Castle storms the Freshford fortress (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Castle storms the Freshford fortress

TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: FOUR goals from Dave Castle finally laid the Freshford United jinx for top-flight Seend United in an emphatic 6-2 Division One victory.

After the previous week's 3-3 draw, the immediate return, with Aaron Richardson and Kevin Warrilow adding singles, enabled Seend to taste success for the first time in eight attempts against Freshford, who led through Caleb Smith before Paul Mockridge later reduced a 4-1 deficit.

It is a two-horse race for the title between champions Broughton Gifford and North Bradley Saints, who reduced leaders Rudloe advantage to one point with a 5-2 win over Frome Town Sports.

But Saints' victory came at a price with striker Scott Askew, having taken his tally to 21 goals, being red carded for a second bookable offence 20 minutes from time.

Chris Fardell gave Saints the lead after Askew had levelled a Damien Edwards' strike for Frome, who equalised through Frank Alexander. Askew restored Saints' lead and Chris Gale headed home a corner before 10-man Saints hit a fifth through Richard Bliah.

Castle's performance for Seend was matched by Wayne Bristow, whose four goals took Blue Circle three points clear at the summit of Division Two with a 4-1 win over The Lamb Inn, who earlier had removed Steve Martin's outfit from the divisional cup.

Hilperton United, who turned down a promotion invitation for this term, remain in contention for a top three place and could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty in a 3-1 triumph at FC Northbridge whose goal came from Dave Bradbeer. John Harris (2, including a retaken spot kick) and Shaun James scored for Hilperton.

Westbury United A, who would accept such an invitation, collected their ninth point from six games but owed a thrilling 5-4 win to substitute Tim Somerfield at luckless Steeple Ashton, who yet again belied their position. Three times Ashton, through Fikret Isiktan, Ulian Serafimou and Adul Bakali, erased arrears inflicted by Stuart Barber (2) and Ian Gray before Lee Hayward made it 4-4 following Adam McMackin's strike for Westbury.

Ashton now trail Broughton Gifford Reserves by eight points after Castle Combe Reserves exchanged places with second from bottom place Gifford by scoring all five goals in a 4-1 repeat of their Division Two second leg cup win.

A second goal from Luke Stoneham after a first half penalty put Combe on their way, with Kirk White and Adam O'Keefe securing valuable points. Top league performance of the day went to Hilperton United Reserves for their 2-1 shock win over Division Three title challengers Lavington.

Hilperton, with eight straight league and cup defeats, powered their way to a two-goal lead through Adam Ghey and Mark Campbell before player-manager Geoff Jenks netted a late consolation from a corner.

Any one of seven teams can still win the title and basement boys The Stiffs kept Calne Eagles in the hunt with two own goals at Redland Lane. Simon Blagdon netted at the right end between Pete Ross and Brian Waffer deflecting shots from Shaun Jefferies and Chris Fenwick at the other.

Rudloe Reserves remain title favourites after taking their unbeaten run to six matches in a 3-1 win over Trowbridge Wanderers, whose reply came from Dave Cooper. Bradford Town Reserves had their fine run abruptly ended by Rowde Sports recording their fifth win in six games.

A fine Town recovery, crowned by Jason Povey and Mark Robinson after Jamie Mullings had opened Rowde's account, was wiped out after the break by Mullings' 20th strike of the campaign and Royston Aust's match winner in a 3-2 final scoreline.

A first win since October 16 would have delighted Steve Manifold as his FC Chippenham, with a hat-trick from Lee Blackmore, two from Andy Churcher and one from Craig Leadbeater, hit six past Bradford United Reserves, whose consolation came from Mike Jones in a second period when Marc Haynes also missed a Bradford penalty.

The Fox Leisure and Sportswear UK-sponsored Knockout Cup delivered its sixth giant-killer of the season when Division Two Bratton dumped top-flight Dynamo West End out 3-1, courtesy of two second half goals from Paul Smith after Dan Cox's strike in an excellent opening Bratton spell had been wiped out. It could have been worse for Dynamo, with both Ben McKee and Alex Lutskes missing chances.

Division Three Semington Magpies almost took Bradford United to extra-time but three minutes from time Joshua Mills shot wide from 40 yards in front of an empty net after Bradford keeper Aiden Bell had a penalty effort saved by counterpart Matt Russell.

Bradford led at the time 4-3 through John Williams but only after Magpies had staged a thrilling three-goal recovery when Dan Rimmer, Ben Phillips and Simon Hillman, from a Dan Phillips' corner, wiped out goals from John Baker, Williams and a controversial third from Paul Tunnell.

Division One rivals Broughton Gifford and Rudloe cruised to the semi-finals.

Although Chris Bishop levelled Steve Burns' opener for the previous week's cup heroes, Seend United Reserves, record-breaking holders Gifford stormed home 8-2.

Burns completed a hat-trick, with Chris Stiles and Ashley Groves hitting two apiece and Jonathan Price one. Wayne Painter added Seend's second.

A much weakened CS Filos side agreed to switch their quarter-final tie from Sulis Club ground to Leafy Lane and were swept aside by a five-star first half performance by Rudloe, whose goals came from Jason Walsh, Matt Dancey, Paul Newbury, Liam Ralph and Tim Jefferies (penalty).

After Stuart Hynes made it 6-0, Filos, with deputy goalkeeper and former Rudloe striker Rob Turner continuing after breaking his nose in the first half, produced a spirited reply and were deservedly rewarded when Jon Cooper netted. Sam Tabiner also struck the Rudloe post. Matt Dancey completed Rudloe's 7-1 win.