CHIPPENHAM & DISTRICT SUNDAY LEAGUE: AN improving Plough side inflicted a first league defeat of the season for Division Four leaders Bar OC and improved their own chances of promotion.

Two goals from Dave Thomas, including a 20-yard volley were enough to take the points with Tom Paget replying for the league leaders.

Bar could have claimed a point at the end had it not been for the heroics of Plough's keeper Ian "The Cat" Thomas who superbly saved Danny Powell's low shot as the Bradford side hung on and deservedly took the points.

AFC Pilot travelled to The Crown FC and returned home with a 2-0 victory with goals from Ashley Fletcher and Chris Bishop. Crown's keeper Clive Noyes saved a last-minute penalty from Tony Couch.

Rowde Dynamos moved up into second spot with a 6-1 victory over AFC Springfield. The win stretched their unbeaten run to 11 matches. Jamie Mullens (2), Stuart Bates, Ashley Edwards (penalty), Ray Clements and Andy Hobbs first goal for Rowde all scored before Matt Oliver grabbed a late consolation.

Matt Smith bagged AFC Melksham's consolation in their 7-1 loss at home to Wanderers for whom Dominic Shepherd (3), James Starr (2), Guy Comley and Damian Shepherd netted.

Sherston Town kept alive their dreams of claiming back-to-back Premier Division titles. Their game with local rivals Hullavington didn't produce the one-sided match that many had predicted with top flight strugglers Hullavington playing their part in an eight-goal thriller that in the end went 5-3 in favour of Sherston. Richard Skull, Antony Vizzard (3) and Ed Wilkins scored foe Sherston, with Andy Martin, Craig Samuels and Nick Cole replying.

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

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 courtesy of John Burt.

Maud Heath Sports took a 3-0 half time lead at home to second-placed Dog & Fox Ashley thanks to goals from Ollie Fenwick, Ricky Summers and Dean Slade. The Sports were stunned when Steve Wickings reduced the deficit with a sublime overhead effort, and Dan Cottrell headed home a second with five minutes remaining.

At the top of Division One, Colerne FC bounced back after last week's loss to North Star A.

A 2-0 win over Chippenham Sports & Social Club saw them maintain their slender one point lead at the top of the pile. Andy Harker's first half effort was added to by Jake Jefferies in the second period to make the game safe.

Birthday boy, 47-year-old Pete Ralph, joined by his sons Matthew and Liam, were in the Corsham Centre team which beat Atworth United 9-0. Simon Gray scored four, with Craig Gingell and James Lye bagging two apiece and Liam Ralph hitting the other.

North Star A extended their winning run to seven matches after they dismantled Holt FC 4-0, Mark Sharrett (2) and Tommy Ludford (2) scoring.

Semington Rovers completed a 6-1 victory over North Bradley, with Stuart Barber (2, one a penalty), Stuart Donohoe (2), a rare goal from Graeme Pearce and Josh Mills scored for Rovers, with Leigh Trainer replying.

Christian Malford remain unbeaten in Division Two after defeating promotion rivals Potterne FC 3-0, with Gary Blackwood (2) and Chris Crome on target.

The match between Biddestone Arms and Parsons Nose was a tight affair for the first 40 minutes. But once the deadlock was broken by the Nose's Dave Jenkins the Melksham based team went on to win 4-2. Darren Whiting (penalty) and a double from Dan Reeves gave the Nose a four-goal cushion, before Biddestone sparked themselves into life with goals from Danny Williams and Mike Ward giving them hope.