DIVISION TWO: Southwick shock Benger to claim first win (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

DIVISION TWO: Southwick shock Benger to claim first win

10:37am Monday 29th October 2012 in News

SOUTHWICK Wanderers ended their five match losing run with a deserved but shock 5-3 win away at Sutton Benger.

But despite their win, Wanderers remain in the Division Two relegation zone, but with some winnable games on the horizon it should only be matter of time before Stuart Powell’s men move out of the drop zone.

Sutton scored early on through a first of the season for Chris Miles.

Southwick drew level midway through the first half, with Bradley King-Taylor finding the net after good work from Nathan Flower.

Southwick then gifted the lead back to Benger when Matt White latched onto a short back pass to round the keeper and slot into an empty net.

Unbelievably, two minutes later Benger produced a carbon copy to gift Southwick their equalizer, with King-Taylor scoring his second of the morning.

Southwick then scored two in five minutes to take a 4-2 half time lead, both goals coming from Carl Mackness, his first after a goalmouth scramble and his second after he was played in by Carl Davies.

A sluggish start to the second half from Sutton saw them concede a fifth, Tom Mann scoring a beauty from 30 yards.

Benger pulled a goal back when Steve Gawke scored a great free kick but couldn't capitalize on lots of chances to get back into the game and it was Southwick who saw the game out to claim a vital two points and their first win of what could be a promising month ahead.

GRFC 4 Kings Arms (All Cannings) 4

Kings Arms' (All Cannings) defensive frailties were evident once again as Jim Wilson’s side surrendered a 3-1 half time lead as they let GRFC fight back to claim a point from a fascinating 4-4 draw.

Jacob Rogers put Kings Arms ahead and although GRFC restored parity through Matt Baker, Kings Arms regained the lead via Simon Drewitt and increased their lead thanks to a second from Drewitt.

Leading 3-1 at the break, Kings Arms could have been forgiven for taking things a little easier at the start of the second half but they paid for their complacency when a second from Baker reduced the arrears and when Connor Laidlaw’s shot was parried to Jordan Tarrent, he knocked in the rebound to square things up at three each.

Tarrent then went from hero to zero when he lost the ball on the edge of the area and his error led to Drewitt putting Kings Arms back in front with his hat trick goal.

With time running out, GRFC won a corner which Tom Salter headed home make it 4-4 and give his team a deserved share of the points in a thrilling game.

Staverton FC 2 Somerford FC 1

Prior to their game at Atworth on Sunday morning, both hosts Staverton FC and guests Somerford and supporters of both teams observed an impeccable minutes silence in memory of Staverton’s Chairman and founder member Pete Lavis, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 70-years-old following a short illness.

Staverton had started on top of the table and with a healthy 3 point lead over the visitors and despite falling behind to an early goal, they fought back in what was an emotional match for the home side to take victory courtesy of a 2-1 win.

Matt Holdaway scored to give Somerford the lead on five minutes when he turned the ball in following a corner.

Staverton fought their way back from going behind but they had to wait until the 43rd minute before getting themselves back on level terms, Levi Woods heading home for 1-1.

The second half was played at a high tempo, with both teams going all out for victory and on this occasion it was probably fitting that Staverton came up with a winner that saw the unfortunate Rob Preston put through his own net to hand the hosts maximum points.

Both sides and young referee Adam Osborne are to be congratulated for the manner in which the game was played, considering it was atop of the table clash between two very fierce rivals, they were a credit to grass roots football and themselves.

White Horse FC 5 Goatacre CC FC 2

Billed as a ‘thrilling contest’, the clash between third and fourth in table never really developed into the even match that was expected.

The game intriguingly pitched the free-scoring White Horse against Goatacre CC, the team with the division’s meanest defence, and with it the biggest pre-match question was which was going to give first?

Any concerns the home side had of breaking down the visitors defence were short lived as they embarked on another goal spree, eventually triumphing 5-2 to end their opponents' undefeated start to the season.

