MARLBOROUGH Town pulled off the shock result of the weekend by running out 4-1 winners at second-placed Shrewton United.

The outcome was a dramatic turnaround from the last time the teams had met just four weeks earlier, which saw Shrewton triumph 5-0 at Marlborough’s Elcot Lane home.

It looked like it would be another long day at the office for Robert Harland’s men again on Saturday when Marlborough fell behind early on but they came back in ruthless fashion.

Chris Deane headed home Luke Little’s free-kick to restore parity before another Little set-piece deceived the Shrewton keeper shortly afterwards to put the visitors ahead at the break.

There was no let-up in the second half as Craig Simmons capped a fine team move to make it 3-1 before Devan Bryan wrapped up the win with Marlborough’s fourth goal 10 minutes from time.

“We got beaten very heavily last time we played them so it was quite a turnaround,” said Harland.

“In the first 20 minutes or so, we were very timid. The last game was still on our minds and we were giving them too much respect.

“We had a few chances and Craig Simmons hit the post but then they went 1-0 up and you just think it’s going to one of those days again. The lads’ heads dropped and you’re thinking: ‘How are we going to get through this one?’ “We came back brilliantly and after we got the first goal, we never looked like losing. I don’t think they had a shot that our keeper had to save in the second half.

“It was still a tight game but one of their main goal-scoring threats started to drop back to try to get the ball. Normally, they play two up top and are dangerous but when they started to go so deep, that’s when we realised we might have them.”

The win is just Marlborough’s fourth in the league this season and Harland hopes it can be a benchmark for what they can achieve for the rest of the campaign.

“With the exception of the last time we played Shrewton, all season we’ve felt like our results haven’t done us justice. All our losses have been close. There’s been a lot of 1-0s and 3-2s,” said Harland.

“That shows what we are capable of. It’s now about trying to play like that for the rest of the season, and trying to get that little bit of luck too.”

Devizes Town Reserves matched Marlborough’s result as they were also 4-1 winners on the road, seeing off Ludgershall Sports.

Trowbridge Wanderers climbed into the top five with a 2-0 victory away at Wroughton, with Vale of Pewsey recording the same outcome on their trip to bottom side Sarum Youth.