Westbury fall 3-1 to Farm for second time

Westbury entertained Manor Farm for the second time in five weeks, and again lost 3-1.

The early start to the fixture did not seem to have affected either set of players as free flowing football looked to be the pattern for the day. Manor Farm went close after five minutes when Steve Beacham's shot hit the bar and rebounded into the grateful arms of Mark Batters. Two minutes later, the visitors' luck changed when central defender Mark Young found himself in space and his cross-shot eluded Batters to nestle in the far corner of the goal.

Pressing for the equaliser, Westbury went close when Nigel Tripp had a free header following a corner that Tony Court dealt with comfortably. The ensuing attack almost brought about a second Manor Farm goal but Dean Wheeler's last-gasp clearance saved the day. Two minutes later, Westbury were level when Steve Perkins' shot through a crowded penalty area was deemed to have crossed the line.

The next 15 minutes saw Westbury in the ascendancy only to fall behind again following a tackle in the penalty area that was adjudged a foul. Mike Airs' penalty kick was low to Batters' right and although he got his hand to it, he could not prevent it going in.

Substitutions early in the second period gave Westbury the edge again and Perkins was unlucky when following Paul Hyde's cross his shot rebounded off the near post. Manor Farm's third goal came midway through the half when Neil Whelan's cross-shot trickled into the far corner of the goal. Moments later the visitors should have scored again when the home defence was at sixes and sevens, but the wet pitch conditions countered any threat the attack may have had.

Calne Town 4, Frome Town 3

THIS stormer of a match on Friday night saw Calne emerge victorious, thanks to a late Andy Waller strike.

It was the second year running Frome travelled to Bremhill View on a Friday night and gone down to a late goal.

Frome kicked off at a cracking gallop and stretched Calne to the limit with some fine passing moves. The Somerset side took the lead after 12 minutes, with Neil Smith heading in Kieron White's free-kick.

Calne had a break on 23 minutes when Frome defender Matt Harris and goalkeeper Andy Crabtree got in a muddle and Toby Colbourne nipped in to tidy things up.

Frome restored their lead early in the second half when following an intense period of pressure, Tony Pounder set off on a dazzling 25-yard run, beating three Calne defenders, before being hauled down by a combination of Steve Alford and goalkeeper Ali Wicks in the box. John Millar confidently converted the spot kick.

Calne chased, hassled and harried their way back into the game again, Dave Clayton's strength on the left releasing Waller to deliver an incisive cross to Colbourne, who banged it in with 60 minutes on the clock.

Calne took the lead eight minutes later as Simon Hillier battled to win two headers in a row, making space for Colbourne to notch his hat-trick from close in.

The reply was immediate as Frome kicked off and charged through the middle, Neil Smith catching Calne mid-celebration and playing a pass to former Calne player Craig Tuck, who cracked in a fine finish from 20 yards.

The match stormed on, as both sides searched for a winner, and Calne snatched it with 10 minutes left. Mick Garcia played in Waller on the right, and his deceptive cross eluded all and bounced in off the post.

Simon Hillier almost extended Calne's lead on 85 minutes, his two point-blank efforts being brilliantly saved by Crabtree.

The final minutes saw Frome camped in Calne's box, but Calne's determination withstood everything delivered into the area.