HELLENIC LEAGUE: DAVE Percival scored his 100th Trowbridge Town goal on Saturday on a day of mixed emotions at Woodmarsh.

Percival slotted home a penalty in the 36th minute to end two months of frustration and achieve the remarkable milestone on his 151st appearance for the club.

But the celebrations were dampened by the weather and the result on Saturday, as Saracens stole the points to derail the Trowbridge promotion train.

The irony of the strike was not lost on Percival, whose 99th goal came against the same opposition in the 4-0 Supplementary Cup win on January 21.

Percival said: "Obviously it was great to get to 100, but I would have preferred to have scored a 25-yard screamer in a 2-0 win.

"The penalty was not my best strike of the season either. To be honest I scuffed it a bit.

"I've taken quite a lot of stick for being stuck on 99 for so long so it was nice to finally get there. I just hope I can bang in a few more goals before the end of the season to help us to promotion."

Percival's strike partner Dean Barker struck a post after 12 minutes with a crisp turn and shot as the Bees began with positive intent.

Seven minutes later the hosts fell behind when Lewis Porter spilled a low cross and Rylatt was on hand for Cheltenham to poke the ball home. Trowbridge rattled the woodwork again in the 22nd minute when Adam Nunn's dipping free kick rebounded off the upright.

Percival notched his century from the spot after Chris Tricker was brought down in the box. But the striker's ton failed to ignite his team-mates and the Bees struggled in a second half of poor quality.

Saracens regained the lead after 68 minutes when three Trowbridge defenders failed to clear their lines and Leigh Rayson struck a confident shot past Porter to seal the win.

Manager Neil Kirkpatrick said: "We were awful. We could not string two passes together in the second half, which is unlike us.

"We've been playing under pressure every week and maybe that's got to one or two of the players. I told them to ask themselves if the attitude was right on Saturday.

"I feel sorry for the fans who turned up in horrible weather to watch us play," he said.

Trowbridge host Purton tomorrow when they will be hoping to close the gap on second-placed Headington.