AN Alan Griffin hat-trick helped restore some pride into Wiltshire football at Almondsbury on Wednesday night and may have given the senior side a lifeline.

Their future had been put in doubt after the county had struggled to field a team for the first three games this season.

But Mel Gingell's appointment as manager has marked a turnaround in their fortunes and Wednesday's result means Wiltshire have finished their South West County Championship campaign as runners-up.

Gingell hopes the result will convince the county FA to run a team again next season.

He said: "I can't believe how well we played. The FA have to consider running a team next season now. At last we have put Wiltshire football back on the map and put some pride back into our county football.

"At the end of the day the players had the future of Wiltshire football on their shoulders and they passed with flying colours.

Corsham striker Griffin's hat-trick was added to by team-mate Ben Highmore.

Gingell singled out Melksham's Dean Ranger and Steven Casey for individual praise.