Southwick clinch cup place

THE Shoestring's sponsored Chippenham League managed to take advantage of a break in the weather and were lucky enough to see all but a handful of games completed.

The only game to survive the elements in the preliminary round of the Chronicle Subsidiary Cup saw a thrilling encounter between Southwick Sports and Social Club, from Division Four, and AFC Unicorn, from Division Three.

The match was eventually settled after 120 minutes, with the underdogs, Southwick, coming out on top 4-3.

Alan Fodder gave Southwick the perfect start when he was on hand to slot the ball home in the third minute, after he had hit the post in the first minute.

In the fifth minute Unicorn's Jason Matthews saw a flashing drive from 18 yards finish inches over the bar and four minutes later Unicorn's Lee Scutter made it 1-1 when he raced clear and pushed the ball beyond the advancing goalkeeper and into the net.

Midway through the half Southwick's Carl Davies outpaced Unicorn's sluggish defence only to lift his final effort high over the bar. But a minute later Davies made amends for his earlier miss when he drilled the ball home to give Southwick a deserved lead.

Southwick stunned Unicorn when they moved further in front in the 40th minute, with Dan Allford's 25 yard free kick squeezing through a packed defence to give his side a 3-1 advantage.

On the hour Unicorn clawed their way back into the game when Clint Cabrel turned home Scutter's cross to make it 3-2.

Unicorn's Kevin Woolford produced an outstanding goal-line clearance to deny Davies in the 70th minute and the same player was thwarted by goalkeeper Box, who produced an excellent save to deny him from making it 4-1.

Unicorn were piling on the pressure and only a wonderful save from Southwick goalkeeper Dan Green denied Woolford. But Green was powerless to prevent Cabrel from levelling and sending the match into extra-time in the 88th minute.

The first period of added time saw a free kick from Southwick's Dan Allford clawed to safety by Box. Unicorn came close to scoring when Scutter just failed to connect with Cabrel's telling cross.

With the first half of extra-time drawing to a close Southwick were awarded a free kick, when Kevin Hatharall upended the advancing Fodder and from the free kick Hatharall headed the ball past his own goalkeeper to give Southwick a 4-3 lead.

Unicorn never gave up and were unlucky not to take the tie to a penalty shoot-out when Paul Halsey's goal bound effort was hacked off the line by Martin Penny in the dying seconds.

The thrilling cup tie was well refereed by Brian Ellis, whose life was made easy by the sporting manner in which both sides played the game.

The matches between Trowbridge Town Supporters' Club and the Hare and Hounds and Westbury Rangers A and Malmesbury Victoria have been rescheduled for this Sunday.

Eric Hughes Memorial Cup

IN the first round, Biddestone Social Club, from Division Three, were up against Premier Division leaders Box and put up a brave fight before suffering a 3-1 defeat. Mike Few latched on to Russell Webster's excellent through ball to put Biddestone 1-0 in front, but goals from Darren Wileman, Danny Young and Tom Smith sealed Box's passage into the second round, where they will meet Premier Division rivals Dog and Fox Ashley.

Premier Division Royal Oak sent Second Division Terry's FC crashing out of the competition for a second consecutive season. An early goal from Terry's Rob Brown proved to be a false dawn as a hat-trick for Frank Rogers saw the Oak home.

Corsham Centre United completed a hat-trick of victories for Premier Division clubs when they defeated Division Four high-flyers Blue Circle Saints 7-3. Martin Blackman fired the Centre in front with a 25 yard thunderbolt and Tom Laver doubled the advantage with an individual goal of sheer class. Derek Moore and Simon Dent, with his first goal of the season, helped the Centre into a commanding lead before Liam Williams and Wayne Bristow hit back to give the Saints hope. Further goals from Lee Fuller (2) and Colin Johnson completed the Centre's seven. Graham Deveney added the Saints' third goal.

First Division Gladstone Liberal Club had a comfortable 5-0 win over Division Four strugglers Colerne B, with Jason Prades (2), Danny Thompson, Darren Legg and Andy Ponting sharing the goals. Cooper Avon's game with Neston 81 was called off at the 11th hour when the Melksham Town pitch was deemed unplayable.

In the Premier Division the matches between Avon News and Melksham Motor Spares and Malmesbury Town and Cooper Avon Rangers were victims of water logged pitches.

