WARMINSTER Town slipped into the Toolstation First Division’s bottom three on Tuesday night following a 4-1 defeat at ten-man Cheddar.

The fixture was only the strugglers’ second since Simon Farrell took over the managerial reins from Mark Breffit, who stepped down from the role three weeks ago.

A lively first half saw a sending off and three bookings, three goals – including an own goal from the visitors – and both managers being lectured more than once by overworked referee Jack Clench.

Warminster weathered a very early home storm before Henry McFerran nodded home Eben Mortimer-Taylor’s corner to give them the lead.

It lasted barely three minutes as Ross McNab found room in the box to drive the equaliser past Nathan Ball.

Charlie Walton then brought a fine save out of home keeper Liam Kingston, before Kevin Shinn sliced Robbi Maggs’ cross into his own net to make it 2-1 to the Cheesemen.

Seconds later McNab was in the dressing room after appearing to stamp on Shinn, leaving Cheddar to play more than an hour a man short.

Mortimer-Taylor, Matt Dyer and Charlie Walton were denied by Kingston, while Mark Young saw an effort deflected out for a corner.

Cheddar weathered the storm and Warminster began to run out of steam in the second period, which saw more bookings around the hour mark.

They were still in the contest in the closing stages but Adam Jones ended their hopes with two goals in the final ten minutes, beating the offside trap to give his team breathing space before lobbing home from a tight angle.

Westbury United will be looking for Wiltshire rivals Corsham Town to do them a favour in their pursuit of the title tomorrow.

Neil Kirkpatrick’s team lie second ahead of their trip to Chippenham Park, a point behind a Keynsham Town side who entertain Corsham. Both sides were inactive last weekend.