Football: AFC Bell's 48-goal hot-shot Craig Townsend picked up the golden boot award at tonight's Chippenham Sunday League presentation night -then claimed he's not even a striker.

The 27-year-old player/manager was the convincing winner of the Gazette & Herald sponsored award after finishing 11 goals clear of his nearest rival in firing Devizes-based Bell to the Division Three title last season.

But Townsend, of Waterside Park, Devizes -who collected his trophy at the Gladstone Liberal Club ceremony in Chippenham -says he is an even better player in midfield.

He said: "I'm really pleased to receive the award, 48 league goals is by far the most I've ever scored in a season.

"I've been sticking everything in the net, but I'm not really a centre-forward.

"Our striker weren't scoring last year so I thought I'd give it a go up front.

"I'm normally a centre-midfielder but I think I'll stay up front now."

The award was a welcome boost for Townsend after he was cruelly denied an incredible league hat-trick record in December by a dodgy stoppage-time offside decision.

He had scored five consecutive trebles and a sixth would have equalled Antony Dowell's nine-year record.

But after netting two in AFC Bell's 3-2 win against Westbury Rangers B, his all important 90th minute goal was agonisingly ruled out by a linesman's flag.

"It was a sickener," said Townsend, who also netted ten cup goals to take his tally to 58 for the season.

"Even their players said it was not offside, that's what hurt the most.

"All the players ran towards me and jumped on me and we thought I'd done it, then we noticed the flag up."

The golden boot has been a long time coming for Townsend after he was on course to win it last year with 32 goals in 12 games, before he banned for the last four months of the season after fielding an ineligable player.

But he is already plotting more glory next season as he eyes a third successive promotion with AFC Bell.

"Hopefully we can do well again because we've got a stronger side, three new players are coming in,'' he said.

"So I'm aiming for a third promotion in-a-row and hopefully another golden boot."

As well as his trophy, Townsend received a £100 gift voucher from the Gazette to use in Don Rogers' Sports Shop in Swindon.

Other big winners on the night included Division Four outfit Corsham United, who collected £250 for topping the overall fair play table for a second successive season.

Julian Humphries from league sponsors Robson Taylor presented the league's divisional winners and runners-up with their trophies along with cheques totalling £775.

Corsham Centre topped the Premier Division and picked up £125 with Biddestone Social collecting £50 as runners-up.

All other divisional winners received £100 each while the runners-up collected £50 each.

Gary Stonham, the league referees' appointment secretary, presented the best level five, six and seven referees with their awards and for the first time an award was presented to the best referee overall.

Pete Lowe was voted best level five official.

Lowe, who is 52 and lives in Chippenham, has been refereeing for 12 years on several different leagues.

Lowe was also voted best level five referee in 2002 and 2006 and he becomes one of only three referees to have taken the honour on three occasions.

Westbury's John Mc-Mackin, 53, received the best level six award.

It has been a great first season in refereeing for top level seven referee Steve Hogan, 37, from Corsham.

And Andy Sainsbury picked up the best overall referee award for the season.

Sainsbury, now 43, has been a referee since the age of 26 when he retired from playing.

FULL AWARDS LIST 2007/8

DIVISIONAL WINNERS & RUNNERS UP (Sponsored by Robson Taylor) PREMIER DIVISION: Winners: Corsham Centre FC. Runners-up: Biddestone Social FC.

DIVISION ONE: Winners: The Ship FC. Runners-up: Potterne FC.

DIVISION TWO: Winners: Crown Cosmos FC. Runners-up: Cooper Avon FC.

DIVISION THREE: Winners: AFC Bell. Runners-up: Pheasant FC.

DIVISION FOUR: Winners: Steeple Ashton Rangers FC. Runners-up: Riverside Renegades FC.

KEN CLARKE FAIR PLAY AWARDS (Sponsored by Robson Taylor) Premier Division: Bradford News FC.

Division One: Atworth United FC.

Division Two: The Crown Devizes FC.

Division Three: Blue Circle (Sunday).

Division Four: Corsham United FC.

Overall Winner: Corsham United FC.

PLAYER OF THE SEASON (Sponsored by the Gazette & Herald) Winner: Mark Robinson (FC Bradford) GOLDEN BOOT AWARD (Sponsored by the Gazette & Herald) Premier Division: Marc Lanfear (Westbury Rangers A).

Division One: Jamie Mullings (Rowde FC).

Division Two: Ed Wilkins (Hullavington FC).

Division Three: Craig Townsend (AFC Bell).

Division Four: Joe Taylor (Riverside Renegades).

Overall Winner: Craig Townsend (AFC Bell).

TOP CLUB ASSISTANT REFEREES (Sponsored by Terry Fallows) Premier Division: Brian Strange (Biddestone Social FC).

Division One: Dave Huntley (Potterne FC).

Division Two: Bill Bayley (Cooper Avon FC).

Division Three: Phil Perrett (Corsham Park Rangers FC).

Division Four: Kevin Williams (Trowbridge Town Supporters Club FC).

Overall Winner: Brian Strange (Biddestone Social FC).

BEST REFEREE LEVEL FIVE Winner: Pete Lowe BEST REFEREE LEVEL SIX Winner: John McMackin BEST REFEREE LEVEL SEVEN Winner: Steve Hogan BEST CLUB SECRETARY (Sponsored by the Gazette & Herald) Winner: Allan Clarke (Semington Rovers).

GORDON BLATCHFORD AWARD Winner: Adrian Hunt ERIC HUGHES MEMORIAL KNOCKOUT CUP (Sponsored by press to print) Winners: Crown Cosmos. Runners-up: Westbury Rangers A.

WG PARR TROPHY (Sponsored by Westernsport Trophies of Chippenham) Winners: Coyote FC. Runners-up: Potterne FC.