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PREMIER DIVISION: Whoever wins this season's Robson Taylor, Chippenham League, Premier Division title will have done it the hard way.

And whether it is defending champions Corsham Centre A or Biddestone Social who pick up the winners trophy they will be deserving champions from what has been one of the closest title races for many seasons.

Biddestone welcomed Westbury Rangers A to their lair at Yatton Road and just like the previous match 11 days ago that saw Biddy win 2-1 the rematch was as exciting as the teams fought out an 10 goal thriller that saw the hosts 3-1 down and on the ropes for a while before they fought back to land the knockout blow and claim a 6-4 victory to extend their winning run to 18 matches. Biddestone went ahead courtesy of John O'Meara on eight minutes when he picked up a loose ball and calmly slotted home the opener, but Westbury were back on level term within the minutes thanks to top scorer Marc Lanfear who was set up by manager Shaun Gardiner who was forced into making a rare appearance after a few of his players failed to turn up. Gardiner set up his teams second of the match which was again scored by Lanfear to give them a 2-1 lead on 16 minutes. Things got better for Westbury in the 22nd minute when Matty Smith fired home number three. Biddestone realizing the importance of the game seemed to wake from their slumber and reduced the arrears in the 40th minutes when Danny Jones volleyed home a Rob Pocock cross. The hosts were on level terms before the interval as Pocock again turned provider for Jamie Lyons who just beat Westbury's keeper to the ball to fire home the equaliser. Westbury retook the lead on 51 minutes when Pete Ayton converted from the penalty spot. Biddestone dug deep again and were level on 71 minutes when Jamie Lyons cut inside beat a defender and rifled home a stunner to make it four apiece. Biddestone took the lead in the 79th minute when John O'Meara pounced to turn home a Dan Lardner shot. The game was made safe five minutes from time when Rob Pocock and Gary Banks combined to set up Jamie Lyons who drove the ball home from eight yards to keep the Biddy boys in the race for the title.

Three victories in six days showed that Corsham Centre A are going to fight Biddestone all the way and to the very last whistle in their bid to claim a third consecutive top flight title. The Centre defeated Colerne 7-0 on Tuesday night with Craig Gingell and Tom Lye scoring twice, James Lye, Ross Lye and Simon Gray all scored one apiece. 48 hours later the Centre defeated North Star A 8-0 Craig Gingell was on target again with another brace, Rob Stephens, Simon Gray, Liam Ralph, Dan Young, Tom Lye and Dan King shared the others. Four days after beating the North Star the sides met again and the outcome was the same as the Centre 5-0 win condemned the Star to relegation back to division one after just one season in the premiership. The Centre took the game to North Star whose valiant defending was to be commended as was their goal keeper Mark Smollens who had a fantastic game but couldn't prevent Simon Gray from given the Centre a 1-0 half time lead when he scored on 30 minutes. The Star could have gone in level at the break had it not been for the Centre's keeper Nick Gingell who had to be alert to save bravely at the feet of Mark Sharratt. James Lye increased the score for the Centre on 50 minutes and a brilliant near post header from Simon gray made it 3-0. The Star were indebted to keeper Smollens who somehow managed to keep the Centre at bay until the 80th minute when good interplay from Ben Moore, Simon Gray and James Lye saw the latter drill the ball home for 4-0. With five minutes remaining James Lye's inch perfect cross picked out Nick Gingell who rose above the Star's defence to head home number five.

Maud Heath Sports 4-1 home success over Miller Sports should be enough to secure their future in the premier division. Simon Hillier made a very rare appearance for Maud Heath this term and it was his goal that put them in front and gave them a one-goal advantage at the interval. The second period belonged to Maud Heath's Darren Holcombe whose goals have almost single handedly kept his team where they are for another season at least. Holcombe bagged a treble to wrap up his teams most important win since they defeated Wingfield on the final day of the 2003/04 season to book their place in the top flight. James Eatough was Miller's sole marksman. Mathematically Maud Heath are still not safe, but for them to lose out the need to lose to Box Rovers and Bradford News need to defeat Biddestone Social by nearly 20 goals.

Bradford News 10 year stay in the premier division is almost certainly going to come to and end when the current season reaches its climax next Sunday. Mark Hurkett's side need to beat fierce local rivals Dog & Fox Ashley to have any chance of beating the drop but as it was the Dog won 4-2 to leave the newsmen rooted to the foot of the table. The News went in front on 20 minutes when good work from Nathan Glass and Joe Chettleburgh set up Danny Hurkett who swept the ball home to give the move the finish that it deserved. Dog & Fox were level on the half hour mark when Steve Roddy beat the offside trap to square things up. The Dog took the lead on 56 minutes through Steve Wickings who squeezed the ball home from the tightest of angles. The newsmen restored parity on 65 minutes via Tom Downing who stabbed home after the Dog's keeper Craig Guthrie had spilled the ball. The Dog introduced the ageless Nick Gant who helped turned the game back in the dog's favour as the regained the lead when Russell Whatley drove home a great strike from 18 yards for 3-2 and the match was won by Steve Roddy whose second of the game gave the Dog their 4-2 triumph and as good as condemned the derby rivals to relegation.

