North Wilts shock AFC Melksham

FC North Wiltshire gave their chances of remaining in the Shoestrings-chargrill Chippenham Sunday League, Premier division a huge boost with a great comeback win away at AFC Melksham. 2-0 down at one stage, North Wilts turned things around to win 4-2. Goals from James Dark and Jack Woolsgrove looked to have put Melksham well on top, that was before Matt Webb followed up a shot to tap home and reduce the arrears and Gareth Jones turned home a Robbie Pitman assist to square things up prior to half time. After the break North Wiltshire went ahead when a Josh Hughes cross come shot deceived everyone and a second from Jones who finished off a great move wrapped up all 3 points for Steve King’s side.

Bath Road may well remain in the danger zone, but a 1-0 victory over a Semington side who had beaten them 2-0 in the reverse fixture will give them hope that they will start moving up the standings in the weeks to come. Harry Ryan’s goal for Bath Road midway through the second half proved to be the winner.

A 4-0 victory for FC Lacock away at Faded keeps them snapping at the heels of leaders Worton & Cheverell who themselves saw their scheduled game against Westbury Rangers awarded to them as Rangers were unable to raise a team. Faded held their guests to a goalless first half, but were unable to keep Lacock out in the second period as goals from Josh Hard, Kieron Gleed, Patrick Kapelka and Aaron Masson saw the villagers to their seventh win in 8 games.

Star setting pace at the summit

North Star Club who suffered relegation at the end of last season remain of course for an immediate return to the top flight. A 5-2 triumph over bottom of the table Sporting Box means the Calne based side top Division One table by 8 points. Ben Tylee and a superb long range effort from Owen Thornton, which was his first ever goal helped the Star take a 2-1 interval lead with Lee Grealish replying for Sporting Box. Ashley Allsop restored parity for Sporting Box, Sean McPhillips regained the lead for North Star after an assist from keeper Ollie Parfitt. Parfitt turned provider again for the Star’s fourth which was scored by McPhillips, it was left to Dean Fry to wrap up the points with his seventh goal of the season.

The Foresters Arms came out on top in their derby day meeting with FC Libby, A thumping 8-1 victory means that the Arms maintain their bragging rights over their rivals having beaten them 3-2 earlier in the season. Stuart Barber stated the ball rolling and Rob Sandiford made it 2-0 at the break. Mikki Harrison, Kai Miller and a couple more from Barber after Andy Sayers had scored for Libby took it to 6-1. Leigh Rowles-Hitchcock and Sean Meer were introduced from the bench and both players inflicted more damage on their hosts with a goal each to complete the 8-1 drubbing.

Kingfisher’s 7-2 loss to Biddestone was their fourth on the bounce and sixth in 7 outings and means that they remain in a 4 way relegation dog fight. Ryan Armstrong’s opener for Biddestone was cancelled out by Jason Forde, but the Fishermen couldn’t hold out until half time as a sweetly struck 25 yard drive from Shaun Paradise saw Biddestone regain the lead. Two second half penalties for Ryan Armstrong saw him complete a hat trick, Keenan Burnell’s tap in and two late headers from Henry Garraway and George Garraway put the Biddy Boys in seventh heaven.

Lion Fiddle overcame on paper what could have been a possible banana-skin to their title challenge, the Fiddlers were on top form as they destroyed Westbury Railway 8-2. Mark Robinson bagged himself a hat trick, but he was outscored by top scorer Conner McKay whose 4-goal haul took his tally for the season to 22. Matt Morris with his first goal for the club made up the 8. Owen Hunter and John Williams replied for the Railway Men.

On a testing and trying day due to the pitch at the Beeches, Shaw, honours were shared as Old Road and New Inn Wacker battled out a 1-1 draw. Old Road opened the scoring on 10 minutes through Seamus Nickless-Mooney who scored after great work by Dan Billet, however his effort was cancelled out by Sean Horobin whose effort crawled over the line to earn New Inn their point.

Bremhill boost promotion hopes

FC Devizes United saw their Division Two promotion hopes suffer another blow after they were beaten 3-0 away at fellow top 6 side Bremhill View whose win saw the two side change positions in the standings. Despite bossing the first 15 minutes, Devizes found themselves 2-0 at the break. Tom Sigee was the star man for Bremhill with all 3 goals, his first was a simple tap in, his second came from the penalty spot and his third at the start of the second period which killed the game off was a thumping header.

A 6-0 victory for Lavis FC over Steeple Ashton keeps them in second place, 12 points behind leaders Royal Oak. After a goalless first half Bradley Edwards broke the deadlock for Lavis when he headed home a sublime Ryan Parfitt cross. Jack Booth doubled the lead before Edwards made it 3-0 with his second of the morning. Tom Wade added number 4, and Jamie Hancock got his name on the score sheet before Wade notched his second to complete the Lavis half-dozen.

Runaway leaders Royal Oak found themselves 1-0 down in the opening 30 seconds at home to Wednesday Warriors but struck back in style to claim a 10-2 success. After falling behind to a Noah Millard goal, Royal Oak’s keeper Matt Russell restored parity when his massive clearance from his own area beat his opposite number to make it 1-1. Cameron Lee’s well struck free kick gave the hosts a half time lead. Sam Hall came off the bench in the second period to score a 5-timer, Rich Tandy, Paul Williams and a second from Lee made up the 10. Harry Bodymore netted Warriors other consolation.

Pack Horse who currently sit in fourth place claimed a 3-0 success away at Spartak Rudloe that will boost their chances of claiming a top two finish. Pack Horse who have 4 games in hand on second placed Lavis FC and are just 5 points behind them claimed their latest win thanks to a Max Wyatt double and a Dan Williamson effort.

Results For Sunday 26th January 2020

Shoestrings-chargrill, Chippenham Sunday League: Premier Division, AFC Melksham 4, FC North Wiltshire 2; Bath Road 1, Semington 0; Faded FC 0, FC Lacock 4; Worton & Cheverell v Westbury Rangers H/W; Division One, FC Libby 1, Foresters Arms 8; Kingfisher 2, Biddestone 7; Lion & Fiddle 8, Westbury Railway 2; North Star Club 5, Sporting Box 2; Old Road 1, New Inn Wacker 1; Division Two, Bremhill View 3, FC Devizes Utd 0; Lavis FC 6, Steeple Ashton 0; Misfits v London Road Inn pp; Royal Oak 10, Wednesday Warriors ;2; Spartak Rudloe 0, Pack Horse 3.

Fixtures For Sunday 2nd February 2020

Shoestrings-chargrill, Chippenham Sunday League: Premier Division, Box Rovers v Bromham, Faded v Bath Road, FC North Wiltshire v AFC Melksham, Westbury Rangers v FC Lacock, Worton & Cheverell; Division One, Biddestone v Old Road, New Inn Wacker v FC Libby, Sporting Box v Lion & Fiddle, Sutton Benger v Kingfisher, Westbury Railway v The Foresters Arms; Division Two, London Road Inn v Spartak Rudloe, Misfits v Lavis FC, Pack Horse v FC Devizes Utd, Royal Oak v Bremhill View, Wednesday Warriors v Steeple Ashton.