SURPRISINGLY, all three of the scheduled Division Three fixtures somehow beat the rain.

The game at Whaddon Lane saw hosts Hilperton United Reserves get the better on a Bratton side, who they had previously drawn 3-3 with at the end of November.

Once again the fixture between the teams produced six goals, but on this occasion, a 4-2 win for Roger Stevens' Hilperton side saw them pick up all three points.

Dean Gumm saw his opener for Hilperton cancelled out by Darren Clements who collected an inch-perfect pass from Fosu Gharban before firing home to level matters for Bratton.

Lewis Smith reclaimed the lead for Hilperton and a second from Gumm put the hosts 3-1 up at the interval.

Bratton made a game of it in the second half with Dan Cox reducing the arrears to the single goal.

With Bratton pushing for an equaliser they were hit by the classic sucker punch as Mickey Spong rolled back the years as he pinched a fourth for Hilperton to seal their 4-2 success.

Potterne FC kicked off the New Year with a 10-1 triumph over FC Trowbridge on the 3G pitch at Stanley Park.

Craig Campbell's visitors to Chippenham were just happy to get a match out of the way as they start to play catch-up in their bid to chase down Melksham Town A, FC Box Steam Brewery and Aces FC, who have played as many as three games more that Campbell’s chargers.

Steven House and a first-half treble from Neil Clark had the game won at the break for Potterne, but there was no let-up from the villagers in the second period as Clark added a fourth and House scored twice more to complete a hat-trick before Josh Howlett grabbed a consolation for Trowbridge.

Tom Lye’s double and a Wayne House single made up Potterne’s 10.

A 14-1 victory for FC Box Steam Brewery at basement side Zeals moved Phil Webb’s promotion hopefuls to within three points of leaders Melksham Town A, who started the New Year with a blank weekend.

The deadly duo of Jason Povey and Reuben Spong took their combined total of goals for the Brewery Boys to 40 goals in just 11 league games.

Povey, who opened the scoring, netted six of the 14 as he moved to 21 in six games, while Spong bagged himself a five-timer that took him to 19 in five.

Olly Bramell, Gavin Francis and first ever goal for Jason Truckle who had an excellent game own goal made up Box’s 14. Pelly James scored Zeals' consolation.

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