WITH POTTERNE CC guaranteed a top-flight place next term, the race is on between FC Buscots and Melksham Cosmos for the second automatic promotion spot.

And after suffering a surprise 2-0 defeat away at Pheasant FC, Cosmos may have just handed their rivals a huge advantage in the battle for silverware.

Cosmos had the better of the first half chances but if they were denied by the woodwork, they were thwarted by Pheasant’s keeper Del Llewellyn, who was outstanding between the sticks.

With the score at 0-0, Cosmos had the chance to take the lead but Llewellyn kept out an Alex Shaftoe penalty and after that, Richie Bolter got on the end on a Matt King pass to put Pheasant ahead .

Bolter then beat a handful of players and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle to round off his team's victory.

Basement side Trowbridge Town Supporters Club started their match away at title-chasers Potterne CFC with nine players and finished it with eight after they had Sayed Kazemi sent off, so it was little surprise that Potterne hit the goal trail as they ran in 16 unanswered goals.

Craig Townsend opened and completed the scoring as he bagged a five-goal haul, however the striker played second fiddle to Ashley Huntley, who bagged a seven-time,r all of which were scored in the first half.

Ben House netted a hat-trick, with Wayne House scoring the other that made up Potterne’s 16.

Although Sutton Benger remain just above the drop zone after their 3-0 loss to North Star,  it is hard to see either of Christian Malford or Trowbridge Town Supporters Club, who are in the bottom two, overhauling the villagers before the season draws to a close.

Benger, who managed to take a point off the Star when the teams last met, fell behind to a Declan Blandford goal and although they tried hard to get back on level terms, they fell further behind to a second of the game from Blandford.

A second half goal for debutant Mark Walters wrapped up the points for the Calne-based team.