Calne Town 2, Backwell United 1 (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Calne Town 2, Backwell United 1

CALNE Town's second win on the bounce saw the Bremhill View side climb into the top half of the Toolstation Western League Premier Division for the first time this season.

Calne took advantage of a reduced fixture list to climb up the league as Robbie Lardner's young side, average age just 21.6 years, begin to show they can cope at a higher level.

A tight first-half opened up on 15 minutes when Danny Jones clipped a ball forward for James Lye to chase.

Out rushed Backwell goalkeeper Stuart Jones, who handled outside the area but went unpunished with the resulting free kick being fired high and wide by Kevin Banks.

Within seconds Backwell's Ty Coleman closed in on the Calne goal but pulled his shot wide.

The Lilywhites then began to have the better of the remainder of the first 45 minutes with Ryan Pratley blasting a long thrown from Stuart Pearson goalward and Ben Moore glancing a Jake Jefferies cross in the same direction, both chances denied by Jones.

On 37 minutes Pratley tricked his way inside from the left and was felled in the box by Craig Knight.

Glenn Armstrong stepped up to convert the resulting penalty and claim his first goal of the season.

Backwell emerged for the second-half with renewed determination as Calne were pushed back into their 18-yard box.

Eight minutes in a neat throughball from Coleman was lashed home by Darren Brown.

Gradually the hosts began to find their feet again and once again began to stretch their visitors, who resorted to excessive time-wasting tactics at every available opportunity.

On 80 minutes Calne's endeavour was rewarded when long-serving defender Darren Smart played a long ball over the Backwell defence for Lye to run onto.

Beating the offside trap he then beat Jones to the ball, which slowly trickled over the line from 30 yards out.

Lye and Moore then turned the tables on Backwell, and kept the ball in the corner to run out time.