New College, winning lots of friends with their brand of football, kept up the good work with a 4-1 away win over Melksham, writes RAY BURROUGHS.

Their boss Pete Horwat was lavish with his praise for the side and said : "It was a fantastic all round performance, the lads played some quality football and deserved to win against a side containing a few Screwfix players. They are beginning to play with plenty of confidence but face a stern test against Bradford next week.

Stuart Bellinger gave College a good start, turning a couple of defenders in the box before shooting home.

Melsham fought back well and the Swindon side were forced to defend their lead for long spells. However just before the break a good cross into the box was slotted into the net from close range by Terry Bohane to send the visitors in with a two goal advantage.

Soon after the restart a 25-yard free-kick from Steve Dixey made the net bulge to add a third and Bohane made it four.

The home side never gave up and pulled a goal back from a corner.

Pewsey Vale caused the biddest upset of the day in the section beating AFC Stratton 3-1 on their own ground.

After a fairly even opening to the game a strike by Barry Flippance a minute before the break gave the Vale a goal advantage at the interval.

Soon after the restart Flippance was on target again from a free kick to add a second and to add to the home sides despair Mickey Harper headed past his own keeper to gift Pewsey a third.

Rick Casey then managed to pull a goal back for the home side but they never looked like getting back into the game.

Assistant boss Rick Casey put the defeat down to some sloppy defending from a lack lustre Startton outfit.

Cricklade Town kept the leading sides in their sights with a workmanlike 3-2 win over visitors Warminster Town.

They were handed an early lead when a back pass bounced over the visitors keeper. Tom Cifford then levelled the scores and a strike by Mathew Burton put the visitors in front.

The Cricklade strike force then took control and goals from Ben Carter and Ian Ross put them back in the lead. They should have added a fourth in the closing stages of the game, Martin Swaddon missing a penalty.

Manager Graham Jackson was pleased with the result and said : " We didn't play at our best but ground out a result."

Another young side getting plenty of attention in the section is Corsham Town who consolidated the position at the top of the table with a 7-0 win over Shrewton United Reserves. The home side looked a bit sharper than their opponents in the first half and were two goals up at the break. They continued on top after the interval and pleased their supporters by adding a further five goals. Jamie Lyons emerged the top marksman with four goals, Adam Taylor, Robbie Humphries and James Highmore scoring one apiece.

Bradford Town always appeared to have the edge over Calne and ran out 3-1 winners and Devizes Town Reserves picked three welcome points with a 1-0 win over Marlborough.

Mark Barnett, Steve Roddy and an own goal for Bradford and Ryan Wheeler for Calne and Marcus Wollen scored the all important goal for Devizes.

In the top match in Junior 1 AFC Stratton Reserves inflicted the first defeat of the season on Down Ampney running out 2-0 winners thanks to two first half goals from Steve Stewart. After the break they were forced to withstand some presure from the home side but defended well with keeper Chris Rees in fine form.

SKS Blyskawica did well to beat Stratton Rovers 3-0. Both sides had a player sent off early in the first half but goals from Rick and Miec Wojewozka gave the home side an interval lead. Tom Kopinski adding a further goal after the break.

A second-half hat-trick by Ashraf Ali and a strike from Majit Lalle helped Swindon Asians to a 4-1 win over Cricklade Reserves, Delroy Fallon netting for the visitors.

Aldbourne continued their good run beating Biddestone Reserves 7-2 Matt Fyer again on target with a hat-trick helped by two goals from Nick O'Dwyer, Jamie Walters and Ross Peart.

Westside had their shooting boots on against Lower Stratton running out winners 8-2 Steve Shaw (4), Rick Hewittson (2), Craig Roberts and Irfon Owen.

Arron Hellawell (2), Ryan Carter and Robert Griffin were on target for Ferndale Rodbourne in their 4-1 win over Minety, Paul Huckin scoring for the visitors.

Wroughton beat West Swindon 2-0 with goals from Dave Webb and Vince Gillingham and Marlborough Town Reserves scored the only goal of the game at Blunsdon.

AFC Abbey Rodbourne lead the way in the Junior 2 section after beating Wroughton Reserves 3-0 Rick Oliver (2) and Paul Parsons on target.

Castle Combe remain undefeated after their 13-2 win over Westside while third in the table Stratton St Margaret accounted for Blunsdon Res 4-1 Corcoran, Cook, Murphy and Stravinsky on target.