Rovers boosted by results (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Rovers boosted by results

5:26pm Monday 5th February 2007 in Football By Gazette Sport Reporter

SEMINGTON Rovers had a good day all round. While they were winning in the Knockout Cup, Potterne, their nearest rivals at the top of the Chippenham Sunday League Division One, were losing for a third time this season to North Bradley.

The defeat meant they missed out on the chance to take over at the summit, but for Bradley their 3-2 win saw them leapfrog both Potterne and Colerne to claim second spot as they extended their winning revival to four matches.

Paul Riley volleyed Bradley into a deserved lead and Stuart Powell doubled their advantage before Jonathan Emm pulled a goal back for Potterne. Powell took his total for the season to 14 with his second goal of the game and Bradley's third and all important goal, but almost immediately Ben House found the target for Potterne and although they hunted for an equaliser Bradley's defence stayed solid to deny their opponents a share of the spoils.

North Star A were the biggest movers of the day. Their 5-4 victory away at Hullavington saw them move up four places to third position and they can now be taken as serious promotion contenders as they have games in hand on the teams above them in the table.

No one could have predicted that the game would explode into life in the second half after the first period had failed to produce any goals, but explode it did as the Star came from two goals down to claim a thrilling win.

Goals from Phil Garland and Antony Last put Hullavington into a surprise 2-0 lead, but their joy was short-lived as Mark Dolman, Ronnie Kallmeier and Tommy Ludford all netted to put the Star 3-2 in front. Hullavington's Louis Slater squared things up when he converted from the penalty spot but once again the Star responded, with Michael Bell and Mark Dolman scoring to put them into a 5-3 lead. Andy Waller clawed one back for Hullavington but they were unable to find the net again as North Star held out for a 5-4 success.

Foresters Arms started their game away at Chippenham Sports and Social Club with 10 men and injuries to Nick Beech, Dave Robinson and Steve Pegler saw them reduced to seven players. With just four minutes left another Foresters player left the field which meant that the game had to be abandoned with Chippenham Sports leading 8-0.

With such a short time left to play the result will more than likely stand.

Jamel Messaoud netted his first goal for the Sports and then went on to complete a hat-trick. Norman Prokai added a double and Andy Flynn, Jason Bull and Mark Clarke scored one each to make up the eight. Chippenham goalkeeper Graham Jones saved two Steve Pegler penalties to ensure his own goal stayed intact.

Atworth United returned to winning ways when a strong second half performance secured a well-earned 5-2 win at the home of Chippenham Police.

Atworth took the lead after 15 minutes when Jack Adcock latched onto a loose ball in the area and coolly slotted the visitors in front. For the rest of the half the home side took control and took advantage of some slack defending to take a 2-1 interval lead, with goals from John Mapson and Mark Simpson.

Atworth manager Steve Archard stirred his side into action and changed the formation for the second half, moving recent signing Ricky Sullivan to central defence where he forged a strong partnership with Laurence Brill which snuffed out any threat posed by the home side.

Atworth equalised after 60 minutes when Ian Jeffery side footed the ball into the top corner and minutes later Ashley Wheeler rose unopposed to nod home a Jeffery corner to put Atworth 3-2 in front. With the home side visibly tiring the pacy Jack Adcock latched on to a through ball from Jeffery to score his second goal and put the game beyond the police side.

In the dying moments Ross Menghini, revelling in his midfield role, set off on a mazy dribble which ended with a low finish past the despairing Chippenham police goalkeeper to seal the 5- 2 victory.

Coyote FC (formerly Kings Arms Trowbridge) travelled to Seagry to face Christian Malford but on arrival they were informed by their opponents that the pitch was frozen in several places making it unsafe to use.

This was after Malford had spent a large part of the previous day preparing it for the match.