TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: SUBSTITUTE Matty Coles' first touch ended North Bradley Saints' unbeaten league run of 31 matches as champions Broughton Gifford bounced back into title contention with an immediate 3-1 revenge win.

In windswept conditions, Gifford just had to win after the previous week's three-goal home reverse and proved worthy winners, with Coles celebrating his 85th minute arrival after a Steve Eade header from Richard Bliha's cross had given the hosts a sniff of salvaging a late point just three minutes before.

Saints, without injured two-goal hero Chris Fardell from the previous week and forced to bring on Tim Richards for Ben Gardner inside two minutes, were denied a 26th minute equaliser when Gifford goalkeeper Jason Grubb brilliantly tipped over a superb Steve Munday effort.

Ten minutes earlier at the other end, Chris Shute had been at fault when Neil Wilcox's long range cross had given Gifford the lead and the 25th birthday celebrations for Saints' boss Ben Howe were further dampened three minutes before the break when keeper Shute did well to get a hand to Leigh Stevenson meeting a Richard Clarke cross but could only help the ball over the line.

The elements created a game of two halves in most matches and none more so than at gale-lashed Leafy Lane, where leaders Rudloe, who still have to receive both Gifford and Saints, bounced back to beat Bradford United 2-1 with first half strikes from Tim Jefferies and Simon Gray before John Baker replied.

For Heytesbury and Steeple Ashton the jaws of relegation opened wider.

Steve Bidgood took charge for the first time at Heytesbury only for fellow strugglers Freshford United to beat them 5-0, with goals from brothers Caleb and Jared Smith, Stuart Arnold, Tony Brett and Neil Birleson.

Ashton have generally belied their position this term and when a Lee Hayward brace turned arrears from Gary King into a 2-1 interval lead, the villagers looked set to produce a shock for leaders Blue Circle. But while Ulian Serafimou levelled after Shaun Sheppard had twice delivered to put the cement men ahead again, a wind assisted Simon Dolbear effort from the half way line and a Liam Williams' strike finally brought Circle a 5-3 victory and a two-point advantage at the top.

Seend United and The Lamb Inn have become draw specialists in their respective divisions having finished all square for the second time against their opponents this season.

Top flight Seend, unbeaten in six previous meetings with Frome Town Sports, battled out a 1-1 draw. Dave Castle's first half header was wiped out by Frome's Damien Edwards immediately after the restart.

Sean Stone's goal to double Paul Farion's fifth penalty of the season gave The Lamb a two-goal cushion at Broughton Gifford Reserves, but Colin Dicks' outfit had to be content with draw number five as George Mortimer and Jon McChesney led a home recovery in a 2-2 stalemate.

Six matches, including three cup ties, brought the number of postponements through bad weather to 37 for the season, but Calne Eagles avoided a blank weekend by switching their crucial Division Three home game to opponents St Andrews after Stanley Park was closed for the second time in a month. The switch however only served to dent Eagles' promotion hopes further as they suffered a second 2-1 reverse by title hopefuls Saints, whose first half penalty by Dave Greenwood was wiped out by skipper Ian Coles converting a rebound from Dan Thompson's free kick.

A blunder by goalkeeper Roy Wenham presented Jamie Downing with the winner for Saints, who are now level on points with Lavington.

Both Rowde Sports and Semington Magpies kept their promotion aspirations burning with a third straight win. Rowde, behind to a Tom Clayton strike for Frome Town Sports A, hit back to lead 2-1 through an own goal and Jamie Mullings. Another own goal levelled matters before Mullings' 17th goal of the campaign and Adie Bridge's 12th secured Rowde a 4-2 victory.

Magpies, with 18 matches still to play and nine points behind the leaders with games in hand, clinched a 5-0 second half win over FC Chippenham. Former Seend player Nathan Walker, who has recently returned from a long term injury, opened the account with a deflected free kick from the half way line before Dan Phillips, Phil Woodward, Kelvin Lockwood and Dan Rimmer completed victory.

Basement-side Castle Combe A picked up their fourth point of the season but will be disappointed it was not after Steve Morse and Steve Gawke had established a two-goal advantage at Bradford United Reserves who, having levelled in the second half through Pete Brown following Mike Embleton's first half penalty, had a late effort disallowed.

Jon Phillips' Bradford Town Reserves, who face neighbours United in tomorrow's local derby, are showing even greater signs of improvement, with 15-year-old Charlie Heydon again on the goalsheet along with Ben Ludwell in the 2-1 away triumph over Apetito, who replied through a late Alan House effort.

Town have now picked up seven points from their last five matches.

In the only cup tie to survive the weather, Lavington booked a Spring Cup semi-final date with Semington Magpies, with the irrepressible Myles Hickton netting two more goals in the 5-2 win over Trowbridge Wanderers.

Brother Oliver, Steve Hadden-Smith and keeper Phil Simmons (penalty) added goals for Lavington, with Dean Gumm and Jamie Moth (penalty) replying for Wanderers, who had Dominic Gorton sent off in the final minute along with Lavington's Paul Brewitt.