Lavington duck out of clash with rivals

With a further six postponed because clubs were unable to raise a team, almost two thirds of the fixtures will need to be replayed.

LEADERS West Lavington were unable to raise a team for their top of the table clash with reigning champions and third placed Sherston Town.

The two clubs are due to meet again this weekend in what is expected to be a highly charged affair, especially after Lavington's Knockout Cup result which saw them send the holders crashing out by virtue of a 6-0 hammering.

Both Dog & Fox Ashley and Box Rovers closed the gap on the leaders following their 3-3 stalemate.

Rovers came back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to claim their point, but despite having a late goal ruled out for offside Rovers should have been dead and buried as the Dog hit the bar four times.

Goals from Mark Robinson and Steve Roddy put the Dog in charge but Rovers came storming back thanks to a double from Tim Jefferies.

Roddy's second of the game allowed the Dog to retake the lead but once again Jefferies netted to restore parity with a glorious goal. Jefferies thought he had won it for Rovers at the death but his effort was ruled out for offside.

All Cannings' woes continue and only a miracle will save them from relegation after they suffered an 11th consecutive loss. Their 6-2 defeat at home to Corsham Cricket Club leaves them four points adrift from Hullavington at the foot of the table and unless they can hit a run of form their stay in the top flight looks over.

Corsham, who hadn't won in four outings, raced to a 5-0 half time lead thanks to a hat-trick from Chris Jones and ingles from Neil Shardlow, who fired home a stunning free kick from 25 yards and a penalty from Frank Rogers. Paul Clifford completed Corsham's half dozen with a simple tap in while Cannings replied with goals from Geoff Potter and Lee Saunders.

Westbury Rangers As match with Trowbridge Harriers was postponed due to an unplayable Meadow Lane pitch. Bradford News' game with Biddestone Social was called off minutes before the planned kick off time when a hail storm left the pitch at Bradford in an unplayable condition.

DIVISION ONE

TOP of the table FC Colerne smashed seven past hosts The Horse and Groom in blustery conditions.

Colerne went ahead in the first half with goals from Andy Harker, Charlie Spirrell and Jason Smith. It took the Horse and Groom just 30 seconds after the restart to get back into the game when Paul Daly pulled one back for the Westbury-based team.

Frazer Glendinning made it 4-1 to Colerne but once again the Horse and Groom fought back with Daly scoring his second. Another goal from Glendinning and two more from Smith, who completed his first ever hat-trick for Colerne, were only interrupted by a Paul Aland header for the Horse.

Full marks go to Wingfield's club secretary Mark Franklin for his efforts in getting the villagers' game with high flyers Corsham Centre switched to the home of their opponents after their pitch at Lambrok Road in Trowbridge was declared unfit.

Unfortunately for Franklin his efforts went unrewarded as Centre stayed in touch with Colerne after a convincing 5-0 victory.

A clinical first half display from the Centre saw them go in at the break 3-0 after superb finishes from Craig Gingell, Richard Boore and Matthew Ralph, who volleyed home a great diagonal ball from James Lye.

With the wind at their backs in the second half, Wingfield conceded a further two goals when they were caught sleeping at dead ball situations with Jon Bartlett and George Bentley being the benefactors. Referee Neil Fautley had an excellent game in the middle and received praise from both camps.

The points were shared by Atworth United and Chippenham Sports and Social Club, but it will be United who will be kicking themselves as they threw away a two-goal lead and conceded an equaliser in the final seconds.

Ashley Wheeler and Stuart Holland had put Atworth 2-0 to the good before Jason Bull halved the deficit just before the interval. with time running out Atworth looked set for the two points, but a massive kick up field from the Sports keeper Graham Jones found Alex Lowe who scored his first goal for the Sports.

North Bradley were unable to raise a team against Holt FC.

DIVISION TWO

WITH leaders Spencer Sports losing their match against local rivals Parsons Nose to a waterlogged pitch at Shaw, Christian Malford took full advantage and closed the gap at the top to just three points.

Their 8-0 defeat of Corsham Park Rangers allowed them to extend their unbeaten run to 13 games and it also saw a return to form for their prolific marksman Scott Evans who ended a lean spell with half the goals. Richard Bruce added a treble and Chris Pitman completed the romp when he headed home Malford's eighth.

