visitors to Devizes could be staring at another heavy loss which is the last thing that new manager Mike Husband would want as he looks to claim his first win since taking charge back in November.

Husband has seen his team slip down the rankings with a five-match winless run.

And although the Three Crowns will start the game as underdogs, the chances of them upsetting the form book are good and they shouldn’t be written off.

However, the smart money will be on Bell to complete a league double of their hosts which would see them stay in touch with leaders Hullavington.

Audley FC v AFC Melksham

ANOTHER match that should whet the appetite is the one at Stanley Park, Chippenham, where Audley FC, who are fifth, host third-placed AFC Melksham, who have already beaten their hosts 2-1 this term.

Audley may have only played eight league matches, but they are considered as one of the favourites for silverware.

However, they will be well aware that they can’t afford another loss at the hands of Mike Rogers' and Garry Pearse’s side if they are to keep the dreams of claming a top two finish alive. Goals from Mark James and Gareth Evans gave Melksham their win back in October and if Audley are to have any chance of avenging that defeat they will need to keep their discipline.

Bradford Renegades v Pig & Whistle United

THERE maybe a couple of massive fixtures featuring teams battling for silverware but there are also two fascinating games involving teams who are fighting hard to stay in the division.

One of those is at St Laurence School, Bradford, where Lance Davis' Bradford Renegades side, who are just outside the bottom two, host basement side Pig & Whistle United in a crucial relegation four-pointer.

This will be the first meeting of the sides this term, so both camps will be looking to draw first blood ahead of what will be another vital game later in the season.

The table suggests that their isn’t a lot between them and with Bradford having recently beaten Three Crowns United 4-3 they may just go into the match with a slight advantage.

But a week ago they were beaten 6-2 by North Star A, who Pig & Whistle beat 3-1 in December so the outcome of the match is really unpredictable.

Both teams would like to take maximum points, but if it was to end with each side taking a point apiece they would probably settle for that.

Bromham (Sunday) v North Star A

AFTER a poor start to the season Bromham (Sunday) have grown in confidence and are back to somewhere near the form that saw them just miss out on an automatic promotion place at the end of last season.

Bromham, who are bidding for a fifth straight win, host North Star A at the weekend and having beaten AFC Melksham 6-2 in their previous game they will be confident.

North Star A have had a hit-and-miss season, but always seem to come up trumps when they can call upon one or more of their B team players, as they did a week ago when a hat-trick from Pete Thornton helped them defeat Bradford Renegades 6-2.

With the Star’s second string due a game this weekend Gary Marshall’s side are going to have to defy the odds if they are to get the better of their hosts, who are predicted to claim another victory which will consolidate their place in the top half of the table.

Green Bell v Christian Malford

DEVIZES-BASED Green Bell and Christian Malford are stuck at the wrong end of the table with one point currently separating the sides.

Malford just have the slight edge over Matt Tayler’s side, but when the teams go head to head at Sands Lane, Rowde, on Sunday, the outcome could see the teams swap positions if the home team can end their seven match winless run.

Bell’s last win was against Malford back in October when a hat-trick from Rob Hannah saw them claim a 3-1 victory.

But since then they have had little to cheer about. Their guests are in a worse state as they have failed to win any of their last 11 games and must get something from this game if they are to keep their hopes of staying in the division a reality.

As The Crown Devizes last season, Bell won both encounters between the sides and, with one win under their belts already this term, they will be confident of claiming another league double.

But should they end up suffering a first loss against Malford, it would hard to see where their next win would come from as they have some very tough games left from now until the end of the season.

Hullavington v Biddestone White Horse

IT would be a huge shock if leaders Hullavington didn’t get anything less than maximum points from their second meeting of the season with Biddestone White Horse when you consider that they have already beaten Matt Unwin’s side 4-2 this season.

Last term they also convincingly won their two meetings so for Biddestone to take spoils they would have to produce one of the upsets of the season.

Not only have Wilkins' Hullavington side won the previous three encounters between themselves and Biddestone, they are also unbeaten in their previous 14 matches at Buckley Barracks.

And it looks as if it will take something special for them to lose on home soil as the Barracks are becoming something of a fortress for the villagers, who have topped the table since the middle of November.

It is hard to see anything other than a victory for Hullavington, despite their guests going into the contest looking for a third straight win.