A GOAL five minutes from time by Trowbridge substitute Gordon Saunderson scuppered AFC Stratton's Premier Division title hopes and enabled the visitors to snatch a point in a 2-2 draw.

Trowbridge boss Neil Kirkpatrick said : "Gordon is the club skipper and he shouldn't really have been on the bench, but he nagged me to include him despite a fairly bad leg injury, and he saved the day."

Trowbridge had cut Stratton's lead to four points after beating Corsham Town Reserves in midweek, and with games in hand, look almost certain to lift the Premier Division honours.

It was a must-win situation for Stratton, who needed a victory to put pressure on their visitors.

Both sides found it difficult to control a lively ball and early in the game a hesitant Stratton defence allowed Simon Kitchen to nip in and hook the ball over keeper Paul Stevens' head to put the visitors in front.

The home side fought back and Kevin Coles headed in from a corner to level the scores on 18 minutes.

Stratton then had their best spell of the game, and Micky Solen added a second on 25 minutes to give the home side an interval lead.

But with the home fans looking at their watches, a scramble in the penalty area ended with Saunderson latching on to a loose ball and giving Stevens no chance to salvage a valuable point for the visitors.

Stratton boss Stef Kuczynski was disappointed his side conceded a late goal and said: "We should have killed them off when we were in front in the first half.

"We sat back and paid the penalty. They are a good side, but I thought we just had the edge."

It was semi-final day in the Fountain Trophies Junior Cup, and New College and Ferndale Rodbourne were level at 1-1 after extra-time.

Ferndale keeper Dave Spicer then became the hero, saving all three of the New College penalties in the shoot-out to ensure his side a place in the final.

Earlier Arran Hellawell had given Ferndale a lead they held until 10 minutes from time when Ashley Whitbread equalised for College.

Blunsdon United beat Wanborough 2-1 in the other semi in what was another closely contested tie.

Pete Griffiths put Blunsdon in front in the opening 10 minutes and Craig Green added a second early in the second half.

Martin Grounsell then struck for Wanborough 15 minutes from time and from then on the Blunsdon defence came under sustained pressure, but they hung on to their lead and a place in the final.

Swindon Asians beat Chiseldon Castrol Reserves 4-0, and now need one point from their final game to take the honours in Division Two. George Green was on target with a hat-trick and Ashraf Ali netted a fourth.

Marlborough Town chalked up their third win on the trot, beating visitors Cricklade Town 5-1.

Wayne Presley and Justin Guinerie scored a brace each and Mark Jones completed the scoring.

Shrewton United struck in the last five minutes to deprive Chiseldon Castrol of a deserved point.

Alan Maggs had given United an early lead and Castrol drew level soon after the restart, Chris Withers scoring the winner.

Bradford Town ran out 5-2 winners at Malmesbury.

Tom Pang (2), Robbie Simmons, Pete Martin and Charlie Powell were the scorers, with Wayne Hunt and Darryll Walsh replying for the home side.

Junior Division One leaders Trowbridge Town Reserves scored the only goal of the game against Marlborough Reserves, courtesy of a strike by Mathew Penman.

Goals from Marlon Reid and Rick Hewittson gave Westside a 2-0 win over Calne, Aldbourne Reserves beat visitors Sherston 3-2, thanks to goals from Pete Day (2) and Darryll Mason, and Wroughton Reserves and Cricklade Reserves shared the points in a 2-2 draw, Graham Horn and Mike Wilson scoring for Wroughton.