IT WAS a red-letter day for Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves manager Matt Rusling on Saturday afternoon as not only did his side pick up three valuable points in their charge to finish top of the pile in Division Two, the 31 year-old ended a 13 year wait to score his first-ever goal in either Saturday or Sunday football.
He netted his team's final goal in their 5-1 win at Worton & Cheverell.
Wanderers kicked off the scoring in the 15th minute when a Mike Ritson through ball played in Steve Jackson who calmly fired his team in front.
Wanderers saw their advantaged wiped out two minutes later, Jake Flower getting Worton back on level terms which his how things stayed until the 43rd minute when Wanderers retook the lead after Mike Cooksey headed in a Jack Heard corner to hand the visitor’s to the Lye their interval lead.
Wanderers increased their advantage on 54 minutes, Jack Heard beating three players before setting up Mike Ritson to make it 3-1.
Goal number four arrived in the 70th minute, more good work from Jackson saw him create the opening for Nathan Olasz to scored his first-ever Wanderers goal and put the game to bed at 4-1.
To put the icing on the cake, Wanderers pressed on looking for a fifth and it arrived on 83 minutes from the unlikely source of Rusling.
Wanderers were awarded a free kick 20 yards from goal, saw Steve Jackson roll the ball back to Rusling who drove home to wild scenes of celebration.
Bradford United Reserves 1 Trowbridge Town Reserves 5
IT WAS a classic case of after the Lord Mayor’s show for Ross Hatter’s Bradford United Reserves side who last week were making the headlines for their 1-0 cup win over first division Lamb FC.
A week on they were given a reality check by Trowbridge Town Reserves, who kept themselves in the promotion race courtesy of a 5-1 win that keeps the pressure on Bradford who remain in the drop zone.
Brett Partner saw his opener for Trowbridge cancelled out by James Kellam's equaliser for Bradford, however their was no repeat of last weeks heroics as Zach Manna reclaimed the lead for the visitors to Culver Close before he scored his second of the afternoon to give his team a 3-1 half-time lead.
The second half saw Partner add to his first half effort to make it 4-1 and a Harry Waylan goal sealed a comprehensive 5-1 win for Dave Jenkins' Trowbridge Reserves side.
Westbury Town 1 Bratton 0
WITH Westbury Town in freefall and Bratton not being able to buy a win, the two struggling sides locked horns at the Recreation Ground hoping for some respite from their recent woes and it was Fozu Gharban’s Westbury side, who had won previous meeting between the teams 3-2, who completed a league double thanks to the narrowest of 1-0 wins.
The only goal of the game coming in the first half, Rob Clarke deflecting Jordan Cain's initial shot beyond a despairing Ryan Williams in the Bratton goal.
Bratton can count themselves a little unfortunate not to have got anything from the game as after the break Dave Jones turned a Neil Gordon shot onto the post and Liam Griffiths saw his follow up rattle against the same post.
Westbury Town had the chance to add a second through Levi Wood but his penalty was saved by keeper Williams.
Westwood News 4 Heytesbury 2
WESTWOOD News remain in the four-way shoot out for a top two finish after coming out on top in a brutal encounter at Bobbins Lane that saw them beat a very fired up Heytesbury side 4-2 as they tried to make life very hard for their hosts who were made to work for their latest haul of three points.
Westwood were ahead inside the opening minute, Will Young making his first start for the club pounced on defensive mix-up to roll the ball into the empty net to give the hosts the perfect start.
Heytesbury slowly got themselves into the game and restored parity through Brendan Hind, but they undid all their good work as the home team edged back in front when Rich Jones fired into the bottom corner to give Mark Hurkett’s side a half time lead.
A Josh Maguire header on 52 minutes gave Westwood a 3-1 lead but again Heytesbury hit back to stay in the contest and for a second time in the game it was Brendan Hind who found the target.
Westwood introduced Ben Ludwell on 75 minutes and with his first touch of the ball he had restored his teams two-goal cushion and really should have scored a second a short while after but missed with what really was the easier of his chances.
The miss wasn’t to prove costly as the hosts comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to claim their seventh win of the season.
Joe Martin and Martin Bradfield's second division table-toppers Lacock have booked their place in the last eight of this season's Chantry Digital Ltd-sponsored Knockout Cup without even kicking a ball.
Lacock had been drawn away at stable mates The Fleece, who had to surrender the tie after they were unable to raise a team.
TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE ROUNDUP, STATS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport
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