Rangers make history as they seal first title

Rangers celebrated the club's first triumph since 1980, when they won Division Four, after a hard-fought victory at Meadow Lane over Biddestone Social, whose own hopes of finishing runners up were ended by the 4-2 defeat.

Their eighth home match in a row saw them build up a two-goal lead thanks to efforts from Dave Whyte and Martin Little. Biddestone hit back to level with two headed beauty's from Matt Pratley.

Fifteen minutes from time Little regained the lead for Rangers and he completed his hat-trick seven minutes from time. Biddestone's loss means that West Lavington (Sunday) who almost went out of the league before the campaign had even kicked off finish as runners up.

Maud Heath, who lost 2-0 to Rangers on Thursday, were beaten 4-2 by Box Rovers, despite starting with just nine players for the seventh time in eight games.

The nine men of Box took an early lead through a fantastic Tom Smith goal, only for Maud Heath's Dean Slade to fire in a brace. Smith equalised and two well taken goals from Jason Walsh saw them move 4-2 in front inside the first 30 minutes.

After two midweek defeats, Maud Heath claimed a win at their third attempt, away to Trowbridge Harriers. They returned to Calne with a 4-0 win after Slade and Adie Simpkins scored two each.

Dog & Fox Ashley and Biddestone Social featured in an end of season classic that the Dog won 5-4. The Bradford side were three-up with goals from Steve Roddy (2) and Mark Robinson. Biddestone then decided to play and Pratley (2) and Will Edwards squared things at 3-3.

Roddy regained the lead for the Dog to complete his hat-trick on 61 minutes, but five minutes later Pratley sealed his treble when he lobbed home to make it 4-4. With six minutes left on the clock Mark Gerrish netted the winner for the Dog .

Dave Crawford stole the show in his last game for Corsham Cricket Club as they beat Bradford News 3-2. Crawford, who normally plays at the back, was pushed up front and duly obliged with two goals, Jamie Holland scoring the other.

Jason Povey and Charlie Heydon were on target for the Newsmen who finished with ten-men following the dismissal of Gavin Targett.

WINSLEY secured second and promotion back to the top flight after seeing off the challenge of Colerne FC with a 3-2 triumph.

Colerne went in front through Frazier Glendinning and Jamie Bowler, who hit a spectacular shot. But Winsley were on level terms before the break as Gary Higdon and then Luke Harfield netted, and Nick Ridout's 55th minute winner sent them back to the Premier Division.

North Bradley's keeper Pete Stephenson played like a world beater when Bradley beat Holt 2-1 to keep their hopes of survival alive, but in the return fixture he performed like an egg beater as he was at fault for four of Holt's goals in their 6-2 reverse.

Tom Pang hit five, with Pete Andrews completing the half dozen. Bradley's goals came via Leigh Trainer and a tap in from Craig Brown.

North Bradley's remarkable fight to stay in the division saw them rewarded as their 3-0 defeat of Calne Sunday allowed them to leapfrog Atworth United, who now suffer the drop. Bradley achieved their great escape thanks to a brace from top scorer Leigh Trainer and one from the experienced Paul Riley

Wingfield led Semington Rovers 2-1 at the interval but threw the game away in the second period as Rovers hit back to secure a 3-2 success. Stuart Barber's opener for Rovers was cancelled out by Lee Sines whose awesome strike from 30 yards made it 1-1. Sines then set up Andy Edwards for another well taken goal as Wingfield took the lead.

Martin Bray's first goal for Rovers levelled the game at 2-2 and Phil Gregson, who also broke his scoring duck, hit Rovers' winner midway through the second period.

After a promising start to the season Chippenham Police finished off without picking up a point from their last eight matches, the campaign that had promised so much ended with a 2-1 loss at North Star A. Tim Cullin's consolation for the boys in blue sandwiched goals from Dale Smith and Nick Fleming.

DIVISION TWO

SPENCER Sports were crowned Second Division champions when they beat local rivals Parsons Nose 2-0 on Tuesday night to complete a league and cup double.

