TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION ONE: Victory lifts Combe off the bottom (From This Is Wiltshire)

CASTLE Combe moved off the foot of the Division One table after picking up their first win of the season in the Trowbridge Windows & Conservatories-sponsored league.

They continued the hoodoo which they seem to have over a Seend United side, who managed to take just once point from Paul Sanderson’s side last term and suffered a 4-2 loss in their first meeting of the new season as Combe hit the jackpot for the first time in four outings.

Goals from Carl Dawson, Ryan Salter and Quinnan Tarawai with his first-ever goal for Combe put them in charge at the break.

On a day of firsts Jamel Chevolleau netted his first goal for Combe to extend their advantage in the second period before goals from Mike Hopkins and Rob Mannings gave Seend hope of staging a revival .

But that was a close as things got Hopkins side as Combe tightened things up at the back and saw out the remainder of the game to seal three valuable points.

Boomsbury 2 Warminster Town Reserves 1

PRIOR to their meeting with Warminster Town Reserves, Ben Howe’s Boomsbury had lost once in 39 games and that was at the hands of Andy McFarren’s side back in March when Warminster claimed a 3-2 success.

With revenge on their mind the current Division One leaders avenged that loss but once again they were given a good game by the Weymouth Street club who came out on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline.

Boomsbury bossed the first half and were guilty of missing a host of chances but thanks to a first goal of the season from Scott Askew whose effort went in with a little help from Mark Dales and a second from Booker Woodford they led at the break.

Warminster rallied in the second half and pulled a goal back through Ali Rose. They had to play out the final 10 minutes of the game with 10 players after an injury to Antony Cane-Hall left them a man down and Warminster left North Bradley feeling a little aggrieved after they had a late appeal for a penalty turned down.

Bradford United 8 Trowbridge Wanderers 5

HONOURS were shared between Bradford United and Trowbridge Wanderers last season with one win apiece, Bradford’s victory being just one of two that the eventual Division One champions were to suffer on their way to claiming their first-ever title.

With Bradford struggling at the foot of the table Wanderers were expected to win this one, but it was Bradford who came out on top winning a thrilling game 8-5.

Two goals from Jake Gaines gave Bradford a 2-0 lead before Mark Slade hit a wonder volley to get Wanderers back in the game. Phil Little’s first goal from Bradford restored their two goal lead only for Andy Fennell to net and keep Wanderers in the game at 2-3 and despite many more chances for both sides that was how things remained until half time.

The second half saw the floodgates open as it started raining goals. A second from Little gave Bradford a 4-2 lead and when Jonny Eamer added a fifth it looked as if it was game over, but once again Wanderers fought back and found the target with Tom Pang’s penalty keeping them within touching distance.

Nick Gerrish edged Bradford further away from the visitors to Culver Close but at 6-3 the game was not over as a second from Pang to make it 4-6 ensured that Wanderers weren’t giving up.

A goal from Mark Maguire on his debut opened up Bradford’s gap to three but once again Wanderers gave themselves some hope as they clawed another goal back, Adam Culliford bagging his first goal for the club.

With the score at 7-5 in favour of Bradford the next goal was always going to be important and it went the way of Bradford who scored their eighth via Dan Sandford which finally killed off the brave Wanderers challenge.

Freshford United 4 North Bradley 2

PAUL Ranger was unable to get the win he was after when he took his North Bradley side to Freshford United as his former side turned in a strong second-half showing to claim a 4-2 win in what was a tough encounter that saw both teams desperate for a victory.

Steve Roddy put the hosts ahead early on when he turned in a cross from the right hand side, but as Bradley found their feet they started to take control of the game, and equalised when Dean Ranger tapped in a Ben Hogg cross.

Despite more good work from the visitors, Roddy gave Freshford a half time lead after turning a defender and smashing the ball home.

The half-time team talk re-galvanised Bradley and their increased possession and goal threat paid off with Ben Hogg making it 2-2 from close range.

Both teams continued to press and battle, but the hosts went ahead again with Roddy completing his hat trick. Ryan Mortimer hit the bar from 25 yards for Freshford and Michael Johnson, Ricky Carr and Mike Spong went close for Bradley, but Andy Donald sealed the win with a crisp finish from 25 yards after a long ball forward as North Bradley chased the game.

Semington Magpies 3 Melksham Town Reserves 7

SEMINGTON Magpies picked up maximum points from their two meetings with Melksham Town Reserves last term so when the near neighbours met at Littlemarsh, Semington were looking to make it a hat-trick of wins over the visitors from just up the road. But it was Steve Burns side who claimed the bragging rights this time courtesy of their 7-3 romp.

Nick Ridout’s rehabilitation from last season’s leg break continues with his appetite for goal returning as his first-half hat-trick gave his team a 3-1 interval lead, Kelvin Lockwood scoring for Semington.

Emilio Menghini scored a second-half double and singles from Jordan Evans and Ashley Caws made up Melksham’s 7.

A second from Lockwood and a first of the season for John McChesney were the players who provided a glimmer of hope for Magpies in a game that same them outplayed by their guests.

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