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DIVISION TWO: Cooper Avon have at last booked their place in Division One for next season but they are going to have to wait until the final day of the season to see if they will be going up as Division Two champions or runners up.

After their 5-0 win over The Crown Devizes, Gary Newman's side can now only be caught by Crown Cosmos who as The Southgate Inn last term beat them to the division three title by five points but this terms battle is going down to the wire and may yet be settled by goal difference. Cooper were due to host Crown Devizes at the Conigre but they switched the match to Sands Lane, Rowde home of the opponents and having already beaten them 4-2 there earlier in the season they were looking to wrap up a league double, but with the hosts looking for a fourth straight win they were wary that the match could have proved to be a potential banana skin, but they needn't have worried as they came away with another two points to keep their 19 match unbeaten run intact. James Worsley making his first appearance for over a month gave Copper the lead and James Ponsford scored from the penalty spot to give the trye men a 2-0 half time lead. The Crown had no answer to Cooper in the second period and they should really have scored more than the three they did, as Worsley made it 3-0 with his second of the game. Simon Gillatt got his name of the score sheet before Worsley capped his comeback from injury with his hat trick goal and Cooper's fifth.

White Hart Combe are currently in second place, just one point clear of Crown Cosmos who have played three fewer matches than Trevor Rawlings side and for them to hold onto their automatic promotion berth they must hope that they win the remaining game and Cosmos slip up in two of theirs which is very unlikely. Combe entertained Chippenham Police and their 5-1 loss couple with other results that went against the boys in blue leaves them just one point above the relegation zone. Ben Smith opened his account for Combe when he curled home a stunning effort from 20 yards to put them in front. Shane Bell doubled the home teams lead before Lee Fernandez continue his purple patch in front of goal with their third of the game to give them a 3-0 lead at the break. James Parfitt scored from the penalty spot to reduce the arrears for the Police but it proved to be only a consolation as Shane Bell scored his second of the game to restore Combe's three goal cushion and the match was to bed by Fernandez whose second of the game completed the 5-1 scoreline and took his tally for the season to 14.

Crown Cosmos might be in third spot now but it they win their three outstanding fixtures and Cooper Avon win their last game the sides will be locked on 38 points, so the title will be decided on goal difference and the Devizes based side might well be left very aggrieved if the lose out on goal difference as their title rivals battered a Horse & Groom side 17-1 a few weeks back due to the Horse playing the match with seven and the nine men. Cosmos clawed back a few of those goals in midweek when they beat Sutton Benger 7-0, Dean Potter scored three, Nathan Sheridan bagged a brace, one of which came from the penalty spot. David Lloyd and a Phil Perry own goal made up the seven. Cosmos followed that success up with a 4-1 win away at Bremhill View Social Club, who after taking a 1-0 lead through a Mark Smith goal threatened an upset, but Cosmos showed their experience as they hit back to take the spoils. Cosmos manager Will Kibby missed the game much to the disappointment of his teammates who were left questioning his commitment to the side as he was busy helping erect a shed, but Kibby must have felt that his team were good enough to win without, which proved so despite the shaky start, Nathan Sheridan cancelled out Smith's opened when he squared things up. Andy Coombes was on target to give Cosmos a 2-1 half time lead. Dean Potter netted Cosmos third and a second of the game for Sheridan wrapped up another win for Cosmos who will be in action on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday before they bring the curtain down on what has been another good season for them.

Westbury based Horse & Groom should have been as home for their match with Sutton Benger, but with Leighton Sports Ground now being used for Cricket they switched the match to Stanley Park, Chippenham and although they boosted their chances of avoiding relegation with a 4-3 win on the pitch they were left a little deflated when they returned to the changing rooms to discover a number of mobile phones and an amount of cash had been stolen during the match, which is the second Sunday in a row that clubs have suffered at the hands of thieves at the Sports complex. On the playing side of things Benger took the lead through Matt White but they were pegged back by Alex Lutskes who 25 yard strike brought the sides level. Benger regained the lead thanks to another good effort from Matt White. Richard Hunt making a rare appearance for Horse & Groom scored his first goal since October 2006 to hand the lead back to Tim Beechams side. Benger then helped in their own downfall as Ian Dawkins put through his own goal to gift the Horse & Groom a 3-2 lead. Dawkins was in the wrong place at the wrong time again for the visitors fourth as he helped deflect Dan Cox's shot into the net. Benger rallied and reduced the gap to the odd goal when Matt White completed his hat trick to take his tally for the season to 26 but they were unable to find the net again as the Horse held out for two important points that means if they can get a points from their final two games they will have a great chance of beating relegation with an escape act that Houdini would have been proud of.

