CORSHAM TOWN'S first taste of Premier Division football ended in a cruel last-gasp defeat.

Hosts Torrington denied Nobby Bush's men a point as Tony Bowker netted with the last kick of the game to secure a 3-2 win.

Corsham, missing key summer acquisition Colin Towler, had taken a 15th-minute lead through a Steve Roddy strike.

The home side levelled when Jay Morgan converted Shaun Lewis' pin-point cross.

Bowker son of Torrington boss Tony senior crashed home a fabulous 25-yard drive to put the Devon outfit ahead for the first time.

Corsham frontman Alan Griffin appeared to have rescued a point with a strike from the edge of the box, but Bowker hit another screamer at the death to deny the Southbankers.

Melksham also went down in a high-scoring affair, losing 5-2 at Exmouth.

Ricahrd Pears (2) and Danny Burwood put Exmouth in the ascendancy before Kris Beasley pulled one back.

Richard Spiller and Paul Pocock ended Melksham resistance, although Owen Bryan bagged a consolation.

Elsewhere in the Premier, Devizes lost 2-0 at home to Hallen.

Calne started their pursuit of First Division glory with a 3-1 win at Almondsbury.

League newcomers Biddestone went down by the same score at Dawlish.

n PURTON were beaten 4-0 by Ross in the third/fourth play-off match in the Brian Wells Memorial Trophy. Wantage won the final 2-0 against Letcome in the traditional Hellenic League curtain-raiser.