TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Eagles flying high after Ashton win (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Eagles flying high after Ashton win

1:00pm Monday 17th September 2012 in Sport

CALNE Eagles took over as early leaders of Division Two after they came from 2-0 down to win 5-2 against previously-unbeaten Steeple Ashton.

Steeple Ashton started the game in the ascendency and had Calne stretched early on.

They took the lead after only five minutes when Calne failed to clear a corner and Nick Gittens fired home from close range.

Ashton continued to control the game and it seemed only a matter of time before they would extend their lead further.

The away side were dominating possession and Calne were struggling to get a foothold in the game.

The inevitable second goal came after only 14 minutes when Steeple Ashton’s Guy Rowley cut out a pass from centre back Roy Wenham and raced through to score his fifth goal of the season, with his shot taking a vicious deflection off Kian Enderby before finding the back of the net.

However, Calne Eagles began their seemingly unlikely comeback after 22 minutes when their recent signing Russell Driver guided a superb header past John Jones in Ashton’s goal after good work from team-mate Adam Bewley.

This sparked Calne into life and Russell Driver was continuing to be at the heart of all their best play.

The combative midfielder was enjoying a lot of possession and he played his part in a superb equalising goal that saw the ball passed from back to front by the home team before being fired home from close range by midfielder Sam Rogers which made the half time score 2-2.

Steeple Ashton could have retaken the lead within 10 seconds of the restart following a mix-up between Calne defenders Enderby and Kevin Hamersley, but Marc Sheppard failed to test goalkeeper Andy Windsor after running clean through on goal.

Thereafter, both teams continued to look dangerous going forward and it was clear that the score was unlikely remain at 2-2.

It was Calne who scored next when an Adam Bewley free kick was headed home at the back post by Eagles’ captain Stuart Windsor.

The game still remained in the balance as the second half progressed, but after 70 minutes it became clear that it was going to Calne Eagles’ day when Ashton’s goalkeeper John Jones let Russell Driver’s speculative shot from 25 yards slip through his grasp into the net to make the score 4-2.

Windsor completed the scoring with 15 minutes left, with his second goal of the game, after he latched onto another good cross from strike partner Bewley.

Steeple Ashton never gave up and in the last 10 minutes they forced numerous corners and enjoyed a lot of possession, but by that stage Calne Eagles had already done enough to secure all three points.

The Lamb 2 Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves 1

LOCAL rivals The Lamb and Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves met at Stallard’s Playing Fields in Trowbridge and with the unfancied Wanderers side going into their meeting with Richard Stevens side with two successive wins under their belts they were out to prove the doubters wrong.

However things didn’t go to plan for Matt Rusling’s men who despite a good showing they were defeated 2-1. 

Wanderers had the chance to take the lead through Darrell Thompson, but with the goal at his mercy he allowed a defender time to get back and clear to safety.

At the other end Craig Sheppard made no mistake when his chance came along as he hit the target to put Lamb one up.

Lamb doubled their advantage on 55 minutes, Bradley King-Taylor continuing his good form by making it 2-0.

With 10 minutes from time Wanderers threw themselves a lifeline, as a Mike Ritson free kick was turned in by Elliott Blanks.

Wanderers couldn’t find a second, but Lamb had the ball in the net for a third time late on, but King-Taylor had what both teams thought was a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside.   

Westbury Town 4 Bratton 2

MANY people’s favourites for promotion this season are Bratton and after starting with an opening day win at near neighbours Heytesbury, next up for Dave Jenkins side was a short trip to Westbury Town for another derby day clash.

With their hosts yet to pick up a point form their two games the visitors were odds on to pick up maximum points for a second time, but the formbook was turned on it’s head as Westbury came from two goals down to claim a brilliant 4-2 success. 

Bratton raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of a brace from Shane Newman.

Westbury’s Luke Smith halved the deficit before half time and after the break Westbury took control of proceedings, scoring another three unanswered goals.

Westbury got back on level terms early the second half through Ian Gray and they edged in front on 53 minutes thanks to a second of the contest from Luke Smith.

The fightback was completed and the victory sealed on the hour mark when Daryl Maxwell’s netted his team's fourth of the afternoon.

Worton & Cheverell 4 Melksham Town A 1

BOTH Worton & Cheverell and Melksham Town A suffered defeats in their opening games so when they sides met at West Lavington it was a matter of which of the two sides would be celebrating their first points.

That honour fell to Worton who never really reached top gear in their 4-1 win which had they done they really should have doubled their goal tally.

Worton took a 10th minute lead through Myles Hickton.  The hosts' second arrived in the 32nd minute and it was 3-0 on 34 minutes, Hickton scoring his second after Ledbury had his initial shot saved.

Worton added their fourth in the 38th minute, again Hickton who completed his hat-trick was the benefactor after Ledbury had seen his effort saved.

Melksham grabbed their consolation on 52 minutes with 16-year-old Dan Kirk finding the net.

MATCH OFF: Broughton Gifford v Heytesbury.

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