TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE DIVISION THREE: Bratton deny Stiffs hat-trick of wins (From This Is Wiltshire)

TROWBRIDGE side The Stiffs claimed a rare league double against Bratton Reserves last term, winning 6-1 and 2-1 so when the teams locked horns at Leighton Sports Centre, Ade Giles side were hoping to make it a hat-trick of victories over Fozu Gharban’s hosts in a bid to get their third division up and running.

But the Stiffs were unable to recapture last season’s form as Bratton ran out 5-2 winners.

Frankie McEntegart’s cross-cum-shot caught the Stiffs keeper out to give Bratton the lead.  Liam Griffiths doubled Bratton’s lead when he turned home a Darren Hudd cross, Shane Rendall added a third and an excellent strike from Luke Mead across the keeper gave Bratton a 4-0 advantage.

Jason Lucas scored from the penalty spot to start a Stiffs revival and when Chris Giles volleyed home a stunner it looked as if a comeback was on the cards. But the half-time whistle came just at the wrong time as after the restart the momentum swung back the way of Bratton.  

Shane Rendall scored his second of the game to open up a three goal lead for Bratton and although Griffiths hit the bar for the villagers that was the closest they went to adding further goals. Come the final whistle they had done more than enough to avenge last season’s defeats at the hands of their opponents.

Lacock FC 6 Levi’s FC 6

LEAGUE newcomers Lacock FC and Levi’s shared the goals and the points in a 12-goal thriller that saw Levi’s overturn a 4-2 half time deficit to claim a breathtaking 6-6 draw. 

Jamie Murphy’s penalty and a first half treble from Dom Sheppard looked to have set Lacock up nicely for the second half, with goals from Jonathon Hogarth and Jason Povey keeping Levi’s in with a fighting chance. 

The second period saw the score line reversed as Levi’s hit four to Lacock’s two.  Further goals from Hogarth and Povey started the second half turnaround, Levi Woods double making up Levi’s half dozen.

Dom Sheppard scored another two for Lacock to take his tally for the game to five and his team’s to six.

The Fleece 5 Polenez Westbury 1

POLONEZ Westbury were unable to follow up last weekend’s win over Trowbridge Rangers.

Up against a Fleece side, who were unbeaten in their opening two games, they had hoped to do well but they were well beaten by their hosts at the Beeches, Shaw.

Tom Downes goal gave Fleece a slender advantage over their guests at half time but once Sam Simpson added a second it looked as if the Fleece would run away with things but Polenez dug deep and the narrowed the gap through Mickal Koszych.

But his goal was only to be a consolation as a second from Downes made it 3-1. Tom A’Court added number four and Ryan Parfitt capped a fine performance with his side's fifth of the afternoon.

Trowbridge Rangers 3 Bradford United Reserves 2

AFTER beating Lacock FC last weekend, Bradford United Reserves crashed back down to earth with a bang after they were beaten 3-2 at league newcomers Trowbridge Rangers for whom it was their first win of the season following a loss and a draw in their opening two games.

Dan Moore scored twice to put Rangers two-up before James Goddard’s side were pegged back by Bradford for whom Lee Radwell reduced the arrears before the break.

After the interval Bradford got back on level terms through Tom May and they looked to heading for a draw until Dan Moore popped up to spoil their celebrations with his third of the afternoon to complete his hat-trick and earn Rangers maximum points.

United FC 2 Civil Service Larkhall 3

CIVIL Service Larkhall claimed their first win of the season after their 3-2 win away at United FC, who paid a heavy price for missing a hatful of first-half chances.

United made the perfect start with Mateusz Piotrowski giving them the lead, but then things went downhill as they missed numerous chances to double their lead that allowed Larkhall to get back on level terms through Daryl Wetton and when chances fell the way of the Larks they took them and a second goal from Wetton and Derek Dunn’s effort saw them take a 3-1 interval lead.

United halved the deficit in the second half through Marcin Kaminski but once again chances went begging and Larkhall were able to see the game out with ease to claim a deserved 3-2 success. 

Westwood News 3 Trowbridge Town Reserves 0

EARLY pacesetters Westwood News came into their game with Trowbridge Town Reserves full of confidence, as did The Bees after two consecutive wins.

Westwood kept their winning run to the season intact after a 3-0 triumph saw Mark Hurkett’s side register a fourth straight win.

Westwood had the better of the chances in the opening 20 minutes, with Trowbridge keeper, Bob Arberry making two fine saves to keep it goalless, but also Town played some neat football at times, and forced a series of corners but didn't really test the Westwood keeper.

On 25 minutes a speculative cross from Josh Maguire was met by Town defender Conor Stevens, who in trying to clear the ball planted it firmly into his own net to give the home side the advantage.

Five minutes later a Westwood corner saw double their lead, a free header from Ashley Styles giving Arberry no chance. In the last five minutes of the half Town's top scorer Kurt James burst into the box, but with just the keeper to beat the ball bounced awkwardly and the chance went begging.

The second half was much the same as the first, with possibly Trowbridge having a few more half chances, but not putting any away, and it looked like the score would remain the same, until a late, and heavily-contested penalty on 82 minutes gave Westwood third goal, Harry Hamlin scoring from the spot to complete the scoring.

TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE ROUNDUP, STATS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport