PREMIER DIVISON: Box Rovers were unable to stop Biddestone Social from maintaining their two point advantage at the top of the Robson Taylor, Chippenham League, Premier division as an under-strength Rovers side were beaten 3-1 by a Social side who played two-thirds of the game with 10 players after they had James Tindle sent off for a second successive week.

Biddestone went ahead on 15 minutes through Rob Pocock who bundled home a Jamie Lyons low cross to give them a half time lead, Biddestone doubled their lead in the 68th minutes when after good work from Lyons he pulled the ball back to Kris Beasley who was on as substitute for Pocock to fire home from 12 yards.

Rovers halved the deficit on 83 minutes via Joel Moody for whom it was his first goal for the club, however Rovers joy was short lived as Biddestone replied two minutes later to seal their win, and once again Jamie Lyons was Rovers tormentor as after beating two players he thumped the ball home from 15 yards for what was the goal of the game.

Corsham Centre A 7, FC Colerne 0

Corsham Centre A followed up their 3-2 success over Potterne on Thursday night with a 7-0 home victory over FC Colerne who played the whole game with nine players and held out for 20 minutes before Simon Gray made the breakthrough, Gray went on to score a three timer, James Lye bagged a brace and both Ross Lye and Dan King scored singles to make up the Centre’s seven who could have had a lot more had Colerne’s makeshift keeper Paul Bates not been in fine form.

Dog & Fox Ashley 4, Holt 2

Dog & Fox Ashley gave up home advantage for their game with Holt as they made the short trip to the former Fortress for the second time this season and like the first encounter the outcome was the same as the Dog & Fox picked up win number 14 of the season thanks to their 4-2 success.

Steve Roddy scored the first of his three goals for the Dog on 16 minutes and although Holt level through Dale Gladstone four minutes later the Dog went in at half time with a 2-1 lead after Lewis Meilliam scored his first goal for the club to restore their lead, but heir advantage should have been greater as both Steve Roddy and Nick Ross were denied by the woodwork.

The Dog & Fox should have netted number three from the penalty spot, but the normally reliable Steve Wickings had his spot kick saved, however the miss didn’t prove costly as goals from Roddy in the 75th and 80th minutes made it 4-1 before Jonny Andrew claimed a late second for Holt with his first goal of the season.

Westbury Rangers A 5, Maud Heath Sports 4

Westbury Rangers A and Maud Heath Sports played out a nine goal thriller that Rangers eventually won 5-4 but were left hanging on at the end as Maud Heath battled back from 5-1 down to give the hosts a few nervy moments late on.

Maud Heath had to use top scorer Darren Holcombe as a replacement keeper for Jodi Whiston and that was to prove a deciding factor as Holcombe proved that he is better as a striker than a keeper. Westbury’s own prolific hit man Marc Lanfear gave his team the lead and Wayne Wheeler who was impressive throughout in his first game for Shaun Gardiner’s side made it 2-0 at the interval.

Two became three immediately after the restart when Meadow Lane probably witness the best goal ever scored their, from the kick-off the ball was played back to Matty Smith who from inside his own half drove the ball over keeper Holcombe to make it 3-0. Clive Slade pulled a goal back for Maud Heath before a second for both Lanfear and Smith saw Westbury open up a four-goal lead.

Westbury took their foot of the gas and allowed Maud Heath back into the game and two goal from Matt Smart and Daniel Burt’s first ever goal for the Calne based side allowed them to narrow the gap to the odd goal, but they were unable to breach the hosts defence again and come the final whistle Westbury were happy that they held out for the points from a game that they almost threw away.

Winsley 6, The Ship FC 0

Winsley may have suffered a defeat against the Ship FC on the opening day of the campaign but the villagers more avenged their 5-1 loss with a thumping 6-0 triumph. Winsley made the breakthrough on 15 minutes when Mike Little put them in front and a second from the same player gave Paul Rangers side a two goal advantage at the break.

The second half saw Winsley hit four more unanswered goals with Mike Little completing his hat trick, Matt Little also got on the score sheet as did Paul Ranger for whom it was his first goal of the season and an even rarer goal from the ever youthful Colin Earp with a delightful back heal made up the winners half dozen.

Midweek Round-up

The big game in the Premier division on Thursday saw Corsham Centre A keep their dreams of clinching a fourth successive title alive as just like in Sunday’s Knockout Cup final they hit a late winner to claim a 3-2 success and leave their hosts more than a little deflated.

A game of end to end football played at a high pace saw Potterne take the lead on 25 minutes when Ben House put the villagers in front, the Centre were on level terms in the 35th minute when the ever willing Simon Gray had a shot blocked and the rebound fell to Craig Gingell who chipped home the equaliser.

The Centre flew out the blocks in the second half but a back four of Ross Lye, Jason Brooks, Tom Ingall led by Matt Ralph, kept Potterne’s attack at bay and on 75 minutes their efforts were rewarded when Craig Gingell headed home a pinpoint cross from James Lye to give the defending champions what looked like a winning lead.

With two minutes remaining the ball fell to Potterne’s Peter Huntley who curled the ball beyond Nick Gingell and the hosts were celebrating a share of the spoils, however they hadn’t accounted for the centre’s never say die attitude and deep in injury time Jason Brooks, found Ben Cauldwell who in turn fed James Lye who released Simon Gray who retained his composure to slot home what could prove to the most important goal he has ever scored for the Centre as they snatched a win from again that they looked as if they were going to end up drawing.

Miller Sports 1, The Ship FC 2 Midweek Report)

Tim Knight’s Miller Sports completed their season on Thursday night when they entertained The Ship FC at the Beeches, Shaw and like 22 of the matches that had gone before the evening end in despair as despite taking a first half lead through Ralph Plummer, Miller suffered a 2-1 defeat.

Ross Pike making a rare appearance for the Ship was their hero on the night, Pike scored the goal that brought the Trowbridge based side level after good build up play from both Jack Holdway and Lee Hayward.

Pike also scored the goal that prove to be the winner when he lobbed home from the edge of the area to give manager Hayward a nice going away present before he moves away from the area.

Westbury Rangers A 2, Dog & Fox Ashley 4 (Midweek Report)

Westbury Rangers A’s chances of finishing in the top two have all but gone following their 4-2 defeat at the hands on Dog & Fox Ashley at Meadow Lane on Thursday night.

Rangers went into the game knowing that nothing less than a victory would be good enough for them if they are to keep alive their dwindling chances claiming silverware this term. Ricky Trott opened his account for the season when he put the Dog in front, Pete Ayton levelled matter only for Tom Rooney to restore the Dog’s lead that gave the a 2-1 lead at the interval.

Having taken most of the season to break his duck for the Dog & Fox, Trott scored again to give the Bradford based side a two goal cushion and when Steve Roddy fired home number four the points were in the bag despite a late fight back from the home team that saw James Ayton scored his first ever goal for the club that prove to be a late consolation.