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Steeple Ashton Rangers is celebrating becoming the first team from the league to gain promotion after their 6-0 victory over Corsham United.

Meanwhile Riverside Renegades will be boasting the fact that they became the first team in the league to pass the 100 goal mark, their achievements were surpassed by Division Four basement side AFC Lyneham who after 22 successive defeats that saw them concede 193 goals they finally sent the champagne corks popping with a well deserved victory away at Wanderers who had beaten them 8-0 at the start of February. Lyneham had shown signs of improvement over the past few weeks but no one could have imagined that they would take on and beat Wanderers in their own back yard even if their hosts had seen a slump in form in recent times. Lyneham won a thriller 4-3 but after they had throw away a 2-0 half time lead to trail 3-2 it was looking as if defeat 23 of the season was a certainty but Lyneham showed true grit and determination as the fought back to stun their hosts and claim a much deserved win. Matt Lang scored his first goal for Lyneham when he fire them in front after a good team build up, Andy Adams doubled the visitors lead with his third goal of the season that saw Lyneham lead 2-0 at the interval. Wanderers came out a different side at the start of the second half and within six minutes of the restart had turned the game around as goals from Oli Turner, Glyn Edwards and Turner again had put the hosts 3-2 ahead. Instead of going into melt down Lyneham picked themselves up and drew level through Mark Adams for whom it was his third goal in as many weeks and the won it when Lang scored his second of the game. Lyneham were also indebted to goalkeeper Dan Wright who had a great game between the sticks and produced two outstanding saves in the final fives minutes to deny Ollie Howe and then Domonic Shephard who was playing his first match since November an equaliser for Wanderers.

Leaders Steeple Ashton Rangers secured their place in division three for next season after they claimed both points against Corsham United courtesy of their 6-0 victory. A point was all they needed to become the first team this season to clinch promotion but moved closer to the winners crown after they stretched their winning run to 14 matches against spirited 10 man United side who started the brighter of the two sides at St Maryís. United had the first shot of note when Rangers failed to clear the ball and it fell to Tony Druitt who was playing his last match before returning to his native Australia and he came inside and drilled a shot against the post. Ashton failed to wake up from this and United looked dangerous on the break and contained Ashton well despite their lack of numbers. Rangers eventually started improving and Nathan Holloway was unmarked from a corner and his touch and shot gave Ashton the lead. Lee Mounty almost doubled their lead but his shot hit the frame of the United goal. Marc Sheppard and Sam Stevens had half chances but Ashton looked nervy and only went in1-0 up at half time.

Ashton improved in the second half and began to pass the ball about well making the most of their extra man advantage. Despite this it was a massive clearance from keeper Ben King which found Marc Sheppard whorose higher than Unitedís keeper to head home for 2-0 lead. Rangers then started to create chances at will with United starting to struggle. Mark Hunt made it three when he flicked home a Lee Mounty cross. A neat move then saw Mike Ritson finish well, placing the ball into the bottom corner neatly when given time in the area to make it 4-0. Ritson then had a great strike at goal from distance, which was well saved by the United keeper who turned his shot onto the post and the rebound just span out of the reach of Sheppard following up. Mounty added goal number five when fired a fierce shot into the net after some good build up play. Five soon became six when Stevens pulled out wide and jinked inside to play the ball across for Sheppard who stepped over the ball which ran to Ritson who put the ball into the roof of the net to complete the half dozen. Ashton made substitutions and it was Steve Morris whose run ended up with him scuffing his shot straight at the keeper. Rangers were awarded a penalty for handball but Dave Chamberlain missed the chance to grab his first goal for the club by firing wide of the target. In the dying moments Holloway should have scored again but failed to make contact with the ball with the goal at his mercy.

Bradford based Riverside Renegades had no reason for complaint this Sunday after their 5-2 victory over Corsham Centre B saw them become the first of the league 63 teams to pass the 100 mark for gaols scored this season. Tom Laverís opener for Corsham was cancelled out by the first of Lance Davis three goals. Tom Lye regained the lead for Corsham Centre before Davis scored from the penalty spot to draw his team level and his third of the game put them in front for the first time in the contest. Ricky Montacute had the honour of scoring goal number four which also took them to the century mark and Jason Jenkins first goal for the club sealed Riverside victory which makes them favourites to take the other automatic promotion spot, but they will have to wait a few weeks to see if they can topple Ashton off the number one spot or if they will have to settle for the silver medal position.

Trowbridge Town Supporters Club and Kings Arms (Market Lavington) battled out a 1-1 draw and the supportersí club used three strikers should have had the opponents dead and buried before Gary Bridewell netted their equaliser in the 88th minute to wipe out Nigel Penelhumís first half strike, whose effort rebounded in off his head after Gavin Targetís corner had cannoned off the post onto the back of his head and to cross the line. For the supportersí club for who it might have been a case of too many cooks as their front line were falling over themselves trying to find the target.

Chippenham based Three Crowns United shard the goals and the points against Somerford as they battled out an entertaining 2-2 that both sides could have gone onto win. Three Crowns who were looking for a sixth straight victory fell behind to a Wayne Burry goal, although keeper Steve Warner is claiming it as it looked to be drifting over until Warner helped it into the net. Mike Cassidy restored parity for the Three Crowns with his first goal since January and they took the lead when Stuart Whiteís quickly taken free kick found Paul Maddox whose inch perfect cross was turned home by Marcus Young. With time running out, Three Crowns were looking for a third and when a corner was cleared by the Somerford defence they were caught with the classic counter attack that saw the villagers break in numbers which resulted in Wayne Burry scoring his second of the game and his 27th of the season to earn Somerford a deserved share of the spoils.

Calne based North Star B are in great danger of not finishing the season after they called off against Chippenham United RAOB at very short notice. North start who did the same to Riverside Renegades on Easter Sunday still have six matches to play but there is a serious concern that they might not fulfil those fixtures and might pull out of the league before it concludes on the second Sunday of May.

12:14pm Monday 7th April 2008

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