Corsham Centre A showed on Tuesday night that they weren't going to surrender the Premier Division title without a fight. The defending champions reduced the gap on leaders Biddestone Social to three points after they defeated FC Colerne 7-0 in their first of five matches in a 13 day period which includes a possible winner takes all battle with Biddestone a week on Thursday. Colerne were worried before the match that they might have to play with a shortage of players but luckily for the visitors to Meriton Avenue they had more than enough turn up which was just as well as the faced a Centre side who put in one of their better performances for a while. Corsham Centre opened the scoring on 20 minute when returning captain Craig Gingell headed home. On 35 minutes Simon Gray bundled the ball home for number two and that was the half time score. The second period was just three minutes old when Ross Lye's shot took a deflection for number three. James Lye's exquisite strike on 55 minutes made it 4-0. Liam Ralph moved out of goal and the tempo increased and led to Tom Lye scoring number five. Craig Gingell scored his second of the night and the Centre's sixth in the 78th minute and the scoring was concluded on 85 minutes when Simon Gray set up Tom Lye for the youngster's second of the evening and the hosts seventh. The Centre will be back in action on Thursday night when they will be hoping to narrow Biddestone's lead even further with a victory over North Star A.

Corsham Centre A kept their hopes of claiming a third successive title alive with their second victory inside 48 hours, the Centre who defeated FC Colerne 7-0 on Tuesday night followed that triumph up with an 8-0 victory over relegation threatened North Star A to close the gap on leaders Biddestone Social to one point. The Centre made the perfect start when Graig Gingell put them ahead on three minutes. Rob Stephens just back from injury scored number two in the 15th minutes and the third saw Simon Gray scored a one on one which these days is as rare as seeing sunshine over the weekend. A Great diagonal ball from James Lye picked out Liam Ralph who powered home number for and Dan Young brought up the Centre's one hundredth goal of the season when he knocked home number five. The goals dried up in the second period as North Star put up a brave fight to keep the Centre from scoring but on 65 minutes Tom Lye added number six and with 10 minutes remaining Dan King claimed the seventh. With time running out inspiring captain Craig Gingell headed home his second of the game and the Centre's eighth. As it stands at the moment both Corsham Centre and Biddestone Social have three games still to play and next Thursdays battle between the sides could decide the winners of one of the closest premiership battle for many years.

Pete Ayton scored a fantastic hat trick for Westbury Rangers A as they beat Miller Sports at the Beeches, Shaw 6-3, but what made Ayton's second three timer in four years for Rangers even sweeter was it scored against Nick Evans who lines up along side Ayton for Westbury United in the Toolstation League, and Ayton will never let Evans forget the night that he put three past him. Ayton beat Evans from 30 yards with a blistering strike to give Rangers the lead. Marl Lanfear made it 2-0 before Jon Beattie scored his first goal of the season for Miller to reduce the arrears. A second from Ayton restored Rangers two goal cushion but once again Miller hit back with Ashley Groves cutting the deficit to the odd goal before the break. The second half was again bossed by Rangers and Matty Smith gave the a 4-2 lead and this time there was no immediate reply from the hosts as Sam Gooding joined in the fun with his first goal of the season for Rangers to make it 5-2. The night that belonged to Pete Ayton saw him complete his treble and Ranger's half dozen with another exceptional drive from 30 yards that whizzed past Evans and left Miller's number one rooted to the spot as the ball rocketed into the net. Ashley Groves grabbed his second of the game and Miller third but it only proved to be another consolation as Rangers returned home to Meadow Lane with maximum points for 16th time this term as the cemented a third place finish.

DIVISION ONE After two victories in the space of four days Trowbridge based Ship FC have enough points on the board to be declared Division one champions, but they must now wait for a decision of the future of North Bradley before they can be declared 2007/08 first division winners. The Ship beat relegated Christian Malford 11-1 on Thursday night, Lee Hayward and Booker Woodford scored three goals apiece, Adam Glover (two) and singles from Dave Percival, Tom Bonsor and Jack Holdway made up the 11. Ben Head replied for Malford. On Sunday, The Ship hosted Foresters Arms and needing just one point to clinch the title they took both that were on offer, the Ship led 1-0 at the interval thanks to a Lee Hayward goal which owed much to the efforts of Dave Percival who did all the hard work before unselfishly setting up Hayward for the opener. Mark Pearce thought that he had fashioned an equaliser for Foresters but his effort in the 55th minute was ruled out for offside. The Ship doubled their advantage on 65 minutes in bizarre circumstances, Foresters keeper Dan Neale beat Dave Percival to the ball but his clearance up field fell to Craig Brown who from inside his own half returned the ball back over Neale's head and into the empty net to make it 2-0. With 15 minutes left Foresters had another goal ruled out, but two minutes from time they finally fired one home that counted when Greg Wilmot hit the target. With all the hard work done the Ship must now hope that Bradley complete the season otherwise second placed Potterne could nick the title from them when the sides meet on the final day of the season.

