TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Win puts Wanderers back in promotion race (From This Is Wiltshire)

IT WAS first versus third at Lambrok Road where Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves hosted Neil Taylor’s Division Two leaders Steeple Ashton who knew they had to be at their best if they were to maintain their push for a top two finish.

Ashton who had won the reverse fixture back in November 8-0, faced a different-looking Wanderers side who put themselves back in the hunt for a top two placing with a 4-2 win that also saw them complete a great turnaround in form from their previous meeting with Ashton.

Goals from Nick Gittins and Gary Collins in the opening 25 minutes put Ashton two-up and at that stage it looked as another rout was on the cards for the villagers, but it wasn’t to be as Will Bayley’s diving header from a Kye Leather cross got Wanderers back in the game before half time.

After the break Ashton had a glorious chance to increase their lead when they were awarded a penalty, but Guy Rowley cannoned his effort of the bar and shortly after Gary Collins spurned another chance for Ashton when he hit the post.

With 15 minutes remaining Wanderers fashioned an equaliser, Jack Heard picked the ball up on the edge of the area and ran through the Ashton defence to finish with aplomb to tie the scores.

Wanderers grabbed the lead on 80 minutes through a first for the club from Nick James and it was James who sealed Wanderers win when he made it 4-2 in the 88th minutes, finishing well after being set up by Jack Heard.

Bratton 2 Westbury Town 3

BRATTON, who saw their promotion hopes derailed last week when they were beaten by Heytesbury, faced another derby showdown at Leighton Sports Ground with Westbury Town the opponents for Dave Jenkins men in what was a must win game for the villagers if the were to get back in the mix for a run at top two finish.

Just like last week's things didn’t go to plan for the home team as Westbury claimed a 3-2 win, but only after they were left hanging on at the end as Bratton came from three down at the interval to make a game of things in an exciting second half that, but saw them come up just short in the end.

Goals from Jamie Howse, Ian Gray and Adam Bishop put Westbury on top in the first half before things turned around in the second period as Dan Cox and Shane Newman got Bratton back in the game but although they went close they couldn’t find a third as Westbury defended well to hold out for their first league win since early December.

Calne Eagles 4 Worton & Cheverell 2

CALNE Eagles continued their recent upturn in form with a hard-earned 4-2 win over Worton & Cheverell.

The Eagles raced into a 3-0 lead in the first half, but this did not accurately reflect the balance of play.

Worton enjoyed their fair share of possession and forced quite a few corners, but they failed to breach Calne’s organised backline.

At the other end the away team were undone by the pace of the Calne’s attacking play and the clinical finishing of 17 year-old striker Rory Davis.

Calne opened the scoring on 13 minutes after a good passing move involving Sam Rogers and Shaun Jefferies set-up Rory Davis to score his first goal in men’s football with a controlled finish past Tom North in Worton’s goal.

Davis then got his second goal only 10 minutes later when he latched onto Stu Windsor’s long pass and raced away from his marker to score with equal composure as his first strike.

Worton had the perfect chance to pull themselves back into the game when Eagles’ centre back Gary Wootten felled striker Steven House inside the box.

House took the penalty himself but saw his shot superbly saved by goalkeeper Andy Windsor.

Just before half time Calne gave themselves a three-goal cushion when Stuart Windsor scored from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Tom North knocked over Calne striker Shaun Jefferies.

Calne made sure of the points right at the start of the second half when a sublime right wing cross from Shaun Jefferies was superbly headed home by midfielder Russell Driver.

Despite being 4-0 down Worton never let their heads drop and the balance of possession between both teams remained equal.

Worton were rewarded for their persistence when with 12 minutes remaining midfielder Luke Chant scored with a cracking strike from 25 yards out after Calne had only half-cleared from a Worton corner.

In the closing stages Calne lost their shape defensively and with nothing to lose Worton got forward in numbers and applied a lot of pressure.

At the other end impressive striker Davis missed a great chance to score his third goal of the day.

With the very last kick off the game Worton substitute Alex Surman completed the 4-2 score line when he scored from close range after Calne had failed to clear the ball from a corner kick.

Heytesbury 0 The Lamb FC 2

IT WAS a classic case of after the Lord Mayor’s show for villagers Heytesbury who, after defeating fourth-placed Bratton in their previous game, were hoping for another upset when they hosted another of the promotion-chasing sides in The Lamb.

But there was no fairytale ending for the home team as the visitors followed up their 6-0 Knock Out Cup success from two months ago with a much-closer 2-0 triumph that took them to within four points of the leaders and with five games in hand on Steeple Ashton.

Both of the Lamb’s goal came in the first half and were scored by Sam Stevens the first being a run-of-the-mill effort for the striker, but the second was something special.

Following a fluid attack with excellent movement from the whole of the team and a couple of exquisite passes later the ball arrived at the feet of Stevens, who rifled in from the edge of the area to complete his double for the game.

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