TITLE hopefuls Corsham CC Wildcats suffered a major blow in their bid to become S.K. Fruits Ltd sponsored Chippenham & District Sunday League Premier Division champions, as they were beaten for the first time this season by a fast-improving White Horse (Sunday) A.

With Prestige Bodyworks winning comfortably down the road at Westbury Rangers, the 4-1 loss could have catastrophic repercussions come the end of the season for the visitors to a blustery Leighton Sports Centre.

It was nothing more than they deserved however, as a Horse side, growing in confidence themselves, made it three wins on the bounce and will now begin to wonder if they too can still have a say in the title race.

Early chances were scarce as both teams sussed one another out, with Andy Ladd in the Horse goal making the only real save of any note.

As the first half reached the midway point it appeared that White Horse’s injury hoodoo had struck again as Amin Bellazrak was forced off with a neck injury, sustained after a heavy fall.

But a strange twist of fate saw his replacement Ismail Negraj score with his very first touch of the game just moments later, firing home from 15 yards out into the top corner and giving Mel King in the visitor’s goal no chance.

The game continued to ebb and flow, but the Wildcats long ball tactics failed to penetrate an organised Horse defence and it was the hosts that scored the all important second goal, just two minutes before the break.

When the ball fell to Dan Sandford 30 yards out there appeared to be no apparent danger for the visitors, but the midfielder’s ferocious dipping half-volley gave the keeper no chance, as the ball cannoned in off the underside of the bar.

The second half followed a similar pattern to that of the first, with Horse creating more opportunities and Wildcats wasting the few they had - Adam Mitchell the guiltiest culprit as his tame one-on-one effort was saved comfortably by Ladd.

With 15 minutes remaining a marauding Nick Mead made it 3-0 and effectively put the game to bed, getting his head on a Dale Rowland free kick that the visitors failed to deal with.

A Dan King goal eight minutes from time gave the guests a glimmer of hope, but it proved to be nothing more than that, as an on-song Horse made it 4-1 in the final minute, courtesy of Negraj’s second of the morning.

The defeat for the Wildcats not only sees daylight open up between them and Prestige Bodyworks at the summit, but sees their opponents close the gap behind them to just one point and perfectly poised for any further slip-ups.

FC Constitutional signed off their first ever top flight campaign with a defeat at home to AFC Melksham.

Tom Blaxley’s wonder strike that went in off the underside of the bar gave them the lead.

Jordan Kirk added a second prior to the interval. With the wind at their back in the second half Melksham added a further three goals, James Dark, Sean Fordham and Ian Dowell netting to complete a 5-0 win.

With Corsham Wildcats losing at the White Horse, a 6-0 victory for Prestige Bodyworks away at Westbury Rangers means that Tyrone Prades side are now firm favourites to lift the Premier division title at their very first attempt.

Craig Fisher and Adam O’Keeffe were on target for Prestige in the first half. The second half saw O’Keeffe net another three to take his tally for the game to four and for the season to 15. Ryan Peck’s single made up the half dozen.