Chippenham Sunday League Round-up

After a goal-less first half the stalemate was broken in the 50th minute when Malcolm King lobbed Corsham into the lead from 25 yards. Winsley drew level in the 65th minute through Dave Birlesson and with no further goals in normal time it was Corsham who retook the lead in the 95th minute through Tim Jefferies, only for Birlesson to hit his second of the game to take the tie to a penalty shoot-out.

Simon Young gave Corsham the lead and Mike Little had his first spot kick for Winsley saved by Corsham keeper Chris King. Corsham reached the final four with further successful kicks from Andy Sibbick, Russell Gibbings, Nick Spargo and Steve Boore.

Box's match with Christian Malford will be played at a later date following the postponement due to Box's pitch being waterlogged.

The outstanding first round game between holders Cooper-Avon Rangers from the Premier Division and the Third Division's Semington Rovers saw Rangers set up a quarter-final show down with Pilot FC, the side that they have beaten in the last two cup finals.

Semington had the worse possible start against the cup favourites when they fell behind to an own goal in the first minute. Steve Roslin equalised for Rovers before Dave Macey, Kevin Watts and Leigh Bramley fired Rangers 4-1 ahead.

Rangers' Ashley Groves had a torrid time at centre-half and was ran ragged on his debut in the back four as Kelvin Lockwood and Roslin, with his second goal of the game, pounced on his mistakes to reduce the arrears to 4-3.

In a frantic final 15 minutes Lockwood was denied twice by Rangers' keeper Jason Grubb from taking the game into extra-time. Rangers, who are aiming to win the competition for a fourth consecutive season and the eighth time in nine years, will face a tough test from Pilot FC when the two old adversaries meet on February 17 at the Conigre.

Premier Division

IN the Premier Division of the Vanitec Computers sponsored league programme, Dog and Fox Ashley moved two points clear at the top after they defeated Melksham Motor Spares 3-1.

Spares took the lead through Wayne Stansby after 14 minutes but fell to a double from Mark Gerrish who found the mark five minutes before and after the break. Matt Cottrell completed the scoring for Dog and Fox.

Westbury Rangers A earned a valuable point from their 2-2 draw against Malmesbury Town. Marc Lanfear fired Rangers ahead before Alan Webb equalised. A Paul Smith penalty made it 2-1 to Rangers, only for Webb to hit his second of the game and earn Malmesbury a share of the spoils.

Rangers played the final 40 minutes with only 10 men after Dale Plummer was sent off five minutes into the second half.

An entertaining game between Corsham Centre United and the Packhorse saw the Centre win a seven-goal goal thriller 4-3. Will Elliott gave Packhorse the lead before Lee Fuller made it 1-1. Goals from John Ledgister and Mark Hutchings saw the Packhorse move 3-1 in front before Dave Kilmurray and Frank Rogers from the penalty spot tied it at 3-3.

Centre's winner came two minutes from time from the unlikely source of Simon Dent.

Division One

HULLAVINGTON Village continue to head the table and they are starting to open up a slight gap on the chasing pack after earning a 4-1 win against Colerne A.

Craig Samuels gave Hullavington a first half lead when he scored just before the break. Ben Moore levelled only for Mike Hunt and Samuels to add further goals before Andy Martin sealed Hullavington's win when he crashed home a stunning free kick 15 minutes from time to make it seven wins on the trot for the Village.

Chippenham Police were always going to be up against it when, owing to last minute work commitments, they were only able to field 10 players against title chasing Maud Heath Sports.

Despite the one man disadvantage, the Police put in a battling performance before losing 3-1. All the Sports' goals came in the first half from Simon Hillier, Simon Vowden and Dave Beal. The Police got the consolation they deserved when Tim Culling converted from the penalty spot.

West Lavington's roller-coaster season continued as they slumped to an 8-1 defeat against All Cannings. Dean Potter (3), Stuart Bevan, Charlie Collier, James Brown, Gary Hiscock and Martin Baker shared the goals for Cannings who moved up into second spot. Marcus Lovesey replied.

Atworth United made the perfect start to 2002 as they defeated George Lacock 4-2. Shambolic defending by the George saw them trail 3-0 after only 25 minutes, to goals from Gary Bye, Paul Burns and Stuart Holland. Martin Symcox hit back with a double for Lacock to bring the deficit down to a goal before Holland added his second of the game and earned Atworth two valuable points in their quest to move out of the bottom two.

Lacock felt hard done by as they hit the woodwork six times while Atworth were denied by the same means three times.

