Star stay out in front (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Star stay out in front

12:06pm Monday 19th March 2007 in Football

Chippenham Sunday League Division One

North Star A maintained their two point lead over Semington Rovers at the top of Division One, but as in previous weeks both teams traded victories to keep alive their hopes of promotion to the premier division.

North Star who lost 5-4 at home to Christian Malford a month ago gained revenge for that loss as they fought out a 2-0 victory in a game that was dominated by the wind. Playing with the wind in the first half the Star opened the scoring after six minutes when Ronnie Kallmeier pounced on a defensive mistake in the penalty area to volley home the opener.

Despite this early set back Malford began to press forward but found it difficult to play their normal game against the wind, although Star were dominating the play with their passing game, the wind and bumpy pitch was making it very difficult for them as well.

Malford went close after 20 minutes to levelling matters when after a fine run, Richard Bruce's shot was well saved by Star keeper Michael Bell. With play being kept more and more in the Malford half of the pitch, Star finally broke through again in the 32nd.minute.

From a free kick on the right, Star defender Darren Legg was the first to react and despite his first volley being blocked by Malford keeper Tom Collings the ball rebounded off the keeper allowing him to give Star a 2-0 lead.

Despite further pressure Star had to be content at half time with their 2-0 lead. In the second half Malford had the wind advantage but they could not use this as Star's defence continually cleared their lines.

Keeper Bell made one fine reaction save to deny Malford but was otherwise untroubled. Despite bringing on fresh legs Malford struggled to make a telling final pass.

Star could have increased their lead in the final minute when substitute Dale Smith beat two defenders but could not get past keeper Collings brave dive at his feet.

Semington Rovers defeated Atworth United 3-0 and in doing so extended their winning run to eight matches, Rovers trail North Star by two points but have a game in hand on the pacesetters who were the last team to beat them.

Nathan Keegan's bagged his first goal for Rovers when he applied the final touch to a good move on 30 minutes.

Josh Mills headed Rovers into the comfort zone in the second half when he made it 2-0 and he added number three from a one on one with the keeper to wrap up a league double over an Atworth side who have now failed to score against Semington in their last four meetings.

North Bradley bounced back after last Sunday's 10-1 mauling at the hands of North Star to beat Chippenham Sports & Social Club 5-1 to claim their first win in four games.

Jason Bull scored for the losers with the winners goals coming from Jack Heard who scored three and Paul Riley and Craig Brown who added one apiece.

Coyote's manager Chris Carr came to the rescue of both teams as he offered to step in and referee the game at short notice and Carr has promised to lay of referee's as he now appreciates how hard it is in the middle.

There was a dramatic match at the foot of the table were relegation candidates Chippenham Police and Hullavington met for the second time in eight days and just like their last meeting the points ended up being shared as they fought out a 2-2 stalemate. Both teams cancelled each other out in the first half with the wind playing a big part in the game and the teams went in 0-0 at the break, which at the time was a repeat of last week's final scoreline.

Hullavington broke the deadlock on 55 minutes when Antony Last's low shot gave the Police keeper Chris Fairburn no chance.

Five minutes later Hullavington went 2-0 up with a bizarre goal, which flew in off the Police's Andy Morley who blocked a cross from Antony Last only for the ball to fly in at the near post. With 20 minutes left the Police looked dead and buried but after a Tim Culling header was cleared off the line Jason Roberts was brought down in the box for the Police and despite managing to score, the ref had already blown for the spot kick.

Andy Morley desperate to make amends claimed the ball and to his credit tucked the the resulting spot kick away low into the corner to pull a goal back for the boys in blue.

The Police continued to press and on 75 minutes Jason Roberts was put through and coolly tucked the ball past the advancing keeper to level the game.

Like the Police in last weeks reverse fixture, it was Hullavington that missed a golden chance to win the game in the final minutes when their number Andy Waller blasted the ball over the bar from six yards and with time running out an excellent save from the Police keeper Fairburn denied Last a hat trick and earned his team a valuable point.

Chippenham Police stay above the drop zone but may have to rely on others to save them as they have played more games than the teams below them.

Injuries to a number of players forced Foresters Arms to postpone their game with Coyote FC.