DIVISION THREE The heavyweight battle in Division Three between leaders Biddestone White Horse and AFC Bell was tipped to be a thriller and it didn't fail to disappoint, as on the eve of Fireworks day both teams were in sparkling form in front of goal and it was Biddestone who took the spoils and a deserved win as they overturned a 4-1 half time deficit to run out 6-5 victors. With the touch paper lit, those lucky enough to witness the game couldn't believe their eyes as goals from Gary Campbell and Jonathan Couch put Bell two nil up. Scott Fleming pulled a goal back for Biddestone when he headed home an Ed Jones corner, before a double from Bell top scorer Craig Townsend gave his team a 4-1 half time lead which should have been enough to see them inflict the leaders with their first defeat of the season. However Biddestone have proved a hard to beat this term and they showed that they are a class act and merit their place in pole position as they clawed their way back into the game, firstly Tamlyn Goodrich converted a Ben Morris cross to reduce the arrears to two goals and then Paul Clifford turned home Andrew Davis pinpoint delivery to narrow the gap to one goal. Biddestone's fight back was complete when Ed Jones delivered another telling cross for Scott Fleming who squared things up at 4-4. Bell regained the lead thanks to Craig Townsend who completed his hat trick, but once again Biddestone hit back to restore parity and this time they went route one when a huge punt up field from keeper Pete Dennett was met by Tamlyn Goodrich who lashed home his second of the game a his teams fifth. With time running out it was likely to be the next goal scored would win the game and this proved to be so and it was Biddestone who scored it as they took the lead for the first time in the game contest thanks to Scott Fleming whose strike from 25 yards rocketed home to earn Biddestone a 6-5 triumph which enabled them to open up a three point lead over the rest of the chasing pack.
Little George were in ruthless form against Churchill Arms who they beat 9-0 and if it wasn't for Churchill's keeper Mike Barton Little George might well have hit double figures, against their guests whose defensive frailties helped in their own downfall. Lee Blackmore topped scored for the winners with four of the nine goals which all came in the fist half. Nat Auckland added two-second half headers, Jack Coathupe took his total for the season to 10 with another header and Neil Harlock scored his first goal of the season, which also came via his head, Joe Forester spoiled the sequence of goals as he completed the scoring with a simple tap in.
Bromham (Sunday) lost ground on the leading clubs after they suffered a 4-3 loss away at Blue Circle (Sunday) whose win ended their three game losing run. Greg Rogers scored for Blue Circle after 16 minutes, but the cement boys had surrendered their lead before the break as goals from Chris Sampson in the 25th and 27th minutes saw Bromham lead 2-1 at the interval. The Circle's player / manager Steve Martin brought his team level when he converted from the penalty spot on 70 minutes. Bromham thought that they had won the game when Steve Moxham put them back in front on 82 minutes, but Blue Circle hit back immediately Russell Dyer scoring to level matters. With four minutes left Blue Circle were awarded a penalty and for the second time in the game Steve Martin stepped up to take it, and even though it had to be taken twice Martin made no mistake as he stroked home what proved to be the winner as Bromham were unable to come back for a third time in the game.
Bottom of the table White Horse slumped to a ninth loss in as many matches, but their 5-1 defeat away at The Crown FC wasn't as great as many people thought it would be, which in a strange way could be seen a some sort of victory for Clive Black's never say die Horse side who have now conceded 56 goals. Antony Butler scored first for The Crown when he opened his account for the season, but Andy Field who made it one each cancelled out his opener. Two more first half goals from Butler saw him notch his first ever hat trick, which gave the hosts a 3-1-interval lead. A second half penalty from Neil Fletcher and a delightful lob from Jack Fisher on 80 minutes completed the scoring which took the Crown's unbeaten run to four matches.
Westbury Rangers B defeated Corsham Park Rangers 3-2 in a match which at this early stage of the season was being build as a relegation four pointer and was deservedly won by a battling Westbury side who took the lead on 38 minutes when Ashley Easton beat Corsham Park's offside trap to put the visitors to Leafy Lane one up. Corsham Park were back on level term two minutes later when Jake Marshall's cross come shot caught Westbury's keeper Ryan Williams out of position and nestled in the back of the net. Westbury retook the lead in the 44th minutes when Matt Mead fired home from 18 yards after Ian Standing and Neil Gordon combined to set him up. Simon Young looked as if he had earned Corsham Park a point when he drilled home a ferocious 20-yard free kick in the 70th minute. Westbury's manager Dave Griffin made on final throw of the dice when he sent on super sub Ross Pugh and it was Pugh who was in the right place at the right time as he slipped the ball into an empty net after a mix up in Corsham Park defence to earn his team what could prove to be a vital two points.
After beating AFC Bell 5-0 back in September, Pack Horse Rangers would have been expecting their season to get better, but since that victory Pack Have lost three on the spin and their 3-2 loss away at Chippenham West End Club saw them slip down to 10th place just two points clear on the drop zone. Pack Horse started well and after good work from Shane Bell allowed Simon Reid to finish well to give them the lead on 30 minutes. The lead was short lived and it wasn't long before the West End Club were back on level terms, a run into the box from Josh David saw him brought down and the resulting spot kick was tucked away by Paul Mannings to make it one apiece. Pack Horse then had Liam Bell sent off and this paved the way for Tristan Roberts to give West End Club the lead when he converted a Scott Nash cross. A second of the game from Paul Mannings gave West End Club a 3-1 advantage and although Glyn Pascoe halved the arrears when he headed home a Chris Ferris cross. West End always had the numerical advantage and they should really of added to their three goals as they made hard work of what should have been an easy win, but manager Tam Laidlaw was happy to settle for the win no matter how narrow the margin of victory was as long as it earned his team two more points.
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