Referee switches pitch at half time

The original pitch cut up so badly that referee Julian Sattin was going to abandon the game at the break.

But with both teams desperate to see the fixture through they moved everything to an adjacent pitch and played out the second half.

Spencer midfield ace Royston Aust said: "We had a job to stand up, but there was a perfectly good pitch across the way with nets already up so both teams agreed to move."

Rangers were trailing just 4-0 on pitch one but the loss of Richard Johnson and Kevin Hodkinson through injury saw them reduced to nine men, and when Paul Park was dismissed ten minutes from time Rangers were glad to see an end to their nightmare.

Dan King led Spencer's scoring with four, while James Taylor (2), a Leyton Joyce own goal plus singles from Ty Threharne, Ben Grinham, Steve Cleverly, Barry Holloway and John Beattie completed the dozen.

Christian Malford remain unbeaten after defeating promotion rivals Potterne FC 3-0. They were rewarded for their early dominance when Gary Blackwood headed them into a two-goal lead from two set pieces. The third came a minute from time from another free kick, Chris Crome heading home.

It was tight between Biddestone Arms and Parsons Nose but once the deadlock was broken five minutes from half time by Dave Jenkins the result was never in doubt as the Melksham-based team went on to win 4-2.

The second half saw Biddestone fall asleep for the first 10 minutes and the Nose duly punished them. Striker Wayne Bailey won a penalthy which was converted by Darren Whiting, Reeves tapped home the third before completing his brace.

Biddestone did not surrender though and pulled two back through Danny Williams and Mike Ward.

King Alfred's manager Jason Cole had two reasons to celebrate following his team's 2-1 defeat of The Crown Devizes, Alfred's win saw them relegate Blue Circle (Sunday) back to the bottom two days after the birth of his son Joe on Friday night. Paul Borman and Alan Farnish netted for Alfred with Tim Wootton replying for The Crown.

Southwick Sports lost ground on the leading pack after they could only manage a draw against Sutton Benger, who came from behind twice to claim a 2-2 draw. Jamie Alford came off the bench to put Southwick in front only for James Pope to level. Liam Brown restored the lead for Southwick but once again Benger came back with Paul Watson scoring the equaliser.

WEST Lavington's narrow 2-1 victory over Bradford News coupled with the Dog & Fox Ashley's 3-2 loss at Maud Heath Sports saw Lavington extend their lead at the top to five points.

But with West Lavington due to play champions Sherston Town twice in the next three games the race for the title is hotting up.

Toby Ireson put Lavington ahead against the Newsmen after just two minutes and the Bradford side were well in the contest until Simon Drewitt doubled the advantage on the half hour mark. The second period saw chances come and go for the Newsmen and their only reply came three minutes from time from John Burt.

Maud Heath Sports took a 3-0 half time lead at home to second placed Dog and Fox Ashley thanks to goals from Ollie Fenwick, Ricky Summers and Dean Slade.

Steve Wickings reduced the deficit with a sublime overhead effort, Dan Cottrell headed home the Dog's second with five minutes remaining before Mark Robinson's late effort hit the upright. Westbury Rangers A's vital clash with championship hopefuls Box Rovers fell victim to a waterlogged Meadow Lane pitch.

DIVISION ONE

AT the top of Division One, Colerne FC bounced back after last weeks loss to North Star A with a 2-0 win over Chippenham Sports and Social Club.

Andy Harker's first half effort was added to by Jake Jefferies in the second period to make the game safe for the Colerne side.

Pete Ralph celebrated his 47th birthday by joining his sons Matthew and Liam on the pitch for Corsham Centre's 9-0 win over a young Atworth United outfit.

The midfield duo of Richard Boore and Craig Gingell plus the sharp finishing of Simon Gray were too strong for the visitors. Gray scored four, Gingell and James Lye bagged two apiece and Liam Ralph hit the other.

North Star A extended their winning run to seven matches after they dismantled Holt FC 4-0.

Mark Sharrett's outstanding individual strike set the Star on their way and by the time Sharrett completed the scoring in the second period the game was already won as Tommy Ludford continued his purple patch in front of goal with a well taken brace to sandwich Sharrett's double.

Semington Rovers completed an easy victory over North Bradley, but the 6-1 scoreline should have been a lot more comfortable. Semington opened the scoring through a Stuart Barber penalty after Bradley's keeper had brought down Bobby Mitchell.

The second goal followed quickly when Nathan Walker's corner was put away by Stuart Donohoe's diving header. A rare goal from Graeme Pearce, Josh Mills after a great overhead kick from Steve Martin, Stuart Barber and another from Donahoe completed the rout.