Blue Circle (Sunday) were left with a fight on their hands if they are to stay in division two after they suffered a 5-4 defeat at Sutton Benger. The nine goal thriller saw Blue Circle lead 1-0 and 2-1 via goals from Luke Smith and Graham Deveney with James Pope equalising on both occasions.

Benger took the lead before the break when Pope completed his hat-trick, and they took control of the second half with further goals from Nick Slade and Pope, who put them into a 5-2 lead before being forced off through injury.

With no substitutes available, Blue Circle got back into the game as a second from Deveney and Ryan Earny's first goal of the season saw them reduced the gap to one.

DIVISION THREE

PACE-SETTERS Kings Arms (Trowbridge) missed out on an expected two points against Old Road Tavern as their Seymour Road ground was unplayable.

Second placed FC Bradford were left infuriated by the actions of their opponents Virgin Mobile who had agreed to reverse their fixture from a waterlogged Leighton Sports pitch to Culver Close in Bradford. With everything in place for the crucial game at the head of the division, Virgin called the game off due to a lack of players.

With the top two sides missing out the winners of Pig and Whistle United and Sir Audley's Arms would move level with Kings Arms at the top.

Honours went to the Pig and Whistle with a 4-2 success which stretched their winning run to 11 matches. The game, at a very wet Awdrey Avenue, started at a frantic pace with Sir Audley's keeper John Witts denying Leigh Stevenson shortly after the opening whistle, while at the other end Dave Nolan wasted a good opportunity.

United took the lead on five minutes when Kevin Micklejohn pounced to stab the ball home after confusion in the Arms penalty area. Pig and Whistle made the pressure count in the 37th minute after Danny Cole squeezed the ball home between two defenders to give his side a deserved 2-0 lead. Within a minute, they were 3-0 to the good, despite having his first effort well saved by keeper Witts the rebound fell kindly to Evans who made no mistake with his second attempt.

Taking a three-goal advantage into the second period the game looked all but won, but the Arms had other ideas and on 55 minutes they were rewarded for their persistence when a sublime first touch from McLaughlin produced an even better finish.

With 15 minutes left a piece of individual brilliance from United old timer Leigh Stevenson saw him put his side back in control, his left footed beauty from 18 yards made the score 4-1. With the game already lost the Arms had the final say in the 89th minute when Chris Shipway fluked a late consolation.

Both teams and match referee Nigel Wyatt must take praise for the manner in which the game was played.

Classic FC picked up their first win for six matches and their 3-2 success over Bradstone Rovers has given them a realistic chance of avoiding relegation despite staying bottom.

Chris Sheppard's first half opener for Classic was wiped out by Andy Starolosky who drew Rovers level early in the second period. Dave Butler put Rovers in front but Classic's Sheppard tied the scores immediately from the restart. James Hearsay was Classic's hero when he hit the late winner.

An outstanding individual performance from Steve Munday helped Trowbridge Town Supporters Club see off the challenge of a stubborn Somerford side who finally succumbed to a 4-3 defeat.

Somerford, who started with ten players, took the lead through Chris Yeo before Munday squared things for the Town. Yeo fired Somerford ahead once more only for Munday to level once again. When Munday struck for a third time it was to give the Town a 3-2 half time lead and by the time he took his tally for the game to four the Town were in charge.

Although Darren Clarke pulled another back for Somerford it wasn't enough as the Town, who had given up home advantage, were rewarded with both points.

DIVISION FOUR

EVERYTHING stayed the same in Division Four as all of the six planned fixtures were postponed.

THIS Sunday sees the quarter finals of the Westernsport Trophies sponsored WG Parr Trophy and there is certain to be a new name added to the prize this season.

None of the eight remaining teams in the competition have appeared in the final before. Of the remaining clubs, North Star A have progressed furthest, having reached the final four last term.

The Star travel to KSM and having already beaten them 5-0 in the Knockout Cup they will be odds on to make it to the semis once again.

Top flight outfit and favourites Trowbridge Harriers visit AC Soho where the second division side could spring a surprise, and with Marcus Young on fire in front of goal the Harriers could crash to the ground with a bang. The all-second division affair sees leaders Spencer Sports at home to Potterne FC who have seen a dip in form of late.

First division side Chippenham Police entertain Division Four Fascia Graphics in the final tie.