HIS SIDE may have maintained their good league form, but Corsham Town manager Trevor Rawlings thinks his team will have to overcome a mini injury crisis to continue on an upward curve.

Corsham made it six victories from eight matches in the league as they came from two goals down to run out comfortable winners at Keynsham Town.

But with both Matt Windle and Nathan Phillimore hobbling off with ankle injuries to add to an already extensive injury list, Rawlings reckons the Southbank outfit will be up against it in the weeks to come.

“We had two players come off with ankle problems within the first ten minutes and all of a sudden, we’re back to where we were a few months ago with a lot of people missing,” said Rawlings.

“Matty felt his ankle and will probably be a doubt for this weekend, but Nath had only just come back after a while out with a hamstring injury and he looked in real pain.

“He had to be carried off and couldn’t walk walk properly after the game.

“It’s going to be really difficult now, but we’ve got to do what we can to get through it.”

Hosts Keynsham were unbeaten in three matches going in to last weekend’s clash and raced into the lead on their artificial pitch, Patrick Davison and Szymon Gromek finding the net.

Ryan Tyrell reduced the deficit before Booker Woodford turned hat-trick hero in the second period to take his tally to six goals in four matches.

But Rawlings isn’t sure when he’ll be able to call on the services of Woodford again.

He said: “Booker’s family are from this area, but he lives and works in London and he went back up there this week.

“I need to wait and find out what the situation is there – he might be coming back on Saturdays, but I’m not sure if that’s going to be happening at the moment.”

Corsham host bottom-of-the-table Portishead Town this weekend.

Perrin is not a fan of 3G

MELKSHAM Town manager Darren Perrin isn’t a fan of Winterbourne United’s artificial pitch and admits that his side simply didn’t adapt to the surface as they were well beaten last weekend.

Melksham slipped to their 12th defeat of the season as they came unstuck in South Gloucestershire, with Dan Kovacs cancelling out Ben Dowdell’s opener in the first half.

But striker Dowdell netted a quickfire double in the second period to complete his hat-trick and send Perrin’s men packing.

“I’m not saying it because we lost the game, because we were beaten by the better side on the day, but in my opinion, 3G pitches are great for training exercises but I wouldn’t like to play league games on them week in, week out,” said the Melksham boss.

“We just didn’t look good on that surface and it’s no coincidence that Winter-bourene’s home record is in the top three or four in the league.

“Perhaps we were a bit naive and should have prepared better for it – certainly next season, whether it be Stanley Park in Chippenham or Melksham Oak School, we’ll make sure that we train on a pitch like that.

“It’s a shame, but we’re still on a good run and we won’t let our confidence take a knock. We’ll dust ourselves down and go again, weather permitting, at home to Buckland (Athletic) this weekend.”

Melksham’s trip to Gillingham Town on Tuesday night was rained off.

Perrin has moved to bring in another of his former Frome Town proteges with the signing of winger Ben Thomson from Larkhall Athletic, but utility man Nathan Flower could be on his way out after Melksham opted to waive a seven-day approach from Bradford Town.

Young midfielder Will Thomson is away on duty with the Wiltshire U18 side this weekend.

Hail the visitors as Gary’s boys finish job

MANAGER Gary Williamson was delighted to see FC Chippenham Youth return to action with a victory last weekend, even if the elements did their best to put the dampeners on his side.

Chippenham were a goal ahead at fellow mid-tablers Wroughton before the heavy rain turned to hail, with the match officials taking both sets of players off the pitch.

But the referee allowed play to continue around ten minutes later, with boss Williamson’s side going on to notch up a 2-0 victory.

“There was about 15 minutes to go when the referee brought the teams off because of the hail that was coming down,” said the Chippenham manager.

“I spoke to the assistant near the dugout because we’d been playing some good football and were winning – I didn’t want the game to end up being replayed.

“But we were only off for about ten minutes and there wasn’t that long left to go. Once we got back on, we won a penalty and finished the game off.

“Wroughton were a good side too. They’ve brought in a new manager and got a few new signings from Devizes, too.”

Chippenham went ahead in the first half when Phil Baker played the ball out to winger Lee Fernandez, who set up Tom Jones to fire home the opener.

Then, after the enforced weather break, midfielder Baker, who usually plies his trade for Chippenham Park, was brought down by the Wroughton goalkeeper, allowing Dan Williamson to fire home his side’s second from the penalty spot.

Ninth-placed Chippenham host Marlborough Town next weekend.

Elsewhere in the Wiltshire League Premier Division, it was honours even as Wilts Calne Town and Devizes Town Reserves played out a 1-1 draw at Bremhill View.

The two sides are on the road at SKS Blyskawica and Shrewton United respectively next weekend.

In Division One, Malmes-bury Victoria Reserves were beaten 4-2 by Sarum Youth Seniors.

The Vics are without a fixture next weekend.

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