DIVISON THREE ROUND UP – 8 May

Garland sees Red in Rangers defeat

Staverton Rangers FC 3 Audley FC 4

A moment of madness from Staverton Rangers FC, Jake Garland meant that the final Shoestrings-chargrill sponsored Chippenham Sunday League, Third division match of the campaign will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. 

At home to the division’s runners-up Audley FC and with 10 minutes remaining the red mist descended on Garland who after being substituted earlier in the game decided to re-enter the field of play and lash out at Audley’s Jordan Murphy, leading Murphy needing treatment and Garland being shown a red card.

In the aftermath of the incident, Audley’s Dan Hibbard also saw red, but with both teams desperate to restart the game and referee Dave Kemmery keen to do so, the match resumed with Audley finishing the season with a 4-3 triumph.

Staverton started the game on the front foot and two errors from stand-in keeper Jordan Tarrant led to Staverton taking a 2-0 lead, Lee Ridout and Lee Mattravis benefitting from his poor keeping.  

With Tarrant relieved of duties between the posts, he turned provider for the Audley opener, with his corner being headed home by Carl Sharratt.  Tom Webb then won and scored the penalty that got Audley back on level terms before Ricky Montacute regained the lead for Staverton prior to half time.

After the break good play from Jordan Murphy saw him set up Connor Laidlaw who restored parity for Audley at 3-3 before Kieran Tarrant grabbed the winner for the Chippenham based side in what apart from Garland’s disgraceful attack on Murphy was a match played in a great spirt between two teams that both condemned the actions of Garland.