Goals rain in as the sun shines (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Goals rain in as the sun shines

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE: THERE were goals galore as the Auto Business Solutions Chippenham Sunday League started its 40th year in great style.

A return to action after a four-month break was greeted by glorious sunshine and more than 130 goals were scored on the opening day.

Highest scorers were Corsham Centre with a 9-1 demolition of Winsley in the top flight.

Southgate Inn were the only one of the three new clubs to the league to record a win, but elsewhere there were impressive victories for both KSM and AFC Springfield and Kingfisher FC (formerly King Alfred) who coasted past a struggling FC Bradford outfit.

PREMIER DIVISION

Defending champions Westbury Rangers A began the new campaign with a 1-0 win away at Bradford News.

The newsmen held out for 84 minutes before Pete Ayton crashed home a free kick from 18 yards.

Having taken Corsham Centre to the wire in both of their Division One encounters last season, Winsley were expected to give the all-conquering Centre side a stern test.

But the Centre showed that they have not lost the winning habit as they steamrollered Winsley 9-1 to stretch their unbeaten run to 69 matches.

Simon Gray led the rout with four, Craig Gingell, James Lye, Liam Ralph and Scott Lye added singles, with a Jason Edwards own goal making up the nine. Tom Robinson hit Winsley's consolation.

Dog & Fox Ashley traveled to Corsham Cricket Club and returned to Bradford with two points in the bag after a comfortable 4-0 victory, Jon Monks opener for the Dog was added to with goals from Steve Roddy, Paul Gerrish and Mark Robinson.

Box Rovers started the season on a high note and, for the first time in eight games, started a match with 11 players on the park.

They raced to a 4-0 lead over Maud Heath Sports, Jamie Harrison, Liam Fullham's first goal for Rovers and Tim Jefferies (2) scoring.

Maud Heath came storming back to reduce the gap to one thanks to a brace from Darren Holcombe and an own goal from Stuart Tutty.

Rovers sealed a 5-3 triumph when Jefferies completed his hat-trick with the last kick of the game.

Trowbridge Harriers looked to have unearthed a gem in the guise of Mark Zioda, who was the mastermind behind his team's 5-0 beating of Hullavington.

Zioda's two-goal burst set Harriers on their way to victory, with Roy Sikdar (penalty), Jamie Burbedge and John Baker adding the others.

Newly promoted Potterne FC could only field 10 players for their game with Chippenham Sports & Social Club, but stunned their opponents by claiming a 1-0 victory, Sam Weller scoring the only goal of the game in the 18th minute.

DIVISION ONE

Christian Malford made a good start following promotion with a 5-0 home win over Horse & Groom.

After a slow start, and probably against the run of play, Malford's 'golden boot' Scott Evans opened the scoring after 20 minutes.

Malford then took control and further goals from Evans (30 minutes) and Gary Blackwood in the 41st minute, gave the home side a 3-0 half-time lead.

Groom keeper James Francis twice denied Evans a hat-trick before substitute Shawn House scored two late goals to give the home side a well-deserved win.

A 4-1 victory for promotion favourites FC Colerne over Chippenham Police turned out to be more than flattering as the result was by no means guaranteed until the last 10 minutes.

The Police started well but fell behind when keeper Martin Notman was beaten from an acute angle by Colerne's John Gilding scoring on his debut.

The boys in blue deservedly levelled when Jason Roberts rose highest to head in a Tim Culling cross to go into the break at 1-1.

The restart saw Colerne take the lead again when soft Police defending allowed Gilding to make it 2-1.

But the game turned on 60 minutes when the Police were awarded a penalty which Roberts blasted over the bar.

Tim Culling hit the Colerne post towards the end and, as the Police searched for the equaliser, Colerne added two more through Gilding who completed his hat-trick and Chris Dixon to give the scoreline a more flattering look.

DIVISION TWO

Of the promoted sides, only Kings Arms (Trowbridge) were successful. Up against Virgin Mobile they coasted to a 6-1 victory.

Pig & Whistle United fell to a 2-1 defeat away at Sutton Benger, who opened the scoring when Chris Miles fired home from the right hand side of penalty box.

United then equalised when Benger keeper Craig Ledbeater flapped at a long throw allowing Ashley Groves a free header.

Benger scored the winner in the second half after a United player was dismissed for foul and abusive language.

From the free kick, Steve Gawke floated a free kick in the direction of the keeper, who dropped the ball, allowing Danny Cocker to stab home.

A rare away win for Chippenham United RAOB (formerly Calne Sunday) saw them get off to winning ways.

After two successive relegations, United produced the goods to defeat Steeple Ashton 3-1 to claim only their second win in 45 outings.

Ian Wilkinson, Ben Tilley and Luke De-Boer shared United's goals while Lee Hayward replied.