CALNE boosted their chances of a top three First Division finish as struggling Minehead were put to the sword at Bremhill View on Saturday 8 March.

The game was over as a contest inside 30 minutes as the hosts raced into a three-goal lead thanks to strikes from Matt Pratley, James Lye and Ben Moore. Substitute Steve Davis completed the rout late on.

Co-manager Kelvin Highmore was delighted after seeing his side continue their fine recent form on a difficult playing surface.

He said: "I honestly thought the game would be off and the rain before the match meant it was never going to be pretty.

"The pitch could have been a leveller, but we started off really well and, after half an hour, it was all over. It was just a case of keeping a clean sheet after that.

"People are expecting us to win these games by a few goals now and that shows the progress we have made. It doesn't always happen like that, so to score four without reply is superb."

Calne took the lead in the tenth minute when last week's matchwinner Gary Smart crossed from the right and Pratley glanced a header past the visiting goalkeeper.

Lye's right-wing corner curled straight into the net at the near post as the home team doubled their advantage 12 minutes later, and the ex-Corsham winger turned supplier as Calne made it three on the half hour.

Another Lye corner created problems for the Minehead defence, and Andy Towers' wayward shot was deflected into the net by midfielder Moore.

The second half proved a quiet affair by comparison, with both sides cancelling each other out until Davis struck four minutes from the end.

The Calne substitute collected the ball 25 yards from goal and fired home via an upright from just inside the area to complete the scoring.

Davis was making his return to the first team squad following a spell in the reserves and Highmore was pleased to see him on the scoresheet.

He said: "He's played a couple for the reserves just to get games under his belt. He's shown a great attitude despite being left out and it was good for him to get one on Saturday."

Leading scorer Glenn Armstrong's recent goal drought continued on Saturday despite the hosts' comprehensive win, but joint-manager Highmore remains unconcerned by the striker's lean spell.

He said: "Glenn is playing well, but it isn't quite going for him at the moment. He is putting them in from all angles in training, but it isn't happening on a Saturday.

"But it will come. His link-up play has improved and he is still contributing a lot to the team. He hasn't got anything to prove to anyone."

Third placed Calne remain 12 points adrift of the automatic promotion places with eight games to play following Saturday's victory, but Highmore believes Premier Division football could still be coming to Bremhill View next season.

He said: "We're going along nicely and just want to finish as high as we possibly can.

"The league are a couple of teams short already and, if Dawlish pull out and Team Bath get promoted, you never know how they might restructure things for next year. We might get a surprise promotion if we finish high enough."

Calne make the trip to co-manager Paul Rankin's former club Larkhall Athletic on Saturday and Highmore is expecting a tough test.

He said: "Will Mr Rankin go to the wrong dugout? Andy Towers, Ben Moore and Matt Peters have all played for them, so there will be an edge to it.

"We were very fortunate, in my opinion, to win 3-1 against them in the home game and they outplayed us for the first 45 minutes.

"But we got the result and it proved to be the start of our run. We haven't looked back since. Larkhall like to play football and it should be an interesting encounter."