TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: SEEND United's hot teenage property Luke Ballinger has become the latest tormentor of relegated Division One side Blue Circle.

Ballinger, grandson of former Chippenham Town stalwart Brian and set to have trials with Bristol City next month, struck a second hat-trick of the season as United extended an unbeaten league run to seven games with a 3-0 double.

It left Steve Martin's beleaguered outfit with just three matches remaining to secure their first point.

Driving rain and gale force winds affected all matches that survived waterlogged pitches with Warminster Town Reserves blown away by a 9-2 North Bradley Saints first half tornado. Brent Murden, side lined for the best part of the season through a knee injury, showed he has lost none of his scoring prowess with a hat-trick.

Two more from Chris Fardell, taking his tally to 20 for the season, and singles from Richard Bliha and Ben Gardener swept Saints to a 7-1 interval lead. Stuart Greenwood and substitute Gary Brooks completed the misery for Warminster whose replies came from Louis Sparey and Tom Foord.

Bradford and Trowbridge United, who look to finish behind Division Two title-favourites Saints, maintained their promotion drive to close the gap on faltering leaders Deverills Reserves to a point.

Unbeaten Trowbridge took full advantage of Steeple Ashton starting with only 10 men for the first half hour with Micky Barnes, former Ashton striker Lee Hayward and first team boss Neil Kirkpatrick from a disputed penalty, securing the points in that time.

Bradford's 5-0 triumph in their third meeting of the season with the leaders, was climaxed by goalkeeper Aiden Bell scoring direct from a free kick after Paul Tunnell, Alex Edwards (2) and Darren Cox had struck at Culver Close.

Cup-scoring hero Sami Bakali delivered again as Hilperton United's seven match unbeaten league run puts Kevin Hendy's outfit in the promotion frame should Bradford or Trowbridge slip up. Bakali's second half brace gave Hilperton a quick fire double over Dursley Arms who are still winless this year despite Graham Townsend being on target before the break.

The fourth derby meeting of the season between Westbury United A and Bratton ended with honours even. Westbury, defending against the elements in the first half, broke the stalemate through Rob Taylor on the hour before Jonathan Richards grabbed a quick leveller.

Dilton Marsh are keeping the Division Three promotion issue on a knife edge thanks to four goals from Neil Hannaford and singles from Andy Healey and Shaun James in the 6-0 hammering of Bromham Reserves.

The newcomers' third double leaves them six points behind second place Northbridge but with three games in hand and with a superior goal difference of one.

Apetito, who will have a big say in the promotion stakes they play Dilton in the first of two clashes on Tuesday, scored a second double with two goals in each half against Rowde Sports. But strikes from Alan House (2), Darren Hadley and Jason Gurney should have resulted in a bigger victory but for the brilliance of Rowde keeper Alex Coombs.

Castle Combe Reserves, one of the promotion chasers, are through to the final of the AM Print and Copy-sponsored Spring Cup.

A four-goal first half blitz including two from Nick Jefferies, gave Combe a 5-1 success over Bradford United Reserves for whom Jason Uncles delivered a consolation to further goals from Jamie Winks, who scored a superb second against the wind, and player manager Shawn House.

The other semi-final between Semington Magpies and Seend United Reserves was one of four matches lost to the weekend's bad weather.