PREMIER Division side AFC Melksham overturned a 2-0 deficit against Division Two title hopefuls Worton & Cheverell to claim a place in the AM Print & Copy-sponsored Knockout Cup final in the Chippenham & District Sunday League.
After a slow start where Ben House netted a double for Worton, Melksham turned the game on its head in the last 15 minutes to claim a 4-2 win.
Owen Pearce reduced the arrears for Melksham on 75 minutes and it was one-way traffic after that as Jordan Kirk netted direct from a corner to level things up. Kieran Mills then put Melksham 3-2 up before Pearce sealed the victory with his second.
Prior to the game, referee Maurice Chilcott was presented with a memento by league president Ken Clarke and chairman Andy Hillier to mark the milestone of officiating 700 games in the league, achieved back on December 9 in the Knockout Cup tie between the Bell By The Green and Bath Road.
Chilcott began his run back on the March 10, 1990, when he refereed Cross Keys Rowde’s clash against Old Road.
Subsidiary Cup
LAST season’s winners Bromham top Group One of this season’s Gooding Accounts-sponsored competition and a 4-1 win away at FC North Wiltshire means they are well-placed to progress to the knockout stages.
Ryan Bole scored from the penalty spot to put Bromham in front but Ashley Fletcher’s excellent free-kick levelled it up. Ed Summers regained the lead for Bromham prior to half-time and his second-half double completed his hat-trick and his side’s success.
The Foresters Arms overturned a 2-0 interval deficit to claim a 3-2 triumph over Biddestone in Group Three.
Alex Hallett’s double had given Biddestone the advantage before Pete Gainey started the comeback. Sean Meer restored parity for Foresters before James Ponsford’s free-kick won the game.
Premier Division
BATH Road picked up three much-needed points as a 4-3 win over North Star Club confirmed their place in the top flight for next season.
A Joe Child double gave Bath Road a 2-0 lead before Chris Broom’s own goal and a Tom Stratton penalty tied things up at 2-2. Having put through his own net, Broom then scored his first-ever goal in adult football to give Star a 3-2 half-time lead.
Arron Gardiner’s header restored parity for Bath Road before he sealed victory late on.
In what was a rehearsal for next week’s Knockout Cup semi-final between Box Rovers and Pheasant, the former came from behind to claim a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
Goals from Nick Manifold and Max Wyatt had given Pheasant a 2-0 interval lead but Ben Wickens got Box back in the game before James Gardner netted a late equaliser for the villagers.
Division One
WITH Bromham confirmed as champions last weekend, the race for the second automatic promotion spot is starting to hot up as all three contenders picked up victories in their latest fixtures.
Westbury Railway consolidated their position in second with a 3-2 win away at Kingfisher.
Frankie McEntegart saw his opener for the Railwaymen cancelled out by Richie Bolter before the break. Lee Causon’s brace saw Westbury open up a 3-1 lead, meaning that Chris Cox’s late free-kick was just a consolation for the Fishermen.
A 6-0 success for Faded at FC Libby keeps them in third place.
Ashley Poms gave Faded a first-half lead and two quickfire Zack Manna goals in the second half put Faded firmly in the driving seat.
Poms netted a second from the penalty spot for 4-0, Manna then completed his hat-trick and the scoring was rounded off by Kieran Palmer.
Fox & Hounds sit in fourth spot after their 4-0 victory over Sutton Benger.
Rob Christopher bagged a couple of goals, while there was one each for Mark Davies and Justin Preece.
Brunel hauled themselves out of the relegation zone courtesy of a 2-0 victory at Calne United thanks to goals from Matt Cootes and Steve Morris.
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