CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR: Late goals deny Crossblades amazing win (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR: Late goals deny Crossblades amazing win

5:30pm Monday 15th October 2012 in News

CROSSBLADES FC and FC North Wiltshire met for the second time in two weeks with the hosts looking to avenge their 6-1 defeat in the reverse fixture.

As before, those in attendance were treated to seven goals, but this was a much closer affair with North Wilts winning 4-3.

FC North Wiltshire arrived with no substitutes on the bench and, with several defensive players in particular missing, were also forced to name a rather makeshift backline including debutant Daniel Kelly at left back, who put in a solid performance.

Crossblades buoyed by recording their first win of the season last week started the better and it was somewhat against the run of play that North Wiltshire took the lead.

The ball arrived at the feet of right winger Paul Colegate inside the box, whose scuffed effort from 12 yards found the back of the net to the surprise of both teams.

Crossblades continually tested the visitor's defence with through balls and balls over the top which were generally dealt with well especially by keeper Mark Salen and centre back Adam Atack.

As the half drew to a close space opened up for Dan Deacon to rifle a low strike into the bottom corner of the Crossblades net from the edge of the penalty area.

North Wilts saw out the rest of the opening 45 and went into the break satisfied with their 2-0 advantage.

The home team did not let their heads drop and came out fighting after the break.

Firstly a long range strike sailed into the top corner from Gareth Cole gave Crossblades real hope of a comeback.

Then a through ball split the North Wilts centre backs and Cole shot’s beat the advancing Mark Salen to level.

Crossblades then turned the game on its head as another long range effort this time from Ben Owers dipped just under the bar to give them a 3-2 lead as North Wilts players looked on in disbelief.

North Wiltshire's confidence had gone but to the team's credit they showed determination to battle back.

Right back Stuart Donnelly chested down a half clearance from a corner on the edge of the area and saw his tame shot go all the way through and hit the post and roll weakly along the goal line before finally being cleared. 

Dan Gilbert leveled matters soon after with only 15 minutes remaining with a lifted shot into the top far corner from about 6 yards out.

North Wiltshire have never drawn a game and that record remained intact as Dan Deacon bagged his second of the game with a tap in.

The visitors switched to a defensive formation in the final minutes in the hope of seeing the game out and despite a few scary moments they managed to hang on, largely due to the efforts of centre back Atack.

Credit should be given to both teams for making comebacks from losing positions as well as for the great spirit in which the game was played which resulted in referee Martin Chown having to make very few decisions.

FC United of Chippenham 5 Sportzcoach Dragonz United 8

SPORTZCOACH Dragonz United claimed a third win of the season courtesy of their 8-5 triumph at FC United of Chippenham who, after a promising start, have gone off the boil with three straight defeats.

Paul Walker saw his opener for Sportzcoach cancelled out by Tom Hanks, a second for Walker helped Sportzcoach regain the lead but once again United leveled with Adam Gerrard making it two each.

Dan Barnett put Sportzcoach ahead for a third time and with Dan Kovacs scoring his first goal for the club it gave them a half-time lead.

Jack Hanks reduced the arrears for United, but goals from Ross Mather and another two from Barnett which saw him complete his hat-trick made it 7-3 to all but kill off the challenge from United.

However goals from Gerrard and another from Hanks narrowed the gap before Miles Copland finished the scoring for the victors to make it 8-5. 

Melksham Cosmos 1 Pig & Whistle United B 3

PIG & Whistle United B consolidated second place in the table after they beat local rivals Melksham Cosmos, although they had to travel some 14 miles to Goatacre to claim their 3-1 success.

Despite having much of the ball in the opening stages, Cosmos failed to produce any chances and it was Pig and Whistle who opened the scoring with Steve Badger finding the net after Cosmos failed to clear the ball from their penalty area.

Shortly after, Phil Carter equalised for the Cosmos after a brilliant run through the oppositions defence.

Cosmos started the second half brightly but were caught on the break and Dan Goldsworthy scored to put Pig and Whistle 2-1 in front with 20 minutes to play.

Cosmos again tried to find an equaliser but Steven Badger scored for the visitors with a powerful strike from 20 yards to make it 3-1 and put the game out of sight for the home team.

Oakhill FC 7 Worton & Cheverell (Sunday) 5

TWO of the divisions newcomers met at Kington Langley this Sunday and it was hosts Oakhill who emerged triumphant from their clash with Worton & Cheverell (Sunday) winning a high scoring contest 7-5 to open their account for the season.

Gavin Freegard, Ricky Stonham, Dan Payne and a Will Birch double put Oakhill five up before Kurtis Marsden pulled one back for Worton.

Joe Court’s penalty and a first ever goal for Tristan Huntley made up Oakhill’s seven.  Jake Flower, Kyle Davies with a brace and substitute Joe Mchaffy’s effort account for Worton’s goals. 

Trowbridge Rangers (Sunday) 0 Old Road FC 5

TROWBRIDGE Rangers (Sunday) were unable to arrest their slid the table, a 5-0 home defeat at the hands of early leaders Old Road FC was their fourth on the spin.

Rangers held their opponents at bay for the first 45 minutes but once Andrew Rose had put Old Road ahead when he curled home direct from  corner the floodgates opened.

A second from Rose made it 2-0,  Jake O’Keeffe with his first of the season, Dan Stevens and another first timer this one from Adam Foskett made up Old Road’s five.

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