Having already lifted the WG Parr Trophy, they needed just one win from their three remaining games to take the Division Two title, which arrived in their first game as goals from Tom Evans and Dan King eased them home. Tom Aust's side returned to action two day's later and repeated the scoreline with victory over King Alfred and once again Tom Evans and Dan King made the scoresheet.

Spencer completed their excellent campaign on a high note with a 4-3 victory over Potterne FC with goals from Ben Grinham (2), Ty Treharne and King. Potterne replied through Lee Sanders, Jonathan Schofield and Ben Giles.

Two midweek wins for AC Soho put them on course to snatch the runners up spot from Christian Malford, their 5-2 success over Steeple Ashton meant that they had to beat Corsham Park Rangers and King Alfred to take second spot.

Paul Maddox hit two stunning goals against Ashton, with Stuart White, Mike Austin and Marcus Young also on target. Lee Hayward and Nathan Holloway replied for the losers. Rangers were next up for Soho and an 11-3 reverse saw them suffer their heaviest defeat since joining the league. Young kept his hopes of taking the golden boot trophy alive with five, Rob Hickman (3), Maddox, Austin and Lee Woodward completed the rout.

Warren Jones replied with two of Rangers' consolations while the goal of the game came from their other scorer Kevin Streeter who rifled home a blistering 35-yard effort.

Soho's 13th straight win, a 4-1 victory over King Alfred, was good enough for them to steal the runners up spot from Christian Malford. Jason Cole put Alfred one-up only for Marcus Young to tie the score from the penalty spot with his 48th goal of the season. Hickman (2) and Paul Maddox then sealed the win.

Blue Circle (Sunday) finished their season on a high note, the cement boys who had already been relegated turned on the style to defeat Sutton Benger 5-2. Daryl Maxwell (2), Ryan Earny, Matt Bradley and an own goal saw them home. Mark Merriman netted both for Benger.

Biddestone Arms had mixed fortunes in midweek, they lost 2-1 at home to Potterne on Tuesday night but then beat Steeple Ashton (Sunday) 1-0 two day's later.

Biddestone ended their campaign on a high thanks to an Ian Dawkins own goal and a Steve Casey effort which saw them defeat Sutton Benger 2-1, Nick Slade replied.

DIVISION THREE

PIG and Whistle United stole second place from FC Bradford with a 14-0 win over nine-man Virgin Mobile.

Bradford had beaten champions Kings Arms 3-1, but United stunned everyone as they snatched promotion on goal difference.

Jeff Hale hit four of United's goals, while Mark Bridger (3), Paul McCarthy (2), Kevin Micklejohn (2), Steve Robinson, Stuart Frith and Danny Cole completed the amazing scoreline. Virgin had the chance to deny United promotion but Ian Standing had a penalty saved by United's keeper Wesley Frith.

King's Arms finished their season with a 7-3 victory away at Somerford for whom Tom Knight struck a hat trick. But Scott Askew struck five times to take his tally for the season to 43.

Clive Black's winner 15 minutes from time earned White Horse FC a 3-2 victory over Old Road Tavern.

DIVISION FOUR

HAVING already been crowned champions Bar OC's 12th clean sheet of the season helped them to a 2-0 victory over Fascia Graphics, Luke Enderby and Rob Drown on target.

They then smashed four without reply past bottom of the table AFC Melksham. Andy Webster (2), Kevin Hamersley, Enderby on target.

Fascia Graphics took all the points from their final game of the season after they eased past AFC Springfield 3-1, two Steve Shipway headers and Antony Barber sealed the game.

Plough went into their final game of the season against runners up Rowde Dynamos on the back of Dave Thomas (3) inspired 3-1 success over Cooper Avon. Rowde were crushed 5-1 with Thomas (2), Mark Reynolds, Jamie Reeve doing the damage before Richard Hayter's consolation.

Wanderers better in their game with Pack Horse Rangers but Rangers hit five goals. Simon Reid, Phil Clark, Stuart Deacon and a double from Shahram Hematti did the damage.