DIVISION FOUR: Victory puts Old Road on new road to success (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

DIVISION FOUR: Victory puts Old Road on new road to success

5:00pm Monday 10th September 2012 in News

HAVING kicked off their campaign with an impressive 7-0 victory away at Pig & Whistle United B last weekend, Old Road claimed back-to-back victories for the first time since February 2011.

Old Road were quick out the blocks in the September sunshine, attacking down both flanks and causing Crossblades all sorts of problems.

Nathan Dunford, Dean Archer and Dan Stevens were all proving a handful and it was evident that Old Road were really up for this fixture.

On the rare occasion that the Blades got out of their half, the final ball was lacking and Jason Frayling in the Old Road goal was rarely troubled.

It didn't take long for the deadlock to be broken and Old Road took a deserved lead. With Crossblades very lax in their man marking, it allowed Dean Archer to score the opener.

Before too long, 1-0 became 2-0 with Nathan Dunford rifling in from 30 yards and it seemed as if this game would turn in to a thumping for the home team.

Shortly after things went from bad to worse when keeper John Hampshire failed to get hold of a ball and Dunford once again showing clinical finishing to make it 3-0.

Player-manager Tim Chilton shuffled things around and threw Gareth 'Hightower' Cole upfront and placed himself at centre back.

After a few encouraging moves, a corner was won. James Squire floated the ball across to the back post and after an attempted clearance Cole fired the ball home to give Crossblades hope.

A much-needed half time came and went and it was Crossblades who stared the second half in a brighter fashion.

With Chilton and Liam Matthews solid at centre back and Pete North putting in a great performance at full-back, it allowed Neate, Squire and Owers to have more creative licence.

The Old Road defence, despite all the pressure, stood firm and chances were limited. 

The Blades never gave up and from a Chilton corner Cole flicked on for Mike Booth to finish from close range and bring the scores to 3-2.

Crossblades continued to push for the elusive equaliser but tired very quickly and it was Old Road who took advantage of a defensive blunder and made it 4-2 with 10 minutes to go, Andy Rose setting up Jamie Smith to head home.

FC North Wiltshire 1 Pig & Whistle United B 2

PIG & Whistle United B claimed one of the results of the day after beating the much-fancied FC North Wiltshire side. 

North Wilts, who had beaten Worton & Cheverell (Sunday) 9-0 last weekend, were expected to add to that success.

But it was United who travelled to Leafy Lane on the back of a 7-0 loss who turned the formbook on it’s head.

The tables turned from the opening week as over-confidence from North Wilts was evident.

Pig & Whistle were a strong, well organised team, who were solid throughout the game.

The first 10 minutes was all North Wilts, with corner after corner, but no end product.

But the pace of Dan Goldsworthy was always an outlet for United, and after a ball was played in between full back and centre back, Goldsworthy smashed a powerful shot high and under the bar, leaving the keeper no chance for the opening goal.

North Wilts were lacking in central midfield, and although they equalised through Daniel Deacon, through a goalmouth scramble, in reality North Wilts were lucky to go in at half time with it all square.

The first half was also stopped for over 10 minutes, after a nasty injury to striker Ryan Bailey of North Wilts.

Bailey, who had been looking dangerous with his pace and eye for a shot, will be disappointed at the timing of his injury, and the North Wilts team will be hoping he is not out for too long.

In the second half, Pig & Whistle took the lead through a rather fortuitous moment.

What looked like a wasted ball that was going to the North Wilts keeper, was chased all the way by the away team, and a goalkeeping error lead to an open goal for Goldsworthy to tap home his second and what proved to be the winner.

Both teams continued to battle hard, but in reality there were few chances for either.

In the dying minutes, Dan Gilbert rose well from a corner, and his header looked like it was looping in, but keeper Lee Goodchild made a good save to deny him a late equaliser.

North Wilts will be disappointed that they could not continue from their great opening day of the season, but, it is evident early on, that Division Four is looking very competitive this season, and this game was a clear indicator that there might be very little between most of the teams battling for slverware.

FC United of Chippenham 5 Melksham Cosmos 3

A BRILLIANT first-half showing from league newcomers FC United of Chippenham helped Dudley Philpott’s side to a 5-3 triumph over fellow new boys Melksham Cosmos who were unable to build on their opening day win over Trowbridge Town Supporters Club. 

Fabian Prangle’s double, two penalties from Jack Hanks and a Marc Scammell own goal saw FC United take a 5-1 lead with Melksham’s reply coming from Chris Berrelly.

The second period saw a reversal in fortunes but despite conceding goals from Matt Clements and Scammell, who atoned for his first-half own goal FC United were able to hold out to claim they first league win. 

Trowbridge Rangers (Sunday) 8 Worton & Cheverell (Sunday) 3

JAMES Goddard’s Trowbridge Rangers inflicted fellow newcomers Worton & Cheverell with their second heavy loss in two games.

Goddard saw his opener for Rangers wiped out by Martin Dickenson. 

Patrick Kapelka regained the lead for Rangers only for Ben Strange to bring the scores level for a second time.

Sam Miller edged Rangers ahead for a third time and that was how things remained to half time.

The second period saw Rangers move up a gear and a goal for Lawrence Giles, on his debut, increased Rangers lead.

Things got better for Goddard's side with Matt Cameron and a second from Kapelka taking it to 5-2 before Dickinson pulled a goal back for Worton with his second of the game.

Further goals from Nathan Hall and Patrick Kapelka whose effort saw him complete a hat-trick wrapped up a second successive victory for the Whaddon Lane based side, who find themselves as the early joint-leaders of the division.

MATCH OFF: Trowbridge Town Supporters Club v Oakhill FC

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