WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: Purton boss Dearing believes title race is open again (From This Is Wiltshire)

PURTON Reserves manager Albert Dearing is convinced the Wiltshire League Premier Division title race is wide open again.

The Red House boss had previously written off his team’s chances but a 1-0 win over Blyskawica at the weekend brought them to within five points of league leaders Wilts Calne Town.

Purton play their games in hand at Beversbrook on Saturday so could be only two points down come Saturday night.

Dearing said: “I think the title race is back on and not just for us, Bradford and Chippenham are back in it as well.

“But we’ve got a lot of tough away games, we have one at home and five away. It’s a tough ask but if we can get within two points this weekend we can do it. After that we’ll know a little bit more.

“We’ve managed to hang in there until now and you never know.”

A second-half strike from the edge of the box by Tom McCulloch won the game for Purton against Blyskawica on Saturday.

Elsewhere in the division, Southbrook were defeated 1-0 at Bradford, while Beversbrook lost 3-2 to Ludgershall Sports. Devizes Reserves beat Trowbridge 3-1.

Wilts Calne Town progressed to the final of the Senior KO Cup after beating Chippenham Park 2-1.

In Division One, Nalgo Wanderers followed up their 2-1 win at Malmesbury Reserves on Tuesday with a 3-0 win over Wilton.

The only game in the North Berks League involving on of our local sides was in Division Three, where Faringdon Town Reserves drew 1-1 against Harwell Reserves.

Luke Hammond scored for Harwell while Josh Forth netted for Faringdon.

Meanwhile, Inter Sandgate and The Manor shared a 2-2 draw as the battle to avoid relegation from Swindon Sunday League Division One remained wide open.

Sandgate took the lead early on when Jake Page rounded the keeper, but the Manor were 2-1 up five minutes into the second half.

But Dean Wootten sent in the equaliser from the edge of the 18-yard box and despite further chances at both ends, the score remained level.