CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE WG PARR TROPHY: Colerne overcome banana skin

Despite being two divisions lower than their Premier Division opponents, the Westbury-based side asked plenty of questions of their own and were unlucky not to take the game into extra time at least, eventually succumbing to a 3-2 defeat.

Despite two early goals the first half was a tetchy affair, riddled with tension, that suggested both sides knew that victory would give them a wonderful chance of silverware.

The hosts' direct approach had an immediate impact when, in just the sixth minute, Nick Chandler’s long range effort cannoned back off the crossbar and Chris Dixon showed great composure to head the rebound back over Horse’s keeper Rich Hunt to give the villagers an early lead.

The goal did nothing to ease the friction and things threatened to boil over as refereeing decisions infuriated both sides.

Parity was restored in the 14th minute when the same combination that had created a virtually identical opportunity earlier in the game this time got it right.

Jack Miluk was set free down the right flank and his whipped cross was finished neatly by Dale Rowland, to make it five in two games for the striker.

With their tails up the visitors started to look every bit the side that had racked up 32 goals in their opening five games of the season.

In between tempers, both on and off the field, threatening to spill over Miluk shot wide from a narrow angle and Dave Appleyard saw a rasping drive saved at his near post by Brian Moses in the Colerne goal.

Having sustained some pressure themselves it was the villagers that had the final opportunity of the half, when their most free-flowing move of the first period ended with Chandler finding the crossbar again with a curling effort from the edge of the penalty area.

The interval provided the opportunity for both sides to take stock and bring some composure back to their games, and with it chances initially dried up as two well organised defences took control.

However, as the half wore on, the balance of power began to tip in favour of the hosts and their more physical approach started to pay dividends.

Having seen a goalmouth scramble cleared and then an onrushing Hunt deny Simon Williams, Colerne sensed a second goal wasn’t far away and they got their reward when, just after the hour mark, Dixon outmuscled his marker and shot low into the far corner from 15 yards to re-establish a lead for his side.

Despite White Horse captain Rob Hart almost getting an instant equaliser when he sent a header just over, his side were soon back on their heels again as the Premier Division side went in search of a third and what they hoped would be a decisive goal.

Dixon was denied the goal of the game at the midway point in the half when his delicate lob was only kept out by a combination of the slope and the breeze, but with 12 minutes remaining completed his hat-trick, once again showing superior strength to shake off his man before firing past Hunt.

Whether it was nerves, tiredness, complacency or a combination of all three, the newly established two goal cushion simply turned the game on its head as White Horse began to create chance after chance in the last ten minutes.

They set up a tense finale in the 83rd minute when a long range Pete Ayton free kick was too hot to handle for Moses who let the ball squirm under him to make it 3-2, but Colerne then had the keeper to thank a minute later when he saved well at his near post from Jordan Gullis.

Youngster Tom Oakley narrowly headed over with three minutes remaining and then Gullis saw another effort sail just over in the final minute and with it White Horse’s hopes of a cup upset were effectively ended.

The final whistle eventually came to Colerne’s rescue and with it their place in the last eight of the WG Parr Trophy was confirmed.

Bradford Renegades 12 FC Brunel 2

HAVING beaten Talbot 9-2 in their preliminary round game, first division Bradford Renegades were in the goals for a second game running as clinical finishing eliminated top-flight Brunel, who were on the end of a 12-2 drubbing.

Brunel were first to find the net when a foul by Aaron Thornton led to Dave Nolan scoring from the penalty spot. 

Renegades hit back through Sam Jordan and in no time at all Jordan had completed his seventh successive hat-trick when he finished off moves started by Dan Jordan and Josh Maguire.

Brunel responded well with Mark Nolan scoring their second but it was brief respite as Lance Davis put Jordan in for his fourth and it was soon 5-2 with Mike Maguire crashing a drive off the post before half time.

The second half started exactly how first finished with Davis firing home in from of the edge of the box.

Jordan claimed his fifth from the spot after a foul on Josh Maguire.

Maguire was bought down again, but the referee played a good advantage Jordan found the net to complete his double hat trick.

Lance Davis’ solo effort then made it 9-2. Mike Maguire’s bullet header from a Jordan cross made it 10 before Jordan made it 11 with a good turn and finish for his seventh of the morning.

Maguire ended the scoring but once again it was the Sam Jordan show as his seven timer took his tally to 32 in seven games.

Cavalier FC 3 Trowbridge Town Supporters Club 3 (AET – Cavalier win 4-2 on penalties)

FOURTH Division Trowbridge Town Supporters Club gave it their best shot of claiming another cup scalp to go with the one of Christian Malford which they got in the previous round.

But Kevin Williams side came up just short against third division Cavalier, who needed extra time and penalties before booking their place in the next round.

A mistake from the supporters’ club keeper Robbie Newton gifted Cavalier their opener which was scored by Darren Folkard.

Dean Coles brought the supporters’ level and when John Williams' effort was turned into his own net by Carl Ledbury the visitors had turned things around.

John Stockman equalised for Cavalier only for Andy Anderson reply for the supporters’ club who with five minutes remaining were on course for a famous win.

Cavalier were then handed a lifeline, as a hotly-disputed penalty was dispatched by Josh Hunter who squared things up to take it to extra time where neither side could find a winner.

Down to the dreaded penalty shoot out and things went Cavalier’s way and successful kicks from Jez Wiltshire, Carl Ledbury, Roger Wiltshire and Josh Hunter took them through 4-2 on penalties.

