TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE: Boomsbury win as rivals slip up (From This Is Wiltshire)

BEN Howe, manager of title-chasing Boomsbury, will be a happy man after the latest round of results went very much the way of his Trowbridge Windows & Conservatories-sponsored Trowbridge League Division One leaders.

Boomsbury’s victory at Freshford coupled with defeats for both Melksham Town and Westbury United Reserves means that Howe’s side now have a 10-point advantage at the top of the table.

A week after Boomsbury beat second-placed Freshford United 4-3, the two sides met again at Brown’s Park and for the second time in eight days the leaders were triumphant as them claimed a 4-1 success.

Steve Jackson, who was Freshford’s tormentor-in-chief in the reverse clash did the damage for a second week running, scoring his second hat-trick in as many games.

It was Jackson who opened the scoring on 38 minutes when his sweetly-struck left-footed volley gave keeper Chris Birleson no chance.

A couple of minutes later a 40-yard pass picked out Scott Askew whose control was superb as he volleyed home another spectacular strike to put Boomsbury two up at the break.

Ryan Mortimer’s delightful lob saw Freshford pull a goal back but any thoughts of a comeback were short lived as a second from Jackson restored Boomsbury’s two-goal cushion.

With Freshford pushing for a second they were hit on the break with Pete Spong threading the ball to Jackson who planted home his third of the afternoon.

Bradford United 0 North Bradley 0

FIERCE rivals Antony Ottaviano-Bradford United and Paul Ranger-North Bradley met at Culver Close and their relative sides did them proud in an entertaining encounter of which the 0-0 score line tells little of the tale.

Under the shrewd instructions of assistant manager James Taylor, a close personal friend of Mick Channon, Bradley dominated the opening 20 minutes, with right winger Mike Johnson particularly impressive.

He whipped in a number of crosses the home side struggled to deal with and then tested Will Carson with a 25-yard effort bound for the top corner.

Bradford grew into the game with Nick Gerrish and Tom Bosquet standing out, but a Richard Bliha corner and an offside Finn McCarthy-Driver goal was the closest they came to breaking the deadlock.

Bradford continued to press in the second period as they made their superior fitness tell and felt aggrieved that Ryan Godridge's handball in the area was not penalised.

The same player showed better judgement when he made a superb sliding tackle as Bliha looked set to score.

Godridge's defensive partner Ben Hogg also marshalled his troops well as Bradford instigated attack after attack with the stakes rising as the minutes ticked over.

But Bradley, who have shown much strength and resolve in the latter stages of recent games, also upped the ante with full backs Jason Brooks-Stevens and Brad Godridge getting forward, and with Reuben Spong's pace also threatened to steal the points.

Although Bradford will feel they had the better of possession and the greater number of chances, both sides deserved something from a hugely enjoyable and no holds barred duel which left everyone exhausted and was also a great advert for the league.

Seend United 2 Melksham Town Reserves 1

THE last time near-neighbours Seend United and Melksham Town Reserves faced each it ended in a 2-1 victory for Mike Hopkins villagers, whose success came in the A&B Cup a month ago.

In what is the first of back-to-back league meetings for the sides, Seend proved that they are becoming something of a nemesis for Steve Burns' side as another 2-1 win for the villagers saw them inflict Melksham with their first defeat in nine outings.

A first-half brace from Nathan Walker gave Seend a 2-0 interval lead at the Lye, but things could have been closer had Jordan Evans not missed a penalty for Melksham just before the break.

Melksham were on the front foot at the start of the second half and were rewarded for their efforts when Ashley Caws reduced the arrears on 67 minutes and although they pressed for an equaliser the Seend defence held firm to help their side to a well deserved three points. 

Westbury Reserves 1 Castle Combe 2

CASTLE Combe conjured up one of the results of the day with a 2-1 win at title-chasing Westbury United Reserves.

Combe, who eased their relegation fears last weekend with a 1-0 win at Bradford United, were expected to come back down to earth with a bang.

But Paul Sanderson’s side produced another fine display as their victory not only avenged their 5-3 loss from earlier in the season but edged them closer to first division survival, which just two weeks ago didn’t look possible.

Combe took the lead through a first goal of the season from Ryan Peck.

Matt Hooper who is no stranger to finding the net doubled Combe’s advantage in the second half.

Westbury got themselves back in the game with Marc Lanfear reducing the arrears and they had the chance to claim a share of the spoils, however the normally reliable Ashley Easton denied his team a point when he missed from the penalty to hand Combe their vital victory.

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