Wanderers put unbeaten record on the line

From the Wiltshire Times, first published Friday 14th Dec 2007.

Steeple Ashton Rangers will be hoping for a sixth straight victory when they entertain Wanderers who remain the only unbeaten team in the division.

If the match lives up to expectations it could result in a high scoring match, which will could end all square.

Wanderers, who have not completed a match for almost a month, have scored an average of three goals a game in their six outings.

Steeple Ashton, who have played twice as many games as Wanderers, have hit a purple patch and will be full of confidence going into the game and if they can maintain their good form, which has seen them concede just four goals in their last five matches, they will be in with a good chance of bringing their visitors' unbeaten run to an end.

The match will test Wanderers' title credentials and if they can take a point from the game they will be more than happy as it would keep them within touching distance of the teams above them, some of whom have played four or five games more but who are only five points ahead.

Chippenham United RAOB v Old Road Tavern

AFTER going 15 matches without a win, Chippenham United RAOB have a very good chance chalking up their first victory since March of this year when they beat AFC Pilot 3-2, thanks to goals from James Hernandez (2) and Pete Savage.

United host Old Road Tavern and having taken a point off the Tavern in a 0-0 draw on the opening day of the season will be looking to go one better on Sunday.

Since then neither side has managed to keep another clean sheet, yet incredibly their defensive records are two of the best in the division and are only bettered by three other sides.

United and Old Road have six points each and if they could find themselves a proven goal scorer they would start to climb the table.

Local pride will be at stake when the clubs clash at Stanley Park and even though United are tipped to win the game, they would settle for a point which would give them their seventh draw of the season.

Somerford v North Star B

NORTH Wiltshire rivals Somerford FC and North Star B faced each other on the opening day of the season and it was a good result for all those involved as the scoreline finished 2-2.

Wayne Burry and Gary Mitchell netted for Somerford and Dan Allison and Shane Minnis scored for the Star.

Since then it would be fair to say that North Star are having the better season, however, with two wins on the spin and having lost just one of their last five matches, Somerford have started a revival.

If they win at the weekend they will move above the Star in the table and if results go their way they could even move into fifth spot which would be a remarkable achievement for Gary Chandler and his village side who couldn't buy a win in their first seven matches of the new term and this after they had lost five on the trot at the end of the previous campaign.

The result should be a close one between what now seem to be two equally matched sides and with home advantage Somerford might just edge the game by the odd goal.

Corsham United v Riverside Renegades

ALONG with the match featuring Steeple Ashton Rangers and Wanderers, the other big game in the division is the one at Leafy Lane, where third placed Corsham United host Riverside Renegades, who are one place but three points behind them in the table.

The teams met on the opening day of the season and on that occasion it was newcomers Riverside who took the honours with a 4-1 victory. Joe Taylor scored twice, Lee Ridout and player manager Lance Davis scored one apiece, with Joe Pritchard, who is now the division leading scorer, bagging United's consolation.

Corsham United will be without Tony Druitt who has left for a warmer climate and has returned to his native Australia for the Christmas period. Druitt could prove to be a big loss for United in what is a vital match against one of the other sides who will be pushing for promotion.

United have a massive advantage over their guests and that is that while Riverside have had their feet up for almost a month, they have been playing and winning. The only match they lost was the one against local rivals Corsham Centre B, who won 4-3 in blustery conditions at a very wet and windy Leafy Lane.

United will start the game as favourites but if Lance Davis can motivate his side and they aren't rusty then they could beat United for a second time this year.

Three Crowns United v Kings Arms

CHIPPENHAM-based based The Three Crowns United have yet to play a match in December and, having lost the last game they did play, Tony Beasley's team will be eager get back to action and winning ways.

They have what should be a relatively easy match at home to Kings Arms (Market Lavington), who have not won since late October.

The Kingers are also suffering from injuries and will be without a number of keys players, including goalkeeper Shane Goodship and Darren Folkard, who is still under suspension and won't be back until the end of January.

The Three Crowns are new to the league this term so the teams will be strangers to each other but going on current form the home side should pick up their fifth victory of the season.

The result might be a lot closer than expected and if Kings Arms have a new goalkeeper on board before the weekend then they may just have an outside chance of taking a point from the game that should be won by the Three Crowns.

Trowbridge Town Supporters Club v Corsham Centre B

KEVIN Williams' Trowbridge Town Supporters' Club team will be hoping their home pitch at Bratton is passed fit so that they can welcome Corsham Centre B, who they are keen to play for a second time this term.

The supporters lost the reverse match at Meriton Avenue 3-1 when they thought they should have got something out of the game and they will raise their game in the hope of getting revenge.

Goals from Warren Jones, Chaz Young and Kevin Hodgkinson gave the Centre, who are currently in second spot, victory on the day after a spirited display from the supporters had threatened an upset.

The Centre, who have lost only two of their 11 matches to date, will be odds-on to complete their first league double of the campaign and with Tom Lye looking to have returned to form in front of goal the supporters' club goalkeeper Robbie Newton could be in for a busy time.

Since the sides first met Williams has added a few more players to his squad and if Gavin Targett, Nick Buckle, Nigel Penelhum and Paul Matthews can produce a big performance then the supporters might just have a chance of causing an upset, but all four of them will have to be on form for that to happen.

The Centre ought to win comfortably but with Christmas just a little while away the supporters will be out to perform their own miracle, not on 34th Street, but at Lower Road, Bratton.

Archive Home