Waterlogged pitches cause Sunday wash-out (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Waterlogged pitches cause Sunday wash-out

2:37pm Monday 12th December 2005 in Football

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE: THE Southgate Inn and North Bradley have to wait to see who will reach the third round of the presstoprint sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup as their game on the Devizes Town ground joined the long list of casualties to the sodden pitches.

There are a number of interesting clashes in this Sunday's draw, with holders Corsham Centre travelling to North Star A, the only team since April 2003 to take a point from the all conquering Premier Division leaders.

Last term's beaten finalists Westbury Rangers A visit Bradford News, while top flight outfit Biddestone Social face a potential banana skin when they host first division table toppers Spencer Sports.

Another premier side who could face a third round exit are Sherston Town. They travel to Second Division Parsons Nose who have already accounted for the now defunct West Lavington and Potterne with convincing victories.

Corsham Cricket Club, who have still to win in the league, entertain Southwick Sports.

KSM and White Horse FC will have to meet another day as their game in the Westernsport Trophies sponsored WG Parr Trophy was another game lost to the prolonged period of rain.

EVERYTHING remains the same in the Premier Division of the Auto Business Solutions Ltd, Chippenham Sunday League as all four of the intended five fixtures were lost to the weather.

The other, between Sherston Town and Box Rovers, was postponed due to Box having a shortage of players.

ALL three of the top teams in Division One recorded victories to increase their advantage over the chasing pack.

Leaders Spencer Sports were far sharper and more skillful than Chippenham Police, the 7-1 defeat means the boys in blue have failed to win in 18 outings a run that stretches back to early March.

Spencer Sports went about their business early on and exploited a weak Police rearguard and they built up a 3-0 advantage before the break with goals coming at the right time from Tim Eatough, Dan King and James Taylor.

The second half was much the same with Spencer Sports dominating the game and the Police being run-ragged over most area of the park as further goals from Taylor, Royston Aust, Barry Holloway and a brilliant volley from John Beatie completed Spencer's seven.

The only highlight for the Police and probably the best goal of the game was Jason Roberts' superb 30 yard angled shot that flew in off the far post despite keeper Nick Evans being at full stretch.

It's crunch time this week for the Police when they take on the Horse and Groom in a relegation battle.

Semington Rovers remain in third spot after they gained a well deserved 3-0 victory over Potterne, preserving their nine match unbeaten run.

Potterne made a good start with a Jamie Bayes shot being deflected onto the upright after just two minutes. Chances came and went at both ends before Semington broke the deadlock on 38 minutes when Josh Mills jumped highest to head home a Bobby Mitchell cross past Potterne's Steve Bowell.

Potterne's Myles Hickton had a great opportunity to tie the scores on 57 minutes but failed to hit the target. Semington went two up in the 66th minute through Stuart Barber whose curling drive from the corner of the box gave keeper Bowell no chance.

Semington wrapped the game up at the death when Barber cut the ball back to Lee Jackson who had a simple tap in to round off the scoring.

With Holt's Wiltshire Cup tie at Wroughton WMC washed out they hastily arranged a league game against North Bradley.

Holt's efforts were rewarded as they claimed a 6-4 victory. Olly Gee fired Holt in front only for Jack Heard to bring the scores level. Tom Pang regained the lead for Holt but again Bradley hit back to restore parity through Leigh Trainer.

As the game moved into the second period Holt opened up a two-goal advantage as Pang crashed home a stunning 20-yard free kick and Gee bagged his second. Once again Bradley responded and two Craig Brown goals bought the score all square at 4-4.

But with time running out two errors from reliable keeper Mark Binns gifted the game to Holt as man of the match Gee completed his hat-trick and substitute Stuart Faint sent a header from 18 yards into an empty net.

THE top three places in Division Two remain the same, but from the two games that beat the rain Parsons Nose were the biggest winners as their 5-0 success over Sutton Benger moved them into fourth.

With their pitch at Awdrey Avenue, Melksham, declared unfit, Parsons' secretary Michael Bailey eventually secured a pitch at Green Lane, Devizes.

Steve Pegler set the winners on their way when he struck in the 12th minute. Richard Siekiera doubled the lead ten minutes later and that was how it stayed until the 52nd minute when Wayne Bailey added number three.

Pegler netted again on 75 minutes and two minutes later Bailey completed the scoring.

The Crown Devizes bounced back after last weeks surprise loss to Biddestone Arms with a 6-1 triumph over Chippenham United RAOB.

After a goalless first 45 minutes Ian Brown started the ball rolling for the victors. A Simon Drewitt double moved the score to 3-0, Darren Thorpe made it 4-0 before Leigh Wells wrapped up the half dozen with a well taken brace. Ben Tilley hit United's consolation.

Darren Thorpe also missed a penalty for the Crown, which was their eighth consecutive failure from the spot.

ROWDE Dynamos' home game against Fascia Graphics was one of four casualties to the weather.

Somerford's determination to play their game with Westbury Rangers B paid dividends as they picked up two points with their first win since the middle of October.

Nick Bloodworth's first half hat-trick capped a great personal show, with his first goal being a thunderbolt from distance. John Rawlings and Chris Yeo added a goal apiece in the second period to see Somerford to an easy win. David Fawcett's own goal was Rangers only consolation.

Things started well for Pack Horse Rangers against Sir Audley's Arms but after Johnny Crogan had given them an early lead with a sublime strike from 20 yards things turned for the worse.

They lost Gary Duguid with a leg injury and then they suffered a further blow as their influential keeper Del Llewellyn limped out of the contest to be replaced by Glyn Pascoe.

Rangers fell apart as they went from being one goal up to 7-1 down before finally losing 7-2. Chris Shipway and Steve Mallard both helped themselves to first half trebles for the Arms with Luke Gullick's single making up the seven by half time.

Sean Rushmore hit a consolation in a much-improved second period.

IT'S as you were in Division Four, with the four planned games lost to waterlogged pitches.

PREMIER Division top dogs Corsham Centre transferred their league form into the Wiltshire Sunday Cup and stunned Swindon League side CJ Electrical Marlborough Town, who boasted the services of at least six Marlborough Town players.

The Centre oozed pure class as they destroyed their hosts 5-0.

Scott Lye and Craig Gingell silenced the home fans inside 20 minutes and the Centre killed the game off on 30 minutes with Simon Gray making it 3-0.

The tireless Ben Moore ran 30 yards to head home a Gray cross to make it 4-0 and Russell Gibbings fired home a penalty to seal a famous victory for the Centre, who were indebted to keeper James Whitehead and sweeper Matthew Ralph.

Both Dog & Fox Ashley and Holt will try again this Sunday to play their postponed matches against respective opponents Greyhound and Wroughton WMC.

Both teams will have to be at their very best if they wish to progress as Dog and Fox's opposition Greyhound are among the favourites to lift the cup, which they have won on eight occasions.

Wroughton boast the services of Calne Town striker Glenn Armstrong and may prove to be too strong for Holt.