Quick thinking from Crown Cosmos player/manager and club secretary Will Kibby prevented them from losing their Thursday night match against Sutton Benger, Cosmos were due to host Benger at Green Lane in Devizes but early yesterday afternoon Kibby received news that their pitch was waterlogged and that they would be unable to use. With five matches from now until the end of the season, Kibby realized that his team couldn't afford a postponement so a couple of phone calls later he found an alternative venue at Stanley Park, Chippenham and he was rewarded for his efforts in getting the game played as his team claimed a 7-0 success that saw them close the gap on second placed White Hart Combe to just one point and they are four points adrift of leaders Cooper Avon but have played two few games. Cosmos raced to a three-goal lead inside the first 15 minutes and at one stage had threatened to run riot as they looked for goals to eat into the leaders healthy goal difference. Dean Potter scored the first for Cosmos and Benger's Phil Perry's doubled the scoreline when he put through his own net. Potter added number three on 14 minutes, but then the scoring stopped for a while until Nathan Sheridan banged home number four to his team a 4-0 half time advantage. The second period saw Potter score a third to complete a great hat trick, David Lloyd also got on the score ahead of Sheridan scoring his second of the game and Cosmos seventh when he drove home from the penalty spot.

DIVISION THREE The automatic promotion places in Division Three have finally been decided but the wait goes on to see if it will be AFC Bell or Pheasant FC who will be wearing the winners crown in a weeks time. Favourites to finish top of the pile are Devizes based Bell who currently top the table with 39 points from 22 matches just one point ahead of Pheasant who have just one match left to play. Oli Selman's Pheasant outfit hosted Biddestone White Horse in a winner takes all game at Yatton Kennell, and although Matt Unwin's White Horse side went into the game having lost just one of their previous 23 contest they were unable to produce the goods when it really mattered and they took a tumble at the final hurdle handing a top two finish to the Pheasant who won 7-4. Tamlyn Goodrich opening the scoring for the White Horse early on but his effort was cancelled out by Ben Highmore whose header brought the scores level. A left footed rarity from Mark Coles regained the lead for the White Horse but another header, this time from Tom Jones restored parity for Pheasant. White Horse then pressed the self-destruct button as sloppy defending in the final 10 minutes of the first half saw them gift Pheasant a 5-2 half time advantage. Gary Lock made it 3-2, before Ben Highmore drove home his second of the game which was shortly followed by his hat trick goal which again came from a glorious header and as good as won the game for the hosts. The second period saw Tom Jones bag his second of the game and they could even afford to let goalkeeper Dave Sett take a penalty, which he duly converted to make it 7-2, this was after White Horse lost keeper Richard Toghill with a head injury which required a trip to hospital. Pete Dennett and Jamie Rowe scored late consolations for the White Horse who will be left wondering as to what could have been had they not dropped points to teams like Pack Horse Rangers, Blue Circle and relegated White Horse.

AFC Melksham bounced back after defeats against AFC Bell and Bromham (Sunday) to finish their season with a 3-1 victory away at the Cement Works, Westbury following their triumph over Blue Circle (Sunday) for whom it was only their third loss in 12 matches on home soil. Chris Dore opened the scoring for Melksham on 39 minutes and Dan Rimmer fired home number two on the hour mark. Melksham's third came from Chris Rogers two minutes from time which also happened to be his first of the season. Scott Howse replied for the Cement Boy's who had keeper Ryan Marks to thank for keeping the scoreline respectable as he produce a number of outstanding saves to stop the result turning into a rout as Melksham played some of their best football for a while as they secured the points that allowed them to a top four finish.

Two victories in four days have put Westbury Rangers B in with a good chance of finishing their campaign in the top half of the table. Rangers were in action on Thursday night and picked up a 2-1 win over The Crown FC, Neil Gordon and Gary Tugwell scoring for Dave Griffin's side. John Oram replied. On Sunday Rangers hosted Pack Horse Rangers who they defeated 1-0, but had it not been for the heroics of the visitors keeper Del Llewellyn the winning margin would have been greater. Liam Griffiths drilled home a stunning half volley on 23 minutes to give Rangers the points but minutes after Griffiths crashed home what proved to be the winner Dale Rowland missed a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0. Rob Youens hit the post for Westbury on 32 minutes and although the dominated the remainder of the first half they couldn't find the way past Llewellyn again. The second period saw the impressive keeper produce great saves to keep out shots from Rowland and Ashley Easton and Youens missed a could chance to add a second when he headed straight at the visitors shot stopper who was saved by the woodwork late on when after a succession of corners the ball fell to Ross Pugh who smacked his shot against the post. Pack Horse had a chance to score an equaliser late on but fail to take it as Westbury held out for their 1-0 win.