Bradley scored a scrambled consolation through Leigh Trainer.

KING'S Arms (Trowbridge) reclaimed the summit of Division Three after they came out on top at Somerford.

The leaders made an astonishing fight back to come from 3-1 down at the interval to win 6-3. The Arms fell behind when Chris Yeo's cros-cum-shot bamboozled their keeper Ashley Haines and ended up in the net. King's Arms' equaliser came from Dean Murden, before Yeo (penalty) and Jason Martin put Somerford in charge.

But an inspired half time talk from manager Chris Carr lifted the Arms and Nathan Flower's defelected shot, Nick Gleeson's thunderbolt and a rare Jerone Dyer header put them in front.

Gleeson then smashed home a penalty before Dan Barnes drove in the sixth.

Both Pig & Whistle United and Sir Audley's Arms stayed in touch with the leaders with wins over North Star B and Westbury Rangers B. Leigh Stevenson (2) and Danny Cole were on target for United in their 3-1 victory over the Star who replied through Dave Lymath.

Sir Audley dispatched Rangers 4-0 with goals from Adam O'Keefe, Luke Gullick, substitute Kieron Smith and Dave Nolan.

Two goals apiece from Terry Cox and Andy Starolosky earned Bradstone Rovers a 4-0 triumph over fellow relegation strugglers Old Road Tavern who are now in the relegation mire after suffering their 10th defeat of the season.

Trowbridge Town Supporters Club's claimed a 6-3 win over White Horse FC thanks to a Steve Munday hat-trick plus singles for Dean Potter, Andy Pickernell and John Walters .

Chris Turk (2) and Clive Black replied for the Horse.

A Sami Bakali treble and one from Dave Melin saw Virgin Mobile pick up two valuable points in their quest to catch the leading clubs after a 4-1 success over Classic FC, whose consolation came from Paul Hussey.

A MUCH improved Plough inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Division Four leaders Bar OC with two goals from Dave Thomas.

Craig Watt's cross led to the opener on 26 minutes. Tom Paget picked up the ball on the edge of the box and after cutting inside his left foot drive nestled in the bottom right corner of the net.

Plough weren't to be denied and deservedly drew level ten minutes later. Thomas lost Lee Greene on a free kick and despite Sinclair pushing his header onto the bar, he reacted quicker than the Bar OC defence and gleefully drilled home the loose ball.

Thomas gave Plough the lead after the break with a brilliant 20 yard volley after a neat ball by Colin Brady.

Bar OC chased the game and Darren Brown blasted over the rebound with the goal at his mercy after Danny Powell's free kick to miss their best chance of a point.

AFC Pilot travelled to The Crown and returned home with a 2-0 victory and two points in the bag. Pilot went in front when the best move of the game led to them passing the ball through the Crown's defence and scoring a lovely goal through Ashley Fletcher.

The game was settled in the 85th minute, after the Crown's Tony Wallinger was sent off, as Chris Bishop volleyed home from 25 yards. Pilot's Clive Noyes also saved a last minute penalty from Tony Couch

Rowde Dynamos moved up into second spot after crushing AFC Springfield 6-1 to stretch their unbeaten run to 11. Jamie Mullens, Stuart Bates and Andy Hobbs first goal gave them a 3-0-interval lead. Ashley Edwards made it four from the penalty spot and Mullens added number five when he volleyed home. Ray Clements netted Rowde's sixth before Matt Oliver grabbed a late consolation for Springfield.

Matt Smith bagged AFC Melksham's consolation in their 7-1 loss at home to Wanderers, who scored through Damian Shepherd, Dom Shepherd (3), James Starr (2) and Guy Comley.

KSM set up a showdown with Division One outfit North Star A after a 3-1 victory over fellow Division Four side Pack Horse Rangers booked them a place in the quarter finals of the Westernsport-sponsored WG Parr Trophy.

KSM's recent signing, Darren Whiston, played a huge part in his new team's success with a well taken double after Rangers had gone in front.

Sean Rushmore's opener for Rangers was immediately cancelled out by Ben Husband, and debutant Whiston fired them into the lead. Whiston made the game safe with his second late on.

CORSHAM Cricket's Club fine run in the Wiltshire Sunday Cup came to a sudden halt at Swindon League side Transtaff who won 1-0.

The Centre did get the ball in the net twice through Jamie Rowe and Chris Jones but on both occasions they were ruled out for offside.