Newcomers FC Northbridge, with a five-goal league double, and Dilton Marsh closed in on the Division Three title race as leaders Seend Reserves slumped to a 1-0 home defeat by lowly Bromham.

Kevin Hammersly's second half header produced one of the biggest shocks of the campaign and that has placed Matt Bonfield's Northbridge and Terry Hunt's Dilton Marsh in a strong position, though the former look to have the easier run in.

A third hat-trick from James Starr to bring his goal haul to 20, supported by singles from Stuart Farr and Ian Huntley extended Northbridge's unbeaten run to 11 games as they went up against Castle Combe, whose last defeat was against the newcomers back in late October.

Fourth place Dilton have games in hand and have yet to meet Combe once and Seend twice. But it took a half time roasting by Hunt to keep them in contention with Mike Spong and Neil Hannaford responding with second-half hat-tricks in the 6-0 win over Hilperton Reserves.

Hilperton, in their penultimate away game, returned to bottom place after Semington Magpies yet again made nonsense of their position. Magpies became the league's fifth highest scorers as Jamie McDine added three more to his starting tally of 16 in the 8-2 demolition of Frome Town Sports 'A'.

A Ben Phillips brace took his total to 11 with Wesley Bray, Gary Hargreaves and Dan Phillips adding singles.

Mike Stride and Ross Doel replied for Frome.

A Jonathan Knight penalty was the only consolation for Rowde Sports as they crashed 5-1 at home to Apetito, for whom Jason Gurney, Nigel Penelhum, Neil Griffiths and two from Alan House lifted the Trowbridge works side a couple of places higher.

Heytesbury swept to the top of Division One thanks to a full back. Paul Riley bagged a hat-trick with Stuart Carr and Richard Wyatt adding singles as Freshford conceded five goals for the second week running. Heytesbury are now a point clear of Broughton Gifford who they face on successive Saturday's next month.

A Jamie Winks penalty wiped out Paul Bendall's opener for Frome Town Sports but the champions made it a miserable start for new Combe chief Steve Tadhunter with Chris Sparey, Kirk Latham and Bendell again striking for a 4-1 win.

At the bottom Steve Martin's basement side Blue Circle came within two minutes of their first point but Aaron Richardson's controversial strike from an indirect free kick enabled Seend United to claim a morale boosting win themselves.

Shaun Sheppard gave Circle a second half lead before a rare goal from Darren Nicholls levelled matters.

Division Two leaders Deverills Reserves considered themselves fortunate to take a point off Neil Taylor's rapidly improving Steeple Ashton side and only a Wayne Sprangle 88-minute equaliser prevented Ashton, for whom John Farr was outstanding, from recording a fourth straight win.

Darren Woodyatt's 30-yard scorcher wiped out Mark Sheppard's opener for Ashton who established a 3-1 lead through Ulian Serafimou and Steve Coveney who started and ended a glorious move. A Mike Payne penalty reduced Deverills' deficit.

Charlie Morgan, having been coaxed out of retirement, helped Dursley Arms end a three match losing sequence, the substitute's opener being doubled by Kingsley Hampton to give Arms a two-goal second half lead at Broughton Gifford Reserves whose replies from Dave Jenkins and Richard Moules left the sides deadlocked for the second time.

Free scoring Bratton 14 goals since the turn of the year remain second after a 4-0 smash and grab revenge win at Warminster Town Reserves, whose youngsters dominated the play and still found themselves two goals adrift at one stage. In form Dave Jones scored twice with Stuart Neate and Alex Lutskes also on target.

In the Pied Piper Promotions sponsored A and B Cup Broughton Gifford and holders North Bradley Saints will meet in one semi final after overcoming quarter final ties.

Two first half goals from Stuart Greenwood, and a Chris Gale header right on the stroke of half time, gave Saints a 2-0 win at Hilperton United who could have pushed their Division Two rivals further but for missed chances.

Former holders Gifford recorded a a cup double in a week over Trowbridge United but Paul Shanley's babes four 16 year olds started and another two finished came close to a deserved shock. Leigh Stevenson gave Gifford a two goal lead before Jamie Young replied. After Lee Hayward struck the Gifford bar, Young's header three minutes from time again reduced Trowbridge's deficit following a controversial third goal from Gifford's Tom Staddon.

Bradford United went closer still to claiming a second cup scalp in a week. In an incident-packed 4-2 extra time defeat by Rudloe, George Macguire missed a fifth minute Bradford penalty before John Williams and Matt Edmunds twice gave the hosts the lead.

Russell Gibbings produced one equaliser and Luke Risbrook levelled again three minutes into added time. Bradford's 10 men due to an injury to Ryan Mortimer, conceded the tie through Richard Boore and a Matt Dancey penalty in extra time.

Rudloe will meet the winners of The Deverills-Dynamo West End tie in the other semi final after an own goal from James Ayton put Deverills on their way to a 3-1 win at Westbury United 'A' who missed a second half penalty through Steve Bruce.

Steve Munday reduced Rowan King's second goal for Deverills before Aaron Stevens saw the Division One outfit home.

Will club secretaries please note that Registration Secretary Alan Thompson is not available from February 4-7.