WITH Division One leaders Potterne missing out on a game due to Miller Sports pitch at the Beeches being unplayable and second-placed Sportzcoach Dragonz United being unable to raise a team at the last minute for their trip to Talbot, it gave the chasing pack the chance to close the gap on the top two.

FC Buscots failed to take their chance to move into second spot after a sublime display from keeper Del Llewellyn inspired Pheasant to a surprise 3-2 win over a side who had beaten them 4-1 back in September.

Phil Little put Buscots ahead prior to Justin Flowers squaring things up for Pheasant when he flicked in a Matty Jenkins' free kick.

Billy Holdsworth regained the lead for Buscots but back came Pheasant who restored parity for a second time thanks to Ryan Jenkins' acrobatic effort. Buscots then took the game to Pheasant but were thwarted on numerous occasions by the brilliance of keeper Llewellyn.

Aaron Gale’s deflected effort put Pheasant in front for the first time in the game when he found the net on 50 minutes.

After falling behind Buscots threw players forward looking for a way back into the game but, like the closing stages of the first half, keeper Llewellyn was outstanding as he helped his team to a famous win.

After ending a four-match losing run with a 4-1 victory over Sportzcoach Dragonz last weekend, Mark Clark’s North Star side were unable to turn in a repeat performance when they visited Melksham Cosmos who battled their way to a 3-2 success that puts them back in the promotion race.

North Star saw their first half opener cancelled out by Dan Moore who scored from the penalty spot to draw Cosmos level before half time after George Bettles had given Star a deserved lead.

Injures forced North Star to play the second half with nine players and Cosmos made their numerical advantage count, Matt Bowden gave giving them a 2-1 lead and a second for Dan Moore made it 3-1 before Adam Walsh pulled a goal back for North Star.

But it was just a consolation as Cosmos held on for a win that with the help of other results going their way will rekindle their promotion chances.

Sutton Benger and Christian Malford battled out a 2-2 draw in a game of two halves on a very cold and windy Stanley Park. The teams met last season in a cup game which also resulted in a draw before Benger went on to win on penalties.

Both teams struggled early with the cross wind although it was slightly in favour of Benger. After a period of even play Benger began to dominate and after 25 minutes took the lead when a free kick from the left came back off the post for Joe Merriman to react first and score.

Although Malford came more into the game it was Benger who were looking the more dangerous and after 34 minutes Mark Bolton scored a nice goal to give them a 2-0 lead.

Malford keeper Matt Hutchings then had to make a couple of good saves to keep Malford in the game although they did have a chance to reduce the arrears just on half time but the shot went wide. Benger went in at half time with a 2-0 lead.

Malford now had the advantage of the wind and began to probe the Benger defence.

After 49 minutes Malford scored when Benger were unable to clear in their goalmouth and Simon Pittman fired home. After 53 minutes Malford were level when Scott Evans bundled home Kevin Long’s in swinging corner from the right.

Benger’s keeper Ryan Berry then made two excellent saves from David Brown and Stuart Kemp to keep his side level. Both sides tired a little before the end but the game became more even with defences on top.

Although both sides battled hard there were no further goals and game ended 2-2. By a quirk of the fixtures both teams meet again next Sunday at Stanley Park.