MELKSHAM-BASED Grapes United FC are top of Division Two following their 7-3 victory at Oakhill.

The result may have been one which was predicted prior to kick-off but trailing 3-0 after 60 minutes Grapes looked to be heading for their first defeat in 22 matches but an incredible turnaround in the last third of the game saw them run out comfortable winners.

Goals from Jordan Tarrant and Robbie Burton gave Oakhill a 2-0 advantage at the break and when Tom Webb added a third on 55 minutes Grapes looked anything but title contenders.

Oakhill missed a glorious chance to add a fourth and that seemed to be the turning point as Stuart Barber reduced the deficit for Grapes when he scored from the penalty after a foul on Gary Higdon.

Higdon then narrowed the gap to the odd goal and when he bagged his second of the morning to square things up at three-each Grapes were now in the ascendancy and it was little surprise that they took the lead, Higdon completing a quick-fire hat trick to make it 4-3.

Tom Robinson stretched Grapes lead even further and when Barber made it 6-3 it was game over for the hosts who had almost given up at this point and it was left to Barber who had started the amazing comeback to complete the scoring when he fired home his third of the game to wrap up an fine win for Tony Couch’s side.

A late goal reversed the result of a pre-season friendly as Corsham Park took a 2-1 win away at Stanley Park against Christian Malford.

Malford opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Scott Evans headed home Rob Hurkett’s cross. Corsham hit back immediately when Kevin Bance equalised from a Darren Applegate cross.

In the second half, both keepers were called into action. Matt Hutchings for Malford pushing Kevin Bance’s goal bound shot over the crossbar and Dave Cardus for Corsham saving low down to keep out Ali Ellis’ free kick which came through a ruck of players.

Malford however began to tire badly and Corsham began to pile on the pressure with Andy Woods directing the game from midfield and Kevin Bance running up front.

Darren Applegate broke the deadlock in the 85th minute with a low shot from distance which evaded everybody and gave Corsham a 2-1 lead. Although Malford tried to equalise the final score remained 2-1 for Corsham.

Referee Adrian Hunt controlled the game well.

After watching his FC Bradford side suffer surprise 5-1 loss at the hands of Lavington Rangers last weekend, Wayne Duggan was glad to see his team chalk up a 4-0 victory at home to the Mallard.

Steve Bryant broke the deadlock after good work down the wing from Damien Moran. A solid back four and good goalkeeping from Morgan Williams who made up for last week's errors with two brilliant saves when Mallard should have scored preserved his teams slender lead. Ashley Styles was twice denied by the woodwork in the first half as he looked to increase Bradford’s advantage.

Bradford went 2-0 up in the second period, good work from Bryant saw set up Micheal Evans who scored from close range. Adil Bakali marked his debut with an excellent long-range effort that made it 3-0 and a second from Bryant completed the scoring to make it 4-0.

Lavington Rangers were unable to build on their notable 5-1 success over FC Bradford last weekend as Pete Drew’s side suffered a 2-1 defeat at FC Lacock.

Lavington were dealt a cruel blow early on when they lost defender Lee Martin to a nasty head injury that saw him require treatment at Chippenham hospital. Josh Hard scored for Lacock to give them a narrow lead at the break.

The second half was keenly contested and a well organised Lavington side dragged themselves level through George Taplin, however they were unable to hold out for what would have been a deserved point as Ryan Ross struck a late winner to seal a 2-1 success for his Lacock outfit.

FC North Wiltshire ran out 7-4 winners against Miller Sports B at Leafy Lane following a thrilling second half featuring eight goals and a saved penalty.

North Wilts started the better of the two teams and were on top for the first 20 minutes but against the run of play Miller Sports took the lead when the hosts failed to clear their penalty box and the loose ball fell to Nathan Drew was lashed home for 1-0.

Seconds later it was 1-1 with Scott Austin firing in the equaliser from the first attack following the restart. Dan Gilbert flicked home North Wilts second from six yards to make it 2-1 at the break.

Debutant David Biggs then scored the goal of the game moments into the second period when he took aim from the halfway line and fired the ball over the head of the opposition goalkeeper and into the top corner.

Miller Sports got themselves back in the game through Lewis McMullen before Scott Austin bagged his second of the afternoon and another debutant James Black rifled home the hosts fifth goal with his left boot.

Again, Miller Sports brought themselves back into the game by making it 5-3 thanks to substitute Harry Waylen. With North Wilts’ Scott Austin tiring, Tom Watchman was switched to the right flank with James Black being pushed up from left back.

The changes paid immediate dividends as Watchman immediately made it 6-3 before Black added his second goal for 7-3.

Miller Sports never gave up and pulled it back to 7-4 thanks to a second from Waylen before then being awarded a penalty in the closing moments, Waylen stepped up, hoping to claim a hat-trick and set up a nervy final few minutes for the hosts.

However goalkeeper Richard Toghill saved his team from the a nervous finish by pulling off a great save from the spot kick to keep it at 7-4.

Sutton Benger and Old Road met at Stanley Park looking to open their account for the new term and it was the former were celebrating at the final whistle as six unanswered first-half goals guided them to a 6-0 win and ending the 20-match winless run in style.

Barry Fennell got Benger on their way and Chris Casey made it 2-0. Joe Merriman fired home number three and James Weston added a fourth before a second for Merriman and Fennell, who scored from the penalty spot made up Benger’s half dozen.