Bandits hit back to take derby points (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Bandits hit back to take derby points

MID-WILTS YOUTH AND MINOR LEAGUE: LAVINGTON Bandits hit back from a 3-1 half-time deficit to beat Rowde Youth 4-3 in the under 15s Red Division of the Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News Mid-Wilts Youth and Minor League.

Michael Hamlin, Andrew Cook and Lee White scored for Rowde Youth to give them the half-time lead with Jason Hood replying for Bandits.

Alex Bishop brought the game to 3-2 from the penalty spot before Ben Johnson scored the equaliser at 3-3.

The game could have gone either way but Jack Fisher scored the decisive goal late on to give Lavington the three points. The game was refereed superbly by Ian Currie.

A depleted Wroughton Juniors ran out with just ten men due to illness and injury at home to Warminster Highbury, but the ten men knuckled down and gave a performance to be proud of, running out 7-0 winners. Shaun Bailey (3), Dan Kilderry (2), Dane Gooden and Paul Hackett scored the goals.

Under 16s Blue Division

TROWBRIDGE Wanderers maintained their lead at the top with a 4-0 home win over AFC Corsham United.

Under 16s Red Division

A TOP of the table clash brought together home side AFC Corsham and Warminster Highbury.

The game was close throughout with the winning goal scored ten minutes from full time when Lee Fernandez hit home for Corsham.

Goals from Danny Smith and Josh David gave home side FC Chippenham a 2-0 lead in the first half against Westbury Youth. Chippenham held out in the second half to take the game at 2-0.

Under 15s Blue Division

AMESBURY took the lead at the break in their away game against Marlborough Town, but John Burton took a high ball and lobbed the keeper to bring the scores level.

A penalty awarded to Marlborough was saved by the keeper but the rebound was hit back in by Jonny Martin to win the game for Marlborough at 2-1.

Under 14s Blue Division

THE game between home side FC Chippenham and Bath Arsenal was reversed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The Lansdown wind was blowing in gusts and both teams used it to their advantage by scoring from inswinging wind assisted corner kicks.

Bath had the advantage in the first half and were 2-0 up at half-time. FC were determined not to let them have it all their own way and attacked for most of the second half. The hard work eventually paid off with a well finished goal from Mark Nolan.

This raised the tempo and FC threw everything at Bath. Jason Blackmore was the first to the ball after a floating corner split the defence and it ended up in the back of the net.

With only five minutes to go FC were unfortunate not to come away with all of the points as the ball flew off the post and was scrambled clear. Both teams were congratulated by referee, Roger Lethaby for a very hard fought entertaining game.

Under 14s Green Division

ZAK Hartley and Callum Holdway were on form for home side Trowbridge Wanderers giving them a 2-1 half-time lead against AFC Corsham.

The second half saw an amazing comeback from the visitors drawing level before taking the game with a 6-2 final score. Phil Wootten (3), Chris Newman, Sam Bliss and Danny Lovett scored for Corsham.

Under 14s Red Division

MELKSHAM Park earned their second point of the season in a 1-1 draw at home to Castle Combe Colts.

Matthew Steelyard gave Castle Combe the lead but Melksham were level by the interval.

Gary Powell put Pewsey Vale ahead in their game against visitors Amesbury Juniors 2nds. Further goals in the second half from Powell, Zak Mair and Jack Barrow saw the home side 4-1 winners at the final whistle.

Under 13s Red Division

A VERY competitive game saw Worton and Cheverell play visitors Castle Combe Colts 2nds for the first time this season.

After a good start from both sides, who tried to keep the ball on the ground in difficult windy conditions, the deadlock was broken after seven minutes with a goal from Alex Harrod for the home side.

Castle Combe pressed on and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 18th minute from Fraser Campbell.

The highlight of the game came in the 28th minute when a vicious strike from Harrod was turned around Castle Combe's left upright by keeper Matt Smith with a diving full length.

This seemed however to spur on the home side who scored again two minutes before half-time through Ben Pearce.

Worton and Cheverell continued to play some attractive football and scored again after 45 minutes through Jorge Wadman. Castle Combe were not beaten yet though and started to exert pressure. On 61 minutes Toby Moore scored for Castle Combe to set up an exciting finish, but the home side dug in for the remainder of the game to hang on for a 3-2 victory.

Under 12s Blue Division

TYLER Sibbick put AFC Corsham ahead early on from the penalty spot in their home game against Devizes Town Youth, with Sam Vessey making it 2-0 just before the break.

Kieran Chivers put Devizes back in the game early in the second half with Jordan Emm equalising at 2-2. Vessey saved the blushes for Corsham by scoring his second goal and the winner.

Amesbury Juniors played host to Castle Combe Colts and with both sides taking their chances the half-time score stood at 2-2. The second half was tense but it was always going to be close and could have gone either way but it was the visitors' day in the end with a 3-2 win for Castle Combe. Jason Tharp and Josh Carter scored for Amesbury.

In their local derby FC Chippenham held a narrow lead of 1-0 in their away game against Chippenham Town Youth, thanks to a fine strike from Tinson. Two late goals from Flynn and Copeland secured their 3-0 victory.

Under 11s Green Division

WESTBURY Youth earned their first win in this division with 3-2 away success against Devizes Town Youth.

Under 11s Yellow Division

FC CHIPPENHAM gained their first points of the season with a 4-0 home win against Westbury Youth. with all four goals scored by Jack Hepburn.

Leaders Chippenham Town Rangers ran out 5-1 winners at home to Derry Hill Boys.

Castle Combe Colts continued their unbeaten run with a 4-1 home win against Trowbridge Wanderers.

Under Nines Blue Division

TROWBRIDGE Town continued their race for the top of the table by defeating FC Chippenham 7-1.

Calne Town Youth ran out 3-0 winners at home to Castle Combe Colts with goals from Stuart Allan, Oliver Coulson and Mathew Stevens.

Under Nines Green Division

AFC CORSHAM Jaguars had a comfortable victory in blustery conditions.

Corsham effectively sealed the game early in the first half.

Corsham started brightly, playing with the wind and took an early lead and never looked back. With less than a minute on the clock Kyran Moses played a defence splitting pass through the middle which Adam Mitchel ran on to and fired past the Westbury keeper.

Corsham doubled their lead within a few minutes with a similar move. This time Corsham's man-of-the-match Josh May set up Mitchel who controlled a high ball and crashed it into the back of the net.

Not to be out done, Josh May scored a brace with two stunning strikes. Each time he collected the ball just outside the Westbury penalty area, beat his defender and thumped an unstoppable shot high into the Westbury net.

With ten minutes gone Corsham were 4-0 to the good but did not find then net again. Indeed, it was Westbury who pulled a goal back just before half-time from a corner.