CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION: Spot-on Lardner extends Social’s lead (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION: Spot-on Lardner extends Social’s lead

12:30pm Monday 4th February 2013 in News

DEFENDING S.K. Fruits Limited, Chippenham Sunday League Premier Division champions Biddestone Social opened up a four-point lead over their closest challengers FC Jager at the top of the standings.

But Social had to do things the hard way as they came from 2-0 and 3-2 behind to beat FC Colerne 5-3

Biddestone, who started with 10 men, fell behind on two minutes, Chris Dixon unleashing a 25 yard thunderbolt to put the hosts one up.

Dixon increased Colerne’s advantage in the 21st minute when he scored the first of the morning’s four penalties.

Biddestone halved the deficit on 27 minutes, Dan Lardner scoring from the spot after Nat Auckland had been bought down.

Lardner was on target again five minutes later to restore parity with his second coming from another penalty which was awarded after Lardner himself had been fouled. 

Colerne regained the lead a minute later, Ashley Pechey making it 3-2 but the villagers were unable to hold out until half time as they allowed Biddestone to get back on level terms in the 38th minute, Lardner providing the cross for Martin Johnson to head in at the back post for 3-3.

Biddestone went ahead for the first time in the game on 68 minutes, Johnson being played in by the head of Auckland and he finished well from 12 yards.

And the champions wrapped up their victory in the 89th minute thanks to another penalty from Lardner, Auckland again being the person to win the spot kick.

Lardner kept his cool to fire in from 12 yards for a third time to complete a rare hat trick made up solely of penalties.   

AFC Melksham 1 Bug & Spider FC 2

DESPITE the two main pitches at Christie Miller being under water, Mike Rogers AFC Melksham worked wonders to get the third pitch at Bowerhill in a playable state for their second meeting of the season with Bug & Spider who they beat 4-1 on the opening day of the season.

But an in-form Bug side battled to avenge that defeat and succeeded as they returned home to Calne having won 2-1. 

Both sides were missing key players with Melksham the worse off as they had many players unavailable due to Toolstation League commitments on Monday night.

They were also dealt a cruel blow as the lost keeper Nick Didben, who was left injured following a car accident, and to add to their woes, Melksham manager Rogers missed the game through illness - only the second time he missed a match in nine seasons.

John Wiltshire pulled on the keeper's jersey and Tom Blaxley, Graham Griffiths and Ashley Palmer were all added to the starting line-up.

But they were unable to prevent Bug & Spider from taking the lead against the run of play when a counter attack resulted in Aaron Hopkins shot  edge of the box by beating Wiltshire.

If the pitch was bad to start with, by half time was close to a mud field but it didn’t stop Melksham from digging out an equaliser before the break.

Chris Rogers was brought down in the area and Graham Griffiths stepped up to score from the penalty spot to send both teams in all square at the break.

The second half showed how much Bug & Spider had been up for this game playing some very good hard-working football, and credit to the hosts as they created chances despite going behind to a Mark Smith goal on 47 minutes that trickled over the line as it was slowed by the layers of mud around the ball.

Bug & Spider's greater fitness showed and they totally dominated a second half with only the worsening conditions again limiting the scoring chances.

Luke Rudman had an excellent game in the middle and he received praise from both teams for his handling of the game in trying conditions.

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