DIVISION ONE ROUND UP – 13th February

Stalemate at Green Lane

Royal Oak FC 3 Sporting Box FC 3

Royal Oak FC and Sporting Box FC have met each other twice already this season and they went into their Shoestrings chargrill-sponsored Chippenham League, First Division clash with one-win apiece to their name. Royal Oak got the better of the visitors to Green Lane in the Knockout Cup, but where it really mattered in the result went the way of the men from Box.

The Oak Men who had not played since their 3-0 loss to their opponents a month ago, were playing only their fifth league match of the campaign and although their return to action, didn’t yield the win they wanted, a 3-3 draw keeps the Easteron based pub side are very much the battle to reach the top flight, while the point for Sporting Box saw them reclaim pole position from and inactive Pack Horse.      

Goals from Jed Kirkwood and Cameron Lee put Royal Oak into a 2-0 lead before Nathan Baldwin reduced the arrears at the interval to the odd goal.

Sporting Box, turned the game on its head in the second half as goals for Dontae Swaby-Depass and Jake Angell gave the leaders a 3-2 advantage, which they were unable to hold on to as Sam Chapman netted to earn British Lion a share of the spoils from a thrilling contest that could have gone either way.   

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Brilliant Beeches end Lavis’ promotion hopes

Beeches FC 3 Lavis FC 1

Back to back league defeats had seen Lavis FC lose ground in the title race, so a trip to Beeches FC who they have beaten twice this term already and have never lost too, presented them with the perfect opportunity to get their promotion challenge back on track, however an excellent all round display from the hosts in awful conditions, saw them claim an impressive 3-1 win.    

Beecheswho may well have had one eye on their upcoming WG Parr Trophy, semi-final tie against Steeple Ashton, showed a brilliant team spirit as they battled to a deserved victory over Aaron Latchem’s side whose promotion dreams are now over for another season.

A sublime strike from Francios Allen saw his bicycle kick effort from 16 yards give Lavis the lead, unfortunately for Allen his stunning goal was nothing but a consolation as Beeches battled back to get on level prior to half time, with Gary McLaughlin making it 1-each.

Late goals from Josh Thornton and Tom Blackman sealed what was a deserved 3 points for Andy Anderson’s side who will be full of confidence for next Sunday semi-final clash with Ashton, that’s providing the pitch will be passed fit to host the contest.