Coyote and Atworth United played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at Southwick. Coyote started well and it came as no surprise when Matt Minnis took advantage of some indecision in the Atworth defence to put the home side one up after 20 minutes. Coyote stroked the ball around and the impressive Darren Jones was equal to any threat from the lively Sean Fordham in the first half allowing the home side to increase their lead when David Sykes took advantage of a fine run from Minnis to put Coyote 2-0 ahead at half time. There was a danger that Atworth would fold in the second half but spurred on by their wish to give a good send off to manager Mark Jeffery who is stepping down from the managers role this season a corner from Craig Rees found its way into the net after pressure from skipper Brian Wiltshire and Paul Burns who both claimed a touch to bring them back to 1-2. The game was finely balanced and Atworth's Sean Fordham who shone in the second half was unlucky when he volleyed over after a superb through ball by Ian Jeffery. 20 minutes from time a Craig Rees corner was headed towards goal by Ross Menghini only for home keeper Ashley Haines to pull off a fine save but the rebound fell to Ashley Wheeler who stabbed in an equaliser. With the game in the balance both teams threw caution to the wind and Ross Menghini nearly snatched his 20th goal of the season from his midfield position in the last minute but his shot ran narrowly wide and come the final whistle both teams were happy to settle for a point apiece.

Having claimed an impressive 5-3 home success over Rowde in midweek, North Bradley then went an undid all their good work by not being able to raise a team for their trip to Avebury where they were due to face AFC Calne. On Tuesday night a hat trick from Ryan Baggs and singles from Alan House and Kai Leather saw them end Rowde's outside chance of finishing as runners up. Dudley Philpott, Jamie Mullings and Ray King who scored from the penalty spot replied for Rowde. Six days later, despite having 40 players signed on, only five of them turned up for the game away to Calne. Bradley now need to play the match before the weekend otherwise they will have their record expunged and they will end up bottom of the table and relegated to division two.

Any hopes that Rowde had of stealing the runners up spot in Division One from Potterne were sensationally laid to rest when they visited North Bradley on Tuesday night who turned the form book on it's head as they ran out 5-3 winners in a match that they had been expected to struggle in, and the result leaves Rowde with an anxious wait to see it they will remain in third place because if British Lion can win their remaining two matches they will move above Rowde. The visitors to Bradley made a lightning start and should have been one up in the first minute but Dudley Philpott missed a sitter, further chances came and went for Rowde with Jamie Mullings and Ray King being wasteful in front of goal. Rowde eventually broke the deadlock after eight minutes when Dudley Philpott capitalized on an error by Bradley's keeper Mark Binns to steal in and make it 1-0. Bradley inspired by youngster Ryan Baggs battled their way back into the game and they restored parity midway through the half when Baggs fired home his third goal of the season for the villagers. Bradley who were fortunate not to behind took the lead before the break, with Baggs claimed his second of the game although the ball was helped home by the head of Craig Whitbread whose cushioned header from Baggs shot wrong footed keeper Ashley Robinson. After the interval Alan House added a third for Bradley on 55 minutes and the game looked to have been wrapped up when Baggs scored his third of the match from the penalty spot to complete his first ever hat trick for the club to give them a 4-1 lead on 68 minutes. With 15 minutes left Rowde threatened a comeback as Jamie Mullings reduced the arrears and they lessened the gap even further in the 81st minute when Ray King slotted home a penalty to cut the deficit to the odd goal. Any thoughts Rowde had of getting a draw from the game were quickly ended by Bradley's substitute Kai Leather who was gifted a fifth for Bradley when keeper Robinson allowed his shot to sail over his head and into the net when it looked easier to save it. Full credit must go to Bradley for their win but they must be left wondering how they can beat sides like Rowde and Potterne while losing to the so called lesser teams.

Lee Hayward and his Ship side pulled out all the stops to get their Thursday match against relegated Christian Malford at the Stallards, Trowbridge staged as Hayward and Adam Glover spent a good part of the afternoon removing surface water of the pitch and as expected the hosts overcame ever worsening conditions and a spirited Malford side to win 11-1. Booker Woodford set the Ship on their way and he made it 2-0 soon after. Woodford went on to complete a hat trick; Lee Hayward took his tally for the season to 24 with the second three timer of the evening. Adam Glover bagged a brace, Dave Percival single took his total for the campaign to 20, Tom Bonsor and Jack Holdway also scored one apiece for Holdway it was his first goal for the Ship since his move from Steeple Ashton Rangers earlier this year. Ben Head scored Malford's consolation. Mathematically the victory leaves the Ship needing just one point to win the title, but with a plus 24-goal difference over Potterne they are guaranteed the number one spot.

11:35am Monday 5th May 2008

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