Division One

LEADERS Pilot completed half their league programme with an 8-3 win over Atworth United. Darren Morris (3), Simon McHale (2), Mark James (2) and Neil Wells scored the goals in the comfortable victory that ensured United remain firmly rooted to the foot of the table.

Mike Tipple, Gary Bye and Steve Vince were on target for the losers who had opened the scoring.

All Cannings remain in second spot following their 5-0 win over Chippenham Police. Martin Baker (2), Richard Mansell, Nick Oram and Brian Wiltshire were on target.

Martin Symcox gave the George Lacock the advantage against Hullavington. Andy Waller hauled his side level early in the second period before a double from Les Davies in the final 10 minutes saw the George to a 3-1 win.

Scott Askew struck three times as Trowbridge Town Youth demolished North Star A 6-1. Chris Vaughan, Liam Brown and Darren Campbell completed the half dozen and Ronnie Kallmeier replied.

Division Two

LEADERS Trowbridge Harriers left it late before overcoming a stubborn Avon Bradford side.

Alex Edwards fired Bradford into a second half lead before goals in the final 20 minutes from Robbie Simmonds (2), Gavin Baker and Andy Copper saw Harriers to a 4-1 win.

Sutton Benger and West Lavington were involved in an eight goal thriller which eventually went 5-3 in favour of Lavington. Simon Drewitt took his goal total for the season to 15 when he netted a double and Steve Moxham, Marcus Lovesey and Leigh Wells completing the scoring that keep the villagers in touch at the top of the table.

Richard Bruce (2) and Will Handy found the mark for Benger who were drawing 2-2 at the break.

An in-form Wingfield side coasted to a 7-3 win over North Bradley. Former Bradley players Mark Barnett, Andy Harding and Alan Roberts all had a hand in their new side's win. Barnett netted twice and Andy Edwards, Nick Bollen, Mike Perry, Rob Coombes and Harding completed the scoring, while goalkeeper Roberts saved a Stuart Powell penalty at a crucial stage of the game. Bradley's goals came from Brent Murden, Simeon Bush and substitute Ben Gardner, who netted with his first touch of the ball.

Trowbridge Town Colts had a 2-0 win over Navy Tavern United, thanks to goals from Alan House and Chris Sadd.

Division Three

St JUDE'S could only manage to field nine players for their match against table toppers Old Lane United and suffered an 18-0 drubbing.

Last season's leading scorer Mark McIntyre took this season's tally to 27 when he helped himself to seven goals. Marcus Young hit three, bringing his haul so far to 19, and Jason Wickes (2), Rob Hickman (2), substitute Mark Baldwin and a first ever hat-trick from Shaun Carter completed the rout.

Chippenham Black Horse are now in third place after defeating Rowde 5-2. Tim Hughes, Stuart Little, Richard Thorne, Tony Kerwick and Darren Whiston netted the goals.

Second placed Christian Malford came from behind twice against the Plough before securing a 2-2 draw.

Russell Francis gave The Plough the lead before Scott Evans levelled. Pete Collier restored the Plough's slender lead only for Evans to net his 20th of the season to earn Malford a valuable point.

Division Four

BARRY Nash's late consolation goal was not enough to save Old Road Tavern from a 3-1 defeat against Peter Black, who moved level on points with Blue Circle Saints at the top of the table. Shane Rendall (2) and Gavin Coleman were on target for the Blacks, who were outplayed for long periods and were saved by the wood on no fewer than seven occasions.

A hat-trick from Chris Long and goals by Nick Cawley, Liam Westland and Simon Clifford helped North Star B to a 6-0 win over Classic FC.

For the second week running White Horse suffered a defeat at the hands of Westbury rivals. This week it was the turn of Westbury Rangers B to inflict the Horse with a 3-2 defeat. Paul Phelps gave the Horse a 2-0 half time advantage before Rangers staged a second half fight back to win with goals from Mike Balchin (2) and Richard Wyatt.

Sir Audley Arms reversed their fixture against Corsham Park Rangers and ended their opponents' nine match unbeaten run with a 6-3 win.

Steve Mallard gave the Arms a perfect start and John O'Meara added a second five minutes later. Neil Bolton reduced the arrears but Keiron Smith's strike midway through the half edged the Arms 3-1 in front before Martin Perrett hit back to make it 3-2. O'Meara completed a first half hat-trick when he found the mark in the 36th and 42nd minutes to give the Arms a 5-2 half time cushion. Mark Wolf added Rangers' third before Luke Whiting completed the Arms' scoring.