Devizes based Crown FC blew their chance of finishing in fourth spot when they were beaten at Meadow Lane on Thursday night by Dave Griffin's Westbury Rangers B who despite having most of the play only managed to wrap up a 2-1 success. Both teams were missing a few of their regulars but they were just grateful that the rain that threatened the fixture stayed away long enough for it to be completed. Rangers took the lead in the eighth minutes when a Simon Higgins free kick was met by the head of Matty Mead who header looked goal bound until it hooked of the line, but the clearance only fell to Neil Gordon who turned the ball back into the net. Rangers had to wait until the 55th minute before they added a second and following a great cross from Liam Griffith, Gary Tugwell was on hand to knock home his fire goal of the season to give the host a two goal advantage. The where thrown a lifeline on 68 minutes when Rangers Ashley Easton deflected a John Oram shot into his own net but although Mark Adamson's side had chances to fashion an equaliser they were unable to find the net again and left Westbury feeling a little dejected as they were hoping that their final game of what had been a very good season might have brought them their 13th win, but they will be more than happy with a fifth place finish considering their started the campaign with two defeats.

DIVISION FOUR Having had pole position in Division Four wrestled from their grasp on Thursday night, long time leaders Steeple Ashton Rangers regained the number one spot at the weekend when they beat Chippenham based Three Crowns United 2-1. The victory should have meant that Steeple Ashton will be crowned champions but they face an anxious wait, and their coronation has temporarily been put on hold.

Ashton's closest rivals Riverside Renegades completed their league programme on Thursday night with a 8-0 home success over North Star B, Lance Davis scored a hat trick, Joe Taylor and Jake Jordan both scored doubles after Max Hepenstall had put Riverside ahead with his first goal for the club when he converted an early penalty. At this stage of proceedings the win moved Bradford based Riverside to the top of the pile, but Lance Davis knew that all Ashton needed from their two remaining matches was a point and the title would go to Nathan Holloway's side. Ashton duly obliged by taking both points from their victory over the Three Crowns. Ashton led 1-0 at the break thanks to Phil Lewis headed and the doubled their advantage early in the second half when Mike Ritson scored from the penalty spot. Three Crowns pulled a goal back when Ashton's player manager Nathan Holloway helped a Gary Robinson effort over the line, but despite having a couple of chances to bag an equaliser Three Crowns were unable to find away through Ashton's defence as they held out for the points that they believed would give them the winners trophy.

However their could be another twist in the tail as the outcome of the top two positions will depend on if North Star B complete their campaign, the Star have thrown the race for the division four title into chaos as they failed to raise a team for their trip to Chippenham United RAOB and with two matches still to play they may not yet finish the season and should that be the case and they have their record removed then the top two positions may well alter. North Star hope to play United, this morning (Monday) and if they succeed in getting the game played then their will be a wait to see if they will have enough players for their final match of the season at home to Corsham United this coming Sunday.

Kings Arms (Market Lavington) and Wanderers met at Northbrook in what was both sides final matches of the season, and for Wanderers they completed a campaign that failed to deliver the expected rewards with their with a 4-0 victory that saw them end an eight match winless run. Kings Arms started the game with 10 players and finished it with nine after they lost top scorer Steven Foord with a foot injury, Foord was taken to hospital where an x-ray revealed he had broken his foot in three places. Kings Arms opted to pick their positions from a hat and with players playing out of position it wasn't a surprise that they fell behind on 25 minutes when Karl Mackness floated over a corner that found Andy Hill who in turn picked his spot to fire Wanderers in front. Wanderers had to wait until the second half before they added number two which was scored by Craig Harman who reacted quickest to fire home a loose ball after Neil Collett's initial shot was saved. Andy Hill's second of the game gave Wanderers a 3-0 lead and the scoring was completed by Craig Harman who sealed the win with his second of the morning after good work from Matty Rusling.

Bradford based Riverside Renegades closed out their very first season in the league with an 8-0 victory over North Star B on Thursday night that saw them take over at the summit of the table for the very first time this season and if long time leaders Steeple Ashton Rangers fail to pick up a point from their two remaining matches they will be crowned champions. Max Hepenstall opened the scoring on the night when he netted his first ever goal for the club when his penalty settled any nerves Riverside may have had prior to the game as it gave the hosts a 1-0 lead. Jake Jordan made it 2-0, and a double from Joe Taylor saw him finish the campaign on 36 goals and in line for the fourth division's top scorer of the season award. Player/manager Lance Davis scored the fifth and sixth goals of the game and a second from Jordan took the score to 7-0 before Davis wrapped up the emphatic victory with his third of the night and his 32nd of the season, nine of which have come in the last two games.

11:33am Monday 5th May 2008

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