Bromham were flying high as they picked up their first victory of the season and their first win since October 2000 as they ended a run of 19 straight defeats with a 2-0 win over title chasers Trowbridge Harriers. Having lost 6-0 to the Harriers last week, an amazing turn around in form saw Bromham win with goals from Darren Brown, who scored after 30 minutes, and Jeff Potter, who sealed the amazing win when he scored with 15 minutes remaining.

Division Two

THE match between Sutton Benger and North Bradley was certainly a prime example of the old football saying "a game of two halves"

Benger won the first half 3-0 before Bradley staged the comeback of the day to earn a fine victory with five second half goals to run out 5-3 winners.

Richard Bruce (2) and Paul Watson hit Benger's goals, with Pete Stephenson (2) centre half turned striker Neil Maidment (2) and Craig Brown scoring for Bradley.

A debut goal from Lee Weetham added to efforts from Steve Wickins and old stalwart Mark Robinson helped Bradford News to a 3-1 victory over Wingfield, who found the mark through Steve Wells.

Old Lane United were by far the highest scorers of the day as they defeated Cooper-Avon 19-0. Marcus Young (5), Rob Hickman (4), Paul Maddox (3), Mark McIntyre (3), Mike Austin (2), Stuart White and an own goal made up the tally.

Melksham rivals West End Wanderers and Miller Sports were involved in a thriller at Christie-Miller which the former won 4-3. Wanderers went ahead when Tony Kelly scored from the penalty spot, but the Sports hit back to lead 2-1 with an own goal and a strike from Tom Evans.

Martin Crook then guided Nathan Mantle's shot into his own net to make it 2-2. Wanderers' Tom Staddon edged his side in front only for Tim Knight to hit the Sports third to leave the teams tied 3-3 at the break. In a rather uneventful second period Wanderers scored the winner through Wayne Bailey 15 minutes from time.

Referee Pete Lowe had an excellent game.

Trowbridge Town Colts have confirmed that they have withdrawn from the league and their record has been erased.

Division Three

BIDDESTONE Social Club had a convincing 6-0 win over the Hare and Hounds to move up into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

John O'Meara (2), Mike Few (2), Davy Jones and Luke Barrett, with his first goal for two years, completed the Club's half dozen.

Paul Smith gave Corsham Park Rangers the lead in the 55th minute against AFC Unicorn, a goal that looked to be enough to earn Rangers two points until Lee Scutter's injury time equaliser made sure that the points were shared.

Farmhouse FC did their hopes of promotion the world of good with a 4-0 win away at North Star B. Neil Taylor opened the scoring before Marc Sheppard, Paul Ford and substitute Trevor York, on his return after being out for eight weeks through injury, completed the scoring. Farmhouse's Adam Sheppard also missed a penalty.

The Star had Nick Cawley sent off five minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Second half goals from Carl Davies, Shaun Adams and Daniel Alford earned Southwick a 3-0 win over the bottom of the table Plough, who in their previous five matches had conceded 56 goals.

Dave Walker and Lee Green gave Rowde a 2-0 lead against Chippenham Black Horse with only 30 minutes remaining, but five goals in 10 minutes, from Darren Whiston (3), Tony Kerwick and Leyton Brown, changed the score in the Horse's favour before Lee Campbell and Clive Hayward struck again for Rowde who eventually lost 7-4 with Will Halliwell's double completing the Horse's seven.

Division Four

IN a reduced fixture programme there was shock results for leaders Holt FC and title chasers Somerford FC.

Holt lost to Colerne B who turned in an awesome performance to run out 2-0 winners with goals coming in the second half from Stuart Rickerby and Andy Long.

Blue Circle Saints completed the double over Somerford with a 5-1 win. Somerford, who were confident of revenge for their earlier 6-1 defeat, fell to goals from Dean Wheeler (2), Wayne Wheeler (2) and Martin Hemmings with their reply coming from Chris Yeo.

With the referee failing to show for the game between White Horse and KSM the Horse's Peter Scott took over the whistle and had an excellent match, receiving praise from both clubs for his handling of the game.

The Horse won 3-2, this after Stuart Kofie had put KSM one up. An own goal tied the scores before Paul Froud levelled matters just before the break. Warren Drake made it 2-2 before Froud added his second of the match which were his first goals since 1997 and only his fourth goal in 180 plus appearances for the club.

Ian Ball hit Old Road Tavern's consolation as they lost 3-1 to Bradstone Rovers, whose goals came from Alan Eades (2, one penalty) and Harry Lawrence.