TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: NORTH Bradley Saints go into tomorrow's Wiltshire Junior Cup semi-final showdown against holders 147 FC having already written themselves into the history book of the A and B Cup, sponsored this season by Pied Piper Promotions.

Saints' 4-1 giantkilling semi-final win over last season's Division One finalists Bradford Sports was not only their 22nd consecutive victory of the season, but Ben Howe's all-conquering outfit became only the second Division Three side in 46 years to reach the final.

After Sports' Andy Bennett had an early header disallowed, Saints were on their way when Chris Fardell accepted Andy Colebrooke's 35th minute through pass and right on half-time man-of-the-match Jake Ganes won a penalty which Brent Murden converted.

A 30-yard shot from Jack Heard, who then set up Fardell for a fourth in the 77th minute, put Saints right on top before substitute Bill Fricker grabbed a late consolation for Sports.

In the final, Hugh Fulton's Freshford United will have the task of preventing Saints from going one better than Castle Combe, the last Division Three side to reach the final in 1997.

After the previous week's 1-1 league stalemate, a superb 41st minute strike from Tony Brett proved decisive against Seend United, who should have brought an 83rd minute equaliser from Dave Castle before Ashley Groves was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Pride of place in the Premier Global Ltd sponsored league programme went to The Stiffs, who belied their second from bottom Division Three position to win 2-1 at Castle Combe Reserves, whose manager Steve Francis was the first to admit that Stiffs thoroughly deserved their win.

Combe top scorer Shawn House wiped out a Lee Ross second half opener but a brilliant header from Barry Newley enabled the visitors to celebrate their first league win since beating Bromham Reserves on the opening day of the season.

Meanwhile, Bromham themselves were also popping open the champagne corks by recording their first ever league double in the 2-0 home win over Seend United Reserves. Their fifth league win was carved out by a goal in each half from Richard Kidd and Nick Cawley.

Bradford United 201 also celebrated their final home game of the season with a 2-0 victory over bottom club Hilperton United Reserves, but it was hardly sparkling stuff and they finally had to rely on two substitutes, Steve Latham (77 minutes) and a scrambled last-minute second from Jamie Duggan to finally crack the battling visitors.

Four matches fell victim to the heavy rain, including the top Division Three game between Warminster Town Reserves and Trowbridge United.

Hilperton United won the applause of league officials by switching their Division Two home game to opponents Lavington and Easterton and Kevin Hendy's side, with Steve Fox a driving force in midfield, were rewarded with a 5-3 win.

Tarick Yachou marked an impressive promotion from the Reserves with Hilperton's opener, which Andy Wilson doubled before Jamie Cullip capitalised on Darren Gant's goalkeeping mistake before the break. Steve Iven restored Hilperton's two-goal cushion only for Mike Gregory to reduce the home deficit again. Yachou's indirect free kick led to Iven striking again, with Ian Baker netting a fifth before Mustafa Denlisoz hit a third for Lavington three minutes from times.

Hilperton's win makes no difference to their midtable standing, but Rudloe's 7-1 trouncing of struggling Steeple Ashton returned them to third spot and promotion is now well within their grasp.

A hat-trick from Russell Gibbings and singles from Luke Risbrook, Paul Newbury, Jason Walsh and substitute Chas Young proved too much for Ashton, whose solitary reply came from Lee Frisby.

In Division One, former champions Broughton Gifford, after years of being a thorn in so many sides, are having the tables turned on them. Frome Town Sports, who took three points off Gifford last term and have already beaten them twice in cup competitions this season by a 1-0 margin, repeated the dose in the first league meeting of the campaign.

Gifford, who had first half chances in a wind-affected match, tasted their third defeat when Nick Hawkes struck from just inside his own half before the break.

Frome are now favourites to lift the title, though they still have to face Castle Combe twice and Gifford away.

Reigning champions Combe kept their hopes alive with two goals from Andy Ponting, including a late penalty, and one from James Pope in a 3-0 win over Dursley Arms, whose Division One life now looks even more precarious.