Cirencester and District Football League round-up (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester and District Football League round-up

THE race for the Division 1 title in the Cirencester and District Football League is hotting up with the three teams in the top four who played at the weekend all picking up maximum points.

CHQ United were excused playing, due to their involvement in the Mills-Roberts Cup semi-final on Good Friday morning.

But Fairford stay top after a single goal settled their local derby with Bibury in their favour.

Third-placed Beeches were also involved in a derby match with the Golden Farm but had a much easier time, running out 5-0 winners.

South Cerney, in fourth place, fared even better by disposing of bottom team Corinium 8-0.

Things are set to become more interesting in the run-up to the final day of the season on April 30 with four crunch matches involving the four contenders which will have a big say in who will be crowned champions.

In Division 2, things are a lot more clear cut. Leaders Bibury won 3-1 at Tetbury Town to go three points clear of Lechlade who had the weekend off.

This leaves Bibury with a target of ten points from their last six games to be certain of the Division 2 title.

The Mills-Roberts Cup semi-finals were played over the weekend and, the final at the Corin-ium Stadium on April 7 is be-tween CHQ Utd and Eastcombe.

On good Friday morning, CHQ defeated Siddington 3-0 whilst Eastcombe beat South Cerney 2-0 on Easter Monday morning. All the results are as follows:

Mills-Roberts Cup semi-finals: CHQ Utd 3, Siddington 0; Eastcombe 2, South Cerney 0.

Division 1: Purton A 2, Poulton 2; Golden Farm 0, Beeches 5; Corinium Sports 0, South Cerney 8; Bibury 0, Fairford Tn A 1; Oaksey 0, Eastcombe 1.

Division 2: TC Exiles 0, Stratton Utd 6; Tetbury Tn A 1, Bibury Res 3; Nympsfield 3, Oakridge 1; Minety Res 2, RDS Res 5; Wanderers 1, Avonvale Utd 1.

Arthur Shipway Cup semi-final: Chalford 2, Stonehouse Freeway 2 (Stonehouse won 6-5 on penalties).

Division Two Wanderers 1, Avonvale Utd 1 Following some disappointing results of late, Avonvale Utd got a hard-earned point at high-flying Wanderers on Saturday. Using changes to both formation and personnel, Avonvale started brightly and got the goal they deserved after 20 minutes. Following a fine move, James Meacham produced a superb cushioned pass into the path of David Findlay who slotted home from ten yards. This goal fired Wanderers into life and, within ten minutes, they had found an equaliser. In the second period, Avonvale produced the majority of attacking play with their best effort coming from a stinging Jamie Cox shot which was superbly saved by the Wanderers' keeper. In the closing stages, and after an attacking double substitution, Wanderers came close to snatching all three points.

Division One P W D Pts Fairford Town A 24 14 4 46 CHQ United 20 12 5 41 Beeches 19 13 1 40 South Cerney* 21 13 3 39 Siddington 22 10 4 34 Ashton Keynes 20 11 1 34 Oaksey 20 9 4 31 Eastcombe 22 9 3 30 Poulton 19 8 4 28 Bibury 20 9 1 28 Taverners Res* 17 5 3 17 Golden Farm 21 4 5 17 Purton A 20 3 3 12 Corinium Sports 22 2 3 9

Division Two P W D Pts Bibury Reserves 20 17 2 53 Lechlade 22 15 5 50 Wanderers 23 14 4 46 South Cerney Res 23 14 3 45 RDS Reserves 20 12 2 38 Kingshill SC 23 11 4 37 Nympsfield 22 10 3 33 Avonvale United 22 8 4 28 Stratton United 21 7 3 24 Tetbury Town A 21 5 4 21 TC Exiles 21 5 2 17 Oakridge 21 4 3 15 Minety Reserves 21 4 0 12 CHQ United Res 19 3 1 10 * Points deducted

Fixtures for Saturday, April 2 (ko 2.30pm) are scheduled as follows:

Division 1: Purton A v CHQ Utd, Fairford Tn A v Beeches, Taverners Res v Poulton, Oaksey v Ashton Keynes, Siddington v Golden Farm, Eastcombe v Corinium Sports.

Division 2: CHQ Utd Res v TC Exiles, Stratton Utd v Avonvale Utd, South Cerney Res v Tetbury Tn A, Bibury Res v Minety Res, Oakridge v Kingshill SC.

Monday, April 4. Junior Charities Cup semi-final: Bibury Res v Lechlade at Fairford Tn FC, 7pm ko.

Wednesday, April 6. Poulton v Taverners Res, 6.30pm ko. Thursday, April 7. Mills-Roberts Cup final: CHQ United v Eastcombe at the Corinium Stadium, 7pm ko.

Arthur Shipway Cup semi-final: Chalford 2, Stonehouse Freeway 2 aet (Stonehouse won 6-5 on penalties).

Sunday, April 3. Arthur Shipway Cup semi-final: King's Stanley v Malmesbury Victoria at Shortwood Utd FC, 5pm ko.