Champions Corsham Centre end with a win

The Centre followed up midweek wins over Box Rovers and Westbury Rangers A with victory over a Ship side for whom it was probably their last game in the league and although they battled bravely they were always second best against a Corsham side who had they taken their chances and not found the Ship’s keeper Glenn Murley in great form could easily have hit double figures.

The match was an excellent game played in an almost party like atmosphere and was well refereed by Steve Hogan who has a smile on his face throughout the game as it produced many comical moments, none funnier than when the Corsham strikers received a perfect ball into the area, but couldn’t make up there mind to go for the ball and then both decided the other would, in the end the ball ran between them straight to the keeper with no-one else near, a classic comedy moment that had both set of players in stitches. Scott Lye gave Corsham the lead on 10 minutes a quick fire double from Simon Gray on 30 and 35 minutes helped the champions to a 3-0 interval advantage.

The second period began as the first had ended with the Centre missing chance after chance before Shane Godsell netted to put the hosts four goals to the good and at this stage of proceedings the Centre opted to put Simon Gray in goal and give keeper Nick Gingell the chance to shine at the opposite end of the field and it wasn’t long before he showed his forwards how to do their job as two sublime finishes made him look a natural in front of goal as he made it 6-0.

Scott Cunningham scored a late consolation for the Ship with a delicate lob over makeshift keeper Simon Gray who apart from picking the ball out the net may have been called into action a couple more times as his goal was rarely threatened.

A great individual effort from Darrin Moss made it 7-1 and with the Centre’s Matthew Ralph hoping to chalk up his first goal of the season, his team mates were setting him up at every opportunity but he found keeper Murley outstanding as he produced save after save to deny Ralph from getting on the score sheet, Ralph though he had netted but his close range shot was turned into his own net by Bradley King-Taylor and was credited to King-Taylor rather than the unlucky Ralph who come the final whistle was compared to a jigsaw; once in the box he went to pieces.

8-1 at the final whistle, but although Matthew Ralph may not have got on the score sheet this season as captain of the Centre he had the last laugh as he received the Premier Division winners trophy that led to wild scenes of celebrations from the rest of the Centre team and their watching faithful that have cheered the side on for most of the season.

Midweek Round-Up (Tuesday Night)

Corsham Centre A moved a step closer to winning the Robson Taylor, Chippenham League Premier division for a fourth successive season after they defeated near neighbours Box Rovers 4-1 at Meriton Avenue.

Stuart Beeho’s Rovers side were seen as a potential banana skin to the Centre’s hopes of holding onto the title that they first won back in 2005, but the hosts who have suffered just one defeat this season came good once again when they needed to and despite enduring a few nervy moments they came through with the win that they needed to stay ahead of the challenge of Biddestone Social who still have an outside chance of catching the defending champions.

Simon Gray gave the Centre the lead but Rovers went into the interval all square after the impressive Ben Cogswell who had a fantastic game netted to make it one apiece and with both teams pressing for a goal in the second half it was the Centre who struck the all important second when Ross Lye gave them a 2-1 lead that took the Centre’s goals scored tally to 100 for the season.

Ross Lye scored his second of the game to give the Centre the luxury of a two goal cushion against a Rovers side who put in a superb battling display and Lye then wrapped the game and the points when he bagged his third and the Centre’s fourth from the penalty to complete his first three timer of the season.

Biddestone Social 3, Westbury Rangers A 1

Biddestone Social remain in the hunt for the number one spot after seeing of a challenge from Westbury Rangers A and now the Biddy Boys must hope that Rangers who they beat 3-1 last night will do them a favour on Thursday night by defeating Corsham Centre when the sides meet at Meriton Avenue. After losing out to the Centre at the weekend, Biddestone who are resigned to finishing as top flight runners up to their rivals for a third time in four seasons did well to pick themselves up and their battle with Westbury was a great advert for grass roots football and was well refereed by Neil Fautley but in truth his life was made easy as both teams played their part in a very sporting contest.

Biddestone claimed a first half lead through Dan Lardner whose goal bound cross was helped over the line by Westbury’s Dave Whyte on 19 minutes.

Rangers were back on level terms just three minutes after the restart when Marc Lanfear lobbed the Biddy keeper, Biddestone regained the lead on 79 minutes through Jamie Lyons who picked up a loose ball in the area and fired home from six yards.

Biddestone sealed their win a minute from time when Dan Lardner volleyed home a Danny Baker cross, but come the final whistle Westbury believed that missed chances had proved costly but at the same time they had their had their goal keeper Nathan Taylor to thank for keeping them in the game with a number of fine saves.

Midweek Round-Up (Thursday Night)

Corsham Centre A were crowned Robson Taylor, Chippenham Sunday League, Premier division champions for a fourth successive season last night following their 4-1 victory over Westbury Rangers A that also saw them complete a league and knockout cup double for the second time in four years.

In previous seasons it has been Pete Ralph who has guided the Centre to victory but this term the plaudits have gone to Martin Bradfield who took over from Ralph at the end of the last campaign and although the Centre may have stuttered through the first half of the season they finished in style and can now look forward to their final game of the Sunday on Sunday against the Ship knowing that the pressure is off.

Westbury went into the game with their players having picked their positions out of a hat before the game and it was Mark Young who drew the short straw for the goalkeepers jersey but Young was to play a blinder as he produced a number of fine saves to keep his team in the contest before and after Tim Jefferies had given the Centre the lead on 15 minutes.

Jefferies doubled the Centre’s lead on 55 minutes and Marc Lanfear gave the hosts a fright when he pulled a goal back but when James Lye netted on 85 minutes it sent a mighty sigh around Meriton Avenue and with time running out substitute Liam Ralph bagged number four to send his team mates and the home crowd into a partying mood.

Biddestone Arms 3, The Ship FC 1

Having beaten The Ship 18-1 at the start of the month Biddestone Social were predicted to romp to another win over the Trowbridge based side but although Biddestone won, their 3-1 success wasn’t the result that had been expected and they were shocked after just 16 minutes when Jordan De-Silva claimed the opening goal of the game for the Ship.

Jamie Lyons restored parity for Biddestone on 23 minutes when he netted from the penalty spot but the Yatton Road club had to wait until the 77th minute before taking the lead when Shahram Hemarti headed home a Danny Jones corner.

Biddestone’s third came two minutes from time and was scored by Rob Pocock who fired home from eight yards after being set up by Ryan Trowbridge.

Biddestone’s win was what they required to have an outside chance of stealing the number one spot from Corsham Centre, but the Centre’s win over Westbury Rangers A means that Dan Lardner and Danny Jones side are once again the bridesmaids as they have now finished as top flight runners-up to the Centre in three of the last four seasons.