Although it was Goatacre that were quickest to settle, knocking the ball round with confidence and purpose, it was the hosts that had the first opportunity of substance when Jordan Gullis grazed the cross bar in just the third minute.

With it brought a wave of pressure from the Horse and although Shaun Preen saved brilliantly low at his near post to deny Chris Stiles, he was left helpless in the 11th minute when Dave Appleyard fired past him having latched on to a Pete Ayton flick to make it 1-0.

The bright start to the game soon subsided as both teams seemed content with the score line and only an Ed Wilkins shot from long range, that nearly took Rich Hunt off his feet, threatened either goal until the last seven minutes of the half.

As always the Horse looked dangerous from set pieces and it was from yet another that they doubled their lead in the 38th minute, Appleyard’s freekick only palmed out by Preen and into the feet of Dale Rowland who made no mistake to notch up number ten of his season.

Although Wilkins did his best to reduce the deficit, only to be denied again by Hunt, it was White Horse that had the final say of the half with what was to be the goal of the game.

From a throw in deep in the Goatacre half Rowland and Appleyard linked up well, allowing the influential Tom Crawford to pick out Stiles, whose first time strike nestled in Preen’s net and sent the home side in 3-0 up at the break.

Any thoughts White Horse had that the game was already sown up were soon forgotten as once again Goatacre started the brighter as they strove to get themselves back in the game, with Danny Horwood central to everything.

Having already found the side-netting he was then denied by Hunt’s great reactions from close range as the visitors bombarded the Horse goal.

With just five minutes of the half gone, the villagers got the goal their efforts had warranted when Wilkins’ effort from just inside the box deflected off a defender and wrong footed Hunt.

Encouraged by the goal Goatacre continued to press and following more good work down the right flank by Horwood, Harry Warner fired over from just six yards out.

The miss seemed to subconsciously dampen Goatacre spirits, whilst providing the second half wake up call the Horse required.

With 21 minutes remaining, the home side regained their three goal cushion.

Having brought down Rowland just outside his own box, Preen was unable to prevent Pete Ayton from dispatching the resulting freekick into his bottom corner, to make it 4-1.

Goatacre, and in particular Horwood, defied the odds again though with 12 minutes left on the clock, the number ten losing his man, cutting inside and squeezing the ball past Hunt at his near post.

Horse’s response was instant however when Stiles got his head on a Appleyard freekick, making it 5-2, and, although Allan Webb hit the woodwork late on for the visitors, it was to be the final goal of the game.

The result sees White Horse move up to second, having now won five on the bounce, and, with their first league defeat in over six months, Goatacre slip to fifth.

Wren FC 1 Miller Sports 7

Miller Sports' up and down season continued with a 7-1 win away at bottom of the table Wren FC, this despite again having a number of players unavailable and having to play 70 minutes of the match with 10 players after Joe Groves was sent off.

Miller’s opener came after a defence splitting pass from Mike Stevens was played through to James Webb, who crossed in for Roberts Biggs to place home.

It didn’t take long for the second to arrive and again Biggs was on hand to knock the ball in for 2-0.

Miller continued to press and created a number of chances before Joe Groves was sent off for a late tackle on the half way line.

The sending off didn’t hamper Miller and shortly after some good play down the left found Joe Murray who, from 20 yards, out smashed home off the under side of the bar.

The visitors' fourth came just before half time, Scott Boyd again impressing down the left found James Webb free in the box to easily slot home.

Miller kicked on in the second half and Scott Boyd finally found the net with a sweetly placed shot across the keeper into the far corner for 5-0.

Miller then made a couple of changes which seemed to disrupt things and Wren made the most of it firstly missing an open goal when it seemed easier to score and then finally getting the breakthrough through captain Craig Garner.

Although Miller were starting to tire, Boyd made sure the Wren comeback was short lived and converted his second and his sides sixth after a good team build up.

Miller then missed a couple of easy chances but some poor defending meant the ball dropped kindly to James Webb who had been a livewire all game to knock it in for 7-1 and return the Miller Boys to winning ways.