Chippenham league

All the goals came in the second half after Rowde were only stopped by some excellent goalkeeping from Chris Shute in the Virgin goal.

The second half saw some better football being played, and the first goal saw Justice Ofosu-Apeasah round two players before calmly slotting past the keeper. Ofosu-Apeasah went on to complete his hat-trick before Lee Jones finished the scoring with a goal from three yards after another Matthew Stevens corner.

Kings Arms dropped their first point since early October when North Star B rallied from a 3-1 deficit to claim a 3-3 draw.

The Arms were quick out of the blocks and were unlucky not to take the lead after three minutes when Matt Mullis danced around a clutch of defenders but Star goalkeeper Richard Ellis saved with his legs.

Within a minute The Arms took the lead through Scott Askew who smashed the ball home from six yards after Ellis failed to hold onto a Nick Leeson corner.

North Star were level on 18th minutes, when a mix up in the Arms' defence left Adam Godwin with the easiest of chances to tie the scores.

Five minutes later James Yates missed out on the opportunity to put the visitors ahead when he blasted wide from close range with only goalkeeper Ashley Haynes to beat.

Kings Arms regained the lead on 32 minutes. Nick Leeson delivered another excellent corner which was flicked on by Daniel Barnes to Scott Askew whose diving header gave Star goalkeeper Ellis no chance.

On 38 minutes Yates' weak header from a Rob Vowden free kick ended up in the arms of keeper Haynes. His clearance upfield was collected by Ross Pike who had his 30 yard drive spilled by keeper Ellis but in spite of the quick reactions of striker Askew, Ellis recovered to grab the ball at the third attempt.

As the first half drew to a close Brad Rawlings had all the time in the world in front of goal to fire his the Arms 3-1 to the good but was denied by a timely challenge from Darren Lymath.

Within two minutes of the restart The Kings Arms had taken a two goal lead following a moment of individual magic from Matt Minns who ran from inside his own half and beat three players before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into the empty net.

North Star upped their game and were back in the game four minutes later when Darren Axford bundled the ball over the line through a crowd of players after his initial effort had been scrambled off the line by Brad Rawlings.

Nick Bloodworth had a chance to level for Star in the 77th minute when with three forwards against one Kings Arms defender he chose the wrong option and drilled wide from six yards out.

With just 10 minutes remaining North Star were on level terms when James Yates picked out Adam Godwin with an inch perfect pass. Godwin controlled the ball brilliantly before dispatching a great finish beyond a despairing Haynes.

Both teams went close to winning the contest at the death, with Minns firing the Arms' best effort high over the crossbar from six yards and Rob Lymath's blistering drive from 25 yards flashed just wide of the mark for the Star.

The Arms had to settle for a point from a game that they were favourites to win, but all credit must go to the visitors from Calne who never gave up and proved that on their day they are a match for the top sides.

FC Bradford recorded their 11th straight victory since they lost on the opening day of the season to the Kings Arms.

FC Bradford were too good for Classic FC whose 5-0 defeat has seen them drop four points in their last three games against fellow title hopefuls to all but bring an end to their own hopes of an automatic promotion spot.

Bradford's goals were scored by Mike Embleton (2), Steve Bryant, Phil Radwell and Tom Seviour, who was making his debut for the Bradford side.

A goal in each half from Jamie Farquharson and Mark Smith earned Fascia Graphics a 2-0 win over bottom of the table Plough.

Division Three

COOPER-AVON moved off the foot of the table as Shane Thornton's late winner over Pig and Whistle United saw them clinch a 2-1 victory in the Melksham derby.

Paul McCarthy's well taken goal put United one up in the 65th minute, with Andy Roberts' brilliant bullet header restoring parity. Ten minutes from time Thornton struck at the death to earn the Tyremen only their second win of the season.

Paul Young, with his first goal of the season, and Leigh Wells saw the Hare and Hounds hit back from a goal down to defeat Old Lane United 2-1. Chris Sheppard scored the first half opener for Old Lane.

Premier Division

TERRY'S came away from All Cannings with a point following a 2-2 stalemate but will be disappointed with the result from their long trip.

Hoping to bounce back after their shock defeat to bottom side Winsley, Terry's were again slow out of the blocks and were forced to defend in the early stages.

In cold and windy conditions on a bumpy pitch, both sides struggled to pass the ball and much of the game was played chasing long clearances.

Terry's looked threatening from set pieces, with Matthew Arnold going close on three occasions as Cannings failed to clear.

But Cannings were always dangerous on the break and they opened the scoring mid-way through the half as a square pass was met by Nick Oram who drove the ball past a stranded Marks Binns in Terry's goal.

Terry's responded immediately and went close just on half-time when Richard Clarke released Iain Winterbottom who flicked the ball over the keeper only to see it cleared off the line.

The change of ends gave Terry's the advantage of the wind, and saw them begin to pin Cannings back, forcing a succession of corners. It was from one of these that they equalised after 55 minutes, when a half cleared ball was spectacularly volleyed back into the top corner of the net by Richard Clarke.

