20/12/01: THE Screwfix Direct League Premier Division is starting to hot up, with the big guns, Taunton and Bideford, again winning.

Both are showing tremendous form at the moment. I honestly believe it is building up to be a really good and close championship battle this year.

The gap has definitely got smaller as more and more sides are giving Taunton a run for their money. Agaon on Saturday Welton Rovers were a trifle unfortunate to lose by the odd goal in five.

Earlier in the month they narrowly lost out 4-3 at home to Taunton as well. Bideford are at a slight disadvantage of having played four games fewer due to their cup successes. They are currently eight points behind.

This Saturday we will be the latest side to try and be the first side to beat Bideford in the league. It will be a tall order, but we will give it our best shot.

We travelled down to Dawlish determined to bounce back from our midweek 4-0 mauling at home to Backwell. The Devon side are flying and were unbeaten on their own patch. I stressed to the players that they had to roll up their sleeves and battle like hell on a pretty poor pitch.

It turned out to be a good end to end game, with us coming home with a great 3-2 win.

The quality of our goals was breathtaking. Darren Tapper scored after five minutes with a stunning 30 yard strike which I assure you he will never better if he plays for another 20 years.

Nick Mooney scored another beauty to put us 3-1 up with an exquisite chip from fully 35 yards. Sandwiched in between those two was another good goal from our top scorer Barry Flippance which looked unluckily drab against the other two strikes.

Just to please my new found friends at Chippenham (they know who they are) I must mention the Chippenham juggernaut lumbers on. A relatively easy 3-0 home win against Cirencester keeps them handily placed in second spot between Halesowen.

Last season Mangotsfield got off to a flyer, but I never really thought they could go the distance. I do feel that Chippenham have a better balanced squad which, with a bit of luck which every side needs, could really be in with a shout at the death.

When we gained promotion a year or so ago one of the downsides of the experience was that other sides sat up and took notice of our better players.

Near the end of that season Frank Gregan (than manager at Forest Green Rovers) was constantly looking at Steve Campbell.

Bath City and Salisbury were always at our games and Mangotsfield were after our goalkeeper. Coupled with that I had to fight off no fewer than ten approaches for various players throughout various times of the season.

So it's with that in mind I would like to explain the harsh facts of football life to the officials of Corsham Town.

I have no personal axe to grind with what seems a well run club, but they seem to be bleating and whingeing because I've been looking at some of their players. Unfortunately, we are in a catchment area with a lot of clubs after the same players.

Corsham manager Mark Godley has done a good job in a short space of time but he's got to understand that we are all in the same boat.

He bleats constantly he's trying to build a side, but so are we. The fact I've gone in three times this season for their players is irrelevant to me.

I will always do what is best for Devizes Town, regardless of what Mr Hudd (the Corsham chairman), Mr Taylor (the Corsham secretary) and Mr Godley say.

If the boot was on the other foot I'm sure Mark would have every sympathy with me. If he wants to last the course he would do better to be a little less sensitive and realise other clubs coming in for players is a fact of life.

It happens at professional level and it happens way down the pyramid system. Merry Christmas to all the clubs - and that honestly does include Corsham.