Chippenham Sunday League

It was the fourth successive defeat for the one-time promotion candidates .

Potterne's early season form was very impressive and a string of fine wins saw then vying with Four Seasons, Parsons Nose and the Hare and Hounds for an automatic promotion spot. But while The Seasons and Parsons Nose have gone from strength to strength to book their place in Division Two, The Hounds and Potterne have seen a major drop in form that ended their hopes of a top two finish weeks ago.

Potterne started their game against Rangers at a frenetic pace and were unlucky not to take the lead in the first minute when Ben Giles' header was cleared off the line by Ben Shave.

In the seventh minute Potterne went close again through Neil Webb who lashed a 20 yard shot just wide.

Rangers' first chance fell to Steve Wyatt who headed Lee Griffin's tantalising cross inches wide on 12 minutes.

Midway through the half Potterne's Ben Giles was only denied an opener by a great stop from Rangers' goalkeeper Paul Hillier. Potterne forced a breakthrough in spectacular fashion in the 28th minute when Neil Webb's stunning strike beat Hillier at his near post.

Rangers were on level terms just two minutes later when Tim Combes scored from 18 yards. Rangers should have gone in at the break leading 2-1 but Steve Wyatt's cross was prodded wide by Sam Gooding.

Rangers picked up in the second half where they left off in the first and took the lead after 50 minutes through Steve Wyatt who arrived unmarked at the far post to crash the ball home to give Rangers a 2-1 advantage. Three minutes later Potterne were back on level terms courtesy of Shane Holloway's lightning strike from 25 yards.

Almost immediately from the restart Rangers got the ball in the net but Lee Griffin's effort was ruled out for offside.

Rangers regained the lead in the 75th minute when Lee Griffin was left unmarked to head home Ben Shave's pinpoint cross to make the final score 3-2.

Four Seasons closed the gap on leaders Parsons Nose to four points. Playing their first match for seven weeks the Chippenham-based side were thankful to Marcus Young who for once made the headlines for all the right reasons as his second half goal was all that separated the Seasons and local rivals Sir Audley's Arms to give the title chasers a 1-0 win.

Pig and Whistle United and Hare and Hounds produced a goal feast at Awdrey Avenue, Melksham, where United emerged 6-5 winners from an 11-goal thriller.

Steve Robinson's opener for United was cancelled out by Tim Wootton who latched onto a Paul Revening clearance before bringing the scores level. Adie Cooper gave United the upper hand once more only for Niall McLean to tie the game at 2-2 when he dummied United's keeper before slotting home.

Matthew Benson made it 3-2 to the Hounds but just like United they were unable to hold onto the lead and soon after Sam Whatley equalised. United took a 4-3 lead into the second period as Paul McCarty added United's fourth. Further goals from Whatley and McCarty increased United's lead to 6-3 before the Hounds staged a mini revival that saw Niall McLean lob home their fourth to cut the gap to two and when Tim Wootton slotted home a penalty with a few minutes remaining there were a few anxious moments left for United but they held on to finish the season in style with their first win in six outings.

Premier Division

DOG and Fox Ashley kept their hopes of claiming second place alive when they claimed a 4-2 win over reigning champions, The Duke Corsham.

The Dog and Fox must now hope that Westbury Rangers A drop a point in their final match of the season against Box Rovers and they can defeat All Cannings FC to claim the runners-up spot behind champions Sherston Town.

West Lavington finished their first season in the top flight on a high as they beat bitter rivals Terry's FC.

Lavington's 4-0 victory over their opponents was only their second victory over the Trowbridge team in eight outings, the first coming in January 2001 when the villagers won 1-0 a result that was to count for nothing as that season was bought to an abrupt end by the foot and mouth crisis.

Neil Hillier's West Lavington side have shown that they can live with the big guns, having beaten Sherston this term, and could well be challenging for silverware next season.

Terry's started with only 10 men and found themselves trailing 3-0 at the break as goals from Simon Drewitt (2) and Jamie Bayes left the hosts in charge.

Things could have been a lot worse for Terry's had goalkeeper Mark Binns not been in great form.

In the second period, Terry's were reduced to nine players when an injury to Iain Winterbottom forced him off and if that wasn't enough they found Lavington's keeper Neil Hillier in impressive form as they tried to get back into the game. It was left to Marcus Lovsey to have the final say as he made it 4-0 with his first goal of the season.

Hullavington's final game of the season saw them suffer their sixth loss on the trot and their 15th of the season. Already safe in the knowledge that they would not face relegation if they the lost to Bradford News they started the game with 10 players and despite reaching full strength they fell to a 6-2 defeat.

Charlie Powell started the scoring in the 15th minute when his corner flew straight in to give the Newsmen the lead. Craig Samuels levelled from close range before Powell drove home a free kick to make it 2-1. Powell completed his hat-trick and further goals from Darren Morris, Russell Francis and George Hulbert saw the Bradford side to a comfortable win. Samuels replied with Hullavington's second with a crisp half volley.

Division One

LOSING WG Parr Trophy finalists West End Wanderers bounced back from their 4-0 defeat at the hands of Corsham Centre with a 4-3 victory over the Horse and Groom which secured their First Division status next term but condemned both Atworth United and Chippenham Police to Division Two.

Horse and Groom were two-up, thanks to a Dave Appleyard double, before the game was turned on its head after the Groom's Simon Hillman was shown the red card for serious foul play.

Wanderers took full advantage of their extra man advantage and were soon on level terms thanks to a Nathan Mantle who headed home his first before a crisp left footed strike bought the sides to 2-2. Mantle went on to complete a virtuoso performance with two second half goals that took his total to four before the Groom's Dave Appleyard completed his own hat-trick when he made it 4-3 from the penalty spot.

Division Two

ROADRUNNERS FC look to be back in business and hopefully they will be able to see out the remainder of the season.

A trip to Christian Malford saw them lose 8-2 but the good news was that they were able to field 11 players and they even had a substitute. Lee Rideout and youngster Lee Kelty netted for Roadrunners. Scott Evans (3), Ian Ramsey (2), Mark Golledge, Chris Pitman and Ben Lyons shared Malford's eight goals.

Dean Fry scored another spectacular goal for Biddestone Arms who defeated Sutton Benger 2-1. Fry's portfolio of stunning strikes is getting bigger on a weekly basis. His first of his brace against Benger was another sublime effort from out on the touchline and his second was a simpler affair that took his tally to 28 for the season. Tom Birch's first goal of the season was Benger's only reply.

Midweek victories for Corsham Centre and North Star A makes it increasing likely that it will be those two sides that will gain automatic promotion from Division Two.

Leaders Corsham Centre followed up their Rainbow Launderette-sponsored WG Parr Trophy Final victory over West End Wanderers with a crushing 13-0 win away at Somerford FC.

The Centre had a total of 16 shots on target and it was as if they had the Midas touch, where almost every shot they had seemed to find the net. The Centre were spurred on by their midfield maestro Scott Lye who although he did not find the net was at the heart of the majority of everything that the champions elect created and he had a hand in at least six of the 13 goals.

Simon Gray led the rampage with six, Luke Denham added another four and Liam Ralph, Kevin Brown and Jack Nicholas shared the others for a Centre side who are going to take some stopping as they look to go through the season unbeaten.

North Star A's 3-1 home victory over Blue Circle Saints kept the pressure on the Centre at the top and allowed them to stay just above promotion hopefuls Holt FC in the table.

Division Four

OLD Road Tavern and Bear Casuals also battled out a 3-3 stalemate in a match that saw the Tavern awarded three penalties of which only two were converted.