WEST Wilts were 6-4 winners in an epic contest at Newent.

Wilts were 2-0 up within five minutes. The first came courtesy of a James Baker strike from a short corner, the second from a well-worked move which resulted in Dan Sheppard slotting the ball in with ease.

Wilts were able to relieve some of the pressure Newent was applying with a goal from Matt Janes, whose first touch beat his marker, before a reverse shot bounced past the keeper.

Newent grabbed a goal before the break but Wilts soon went 4-1 up in the second period, after Paris Goddard won possession, and a few quick passes later Sheppard had banged the ball into the back board.

Newent hit back with two goals of their own but the away side responded in fantastic fashion and, despite yellow cards for Matt Elloway and Nick Lemon, James Baker was able to put them 5-3 up from a short corner before Lemon atoned with the sixth, meaning Newent’s late strike was scant consolation.

  •  West Wilts Ladies enjoyed their trip to the coast, returning from Bournemouth with a 5-2 win and maximum points in the East Division of the West Club Women’s League.

The home side opened the scoring but Wilts responded well and Olivia Evans levelled following a short corner.

Another polished routine teed up Shelly Hodgson to shoot the visitors in front but Bournemouth swiftly responded to tie the game again at two apiece.

It was an end-to-end contest before Niki Stranks worked the ball in from the left and Evans fired home once more and from that point the Wiltshire outfit took control after the interval.

They scored their fourth when Amanda Robson wrong-footed the Bournemouth keeper and Fiona Pridham passed to Katie Bourne, who calmly slotted the ball past the keeper to complete the scoring.

In Wessex Division One, Melksham suffered an 8-2 home defeat at the hands of Wiltshire rivals Devizes.

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