Division Three League Table - 2008/2009 Last update 4 January 2009

Division Three Report by Mr. M Schneider - Publications Secretary

Tony Beasley’s Chippenham based Three Crown’s United side are the runaway leaders of Division three and it would be a massive surprise it they threw away any of the nine point lead that they have built up over their rivals in the first half of the season. United have been awesome as the season has progressed and with 24 points from 13 matches they look as if they will be a hard side to beat in the second half of the season. Marcus Young has been in fine form for United and as long as the striker can avoid any suspension’s then he can play a major part in his teams success, Young has scored 16 goals to date and is proving to his doubters that he still has a lot to offer and although he isn’t getting any younger he still knows where the net is and that is exactly what manager Beasley needs as his team look to clinch the title in extra quick time.

Nathan Holloway would like to think that his Steeple Ashton Rangers side can climb out of their mini slump over the next few months, Rangers who arrived in the division in a blaze of glory after coasting to the division four title last term have failed to live up to pre-season expectations. Ashton might be nine points behind Three Crowns but they still hold a slender lead over a clutch of clubs for second place and although they have been way below par in the first half of the season, Ashton have got the personal who could make the season half of the season one to remember and help them to gain back to back promotions.
The Crown FC are in third spot and with a little more consistency Dan Sloan could turn his side into one who might just feature in the race for an automatic promotion spot. The Crown have lost five matches from the seven that they have played to date but with none of the others sides around them apart from Three Crown’s United setting the division alight the Crown have as good as chance as any of the other top six sides of nicking a top two finish if they can find some reliability.

Pack Horse Rangers are another team who might find themselves challenging for a top two place if they can maintain their surprising good start to the first half of the season. With Paul Kidley at the helm the Pack Horse have exceeded all expectations to date and if they can continue to perform as they have done in most of their 11 games to date then the Chippenham based side have a good chance of becoming the surprise package of the season. Pack Horse have to keep the winning formula intact and if they can do that then they could come up trumps and deny some of the more fancied sides glory as the season reaches it’s climax.

Bradford on Avon based Three Horseshoes Renegades have as good a chance as any of the other teams in the top six of putting pressure of the leaders and making their life a little harder but in reality Lance Davis side might look back on defeats against Lavington (Sunday) and Trowbridge Town Supporters’ Club as costly losses come the end of the season. Renegades have won five from 10 and once they get a few of their walking wounded and suspended players back they could be the side most possible to mix it up at the summit and could mussle their way into the top two within a few months.

Oliver Hickton’s Lavington (Sunday) side got off to a flyer and top the table at one stage of proceedings but four defeats on the spin has seen them plummet down the table to sixth spot and at the moment they are unable to buy a win which has become even harder following the departure of top scorer Myles Hickton back to Potterne. Lavington have 12 points to their name and should be safe from getting pulled into a relegation battle but stranger things have happened over the years and unless they can find a win from somewhere really soon Lavington could crash back to division four.

Westbury Rangers B might have lost four matches from the nine that they have played but if they can find the winning formula then Dave Griffin might be able to guide his side up the table and to a position where they could challenge for a piece of silverware. Westbury like their first team have been hit with postponements on their Meadow Lane ground but if they can find some continuity and string together a run of good results it should see them build in confidence and might even see them shock a few of the sides above them.

Bromham (Sunday) are one of four teams on nine points and after a very poor start Ady Kember’s side are one of the form sides in the division with just one defeat in seven games. Bromham will be expected to improve in the second half of the season as players return after injury and suspension and if Kember can get his first choice 11 onto the park then the villagers will have a very good chance of moving up the table but they have probably left it too late to mount a serious push for promotion.

Southwick Wanderers and Trowbridge Town Supporters’ Club have near identical records and like both Bromham and Westbury B are on nine points apiece. Neither side are guaranteed third division safety but they are just a couple of wins away from securing it that if last seasons final position are anything to go by. This season things may be a little bit tougher as there are a few clubs who could face a fight to avoid the drop but unless something goes extremely wrong from now until the end of the season both the Wanderers and the Supporters’ Club should be safe from danger.

Corsham United, Corsham Park Rangers and especially basement side Blue Circle (Sunday) are the three teams who may struggle to stay in the division but all three could beat the drop if they can put together a winning run. Steve Martin’s Blue Circle side are rock bottom and have just three points to their name and are finding it very hard to conjure up any form that will keep them in the division, in the past the Westbury based side have used their get out of jail card to good effect but this could be the time that it become’s invalid and that they finally drop down to division four. Corsham Park did very well to beat the drop last term and although they have had a few excellent results they are finding goals hard to come by which in turn could lead to their down fall. After a huge dip in form that saw Corsham United lose six on the spin Kai Flack’s side have rediscovered their lost form and three points from four has been good enough to move them out of the drop zone, which is where they will hope to stay. All three side in the bottom three will possibly be three come May time but which of the two are set to go down waits to be seen.


 

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