Defeat dents Duke's championship hopes (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Defeat dents Duke's championship hopes

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE: WESTBURY Rangers A have all but ended the chances of The Duke Corsham retaining their title in the Premier Division of the Vanitec Computers-sponsored Chippenham League.

After defeating title rivals Sherston Town the previous week The Duke approached their game with Rangers a little over confident, thinking that they would be able to inflict the same treatment on Shaun Gardiner's side.

But they were made to look second rate as Rangers battered The Duke to emerge 4-0 winners.

Rangers were given the perfect start when after just five minutes leading scorer Marc Lanfear found the back of the net. Lanfear doubled the lead and when Paul Smith chipped home an exquisite effort from 35 yards to make it 3-0 the Duke knew that their grip on the crown was slipping away

Paul Beavers confirmed the worst when he completed the scoring with Rangers' fourth goal.

Dog and Fox Ashley remain in the hunt for silverware after killing off the challenge of Hullavington, who they beat 4-0. Ricky Trott's 25 yard free kick set the Dog on their way. Steve Roddy made it 2-0 with a delightful lob from 25 yards and the same player connected with Trott's cross to add number three. Nathan Gant completed the scoring on 80 minutes with his first goal of the season which he drove home from 18 yards.

Toby Ireson and Matt Nash scored their first goals of the season for West Lavington, who defeat Calne Town 6-1. Simon Drewitt (2), Steve Moxham and Michael O'Donnell made up the half dozen, with Luke De-Boar scoring Calne's consolation.

Sherston Town's hopes of capturing the title by the end of February were dealt another blow as their match with Terry's FC was a casualty of the elements. They could stilldo it with wins over Box Rovers and Hullavington in the next two weeks but they will also need other results to go their way.

Box Rovers manager Tony Harrison was left disappointed and frustrated with a number of his players who opted to go away on a stag weekend rather than play for the side against All Cannings. Harrison was left with only six players and had no other alternative than to postpone their game.

Division One

CHIPPENHAM Sports and Social Club's 4-1 defeat of Colerne FC saw them close the gap between themselves and Biddestone Social at to just four points.

However having played two games more than the leaders and with the clubs beneath the Chippenham side having games in hand it is unlikely that Rob Blackwood's side will feature in the promotion race come May.

Injuries forced Colerne into fielding a makeshift forward line and despite taking the lead through Richard Smart's individual effort it was to prove costly as Colerne wasted many chances of increasing their advantage before Gary Blackwood's first of two strikes made it 1-1. Darren Whiston and Blackwood extended the lead and Rob Blackwood headed home his first of the season to complete the scoring.

West End Wanderers moved away from the foot of the table with a 3-2 victory away at The George Lacock. A sublime 25-yarder from Jason King put The George one up at the interval. Within 10 minutes of the restart The Wanderers had gained the upper hand as goals from Nathan Mantle and Tony Kelly made it 2-1. Martin Symcox equalised for the George but almost immediately from the kick off Simion Mills banged home his first of the season to earn Wanderers their all import win.

Both Maud Heath Sports and Semington Rovers, who have featured in only three games since the end of November, are starting to fall behind with their fixtures and unless things improve considerably it's likely that each club will have their share of evening games when the lighter nights arrive.

Division Two

WITH leaders Corsham Centre losing their match away to Roadrunners and second and third placed North Star A and Holt FC without a game North Bradley needed a win against near neighbours Southwick Sports to boost their hopes of getting back into the promotion race.

Bradley avoided defeat but could only manage a point from a 2-2 draw.

With their own pitch unplayable. Steeple Ashton managed to find another venue for their game with Christian Malford. With the game switched to Leighton Sports Ground, Westbury their efforts went unrewarded as Malford hit back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to claim a share of the spoils from a 3-3 draw.

Lee Hayward and Marc Sheppard fired Ashton in front prior to Scott Evans reducing the arrears from the penalty spot. Hayward's second of the game restored Ashton's two goal cushion before a blistering strike from Evans cut the gap to one. Evans then proved why he is one of the best strikers in the league when he crashed home the equaliser to complete his fourth hat-trick of the season, which took his goal tally to 26.

Division Three

THE top two sides continue to put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack.

Both leaders Four Seasons and second placed Parsons Nose had convincing victories that make the two teams firm favourites for promotion.

Chippenham-based Four Seasons scored four goals in each half to cruch the Hare and Hounds 8-0. The Hounds, who had managed a 3-3 draw in the reverse fixture, were no match for the leaders this time around as Gary Banks led the onslaught with five goals. Marcus Young (2) and Jason Cole added the others.

Steve Giles scored Bradstone Rovers' consolation as they lost 2-1 to Corsham Park Rangers whose goals came from Paul Smith in the 73rd and 85th minutes. Smith's first came when he somehow squeezed the ball home direct from a corner and his second was a powerful header from six yards out.

Trowbridge Town Supporters' Club left it late before sealing a 4-3 win over Old Lane United.

In a match that saw the lead change hands four times it was left to the Town's Ross Heard to become their unlikely hero when he drilled home their winner from 18 yards in the 85th minute.

Old Lane took the lead through a Ben Husband penalty that was almost saved by the Town's keeper Robbie Newton. Nick Buckle tied the scores and then netted to put the Town 2-1 up. Husband's second made it 2-2 before Mike Austin handed the lead back to the Old Lane for the second time in the contest but it was not enough as Chris Rawlings drew the Town level at 3-3 before Heard stole the limelight with his late strike.

The players of Westbury Rangers B must be some of the most frustrated in the league. To date they have suffered 10 postponements this term which is just one game less than they have played. Having completed just three matches since last December, Rangers will almost certainly be playing midweek matches in the hope of completing their long season.

Division Four

FC BRADFORD took full advantage of Kings Arms' inactivity to open up a five point gap on their rivals ahead of this Sunday's meeting between the two sides.

Bradford also boosted their goals for tally after destroying 10 man KSM 10-0. Shaun Daniels, Mike Embleton, Jason Harford and substitute Wayne Duggan hit two each, with Robin Walker and Danny Wilcox, with his first goal for Bradford, making up the double figures.

Julian Putt's hat-trick was in vain for White Horse FC as they were unable to hold onto a 3-2 lead against North Star B, as five goals in the space of 20 second half minutes saw the Star add to their two first half goals to run out comfortable 7-3 victors.

Nick Bloodworth led the way with four goals and Adam Godwin, and two from James Yates, one of scored direct from a corner, made sure that the Star's great run of late continues.

Virgin Mobile's point from their 2-2 draw against Old Road Tavern saw them regain second spot, although it is only likely to be for one week. Ian Standing's 15th minute opener for Virgin was soon wiped out by Neil Roynon who stabbed home Tavern's equaliser two minutes later. Virgin regained the lead through Alex Huscroft whose thumping header made it a debut to remember for the former Terry's player.

Roynon's second of the game on 59 minutes earned Tavern their point but they felt that they should have had both as for the final 25 minutes they were camped in Virgin's half but couldn't find their way through a stubborn defence to claim a winner.

Classic FC's patched up side did just enough to take victory in their match against Pack Horse Rangers, Nick Still's 60th minute goal was all that divided the clubs as the home team won 1-0.

Rowde picked up only their seven point of the season after they claimed a 1-1 home draw against a Fascia Graphics side that had recorded victories in their previous four games on the road. Mark Smith's volley gave Fascia a first half lead which was cancelled out by Richard Hayter's effort for Rowde on the hour.