FOOTBALL: Season ends on a high note (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

FOOTBALL: Season ends on a high note

4:19pm Monday 14th May 2007 in Football

Having already won the Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup, Corsham Centre completed their second League and Cup double in three seasons as their wait to be crowned Auto Business Solutions Ltd, Chippenham League Premier Division winners is finally over.

The Centre lifted the winners, trophy for a second successive season after they secured the title away to fierce rivalsWinsley, who played their part in a thrilling match which was played in an excellent sporting manner by both teams who were a credit to the league and was well refereed by Kevin Purbrick.

The Centre knew that as long as they avoided defeat then the title would be theirs and although they had to survive a few anxious moments a 3-1 success saw them become the first team since Cooper Avon Rangers to claim back to back titles in the top flight.

The long-awaited first meeting of the division's two top sides was played in driving rain and began at a lively pace with both teams having chances but the early exchanges saw the Centre's keeper Nick Gingell and his opposite number Chris Birleson equal to anything that came their way.

The Centre made the crucial breakthrough on 20 minutes when a high ball from Matthew Ralph saw Scott Lye out jump keeper Birleson to score a fine header that gave the visitors to Freshford the lead.

In the 30th minute a brave save from the Centre's keeper Nick Gingell deny Dan Kovacs and five minutes later it was Nick brother Craig who doubled the Centre's advantage when he rifled home a 30 yards screamer to make it two-nil.

Winsley reduced the arrears on 55 minutes thanks to Dean Ranger who found the net after a well-taken corner. Tom Ingle was outstanding for the Centre in defence as he broke up many of Winsley's attacking moves to leave the hosts frustrated, and his team-mate Jamie Moss epitomised the rest of his side as Moss who last just 55 minutes left his sick bed to play his part for the champions. The Centre sealed the win on 75 minutes when Scott Lye's free kick deflected past a helpless Birleson to give them a 3-1 win. Winsley had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down in the closing stages when Dean Ranger was pushed in the area, but even though Paul Rangers team may have lost the first meeting of the sides he will have chance to avenge the loss when the teams clash at Meriton Avenue this coming Sunday.

A midweek win for Winsley over Spencer Sports had kept their slim hopes of taking the title alive but in the end it counted for nothing. Winsley won 6-3 at the Beeches, Winsley were missing a number of their regular players who were in action for Larkhall, but it replacements Ricky Hulbert and Guy Rowley who made the villagers tick after player manager Paul Ranger had curled home a stunning effort from 25 yards to put his team ahead, Rowley stole the show, the speedy front man scored three first goals to add to Rangers opener to put Winsley in command although James Eatough pulled a goal back for Spencer. The second half was a much more even affair with Andy Backman scoring his first ever goal for Winsley with a twice taken penalty and Guy Rowley's fourth of the game completing Winsley half dozen. Spencer replied by way of James Eatough and a stunning 35 yard drive from Nick Ridout who was over the moon to have scored against his former team mates.

Biddestone Social were in action on Thursday night and having beaten Winsley 3-1 at the previous weekend they were in no mood to let their season finish there, John O'Meara's team travelled to Sherston Town and even though the game finished 9-1 in favour of Biddestone both teams were commended for the sporting manner in which the game was played which was a credit to all those involved as well as the Sunday League. Biddestone once again called on the evergreen Graham Learmonth, but no matter how hard he tried and in spite of chances being gifted to him he couldn't find the net and at one stage was compared to a jigsaw because once he got in the box he went to pieces.

Biddestone took the lead on six minutes when Danny Jones netted from 10 yards, Kris Beasley had a night to remember scoring six of the goals his first came on 11 minutes when he turned home a Gary Banks cross, three minutes later Beasley added his second with a carbon copy of his first.

Beasley completed his hat trick on 37 minutes with a simple tap in. Sherston were first to score in the second half through Ben Wright who reduced the arrears slightly on 49 minutes. Biddestone had to wait until the 67th minute to score their fifth, which came from Dan Lardner and was his first goal since last December. Beasley struck again on 72 minutes when he beat three players and rounded the goalkeeper to make it 6-1. Beasley's fifth came on 79 minutes and two minutes later Ryan Trowbridge got his name on the score sheet with a crisp finish from 12 yards. It was left to man of the match Beasley to conclude the scoring with his sixth of the game and Biddestone's ninth five minutes from time.

Spencer Sports and Bradford News met at the Beeches and with neither team having anything to play for a drab end of season affair was predicted, but it was totally different as the game was as exciting as any each of the teams had featured in this season and in the end the result was a fair reflection on the game as honours were shared from a 2-2 stalemate. The newsmen took the lead halfway through the first half thanks to Jamie Davis who slotted home after Danny Hurkett had seen his shot blocked on the line.

Two goals halfway through the second half saw Spencer take the lead, Ben Grinham tied the scores when after a session of penalty area pinball he bundled the ball over the line. Nick Ridout then put Spencer in front only for Martyn Powell to head home a deserved equaliser for the newsmen. Both teams had chances to take the spoils with Bradford's Nathan Glass going closest when his jinking run resulted in a shot which hit the cross bar.