FOOTBALL: Promotion secured (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

FOOTBALL: Promotion secured

4:23pm Monday 14th May 2007 in Football

Trowbridge based The Ship FC travelled to Sands Lane Rowde, to face The Crown Devizes who were hoping to do their landlords a favour and beat their guests to keep alive Rowde's hopes of finishing runners up behind British Lion OC alive but by half time those hopes were in tatters as the Ship had the game won and with the victory went the second automatic promotion place as The Ship who were missing top scorer, Dave Percival, Lee Wilson and Dave Appleyard had built up a commanding 3-1 lead. The visitors gave rare appearances to both Paul Ford and Fikrit Iskitan and both players were instrumental in helping the Ship extended their unbeaten run to 19 matches.

Iskitan set up the Ship's opener in the Chippenham Sunday League games, which was tucked away by Ashley Benison, Gary Lavery tied the scores when he cancelled out Benison's strike. Player / manger Lee Hayward regained the lead for the Ship and Paul Ford curled home a beauty for his teams third. Liam Brown cut the gap for the Crown in the second half but it proved only to be another consolation as Shaun Percial headed home to restore the Ship's two goal cushion, Hayward made it 5-1 having been set up by Toby Dawson. Percival added number six and Paul Ford completed the scoring with his second of the game and the Ship's seventh.

Southwick Sports entertained Biddestone Arms and with fifth place at stake both teams had everything to play for and despite falling behind to a Gary Rice effort Biddestone hit back to win 2-1. Chris Mochan tied the scores prior to the interval and Joe Chaffey netted the Arms winner. Chaffey was also a hero at the other end of the pitch when he made an unbelievably goal line clearance to deny Southwick a draw.

Sutton Benger and Pig & Whistle United will be glad that they have finally bought the curtain down on what has been a long and unsuccessful season for both sides, although United's WG Parr Trophy final appearance would having been their shining light from what has been a difficult campaign especially the final run in which has seen them fit in 11 matches since the start of April. United travelled to Stanley Park to face a Benger side who were determined to give out going manger Keith Baldwin the perfect farewell present and this they did as they claimed they first win in eight matches with a 3-1 success over a United side who had to play Andrew Allen between the posts and for the club secretary it was a rare appearance which he enjoyed in spite of the result. Paul Watson's first goal since November saw Benger take the lead, Danny Cocker then bagged his first goal of the season as Benger went two up. Unbelievably Benger's third was scored by Steve Gawke for who it was also his first strike of the season. United's consolation came from Dave Jenkins who last scored in January.