TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Eagles soar after latest win (From This Is Wiltshire)

WITH Division Two leaders Steeple Ashton missing out on a game due to scheduled opponents Melksham Town A being unable to raise a team and second-placed Lamb FC in cup action, neither of their closest rivals were able to take advantage of the situation as both Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves, who started the day in third spot, and Bratton in fourth place suffered defeats.

Trowbridge Wanderers were beaten 2-1 away at Calne Eagles who after nearly four months of not being able to buy a win have won two on the spin.

The Eagles started brightly in the first 20 minutes and passed the ball with great pace and accuracy. During this period of play Calne created chances to open the scoring through their strikers Adam Bewley and Rory Davis, but on both occasions the home team failed to work the target.

Calne playmaker Russell Driver also went close when his rasping drive from 25 yards was superbly tipped around the post by keeper Carl Mackness.

However, the pressure finally told and on 22 minutes when The Eagles opened the scoring with a goal which was started and finished by their two recent 17 year-old signings Rory Davis and Matt Richards, who have definitely helped give their new team a much needed boost with their skill, work rate and attitude.

Tireless striker Davis dispossessed a Trowbridge defender just inside the box before passing the ball to Adam Bewley, who in turn squared the ball to winger Matt Richards to side-foot home his first goal for the Eagles from eight yards out.

After 30 minutes Trowbridge got themselves back in the game when Jack Parker latched onto Mike Cooksey’s through ball and coolly fired home his fourth goal of the season.

This goal revitalised Trowbridge and they were somewhat unfortunate not the go in at half time in the lead.

Mike Cooksey was denied at close range by an excellent save from keeper Andy Windsor. Joe Walker was also denied a goal when his superb overhead kick from 10 yards out cannoned back of the crossbar and away to safety, cruelly denying the midfielder a goal he would have never forgotten.

Although the second half was a much scrappier affair both teams still managed to create chances and the game could have gone either way.

Ultimately it was a moment of quality from Eagles’ striker Adam Bewley that decided the game.

On 63 minutes a long through into the penalty box from Calne midfielder Stu Windsor was chested down by Bewley, who spun his marker and fired home from a tight angle.

Trowbridge pressed hard for an equaliser but found the home team difficult to breakdown. Indeed, on the break the Eagles nearly extended their lead when both Sam Rogers and Brett Cullen had good chances to score, but failed to really test goalkeeper Carl Mackness.

In the very last minute Calne’s keeper Andy Windsor produced another match winning save for his team when he once again denied Mike Cooksey from close range after the striker had managed to get clear of his marker.

Nonetheless, Calne held on to earn another valuable three points and firmly put their awful run of form before Christmas behind them.

Bratton 1 Heytesbury 4

BRATTON who started their campaign with a 4-1 win away at fellow villagers and near neighbours Heytesbury suffered a huge blow to their hopes of finishing in the top two after they suffered a 3-1 loss in the reverse fixture at Heytesbury Park.

Craig Sheppard gave Heytesbury the lead but his effort was cancelled out on the stroke of half time when Dan Cox got Bratton back on level terms when he netted via the penalty spot.

Paul Arnold regained the lead for Heytesbury and things went from bad to worse for Bratton when goal scorer Dan Cox went from hero to zero when he got himself sent off on 70 minutes for have a little too much to say the match referee.

With their numerical advantage Leigh Kennedy added the third and final goal for Heytesbury.

MATCH OFF: Steeple Ashton v Melksham Town A.

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