Vics finish second in title race

Malmesbury travelled to Freshford on Saturday needing a victory against Paul Rangers' Winsley side to set up a winner takes all clash less than 24 hours later with Knockout Cup winners All Cannings to determine who would finish second.

Winsley themselves were hoping for a win to ease their fears of the drop to Division One, but it was Malmesbury who won 3-1 .

Alan Webb set them on their way only for Stuart Greatwood to equalise. Anthony Vizard restored Malmesbury's lead and Gavin Thompson gave the visitors breathing space before Paul Ranger drilled home a penalty to cut the gap, but in the end it proved not to be enough as the result condemned the villagers to relegation.

Next up for Malmesbury came All Cannings and with home advantage Cannings were favourites to claim their second piece of silverware this term.

But, despite taking the lead through a Steve Bush penalty, Cannings were unable to hold on as Malmesbury hit back to win 3-1, with Gavin Thompson, Lee Bevis and Anthony Vizard (penalty) on target as they sealed win number 13 of the season.

Pack Horse survived the drop despite losing 7-3 to Winsley in midweek.

Winsley's victory drew the teams to equal points but with the Horse having a better goal difference everything hinged on their final games. Ian Williams (2) and Martin Powell being on target for the Horse. Andy Sandell scored a stunning 25 yard free kick for Winsley and Paul Ranger bagged a screamer from 30 yards and along with further strikes from Dean Ranger (2) and Sandell plus tap ins for Lee Bruton and Sam Gent, Winsley picked up their best win of the season.

Pack Horse played Box Rovers in their final game not knowing that Winsley were already down after their loss to Malmesbury and despite trailing 2-0 at the break they battled back to snatch a 4-3 win against last terms champions.

Andy Price headed Rovers in front and when James Lye made it 2-0 Pack Horse looked down and out. Things went from bad to worse at the start of the second half as Martin Powell missed from the penalty spot for the Horse.

After a number of chances, Horse went 3-2 up thanks to goals from Martin Powell, Paul Duckett and Dave Williams, who both scored for the first time this season. Jamie Rowe tied the scored at 3-3, but the Horse, who needed a win to be certain of staying up, ran out winners thanks to Powell's second goal.

Division One

TERRY'S made the trip to play West End on Wednesday night and gained a 3-1 win to keep their title challenge alive.

A nervous start by the Trowbridge team saw West End pin Terry's back and create a number of early chances of their own. But with Mark Binns in commanding form in goal, and a slice of luck of two, Terry's held out, despite their crossbar being rattled and a close range strike flying inches over the bar.

Chris Gale and Paul Clarke (2) scored for Terry's, with Leon Rockley replying.

Terry's clinched the First Division crown on Sunday morning with a five star display away at Maud Heath Sports that saw them secure back to back promotions.

It was fitting that the title should be won with a performance as convincing as this, although the hosts continued to play competitive football throughout before falling to a 5-1 defeat.

The Terry's defence was well-organised and committed, led by man-of-the-match Jake Gaines.

Terry's took the lead after 35 minutes from a slick move, with Iain Winterbottom driving the ball home home from the edge of the area. Five minutes later it was 2-0, when Paul Clarke ran onto a flick to score from close range at the second attempt, after the goalkeeper spilled his first effort.

Clarke scored his second, when after a mazy run from the half-way line he burst into the area to beat the despairing goalkeeper with a half-hit shot.

Jake Gaines made it four on 60 minutes, beating the goalkeeper to a Gorton pass and flicking the ball home from close range.

It was five after 75 minutes when substitute Ross Pugh charged down a clearance and saw the ball spin into the corner of the net off his knee.

The hosts got a late consolation when Simon Hillier scored with a free header from a corner.

Terry's are champions having lost only two games all season and go into the Premier Division high on confidence.

Long time leaders West Lavington did what they had to do against West End Wanderers but with Terry's doing the business against both the West End and Maud Heath Sports, Neil Hillier's team had to settle for second best behind the Trowbridge side who had comprehensively beaten them 6-1 in their league meetings.

West Lavington's 4-0 win over the nine men of the West End was scant consolation. Simon Drewitt scored all four goals, includng a penalty, to take his tally for the season to 22 as he overtook Terry's Dean Gumm to become the Division's top scorer by one goal.

Westbridge United's manager Tim Cross signed off in fine style. His final game in charge saw his side defeat local rivals Trowbridge Harriers 5-1.

Division Two

CHRISTIAN Malford's last game of the season was a 10 goal midweek thriller against Wingfield which ended all square at 5-5.

Malford were 3-0 to the good before Wingfield decided to put in an appearance. Scott Evans 2 and Gary Blackwood were Malford's hit men. Andy Edwards and Guy Rowley, in his first game back since breaking his leg against Spencer Sports in September, gave Wingfield hope when they struck to make it 3-2 at half-time.

Scott Evans completed his hat-trick to make it 4-2 to Malford but with Ian Williams scoring twice to bring the scores level the game was evenly balanced going into the final 15 minutes. Malford looked to have won it when goal machine Scott Evans took his tally for the game to four and his total for the season to 28 but Wingfield never gave up and Ian Williams pounced five minutes from time to earn his team a share of the spoils as he completed a well deserved treble.

Although not involved in the fight for a top two finish, Wingfield had a huge say in who would claim the automatic promotion place behind champions Semington Rovers.

With Biddestone Social Club occupying second spot going into the last week of fixtures they could have been overtaken by Black Horse if they beat Wingfield and when they took a 1-0 lead through Tony Kerwick it looked odds on as if the watching Biddestone players would leave Sutton Benger disappointed, especially as Wingfield were down to the bare bones which meant that once again they had to use veteran player Ted Miluk.

But once again it was Miluk who got Wingfield back on the right track as his scrappy goal following a goal mouth scrabble took the sides into the second half at 1-1..

Black Horse threw players forward looking to find the all important goal that would see them reclaim the lead but after chance for both teams it was Wingfield who made the next breakthrough when Paul Cantello rifled home a rebound after Mark Barnett's bullet header had cannoned of the post.

At the final whistle Cantello's first goal of the season was the deciding factor as Wingfield clung on for a 2-1 victory.

Division Three

TWO midweek defeats for Cooper-Avon, against Southwick Sports and Roadrunners FC, left them with an almighty task if they wanted to remain in Division Three as they met Rowde in the final day showdown which would decide which of the two bottom clubs would face relegation.

Cooper's woes started on Tuesday night with a 4-0 loss at Southwick who won with goals from Chris Stojkovski (2), Carl Davies and Lee Ashman.

They followed that defeat up with a 9-1 hammering at the hands of Roadrunners FC, Simon Hardwick (3), Adam Stevens (2), Steve Ivin, Keith Taylor, Andy Fryer and Andy Zuk sharing the winners' goals, with Andy Roberts scoring a consolation which was to prove to be an all important goal.

Cooper-Avon knew that a victory over Rowde by one goal would be good enough to keep them in Division Three and send their rivals down.

Rowde, who had only managed to score two goals in their previous three games, would have been happy with another clean sheet as long as they tyre man didn't breach their own defences and at half time with the score line at 0-0 Rowde were staying up.

Rowde were dealt a bitter blow as Dean Harrison put through his own net to give Cooper-Avon the goal they needed. Rowde piled on the pressure but, despite their best efforts, they were unable to find the net and were relegated to Division Four.

Holt FC were in carnival mood for their final game of another successful season.

Having already claimed the title, Holt were out to impress the crowd of almost 300 supporters and cheered on by their team of cheerleaders everything went to plan as they defeated Corsham Park Rangers 3-1.