TROWBRIDGE-based Lavis FC side came from behind to defeat Devizes The Castle FC 4-1in the final of this season’s RP Clarke Sheds & Fencing sponsored WG Parr Trophy. In what was the first half of the league’s double header of Cup Finals at the Lye, Seend, the victory was even sweeter for Aaron Latchem’s men because it was achieved in front of the family of the late Pete Lavis who the team was formed in memory of. With Pete’s wife, Diane, as well as son Mike and daughter Sarah watching on, Lavis made a nervous start to the game but almost went ahead in the ninth minute when a Mark Maguire free-kick flew inches wide of the target. Midway through the half Castle’s Joe Unsworth skied an attempted clearance that had his keeper Adam Walters back-peddling before pushing the ball over the bar and to safety.
Heavyweights set up semi-final showdown Just over a year ago and before the Coronavirus led to 2019/2020 season being curtailed, FC Devizes United and FC Lacock had set up a much anticipated A M Print & Copy sponsored Knockout Cup, semi-final showdown. That game never happened, however the pair will get to face each other next week as Devizes top Group A and Lacock finished as Group B runners up. Oscar Webster’s Devizes side defeated Calne United 4-0, thanks to goals from Logan Anning, Declan McStavick and Kian Fulford who netted twice.
Pack Horse 4 Sporting Box 3 In the other Group A, a 4-3 victory for Pack Horse saw them edge out Sporting Box in a 7 goal nail biter. Jay Painter with 2 and Lee Grealish found the net for Box, however it was enough as Jack Williamson, Max Wyatt and a brace for Josh Mardle won it for Pack Horse whose reward it a trip to cup favourites AFC Melksham for their semi-final.
CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE: Group stage of both cups blown wide open ANOTHER weekend of cup fixtures in the shoestrings-chargrill Chippenham Sunday League conjured up a few surprises, which have thrown the group stages of the WG Parr Trophy and Subsidiary Cup wide open. Both FC Devizes United and Pack Horse went into their A M Print & Copy sponsored Knockout Cup, Group A clash on the back of impressive victories in their opening quarter-final ties last weekend. A 4-0 victory for Devizes has put them in pole position to top the group, and despite their loss Pack Horse are likely to join them if they avoid defeat against Sporting Box next weekend.
Grassroots WITH the Shoestrings-chargrill, Chippenham Sunday League set for a shorter than usual one week Christmas break, many teams found themselves with an additional free week as the atrocious weather conditions of the last week meant that a number of games were lost to waterlogged pitches. The only league fixture that survived the rain was at Leafy Lane where hosts Chippenham Icons beat Royal Oak 4-2, to claim a fifth successive victory which move them above Lavis FC at the top of the Division One table thanks to their superior goal difference. Icons opened the scoring through a Jacob Duckett own goal, but they were pegged back when Rich Tandy was on hand to restore parity. Dan Fowler regained the lead for Icons who gained the upper hands on the Oak men, with a further 2 goals from Fowler to complete a first half treble to give his team a 4-1 interval lead, his second being a sublime strike from distance
Grassroots WITH the first round of this season’s Wiltshire Sunday Cup taking centre stage this weekend, the only league fixtures from the shoestrings-chargrill Chippenham Sunday League were in Division One, which saw both scheduled matches played, unlike the Sunday Cup were five matches were lost for various reasons, which in turn will lead to more fixture chaos for the league, in what has already been a disjointed campaign. Bremhill View were in no mood to give out any early Christmas gifts as a 7-2 triumph over Sporting Box saw them claim a fourth straight win to maintain their 100% start to the season.