Bell's stay short-lived (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Bell's stay short-lived

11:01am Monday 5th March 2007 in Football By Gazette Sport Reporter

AFC Bell's stay at the summit lasted just one week after a combination of results saw Bromham (Sunday) reclaim top spot.

Bromham's 3-2 success over Corsham United coupled with the Bell's 6-0 loss against fellow promotions hopefuls Little George FC means that Ady Kember's village side now hold a two point lead over second placed Bell who have four games in hand on the leaders.

Bromham raced to a 3-0 half time lead against Corsham United thanks to goals from Jim Sandiford, Sean Kingsbury and Kevin Hammersley, but they were given one almighty scare in the second half as Corsham hit back to set up a tense finish after Tony Druitt and Alex Mitchell Snr scored to cut the deficit to one and although Corsham couldn't find an equaliser they can be proud of their display which saw them push the new leaders all the way which should have seen them rewarded with at least a point for their efforts.

Little George FC claimed one of the results of the day after they hammered AFC Bell 6-0, both teams went into the game boasting proud unbeaten records with Bell not having lost any of their previous 15 matches and George not having lost in 11 outings. Bell were without their top scorer Craig Townsend who was suspended while George had to rest their injured keeper Dave Sett, but their replacement keeper Nathan Smith was a virtual spectator as George were on top form as they inflicted their fellow promotion hopefuls with their first loss of the season.

Tom Jones ran through Bell's static defence to put the George ahead and he doubled their advantage with a right footed volley to give them a 2-0 lead at half time. Debutant Joe Forester killed the game off when he added number three for the hosts who had switched the game from Yatton Keynell to Leafy Lane. Nat Auckland and Ben Husband further the scoreline before Jones completed the scoring with his third of the game and the George's sixth.

For a second successive week bottom of the table Old Road Tavern were desperately unlucky not to take anything from their game, last week they lost 3-2 against AFC Bell and this week they were beaten 2-1 by Churchill Arms. Ian Galloway's opener for Churchill was cancelled out by Dan Belt equaliser but once again Bernie Court's team were unable to hold out for a point as Ryan Smith scored a winner for Churchill.

After scoring 18 goals in their previous two matches AFC Melksham were confident that the goals would continue to flow against Wanderers who they had beaten 5-0 earlier in the season, but it wasn't to be as the conditions at Christie Miller ensured that very little good football was allowed to be played as the swelling wind caused both teams endless problems.

Melksham had the lion's shared of the game in the first half but found Wanderers hard to break down especially as their keeper Scott Carrick was on top form as he denied the prolific Gareth Evans and Wayne Bailey. Wanderers took the lead midway through the second half when they were awarded a penalty which was converted by Domonic Shepherd to give them the lead completely against the run of play. Melksham threw players forward looking for an equaliser and they finally got one when after a period of constant pressure a shot from Wayne Bailey fell to the feet of Evans who knocked home to make it 1-1.

With15 minutes left Melksham struck again when Bailey drilled home a low shot past the keeper to make it 2-1 and although substitute Ashley Fletcher hit the post for Melksham they were unable to add to their tally which could have been a lot more had it not been for the heroics of keeper Carrick. Melksham's win keeps alive their slim hopes of claiming an top two finish but they know that other teams will have to lose a few games if they are to have any hope of sneaking an automatic promotion spot.

Chippenham League side Coyote FC will be hoping to book their place in this years Wiltshire Sunday Cup final at the weekend when they take on Swindon League side Nine Elms United at Melksham Town FC, kick-off 10.30, it will be a big ask for Coyote as United beat defending champions Corsham Centre in the previous round.

The first of this season's presstoprint sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup semi-finals is scheduled for this coming Sunday at Corsham Town FC the match which kicks-off at 2.00pm is between premiership side Corsham Centre who are favourites to win the cup and first division underdogs Semington Rovers.