|
|
 |
|
Chippenham & District Sunday Football League last update 8th Aug 2006 Report by Mr. M Schneider - Publications Secretary The
Auto Business Solutions Ltd, Chippenham League staged it’s annual Ken Clarke
Memorial Trophy 6-a-side competition at a sun drenched West Lavington on Sunday.
The curtain raiser to the league season which kicks off on Sunday 3 September is
now in it’s 7th season teams from Corsham Centre B and Devizes
based British Lion OC captured the first pieces of silverware on offer as both
teams emerged victorious after almost 8 hours of football. The Centre’s second
string retained the trophy they won last year by beating Corsham Centre A in the
Trophy final while British Lion defeated Sutton Benger to walk away with the
Plate. The competition attracted 39 sides to West Lavington, after the no show
of Parsons Nose B. Despite the long day the competition was hailed as a success
and will again see over £1000 raised for the Air Ambulance Fund.
After
progressing through the group stages of the Memorial Trophy with ease Corsham
Centre B met AFC Calne in the second round and progressed to the last 8 thanks a
2-0 victory. Corsham A also recorded a 2-0 success when they eliminated
Southwick Sports B. Much fancied Biddestone Social defeated Churchill Arms A 2-0
to progress to the final 8 and they were joined by Winsley who had a narrow 1-0
win over White Hart Combe B. A 2-0 scoreline was good enough for Ship FC A to
see off the challenge of AFC Melksham C, while the Ship’s B team weren’t so
lucky as their hopes were ended by King’s Arms (Trowbridge) who squeezed
through 1-0. Cooper Avon beat local Melksham rivals Pig & Whistle United 1-0
to progress to the quarter final stage and Spencer Sports crushed Westbury
United 4-0 to set up a showdown with Biddestone Social. In
the quarter finals Corsham Centre A ended Cooper Avon interest in the event as
an Adam Heath double and Simon Gray’s single saw them book a semi-final berth.
Biddestone Social and Spencer Sports were involved in a thriller, which was
eventually settled on penalties with Spencer winning the shoot out 6-5 as Kevin
Banks was guilty of missing the all important spot kick for Biddy. Ship FC A,
were unable to break Winsley down in normal or extra time but successful spot
kicks from Kieron Baggs and Shaun Percival saw them into the final 4. Corsham
Centre B had a bumpy ride against Kings Arms (Trowbridge) but came though it
thanks to a goal apiece from Jamie Lyons and Scott Lye which gave them a 2-0
success. Corsham
Centre B booked their place in a fourth successive final courtesy of a Jamie
Lyons goal which saw them end a stubborn Spencer Sports hopes of glory. The
other semi-final saw The Centre’s A team face The Ship FC A and for a while it
looked as if the Ship may pull of a surprise win, but with the game unable to
produce an outright winner it all came down to the dreaded penalty shoot out and
which set of players would be able to keep their nerve. After 12 kicks it was
the Centre who prevailed as the Ship’s keeper Luke Mayne was denied by his
opposite number Ross Lye. The
Memorial Trophy final wasn’t a classic in any way, as both Centre sides
battled for supremacy, chances were few and far between in the first period,
with the B’ teams keeper Ross Lye producing a fine stop to deny Craig Gingell
and at the other end Adam Heath went close for the A’ team. The game came to
life in the second half as Centre B took the lead via Jamie Lyons, this was
quickly doubled by Matthew Ralph. With the score at 2-0 the game looked all but
over for the Corsham Centre A, but they were given a lifeline when they were
awarded a controversial penalty, which was calmly tucked away by the impressive
Adam Heath. The Centre’s A team pressed hard for an equaliser in the final
moments of the game but they were unable to find another breakthrough which
meant for a 2nd time in 3 years the B team had put one over their A
team and it also means that the winners have now appeared in the last 4 finals,
winning 3 of them.
Having
finished 3rd in Group B, eventual Plate winners British Lion OC began
their second bite of the cherry for glory in the Plate competition with a 3-2
penalty shoot out victory over Market Lavington. Losing Finalists Sutton Benger
defeated Westwood United 1-0 to progress with a late winner. A golden goal
earned Hullavington a 2-1 victory from their encounter with Churchill Arms B.
1-0 victories were good enough to see both Kings Arms (Trowbridge) B and Parsons
Nose A make the final 8 as they saw off AFC Melksham C and Rising Sun A
respectively. White Hart Combe A beat Old Road Tavern A 2-0 and Tavern’s B
team saw their hopes dashed by Holt who won 4-3 after penalties. Kings Arms
(Trowbridge) C made sure that Chris Carr’s outfit had 3 teams through to the
quarterfinals of the Plate & Memorial Trophy when they put Southgate Inn
2-0. A
golden goal from Dan Rawlings seconds into extra time booked British Lion’s
place in the final 4 when they defeated Hullavington 1-0. Holt’s goalkeeper
Roy Hewitt went from shot stopper to striker as his goal won the villagers their
clash with Kings Arms (Trowbridge) A 1-0. Dan Neale struck the only goal of the
game as Parsons Nose put Kings Arms (Trowbridge) C. Sutton Benger made it a
quartet of 1-0 victories in the quarterfinals stages as Chris Miles solitary
strike was enough to put out White Hart Combe A.
Both
semi finals of the Plate competition had to be decided on penalties and after a
nail biting shoot out between Parsons Nose and British Lion it was the Lion who
roared they way into the final courtesy of their 5-4 win, after 9 successful
spot kicks it was left to keeper Leon Hartrey to keep the Nose in the game but
his kick was saved by keeper Mark Stonestreet to send the Lion through. Holt and
Sutton Benger semifinal wasn’t half as exciting but it was Benger who
progressed as successful penalties from Tom Birch, Paul Watson and Ian Dawkins
booked them a final berth this was after Roy Hewitt missed for Holt after Johnny
Andrews and Tyler Pang had netted for Holt.
The
Plate final may not have produced a goal fest, infact it took just 1 goal to win
the competition for British Lion OC as they defeated Sutton Benger 1-0. The game
was a credit to both teams involved as it flowed from end to end with both teams
creating a number of good goal scoring opportunities, however in the end it was
Andy Stonestreet’s first half effort that was good enough to win it for the
Devizes based outfit.
Following both finals, the trophies that were kindly sponsored by Westernsport Trophies of Chippenham were presented to the players by William Hayward, grandson of the late Ken Clarke. Victorious captain Andrew Webster was up first to pick up the Plate trophy for British Lion OC before James Whithead, the Centre’s winning captain stepped up to lift the Ken Clarke Memorial Trophy. Andy Hillier, tournament organiser for the League said that “they were again very grateful to everyone for their support and help on the day, especially the match officials and people who worked behind the scenes to get the event up and running and thought that the day had gone exceptionally in spite of the searing heat ”. He added “It is hoped that at a later date we will be able to present a cheque of over £1000 to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Fund”.
If you notice that your results or tables do not appear to be updated from the previous week (but other divisions have been updated) please press F5 on your keyboard this should refresh the page.
** Visit the Chippenham Town FC Web Site**
|
