BROUGHTON Gifford boss Stuart Irons knows that there is still a long way to go but after a two-year absence the Division One crown in the Premier Training International-sponsored league is on its way home.

On the eve of tomorrow's Wiltshire Junior Cup giant-killing home bid against county leaguers Westside, Iron's men stand four points clear after beating closest rivals The Deverills 4-1.

Adam Gingell's early penalty was doubled by Tom Staddon converting across from Leigh Stevenson before Richard Clarke made it 3-0 after the break, Darren Munro reduced Deverills' deficit from another penalty but substitute Steve Burns hit a fourth right on time.

Gifford's match was the only top flight survivor of waterlogged pitches which also claimed the crunch Division Three clash between Dilton Marsh and Castle Combe Reserves.

Division Three leaders Seend United Reserves took full advantage of that postponement by stretching their lead to four points as well with a third straight win in a 5-0 success over Rowde Sports who had held the leaders three weeks before. Chris Bishop and Frank Rogers netted in the first half before Nigel Hall delivered a double with Rogers adding another.

FC Northbridge also took advantage of Dilton's postponement to move into third spot, Kye Leather's near post header in the second half giving the newcomers their fourth win in six unbeaten matches at the expense of Frome Town Sports A who did enough to take a point from an open game.

A 2-0 defeat at Bromham, who produced their best league performance of the season, resulted in The Stiffs losing touch with the leaders. Sixteen-year-old Danny Fennell celebrated his first goal for the club before James Mclaughlin doubled the first half lead on the hour.

Bradford United Reserves and Hilperton United Reserves went into their clash with three successive defeats and without a draw in their first ten league games but were involved in their first stalemate when Andy Wallace equalised Dan Mercer's first half opener for Hilperton.

The wet conditions never bothered a strengthened Trowbridge United side from recording a 10-1 Division Two victory over Westbury United A who they should have been facing in the second leg of the divisional cup.

Two up in the first five minutes Trowbridge proved far too strong with doubles from Chris Gittens, Lee Hayward, Matt Minnis and 16-year-old substitute Matt Cooper. Booker Woodford and Lee Palmer weighed in with singles with Stuart Cusworth grabbing Westbury a consolation.

Steeple Ashton looked to be on their way to a first win when Mark Sheppard and Ulian Serafimou put them two up against Bratton by Marc Lanfear and Dave Jones levelled before the break. Bratton keeper Kelvin Balchin saved a second half penalty before an 88th-minute corner led to makeshift striker Kerry Wilson heading a 3-2 Bratton win.

Hilperton United are the first semi-finalists of the season. In the third November meeting with Bradford United, Kevin Hendy's outfit overturned a 3-2 first leg deficit to win 4-3 on aggregate.