MARLBOROUGH Ladies continued their blistering form to maintain their four-point lead at the top of the West Clubs League North Division with a 12-2 thumping of Blockley at Marlborough College on Saturday.

A tight first half, saw the Marlborough defence dealing with some dangerous through-balls towards the Blockley forwards.

The home side went into the half-time break 4-2 up but, in the second half, Marlborough settled into their game and hat-tricks followed from captain Becki Marnane, Alex Crosby-Jones and goal machine Kate Batty.

Clare Griffiths proved the critical pivot through the middle with Helen Durrans a stalwart in defence and Rosie Curling named player of the match.

Marlborough go to second-placed Jaspers this weekend.

Wootton Bassett leapt into fourth position in the table as they humbled hosts BAC 4-1.

Chippenham slipped to their second successive defeat since the league restarted after Christmas as they were beaten 2-0 at Newent in Premier Division 2A.

Devizes stayed at the head of affairs in Wessex Division One as goals from Sharon Holloway and Debbie Collinson earned them a 2-0 win over county rivals Melksham. Mary Derrick and Sunniva Petersen each scored hat-tricks as Chippenham 3 defeated West Wilts 3 in Wessex Division Two.

Trouble is looming after loss

THE spectre of relegation continues to loom over Marlborough after they suffered a 2-1 home defeat to fellow strugglers Bristol UWE A on Saturday.

The hosts had several opportunities to open the scoring, but instead it was Bristol who broke the deadlock at the back post.

Marlborough continued their attacking ways and were rewarded when , after a long corner play got the ball to the goalmouth, Anil Sud tucked home from close range after several attempts.

The intensity was upped as both teams chased the win in the second half, but it was UWE that earned the decisive breakthrough following a short corner and short-range shot.

Leaders Devizes suffered a setback in their pursuit of the Central One title as they were beaten 4-1 by Bristol University B on Saturday.

Chippenham slipped to their third home defeat of the campaign as they were humbled 6-1 by Old Bristolians.

But Wootton Bassett now hold a nine-point lead at the top of East Central One after they dismantled Swindon B 17-0.

Bassett’s A side beat Marlborough B 8-3, Rob Appleby scoring four times, Craig McLauchlin a hat-trkick and Martyn Chivers the other.

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