CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Goatacre avoid potential upset (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Goatacre avoid potential upset

2:30pm Monday 18th March 2013 in News

A 2-1 WIN at Chippenham West End saw title hopefuls Goatacre CC avoid a potential banana skin as they fight to keep their chances of winning the Division Two title alive.

With leaders Staverton also winning it means that the cricketers’ remain one point adrift of top spot but they have again in hand on the long time pole sitters.

A 12th goal of the season from Harry Warner gave Goatacre the lead, but it was goalkeeper Shaun Preen who proved to be his team's first-half hero when he brilliantly saved a Matt Payne penalty to preserve his team's slender advantage.

Chippenham West End got themselves level on 55 minutes when the unfortunate Jif Wilkins put they ball beyond his own keeper to restore parity at one-apiece.

With both sides going for the win it was Goatacre who claimed another two vital points in their quest for promotion when striker Ed Wilkins popped up with the all-important goal 12 minutes from time.

Miller Sports 3 GRFC 2

MILLER Sports boosted their chances of avoiding relegation with a 3-2 win over fellow strugglers GRFC, who now find themselves in the drop zone after defeat at Melksham Oak Community School.

With no recognised goalkeeper, GRFC started the game with the diminutive Sam Myles between the posts and despite having to play other players out of position, GRFC had Miller on the back foot in the early stages.

But they found themselves one down when an exquisite ball from Scott Boyd pick out Dave Jenkins who fired home to give his team a half-time lead.

GRFC shuffled their pack at half time, replacing Sam Myles with Rob Jefferies as their number one seemed to do the trick as Tam Laidlaw’s side were back in the game shortly after the restart, when Harry Myles curled home a stunner to tie the scores.

Miller hit back almost immediately, Joe Murray latching onto a defensive mistake and casually slotting home one-on-one with the keeper.

Miller’s third came when a Scott Boyd free kick was headed home by Nigel Decarteret and on two superb saves from Jefferies stop Miller from increasing their advantage further.

With time running out GRFC pulled a goal back, a Sam Myles free kick found Charlie Austin, whose effort was helped into the net by keeper Alex Coombs leaving Miller to see out a nervy final five minutes as they fought to hold out for what should prove to be a crucial two points in their battle to beat the drop.

Southwick Wanderers 1 Staverton 3

WITH their home pitch unplayable Southwick Wanderers switched their game with rivals Staverton to Lambrok Road in Trowbridge which meant that Aaron Latchem’s leaders, who were already missing a few key players, would have to do without top scorer Jason Povey.

Without his talisman striker, Latchem had to go for a change of formation but he came up trumps as his side battled their way to a 3-1 win that sees them maintain the one-point lead over Goatacre at the summit.

With neither team able to fashion an opener in the first half the deadlock was finally broken by Levi Wood who put Staverton ahead.

Former Southwick player Dan Mercer returned to haunt his former teammates with a second that gave Staverton some breathing space.

With 15 minutes remaining a first goal for the club from Nassem Abourchid got Southwick back in it, but chasing and equaliser they were caught on the break and a last-minute strike from Levi Wood gave him his second and Staverton their third of the game.

Sutton Benger 2 Somerford FC 0

AFTER putting themselves in the promotion race last weekend with a victory over leaders Staverton, Spike Chandler’s Somerford undid all their recent good work as they came crashing back down to earth with a bang.

With the game switched from Stanley Park to Somerford where Chandler’s men had already won 2-1 it was expected to be another walk in the park for the hosts, but that wasn’t the case as Benger never read the script and a 2-0 victory saw them tear up the formbook.

Sutton Benger were thankful of the points as they edged them a bit closer to second division survival took the lead midway through the first half with well worked free kick scored by James Weston.

Benger secured the victory in the second half with a tidy finish through Luke Watson after a defence splitting ball from James Weston.

MATCH OFF: Wren FC v White Horse FC.

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