It's six of the best! (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

It's six of the best!

BEECHES FC hosted their first ever six-a-side festival at the weekend and they threw themselves in at the deep end.

Almost literally in fact, as they braved torrential downpours to see the event through to the end.

The club hosted a huge junior event on Saturday, attracting 39 teams over three separate competitions.

And organisers followed that up with an adult tournament the next day featuring a further 24 sides.

"It went very well considering it was our first go at it," said the Beeches' Darren Wiltshire.

"The weather on Saturday afternoon wasn't brilliant but ourselves, the teams and the parents all stuck it out and all the games went ahead as planned.

"We had lots of good feedback from all who took part and it will be an annual event now."

Cirencester Town showed the growing strength of their youth set-up by taking the honours in the under 12 competition.

The little Centurions' A side won every game without conceding a goal.

Their B side were also impressive, narrowly missing out on a place in the semi-finals to freescoring Liden Community.

Liden then saw off Shaw 2-0 in the last four while Ciren A accounted for Cricklade by the same scoreline.

Both sides had 100 per cent records going into the showpiece but it was Ciren who avenged their clubmates' earlier loss as a 1-0 triumph clinched the silverware.

Churchdown Panthers claimed the title in the under 13 section after taking a while to find their scoring boots.

The Panthers looked like crashing out at the group stage after opening with two goalless draws against Old Town and Lydiard B.

But a 4-0 win over Fairford and a 1-0 win over Wroughton put them back in contention.

They lost their final group game against host club Beeches 1-0 but sneaked through to the semis in second place behind Old Town.

The two sides were reunited in the final after Churchdown's 1-0 win over Greenmeadow and Old Town's victory against Lydiard by the same margin.

It took a single goal again to break Old Town hearts and hand Churchdown an unlikely trophy.

Ferndale dominated the under 15 tournament.

Their A and B sides contested the final with the second string proving a 2-0 upset to take the crown.

Both teams had perfect records going into the showdown, although the eventual winners were given a real scare in the semis, needing penalties to see off Cheltenham Pumas after a thrilling 2-2 draw.

CHQ picked up the senior trophy 24 hours later.

The Wiltshire League newcomers defeated the host club 1-0 in the final after victory over Shortwood in the last four.