Southgate win thriller (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Southgate win thriller

8:49am Monday 26th March 2007 in Football

Chippenham Sunday League Division Three

One of the best games of the season took place at Stanley Park, Chippenham, where The Southgate Inn beat the White Hart Combe 5-4.

With the game just a minute old Combe took the lead when Stefan Klukowski tapped home a controversial opener, but Southgate responded immediately through Elliot Williams who tied the scores.

Chances came and went at both end before Stuart Skinner struck to put Southgate 2-1 ahead, Combe hit back and James Stone levelled matters. Southgate then gained the upped had with goals from David Lloyd and Stuart Skinner which gave the ma 4-2 interval lead.

Combe showed great fighting spirit as they fought back to level at 4-4 with Stone scoring two more to complete his hat trick one being a delicate lob the other being a neat flick.

Not content with a share of the spoils both teams searched for the winner and it was Southgate who claimed it with five minutes remaining when Nick Taylor was on hand to preserve his teams great run in what was one of the hardest matches they have ever competed in.

Cooper Avon kept the pressure on Southgate with a 3-1 victory over Biddestone White Horse to deny them a fourth win of 2007. Cooper may have lost striker Shane Thornton, but replaced him with Dave Macey, who scored all three goals for Cooper one of which came from the penalty spot. Tamlyn Goodrich was on target for Biddestone.

Referee Roger Smith flew in from Manchester Airport after from watching the Israel verses England game and eager for a game he stepped in to and saved the day for both sides otherwise they would have been left without a referee.

AFC Pilot prevailed in an enthralling game at the Beeches, Shaw, where they won by the odd goal in nine to beat Westbury Rangers B 5-4 to earn a league double over the visitors.

In spite of early pressure from Pilot, Rangers were the ones who took the lead in the 10th minute when Neil Gordon slotted home. Five minutes later Pilot were awarded a free kick 30 yards out which was drilled home by Nigel Hall to bring the scores level.

Soon after a Tony Couch corner was flicked on at the near post and Mark James headed home from two yards out to give Pilot a 2-1 lead. Rangers regrouped and two quick goals from Gordon and Ross Pugh managed to turn the game back in their favour.

Pilot came out in the second half determined to regain control of the game, but took until the 62nd minute for them to find an equaliser when Sean Meer met a Nigel Hall corner at the back post to bring Pilot level.

Another Hall corner was then turned into his own net by a Paul Flanagan for Pilot to retake the lead and when Lee Jackson was sent through and finished coolly Pilot had gained the upped hand once more.

Rangers were not finished though and an outstanding volley from Neil Gordon to complete his hat trick made it 5-4 with five minutes remaining but Pilot saw out the victory to the end. A sporting contest was well referred by Derek Turner.

Both Sir Audley's Arms and Corsham Park Rangers entered their game at Stanley Park, with no points from their previous two games and after 90 entertaining minutes it was the Arms who managed to break their losing run by virtue of a 4-1 victory.

John Goad scored his first goal since his move from Somerford on 21 minutes he was left unmarked and put the Arms in ahead, however their lead didn't last long as Rangers hit back when Mike Perrett's pass picked out Jake Marshall who finished well beyond keeper Luke Gullick.

Sir Audley took a 2-1 lead into the second half via a Kelvin Stewart own goal when he headed past his own keeper on 41 minutes. Adam O'Keefe drove home a third for the Arms on 65 minutes and Chris Yeo continued his scoring record against the Rangers when he made it 4-1.

Yeo who had previously played for Somerford, scored in both games for his former club this season but this was the first time that he has appeared on the winning side.

Chippenham United RAOB had to beat Blue Circle (Sunday) if they were to have any hopes of avoiding the drop, but they couldn't achieve the result that they so much needed and the 6-0 loss to the cement boys will have probably condemned them to a fourth successive relegation.

The Westbury based Circle side had failed to win any of their previous five matches but produced the goods when needed to avoid slipping below United in the table.

Steve Martin set the Circle on their way, Garrick Hopkins added number two, and Steve North put them in cruise control.

Hopkins added his second of the game prior to Martin Hemmens getting on the score sheet and James Sweetman rounded things off with goal number six.