Cup victory puts the B team on centre stage (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Cup victory puts the B team on centre stage

CORSHAM Centre have completed a hat-trick of wins by lifting the Ken Clarke Memorial Trophy in the Auto Business Solutions Ltd Chippenham Sunday League six-a-side competition.

The Centre's B team won this year's event on Sunday, beating Winsley in the final.

The annual event, now in its sixth season is the curtain raiser to the league season which starts on September 4.

AFC Melksham emerged victorious in the plate final by claiming a surprise win over local rivals AFC Pilot in a 3-2 penalty shoot-out success.

Winsley put paid to an all Corsham trophy final when they defeated last year's winners Corsham Centre A 2-1 in a fiery semi-final,

Having already eliminated Corsham Centre A, Winsley were confident that they could do the same to the Centre's B side in the final.

A piece of magic from Kevin O'Mahoney saw him take the ball around Winsley keeper Kevin Banks and slot the ball home to put the champions of two ago in front and despite pressure from Winsley that is how the scoreline remained.

Winsley's Dan Lardner was only denied an equaliser with the final kick of the game when Centre's goalkeeper Ross Lye pulled of a fine stop to keep put his pile driver.

In the plate final showdown between local rivals AFC Melksham and AFC Pilot chances were few and far between in normal playing time and as extra-time failed to produce a goal it came down to the down to the dreaded penalty shoot out where someone was going to end up as a hero and it was Melksham's Lee Stripe who picked up the glory in his team's 3-2 penalty success.

His kick proved to be the winning one after both Andy Harrison and Marcus Underwood had netted from the spot for the underdogs to wipe out successful efforts from Chris Bishop and Matt Gurke for Pilot but unfortunately for the losers Lee Ridout missed his team second spot kick.

For Melksham, who finished bottom of Division Four last term and have been tipped to do the same again this season, it was a great reward for their efforts and showed that it's not always the expected teams that walk away with the silverware.

League chairman John Haigh presented the trophies that were sponsored by Westernsport Trophies of Chippenham to the referees and players.

Tournament organiser Andy Hiller said: "It is hoped we will be able to present a cheque of £1,000 to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Fund."