SCREWFIX FIRST DIVISION: CORSHAM remain in relegation trouble at the foot of the First Division table after Hallen staged a smash-and-grab raid at The Southbank on Saturday 1 March.

The home team dominated the second half but finished empty-handed as a Tom Collett strike 15 minutes from time maintained Hallen's push for a top three finish.

The result saw Corsham slip to third from bottom, but co-manager John Freegard still cannot understand how his side lost the game.

He said: "The strong wind on Saturday meant it was a game of two halves.

"We struggled to get out in the first half and they had a lot of possession but they never really hurt us. Paul Weeks in goal had one save to make and did so comfortably.

"In the second half it was all us and we just couldn't score. They got in behind us once, scored, and it really beggared belief.

"It was a real sucker punch. With 20 minutes to go we couldn't see them scoring. It was an excellent finish, but really frustrating for us."

Hallen had the better of the first half exchanges, but their attacks were met with spirited resistance from the Corsham back line.

Goalkeeper Paul Weekes made a decent stop to foil a visiting forward who broke clear of the defence, ensuring a blank scoreline at the break.

Corsham were more cohesive in the second half, aided by a strong wind, but goals have been in short supply all season and they failed to make their dominance tell.

Dan Beck shot over from a good position, but that was as close as the home team came to breaking the deadlock before Collett fired into the top corner of Weekes' net on 75 minutes to win it for Hallen.

Freegard was able to draw some positives from his side's performance, but knows they need to string together a consistent sequence of results in order to stave off relegation to the Wiltshire League.

He said: "Saturday was bitterly disappointing and the players were gobsmacked as to what went on. I'm not making excuses, but it was the story of the season.

"No-one could see any danger and there was no evidence of a defeat there until they scored. The back three were great for us.

"But we showed plenty of hunger and kept working and, if we keep doing that, then the results will come."

A rare victory for Minehead on Saturday saw them climb above Corsham in the table, but the Wiltshire outfit have six games in hand and are just a point behind.

Said Freegard: "We have played less matches than all of the sides around us, but the games in hand are only important if we win them. Having said that, we'd be disappointed not to go above Minehead."

Corsham face two games against mid-table opposition in the space of three days this week.

They travel to Clyst Rovers on Saturday, before a home game against Cadbury Heath on Monday night, kick off 7.45pm. The reverse fixture a month ago saw the two sides draw 4-4 in Bristol.

Said Freegard: "We will be looking to pick up some points from the next couple of games because we don't want to leave it until the critical games against sides around us in the table.

"Clyst will be a hard game. They are one of the best teams we have played this season and we were unlucky to lose 2-1 when the ball went in off Brian Kayll's shin in the last few seconds.

"They had a lot of games in hand and were expecting to challenge, but it hasn't happened for whatever reason.

"Against Cadbury Heath, we need to play like we did in the second half against them down there and not the first half."