FC Boroughs 4 Biddestone White Horse 7

THE all-first division affair between Malmesbury-based FC Boroughs and Biddestone White Horse went the way of Biddestone who, after taking the lead, trailed 4-1 at the break before turning up the gas in the second half to run out 7-4 winners.

Scott Fleming saw his second-minute opener for Biddestone wiped out as three goals in the space of three minutes looked to have put Boroughs in total command.

Anthony Brown scored the first two from the penalty spot and Jack Ellis netted to make it 3-1 and when Sam Jenner added a fourth prior to half time Biddestone looked a beaten side.

Dan King was the catalyst to Biddestone’s revival, King started the fight back with the first two goals, his second a delightful lob from 25 yards.

King turned provider for his sides equaliser which was scored by Tom Lye.   Dan King third of the game put Biddestone ahead for the first time since Fleming’s early strike.

A fourth from King gave them some breathing space as 6-4 and when Leigh Rogers cross evaded everyone and drop in it was game over and Biddestone had completed a remarkable turnaround to book their place in the quarter-finals. 

GRFC 2 North Star A 7

FIRST Division North Star A who struggled past third flight Corsham Park Rangers in the previous round avoided a possible cup upset away at second division GRFC who put up a brave performance before losing 7-2. 

Karl Sharratt and Paul Green put North Star into an early two-goal lead before a brilliant team move led to Harry Myles reducing the arrears for GRFC.

A second from Green and a well taken goal from Jamie-Lloyd Davies increased the visitors lead to 4-1.

Sharratt scored his second and the Star’s fifth which effectively killed off any hopes of a GRFC revival.

Although Robbie Burton did manage a second for the home side after good work from Jordan Tarrent it counted for nothing as Sharratt’s third of the morning and Matty Law’s late goal sealed what was a comprehensive win for the Star who were cup winners back in 2006.  

Kings Arms (All Cannings) 1 Castle FC 7

ONE of the games that caught the eye in the last 16 of the draw saw local rivals Kings Arms (All Cannings) welcome neighbours Castle FC to their village fortress.

After some pre-match mind games from Dean & Jim Wilson (Kings Arms),  Tom Perkins Castle side coasted to a comfortable 7-1 victory to put themselves into the last eight of the competiton.

After doing all they could to prevent Castle playing as strong as side as possible, Castle still had plenty of class in their lockers to brush aside Wilsons men in what was a good advert for Sunday morning football.

Perkins named a similar side to that, that despatched FC Buscots in the previous round and they looked good value for a strong cup push.

Ever-present Gary Campbell in the middle of the park got things started when he opened the scoring with a tame effort which seems to be his trademark these days within the opening five minutes.

Two minutes later Castle gave themselves a two goal cushion when Jack Fisher’s effort came back of the post leaving Marcus Wallen with an easy tap-in.

The game ebbed and flowed and Kings Arms got a couple of opportunities hitting the woodwork on two occasions.

Castle got their third of the morning when after a good through ball from Shaun Moffat, Tom Slater coolly rounded the keeper to make the score 3-0. C astle got their fourth of the morning when captain Liam Hill shot past three players and drove the ball into the bottom corner to end the game as a contest and this is how the sides went in at the break.

Kings Arms started the second half much better and got themselves on the ball a bit more however Marcus Wallen got his second of the morning when he capitalised on a fumble in the area to knock the ball into an empty net.

Castle got their sixth and Wallen his hat-trick when again after some good football from the whole team he finished off the move with a well taken finish.

Penned back in their area, all Kings Arms were restricted to was counter attacks here and there and one paid off when Gary Lavery went through on goal and with the goal of the morning lobbed the Castle keeper from 30 yards out to make the scoreline 6-1.

Castle had the last laugh though when Wallen completed his four-timer with again another simple finish from close range.

The victory was marred however when Andy Hunt from the Kings Arms required an ambulance when he suffered a nasty gash to his forehead when challenging in the air with Steve Bush.

Perkins said after the game that everyone from The Castle FC wished the player well and a speedy recovery.

Miller Sports 5 Sutton Benger 3 (AET)

AFTER a run of three successive defeats Miller Sports pulled back from 2-0 down to win 5-3 in extra time against second division stablemates Sutton Benger, who had beaten their hosts 2-0 just a few weeks ago.

In very foggy conditions Benger dominated early on having most of the ball without creating too many clear-cut chances but as the first half wore on it became more of an even contest with Benger keeper keeping the score level when he tipped a long range effort onto the bar.

After the goalless first half Benger made their possession count and were awarded a penalty after James Weston was upended in the box and after a dispute with the referee about the placement of the ball the penalty was calmly dispatched by Tom Bond.

A second quickly followed and it was again from the spot. Luke Watson was fouled and Bond again made no mistake placing the ball in the opposite corner this time.

With recent results going against them Miller could have been out of the contest but after making a couple of substitutions were straight back in the game through Nick Groves who slotted home after a defensive mistake.

Benger restored their two-goal lead when Luke Watson ran clear and slotted under the keeper to make it 3-1.

With only nine minutes remaining Miller threw everything forward and got a goal back to make it 3-2 with Robert Biggs scoring.

They got the equaliser with only minutes remaining Scott Boyd scored to take the game into extra time.

With their tails up and with Benger tiring only having the bare 11 after a number of players let them down it was Miller who took the lead for the first time.

Another defensive error saw Nick Groves make it 4-3 in the first half of added time shortly after Boyd put a cross in from the left which looped in off the post.

Miller held out and continued there great cup run while it was disappointing result for Benger who were hoping for a good cup run.

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