HAVING already beaten Old Road FC 5-2 this term, Division Three leaders Melksham Cosmos would have been confident of picking up another three points from Andy Rose’s side when they met on the 3G pitch at Stanley Park.
The result didn’t go plan as Old Road upset the odds with a 3-0 victory to inflict Cosmos with their first defeat in nine games.
James House, on his debut, put Old Road ahead. Scott Austin doubled his team's advantage in the second half before Dan Stevens killed off any hope of a Cosmos fightback when he netted his eighth goal of the season to seal a fine victory for the home side.
Crossblades FC 0 Christian Malford 2
CHRISTIAN Malford continued their winning ways with a 2-0 away victory over Crossblades at Devizes Town’s ground after the hosts had been reduced to 10 men.
Both teams took time to adapt to the pitch but Malford had an early chance when Alex Warburton’s shot was saved by Crossblades keeper Will Wright with his feet.
Crossblades first chance was a free kick on the edge of the penalty area which went over the crossbar.
Malford gradually began to get on top but could not find a finish. David Brown did score for Malford following a jinking run by Tom Watchman but he was adjudged to have been offside.
In the 42nd minute, Malford were awarded a penalty when Ben Owers brought down Malford’s David Brown in the area.
Unfortunately for Crossblades the foul was deemed to warrant a red card and Crossblades were reduced to ten men.
Scott Evans hit a superb penalty to give Malford a 1-0 lead which remained the half time score.
From the restart Malford forced a corner which was cleared but only to Matthew Thompson who from over 30 yards out volleyed the ball back into the top right hand corner of the net for a 2-0 lead for Malford.
Malford dominated most of the remainder of the match but could not convert their chances against a plucky performance by the ten men.
Crossblades were also unlucky not to pull a goal back when James Squire hit the post with a fine shot. There were no further goals and the game ended with a 2-0 win for Malford.
FC North Wiltshire 2 Trowbridge Town Supporters Club 2
LEAFY Lane witnessed a great game of Sunday League football this morning, with both Trowbridge Town Supporters Club and FC North Wiltshire contributing to a well-fought contest that finished 2-2.
FC North Wilts were quick out of the blocks, with Samuel Deane scoring a sublime free kick for his team.
Tight on the right hand side of the box, Deane used all the skills he has learnt from his Swansea City AFC cousin Alex Bray; he whipped in the free kick with his left foot, over the wall, and the ball dipped inside the post, leaving the keeper both shocked and helpless.
Trowbridge’s equaliser was of equal individual class. In the 22nd minute, after a corner was only cleared to outside the area. Hotshot Dean Coles teed himself up and smashed a dipping 30-yard volley that hit the underside of the bar.
FC North Wilts almost repeated the same trick themselves, with Dan Gilbert trying the same thing at the other end, only to hit the roof of the net.
In the 24th minute, North Wilts snatched the lead back, with veteran Paul Colegate crossing from a tight angle for Dan Deacon to finish an open goal. Deacon throughout the first half caused problems for the supporters’ club, his pace often leaving defender Paul Rendell behind. But Deacon could only manage to hit the post on one occasion and drive across the goal on another.
The second half was barely underway when the visitors restored parity. Coles dribbled past three players over 20 yards to eventually find himself in a shooting position. His shot wrong-footed the keeper, and tucked inside the goal.
The rest of the second half saw both teams push for a winner. There were plenty of tough tackles, and the referee did well to keep the game under control between the players.
However, there were several bookings for, of all things, dissent to the referees and officials, and eventually the supporters’ club were reduced to 10 men in the 86th minute when Dave Strickland was dismissed.
The final score of 2-2 was a fair one on the day, and the game was a credit to both sets of players.
The supporters’ club captain Sean O’Brien was voted man of the match by FC North Wilts, and the battling midfielder was seen in virtually every position through the game.
FC North Wilts also paid tribute to their groundstaff for getting a pitch ready at late notice, following the supporters’ club agreeing to switch the fixture so that a Saturday League match could be played on their pitch at Bratton which couldn’t have taken two games over the weekend.
North Star B 4 Pig & Whistle United 0
NORTH Star B will be asking to play Pig & Whistle United after a second convincing win over Richard Allen’s side this term saw them move into the top half of the table.
Star, who beat the visitors to Beversbrook earlier in the season 11-0, followed that up with a 4-0 win in the reverse clash.
Mickey Taraskevics goal gave the hosts a half time lead, before they set about their guests in the second period with Karl Sharratt, Mike McKeller and Harry Ozut sharing the goals that sealed victory number four of the season for the Calne based side.
Wren FC 0 Sportzcoach Dragonz United 8
WREN FC will be glad to see the back of a Sportzcoach Dragonz United who extended their winning run to seven matches.
Dragonz, who beat Matt Fenn’s side 11-0 in early September, were again in an unforgiving mood as they ran in eight unanswered goals to take their tally to 53 goals from their seven games to date.
Goals from Mark Bowsher and Dan Moore gave Dragonz a 2-0 lead at the break before the floodgates opened in the second period.
Dean Moore made it 3-0 before Moore scored two more to complete his hat trick.
Dean Moore followed in his brother’s footsteps and he added scored a couple more times to claim a three-timer.
However it was the league’s top score Dan who had the final say as he bagged a fourth of the morning to make it 8-0 and take his tally for the season to 24 goals.
CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY 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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