CRICKLADE Town opened up a four-point lead at the top of the Premier Division table as nearest rivals Wroughton stumbled against top-four rivals Melksham Town Reserves on Saturday.

The Leisure Centre side held up their end of the bargain by hitting Marlborough Town for six, while Wroughton were being overturned 4-3 on home turf by Melksham, who leapfrogged the villagers into third spot.

Devan Bryan again excelled for Cricklade, taking his tally to 16 for the season with a second successive hat-trick. Matt Bennett bagged a brace with Tom Price getting the other.

Melksham recorded their seventh win in eight games and fourth in a row as Zac Hillier’s double fired them to victory at Wroughton.

Top-scorer Callum Demkiv also added another to his tally and Luke Ballinger netted as goals from Sam Long, Tom Dingle and Tyler Wilkinson were not enough for Wroughton.

Moving into second spot on goal difference were Kintbury Rangers, who shrugged off a fightback by hosts Corsham Town Reserves to eventually run out 6-2 winners.

Luke Johnson scored four times and Charli Allsop and Fabio Pinto the other, although Corsham fought back from 3-0 down to 3-2 at one stage Shrewton United hit five without reply at home to Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development to make it three wins in a row. Dan Burton netted twice while Charlie Utterson, Jake Watson and Tyren Harrington also scored.

Purton are also on the up after following up the previous week’s 1-0 success over Trowbridge Town with a 4-0 disposal of their hosts Bassett Bulldogs.

Ben Brown, Ollie Hawkins, Mani Mesas and Taylor Aitken did the damage as Purton moved to eight spot in the table.

Goals from Cullen Wylie and Ben Jenks secured Devizes Town Reserves a 2-1 success over home side Ludgershall Sports.

Westbury United Reserves and Malmesbury Victoria Development met on Friday night with hosts United emerging victorious 5-2.

Ferris Lamrabet notched a brace of first-half penalties before Sean Brereton, Connor McKay and Joe Maloney wrapped up the points for Westbury.