CALNE Town stopped the rot to earn their first point of the season in Division One against Clyst Rovers but it could so easily have been three.

Stuart Skinner struck Calne's all important goal on 70 minutes but Clyst grabbed a point just 10 minutes later.

The match ended in controversy when Liam Byfield looked to have given Calne victory five minutes from the end.

He followed up a rebound and slotted home only for the linesman to rule the goal out for offside. Byfield reacted angrily though and received his marching orders after a verbal attack on the linesman.

Boss Paul Rankin didn't condone Byfield's behaviour but understood his frustration.

"The lad has done what any good striker would do in following the shot up," said Rankin. "He's put it in the net and it understandably frustrated when it is disallowed.

"I can't condone his reaction and the verbal abuse he gave the linesman and he had to go for that but it did look a good goal."

After a tight first-half Skinner's 70th minute effort looked to be sending Calne on the way to their first win of the season. Steve Davis could have made sure of the points soon after Skinner's strike but after breaking free just ran out of legs.

The point ended a run of three consecutive defeats for Calne and Rankin is confident that a change in fortunes is just around the corner for his side.

He added: "We are getting fed up with people thinking we will settle for a draw we want to win. We are getting closer and this point was important for us."

n MELKSHAM left it late against Bishop Sutton before securing a 4-3 win in the Premier Division.

Two goals down after 14 minutes, Melksham could easily have laid down and died.

Instead they bounced back to take the lead 3-2 before Bishop Sutton levelled and set up a thrilling finish.

Michael Adams and Neil Ward put Bishop Sutton two goals to the good.

John Cant set-up Luke Jones on 23 minutes to bring Melksham back into the game and the home side were level on 50 minutes when Andrew Sandell scored.

Two minutes later Jones gave Melksham the lead with his second.

Bishop Sutton levelled though on 57 minutes when Dean Maggs fired home.

Melksham pushed for a winner and got the breakthrough when Nigel Tripp headed home from a corner.