AFC Melksham missed out on a chance to share top spot in the Chippenham & District Sunday League Premier Division table at the weekend after falling to a 4-1 defeat to Box Rovers.

Despite holding a goal difference of minus seven, Melksham’s bid to challenge for the division’s top spot hasn’t been held back.

But their efforts hit a stumbling block when four second-half goals from Box undid the hard work of James Dark after he had earlier put Melksham ahead.

Darrin Moss bagged a brace, while Ben Wickins and Ashley Alchin also chipped in to confirm Box’s fourth win of the season – which moved them to fourth place in the table.

That game was only one of two in the Premier Division to take place at the weekend, the other being FC North Wiltshire’s home clash against Bromham.

North Wilts had only secured a point from their five games prior to the weekend, and that losing trend continued as Bromham – now up to third – earned a crushing 10-1 victory.

Sam Wallis notched a brace, while goals for Charles Street and Caleb Englefield made it 5-0 at the break following an own goal.

Ed Sibbick netted North Wilts’ consolation before James Hall added Bromham’s sixth.

Ryan Bole netted the visitors’ seventh and eighth goals before two more for Street confirmed his hat-trick.

The division takes a break for a week to allow for the Wiltshire Sunday Cup.

Division One

LEADERS The Bell were surprisingly unable to field a team at the weekend, although they remain at the top of the table after New Inn Wacker failed to defeat promotion-chasing Lion & Fiddle.

Biddestone’s home clash against The Bell was understandably awarded to the hosts – meaning the table toppers suffered their first defeat of the season, albeit in off-field circumstances.

In the division’s other top clash, Lion & Fiddle maintained their unbeaten run to move onto 15 points from five matches after picking up a 4-1 win away at New Inn.

Ryan Baggs and Adam Mercer put the visitors two goals ahead at the break before a Lee Fordham own goal and Ryan Underwood’s strike secured all three points in the second half.

Sean Horobin scored a consolation for New Inn.

Elsewhere, honours were shared at Sutton Benger as Kingfisher were held to a 2-2 draw by rivals Old Road.

Kingfisher have suffered an indifferent season – losing five of their opening seven games, winning one and drawing the other.

Will Barrass earned Kingfisher the lead before Seamus Mooney squared things up – and his second effort of the morning then put Old Road 2-1 in front.

Josh Griffiths restored parity for the Fishermen to earn them a handy point.

North Star Club kept up their race for promotion away at Sporting Box by recording a 4-1 victory.

The Calne-based outfit earned a one-goal lead at half-time through Sean McPhillips before Lee Grealish equalised minutes into the second half.

But hopes of a comeback were quashed when McPhillips confirmed his brace before Matt Smart added two more.

The Foresters Arms also won – they triumphed 3-2 in the all-Melksham derby against FC Libby.

Graham Griffiths struck twice for Foresters and Nathan Walker got one as Libby replied through Jake Palmer and Sam Robinson.

Meanwhile, the points were shared between Westbury Railway and Sutton Benger in a 3-3 draw.

Mark Allard, Richie Crocker and John Williams’ goals for the Railwaymen were cancelled out by James Hernandez’s brace and one from Carl Johnson.

Division Two

ALL 12 teams were due to be in action at the weekend but two games were called off as Misfits were unable to field a team against Chippenham Icons, while London Road Inn’s home clash against FC Trowbridge was also off.

Of the games that did go ahead, Spartak Rudloe suffered another agonisingly close defeat – their fifth of the season – away to Pack Horse.

Spartak lost 7-6 in what proved to be the weekend’s most thrilling tie that could have gone either way.

After establishing a 3-1 lead at half-time, Spartak were ultimately unable to build on their first-half effort.

Pack Horse’s Josh Madle and Max Wyatt scored two apiece, while Dave and Mark Nolan also struck before Josh Legg fired home the winner.

Joe Holland (2), Rob Walker, Andy Woods, Josh McCrae and a Tim Fry own goal made up Spartak’s half-dozen

FC Devizes United’s home meeting with Bremhill View appeared to be a close one on paper but that presumption proved totally false as Devizes won 7-0.

Jordan Anning, Kian Fulford and Jack Swan earned the hosts a three-goal lead at half-time before Fulford confirmed his hat-trick in the second half, while Anning notched another and Declan McStravick rounded off the scoring.

In other results, Lavis kept themselves in the promotion hunt after Steeple Ashton were downed 3-0.

Nick Taylor and Bradley Edwards found the target in the first period, while Zack Manna did likewise after the break.

Table toppers Royal Oak also won as they triumphed 12-0 at Wednesday Warriors.

A first-half treble for Sam Hall and a Josh Duckett strike gave them a 4-0 interval lead.

After the break, Chris O’Donovan helped himself to a hat-trick, Daryl Nash scored twice, and singles for Matt Russell, Andy Duckett and Curtis Bailey completed the scoring.