TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: THE Division One title is back in the melting pot as champions Broughton Gifford gained immediate revenge for their 3-0 home defeat by arch rivals North Bradley Saints last weekend.

In windswept conditions first half goals, from Neil Wilcox and Leigh Stevenson and a third from substitute Matt Coles five minutes from time after a Steve Eade header had reduced Saints' deficit, destroyed the hosts' 31-match unbeaten league run and dampened the 25th birthday celebrations for Saints' boss Ben Howe.

The teams who completed the first half of their season yesterday are now separated by just three points with the title now looking to depend on visits to current leaders Rudloe.

Waterlogged pitches caused six matches to be called off including three cup ties, but Calne Eagles averted another postponement by relinquishing ground vantage to face Division Three fellow highflyers St Andrews, who repeated an earlier 2-1 victory to draw level at the top with Lavington.

A goalkeeping mistake by Roy Wenham allowed Jamie Downing to clinch Saints' victory after Eagles' skipper Ian Coles had erased a David Greenwood penalty.

Meanwhile Lavington, in the only surviving cup tie, booked a Spring Cup semi-final date with Semington Magpies. It was a physical first round tie against Trowbridge Wanderers, who had Dominic Gorton sent off in the final minute along with Lavington's Paul Brewitt.

Two more strikes from Myles Hickton and singles from brother Oliver, Steve Hadden-Smith and a penalty by keeper Phil Simmons, clinched Lavington a 5-2 victory. Dean Gumm and Jamie Moth, from another spot kick, netted for Wanderers.

Both Heytesbury and Steeple Ashton were just one point from 12 matches and looked relegation-doomed.

Steve 'Alfie' Bidgood took charge for the first time at Heytesbury, but could not reverse fortunes as fellow Division One strugglers Freshford United notched a 5-0 double through brothers Caleb and Jared Smith, Stuart Arnold, Tony Brett and Neil Birleson.

Ashton's Lee Hayward twice shook Blue Circle after Gary King had put the Division Two leaders in front. A Shaun Sheppard double launched a Circle recovery only for Ulian Serafimou to level for Ashton. Simon Dolbear and Liam Williams finally clinched the leaders a 5-3 success.

Broughton Gifford Reserves staged a two-goal, second half recovery through George Mortimore and Jon McChesney to deny The Lamb Inn after a Paul Farion penalty and Sean Stone had established a two-goal cushion.

At the top of Division One, two first half goals from Tim Jefferies and Simon Gray secured Rudloe a 2-1 gale-lashed victory over Bradford United while Frome Town Sports without a win in six previous league and cup meetings could only manage a 1-1 draw against Seend United. A Dave Castle header gave Seend an interval lead before Damien Edwards equalised.