PREMIER DIVISON: Having suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend when they were beaten by Potterne, Robson Taylor, Chippenham League Premier Division leaders Biddestone Social face the prospect of losing back to back fixtures for the first time since November 2006 when they visit old adversaries Westbury Rangers A this weekend.
Biddestone know that Shaun Gardiner’s side will give them a very good game and that if the hosts have got a full strength squad available they will be capable of beating them for the first time since goals from Marc Lanfear, Tim Coombes, Pete Ayton and Nick Mead earned them a 4-1 win way back in 2006, since then the Biddy boys have won all their four meetings.
The match scheduled for Meadow Lane should be a classic and although Danny Jones and Dan Lardner’s Biddestone side should claim the points an ever-improving Rangers side know that a win is a must if they are to keep their title hopes alive.
Box Rovers v Potterne FC
Box Rovers entertain an inform Potterne side at the Recreation Ground in the village this weekend and Stuart Beeho’s who have lost their last two matches know that the game will be a tough one.
Rovers suffered a 3-1 loss against Dog & Fox Ashley last week to all but ended their hopes of finishing in the top two while Potterne defeated Biddestone Social to keep alive their slim hopes of being in the race for silverware later in the season. Potterne will go into the game full of confidence and as long as they remain focused they could produce the goods that will keep them into second place after their midweek win. Rovers will be hoping that their strike force will be able to find the net this weekend unlike last week when they bossed the game against the Dog & Fox but on made the net bulge the once, if they can do that then the result will be a close one, but against Potterne’s potent front line and mean defence which is one of the best in the division they may find things harder than they would expect and it is the visitors who are predicted to claim the spoils.
Dog & Fox Ashley v Winsley
Their should be a fascinating match at St Laurence School, Bradford where Russell Whatley’s Dog & Fox Ashley side are due to host near neighbours and fierce rivals Winsley who under the management of Paul Ranger have hit a purple patch of late and have lost just one of their previous five matches.
Both teams will have everything to play for when they lock horns for the first time this season, with the home team possibly have more to play for as a win could see them join Biddestone in the number one spot should the present leaders end up losing away at Westbury Rangers.
If the hosts are to win they will achieve something they haven’t done since September 2005 and that is beat their guests who have won five of the last six meetings between the sides.
Going on current form it is really hard to pick a winner and the game could even see the teams draw for the first time which would be massive blow to the Dog’s hopes of finishing in the top two as every point is going to be vital from now until the end of the season.
Miller Sports v FC Colerne
While all eyes will be focused on the battles going on between the teams at the top of the division, Miller Sports and FC Colerne will be having their own personal clash at the foot of the table. Both teams look odds on for the drop, but if Tim Knight’s Miller side can claim their first win since goals from Steve Cleverly and Knight himself earned his side a 2-0 victory over Colerne back in early September then they will relegate their guests at the Beeches, Shaw to the basement.
Miller have lost 12 on the bounce so they will be hoping that it will be 13th time lucky while Colerne have managed just one point in their last 10 matches.
Although a win is unlikely to save either club from the drop, it will give the victors a slight confidence boost for the remainder of what has been a very long season for both of the struggling sides.
Semington Rovers v Holt
Allan Clarke will hope to have a few more players available this weekend that he did last Sunday when his Semington Rovers side made hard work of beating bitter rivals Miller Sports 2-1.
Clarke’s Semington side entertain Holt in what should be a keenly fought encounter that on paper should go the way of the hosts who have already beaten their guests 2-0 this term and have yet to suffer a defeat against Stuart Faint’s side in the top flight in their previous three meetings.
The Ship FC v Corsham Centre A
Corsham Centre A defiantly struggled to overcome fourth division North Star B in their quarter-final tie of the knockout cup last weekend and manager Martin Bradfield knows that if his team want to remain in the race to claim a fourth start premier division title they are going to have to start playing a lot better than they have done in recent weeks.
Bradfield will take his side to Woodmarsh in Trowbridge where they will be greeted by Lee Hayward’s Ship side who will be expecting the worse, but they may take a look at the Centre’s result from last week and might just start believing that if they can put out a half decent side who are prepared to give their all they might just cause their guests a few problems.
In reality that shouldn’t happen and the Centre should cruise to victory but they are not the team they once were so the score might be a lot closer that the teams would have expected it too be.
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