WILTSHIRE SUNDAY CUP: League teams face tough challenge (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

WILTSHIRE SUNDAY CUP: League teams face tough challenge

11:00am Friday 5th October 2012 in News

WILTSHIRE Sunday Cup holders FC Jager are one of six clubs from the Chippenham Sunday League who have a bye into the second round of this season’s competition, the othera being Biddestone Social, Chippenham West End, FC Buscots, FC North Wiltshire and Trowbridge Rangers.

However their are eight more sides in action this weekend, all aiming to join the aforementioned sides as they bid to put their name on the trophy that has been lifted by a team from the league in five of the last seven seasons and the last three on the trot.

First division Corsham United have a good chance of making it to the final 32. Kai Flack’s side have been drawn away at Swindon League third division strugglers AFC Tap & Barrel and the form that United have been in since the start of the season will make them favourites to progress.

Amesbury Town, from the Salisbury League, will have the welcome mat out for third division outfit Cavalier and, on paper, the hosts ought to win this match-up against their guests, who have yet to win in the league but will go into the game buoyed by last week's cup victory over Worton & Cheverell.

Bradford Renegades, who are flying high at the top of Division One, are scheduled to host Chisledon FC who are botton of division five in the Swindon League.

Renegades' red-hot striker Sam Jordan will be bidding for a sixth successive hat-trick and you wouldn’t bet against adding a few more to the 21 he has netted in just five games to date as Renegades are expected to claim another convincing win.

As usually happens in the first round draw, the league have seen two of their teams paired together.

Ttop flight FC Brunel have home advantage over second division GRFC. The hosts will be expected to win but, having suffered a shock defeat in the Knockout cup a fortnight ago when they were beaten by Fortune Inn, they won’t be taking anything for granted as their opponents are more than capable of causing an upset.

Frome & District Sunday League side FC St George travel to Chippenham for a meeting with third division high flyers Fortune Inn, who may have missed out on a game last weekend but are guaranteed to still be buzzing from their thrilling cup win over Brunel.

Fortune have the players at their disposal to beat their guests and it would be a shock if they didn’t as St George have yet to win a game this term.

League newcomers Worton & Cheverell (Sunday) won’t be looking forward to their trip to Wanborough FC who currently sit top of the Swindon League second division.

Sadly for Worton their first-ever venture in the Sunday Cup is likely to end in disaster with a heavy defeat predicted.

Another side who face a tricky away tie are Premier Division AFC Melksham.

Mike Rogers' side, who have suffered back-to-back defeats in the league, visit Wheatsheaf FC who are unbeaten in five league and cup games and have hit 50 goals in those games.

Melksham have the players capable of doing the business but the hardest job will fall on Rogers in getting them all to turn up for what should be a keenly-contested game which, going on current form, will be won by the home team.

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE ROUNDUP, STATS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport