SCREWFIX DIRECT LEAGUE: CALNE Town's disappointing season ended on a high note as a Mark Strickland double gave manager Paul Rankin victory over his former club on Saturday 27 April.

Strickland, whose brace took his tally for the season to nine, was later dismissed for raising an elbow to Matt Pike but the visitors held on for only their sixth win of the campaign.

The result stretched Calne's unbeaten run to three matches, although their recent resurgence proved in vain as they occupy a bottom two spot for the second time in two seasons.

The club must now wait on the Screwfix Direct League management committee's decision on the structure of the league in order to avoid Wiltshire League football, but look sure to stay up due to the lack of teams applying to join the First Division next term.

For Calne boss Paul Rankin, who managed Saturday's opponents Larkhall for four years, victory on the final day of the season was particularly sweet.

He said: "You could say it was quite enjoyable. The game meant a lot to a lot of players on both sides, but I certainly had the last laugh in the bar afterwards.

"The game did have an added significance with myself and Mark Jefferies going back there, but I don't want to deflect the attention away from the fact that it was a very good performance from us.

"It all bodes well for next season. We showed a lot of character, playing for 40 minutes with ten men. The best thing was the team spirit we showed."

Strickland gave Calne the lead from the penalty spot on 12 minutes after midfielder Nick Taylor had been upended inside the box by home goalkeeper Andy Cameron.

The diminutive forward then made it two a minute from half-time when he netted at the far post following an inswinging cross from Lee Curtis.

Larkhall almost pulled one back when Andy Gilbert headed a Ben Moore cross wide of goal, before Calne were reduced to ten men when marksman Strickland was dismissed for elbowing Pike at the start of the second period.

Pike recovered to lash home a 25-yard effort just seconds later to give Larkhall renewed hope, but Calne's defence held firm to emerge with maximum points.

Rankin felt some unfair gamesmanship had resulted in a red card for in-form striker Strickland.

He said: "The sending off was very unfortunate for Mark, who is playing like a player years younger than himself at the moment.

"Matt Pike stood on his achilles heel and he put his elbow up, but didn't make contact. You can't condone a player raising his arm, but Pike admitted to other players afterwards that Mark hadn't touched him."

Rankin is hoping for better things next season after a disappointing first season at Bremhill View.

He said: "The Calne committee applauded every player off the pitch at the end of the game and they deserve better.

"They all have the club at heart and hopefully are making the right decision to try and build on what we have done this year.

"We know the league have been looking at our results and they can see from our performances recently that we haven't chucked in the towel. Next season will be a totally different picture, I'm sure."