Southgate retain top position (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Southgate retain top position

10:24am Monday 26th February 2007 in Football By Gazette Sport Reporter

LEADERS The Southgate Inn remain top of the pile despite having their match against third placed Wheatsheaf FC called off.

With Southgate missing out on a game, it meant that if Sir Audley's Arms could record a sixth successive victory by beating local rivals White Hart Combe they would close the gap at the top to just one point.

But things did not go to plan for the Arms who, despite taking an early lead with a Craig Manley goal, suffered a 4-1 loss which put a major dent into their hopes on securing an automatic promotion spot.

After making a sluggish start and falling behind, Combe woke from their slumbers as they scored three quick goals, the first coming from Lee Fernandez. James Stone tapped home a second and an excellent move resulted in Fernandez scoring his second of the game.

The move started with Combe bringing the ball out of defence and included slick passing and movement between eight players before Fernandez produced a stunning volley to give the move the finish it deserved.

Sir Audley came into the game more in the second half but they were unable to break down Combe's defence and it was left to James Stone to slot home his second of the match to complete Combe's 4-1 victory over their local rivals.

Biddestone White Horse moved out of the bottom two after they beat Somerford FC 2-0, which leaves the villagers just above the relegation zone.

Tamlyn Goodrich had the chance to put Biddestone in front from the penalty spot, but his poor effort failed to trouble Somerford's goalkeeper.

Goodrich was guilty of missing several other chances before Scott Fleming saved his blushes when he put the visitors one up. Goodrich finally atoned for his dreadful display as he sealed the points for his team with the second goal.

AFC Pilot and Pack Horse Rangers explored every avenue they could in the attempt to switch their game from a saturated pitch at the Beeches, Shaw, but they were left without a game after they failed to find an alternative venue.

Chippenham United RAOB knew that once the rain started to fall over the weekend their trip to Meadow Lane to play Westbury Rangers B would be in doubt, and this was the case as the ground that Rangers share with Toolstation League side Westbury United was declared unfit.