DEVIZES continued their march towards the Davis Wood League Central One title as they soundly saw off Chippenham 3-0.

The home side dominated the play right from the opening whistle, but were frustrated by solid Chippenham defending.

The deadlock was broken through a penalty corner won by Ollie Smith, as Roger Edwards neatly dispatched the set-piece.

The rest of the half followed a similar pattern and Devizes added another through another Edwards corner.

The game was put to bed inside the first half as Smith squared for Rory Sherman to slot home.

Marlborough slipped into the Conference North division relegation places as they were beaten 5-2 by Team Bath Buccs B in their first game back after the Christmas break.

The visitors made a fast start to the match and two first-half goals gave them a commanding lead at the interval.

Two further strikes deepened Marlborough’s gloom in the second half, but the home side continued to fight and were rewarded when skipper Rich Holman smashed home from a short-corner routine.

Buccs though added their fifth goal after confusion in the Marlborough ranks before player-coach Matt Way provided a lift for the home side with a delicate deflection late on.

Wootton Bassett maintained their perfect record at the head of affairs in East Central One as they thrashed Team Bath Buccs F 5-0.

Bassett’s A side picked up their second home win of the season as they saw off West Wilts B 3-0, with goals from James Gregory, Grant Kirkup and Luke Salisbury.

In East Central Two, Bassett’s B side lost 5-2 to West Wilts C, despite two goals from Milind Thapa.

Devizes A maintained their pursuit of leaders Bristol UWE C as they defeated Chippenham C 3-0.

Tom Stoner’s shot was saved, but had sufficient momentum to cross the line before Jacob Stoner pounced on a failed clearance inside the D and drove the ball home.

Nick Gompels set up the third for Sam Hodge.

Looks Rosie as Marlborough march on 

MARLBOROUGH ladies started the second half of their West Clubs League North Division campaign in style as a 5-2 win over Wootton Bassett helped maintain their leadership.

The visitors had numerous chances to score from open play and short corners but Bassett’s defence kept them at bay for much of the first half.

Eventually, Rosie Curling deftly slipped the ball home to give the leaders the advantage.

That seemed to settle Marlborough and two more goals, from Catherine Manley and Rebecca Hewlett, followed to give them a commanding advantage at half time.

Bassett refused to give up and, early in the second half they scored from a tussle in the D, Rebekah Taylor on target.

Marlborough responded quickly from a well-worked passage of play, resulting in Alex Crosby Jones scoring the fourth.

Bassett registered for a second time when they were awarded a penalty flick, Helen Wright firing past goalkeeper Vicky Moxham.

But Marlborough scored a gain before the end, Curling firing home her second.

Chippenham slipped to defeat in Premier Division 2A as they succumbed 2-1 at home to relegation-threatened Gloucester 2.

In Wessex Division Two, Wootton Bassett 2 climbed back to the top of the table as they saw off Devizes 2 5-2.

Bassett’s goals came from Sue Lee, Abi Isles, player of the match Charlie Clements and a brace form Rhiannon Turner.

In Wessex Division One, Chippenham 2 were 4-1 winners over their Marlborough counterparts.

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