Trowbridge League

Newcomers Semington Magpies, who host Hilperton United Reserves in tomorrow's Division Three basement battle, have already secured a reputation of being the best bottom of the table side to have graced the league in decades.

Although leaking 46 goals in 13 matches, their general play has attracted a great deal of respect from opponents and in 13 goal Jamie McDine, supported by eight goals from Ben Phillips, Magpies possess a quality marksman.

A second league win tomorrow will lift Magpies off the bottom for the first time and if they can rectify basic defensive errors the second half of the season could well see them climb the table, with four matches still to come against teams immediately above them.

Magpies will also have a huge say in the destination of the title and although facing the top five sides all away the leading contenders, poised for a nail-biting finish, will not be able to assume that two points are in the bag.

In recent years the Division Two title race has also been a close call and sixth, seventh and eighth-placed North Bradley Saints, Trowbridge United and Bradford United are favourites to provide another grandstand finale.

The unbeaten trio promoted from Division Three last term enter the new year having played only four league matches and Trowbridge United's ambition of successive promotion campaigns may be hindered by a January programme containing four more cup ties, including two home clashes against Broughton Gifford in successive weeks.

Gifford's quest for a quartet of trophies continues tomorrow in the Wiltshire Junior Cup, a tenth successive victory taking Stuart Irons' unbeatable-looking side into this season's semi final draw.

The major threat to Gifford reclaiming the league crown after a two-year absence looks certain to come from Rudloe who, by winning their game in hand, would overtake Gifford, the only side to have inflicted a league defeat over last season's Division Two champions.

Rudloe, who are also in tomorrow's Junior Cup action, against Division One rivals The Deverills, are confident that with the home return against Gifford still to come they can lift a second successive title.

Division One starts with the majority of league positions set to change on a weekly basis.

A single point separates ninth-placed Seend United from third in the table Heytesbury. This not only conjures up the prospect of a relegation dogfight but should Gifford and Rudloe slip up any one of the other seven could provide a title challenge.

One of these teams are current champions Frome Town Sports who, by their standard have yet to kick start their campaign which has included two cup defeats by Division Two outfits.

Frome, who visit Taunton side Wyvern in the Somerset Junior Cup fourth round on January 10, entertain Heytesbury tomorrow on the back of five unbeaten matches, including three stalemates which may yet prove very costly.

The only predictable issue is that Blue Circle and Lavington and Easterton will need second half miracles to avoid relegation from Division One and Two respectively.

Steve Martin's youngsters at the cement works have lost their first six matches leaving them well and truly anchored at the bottom.

Lavington's plight, not helped by recent administration problems, is just as precarious with nine straight defeats and having played more games than their fellow strugglers.

The biggest disappointment of the season has been the resignation of Bradford Sports who for several weeks last term headed the top flight.

Bradford's withdrawal may not mean that three teams are promoted from Division Two.

Although in recent years the league have promoted three sides from Division Three, this may not happen this time round with promotion restricted to the top two, who would replace the bottom two in Division Two.

All decisions would depend on any resignations and the number of new teams applying for membership.