On 75 minutes Terry's took the lead when substitute Dean Gumm picked up Clarke's through ball to cleverly chip the goalkeeper from a tight angle.

Terry's looked to close the game out, but Cannings were awarded a late free-kick from an innocuous challenge. Stuart Beavan free-kick looked to be covered by keeper Binns but he inexplicably allowed the ball to go in off the post. Both sides had half-chances to snatch the win, but it will be Terry's who will rue the late free-kick.

Leaders Sherston Town are now six points clear at the top and while the chasing pack seem to be floundering Sherston just keep on winning.

Their 8-1 away victory over bottom of the table Calne Town made it 10 win from 14 games. Andy Wicks bagged his first treble of the campaign while Antony Vizard netted two to take him to 23 for the season. Matt Wilkins, Danny Beck and Dan Ody added the others, with Paul Duckett replying for Calne.

Reigning champions The Duke Corsham moved into second spot after a 4-0 victory over Hullavington.

Jamie Rowe put the Duke ahead after an assist from Chris Andrews. Andrews was involved in the Duke's second as his powerful shot was deflected into the path of Paul Clifford who struck a sweet shot home.

Luke Chapman made it 3-0 when he slid in to tap Rowe's cross into the net and it was left to captain Darran Hughes to completed the scoring with his second in as many games when he headed home a Neil Shardlow free kick.

Westbury Rangers A picked up two valuable points from their 3-2 defeat of West Lavington, much to the disappointment of Lavington who were up in arms about two of Rangers' goals claiming one was a definite offside.

Darren Thorpe and Simon Drewitt goals could not prevent Lavington from suffering only their third loss of the season. Sam Tucker, Ian Grey and a penalty from Paul Smith accounted for Rangers' trio.

Although he didn't find the net Rangers management team were impressed by the cameo roll played by substitute Lee Griffin who adapted well to first team life after promotion from the reserves.

Box Rovers will look at the point from a 3-3 draw with Winsley as a point won rather than lost as they left it until the final kick of the game to deny Winsley a second stunning result in the past three weeks.

Two goals from Mike Little plus a single from Luke Harfield had put Winsley in the driving seat at 3-1. Tom Smith, who had scored Rovers opener, added another to reduce the gap and with only seconds left Darren Wileman drove home his first of the season from 18 yards to deny Winsley a famous victory.

The consolation for Winsley was that the point they picked up was good enough to send Calne Town into bottom place.

Division One

SECOND in the table Maud Heath Sports were stunned by an Atworth United side who hit back from 3-1 down to claim a deserved 4-3 victory which moved them of the foot of the table.

Dean Slade's first of three goals put Maud Heath ahead and he then made it 2-0 before Dan Adams scored from the penalty spot to half the gap before half-time.

Slade completed his hat-trick early in the second period before Atworth staged their great recover. A Mike Hopkins double saw the score tied at 3-3 and it was left to Atworth's Stuart Holland to tap home the winner.

The Horse and Groom were another side that turned around a two goal deficit to claim a win.

The Horse were trailing 2-0 at the interval against Chippenham Police who scored through Jason Roberts and Julian Kirby.

After a half-time rollicking the Horse were much improved after the break and stormed back to seal a 5-3 victory with Paul Aland netting a fine hat-trick, which included a sublime left footed volley. Paul Bendell added the other two

Division Two

LEADERS Corsham Centre go into 2004 with a perfect 100 per cent league record of played 10, won 10 after they destroyed Blue Circle Saints 9-0.

Only three down at the break the Saints fell apart as Corsham found their form to add another six. Simon Grey led the rampage with four goals, James Lye added a brace with Liam Fullam, Scott Lye and Craig Gingell sharing the others.

With Holt's game with Spencer Sports called off, both North Star A and North Bradley took full advantage to leapfrog their rivals.

North Star regained second spot with a 2-0 victory over Christian Malford, with goals from Tom Ludford and Ronnie Kallmeier.

Jack Heard was among the goals for North Bradley who moved up into third spot as Holt were relegated to fourth place as he hit four of Bradley's goals in their 5-1 defeat of Roadrunners. Matty Coles grabbed the other while Steve Meek replied for Roadrunners from the penalty sport after a clumsy challenge by Bradley goalkeeper Ryan Marks.

Biddestone Arms hit two late goals to send Somerford to their 11th defeat of the season. Biddestone edged the 10 goal thriller with a 6-4 victory to pick up only their fourth win from 13 games. Kevin Woolford (2), Lee Scutter and Dean Fry (Biddestone) traded goals with Gavin Klukowski (2), Richard Chandler and Phil Johnson (Somerford) before Scutter made it 5-4 to Biddestone and then Danny Williams, with his first goal of the season, completed the victory.

The draw for the quarter finals of the Rainbow Launderette sponsored WG Parr Trophy sees last seasons beaten finalists Four Seasons away at North Star A. Corsham Centre who knocked out cup holders Maud Heath Sports in an earlier round host Steeple Ashton. In the all First-Division affair West End Wanderers entertain Colerne FC with Somerford clash with Chippenham Sports and Social Club completing the draw.