SWINDON Spitfires moved up to fourth in the South West Women’s League Premier Division with a fine 4-1 win over Frome.

The hosts started positively and were rewarded in the 11th minute when Debbie Rose headed home a Sammie Smith corner.

The lead increased midway through the first half when Emma Skinner set Hayley Huckin clear and although Hannah Christer saved the initial shot, Huckin slotted home the rebound.

Three minutes later Emma Skinner fired wide and then right-back Jess Dent provided a cross from which Skinner headed off-target.

After the break Spits did not let up and they added a third in the 63rd minute, with Mel Bristow keeping her composure to slot past Christer.

The visitors pulled one back with 17 minutes remaining, when Rose was penalised for a challenge in the box and Becky Yeo made no mistake from the spot.

But Frome’s hopes of a comeback disappeared within a minute as Huckin was left unmarked at the far post from Smith’s corner and she sent her header into the net.

It could have been more but Skinner hit the crossbar in the 88th minute with Christer well-beaten as Spits settled for a 4-1 win.

Spitfires Under 17s gave a brave performance but were defeated 4-2 by Oxford Bluebirds.

A player down for the entire game, Spits took the lead after 21 minutes when a Mya McKnight shot was spilled by the keeper and Sarah Uzzell slotted home.

Georgina Tayman levelled soon after when allowed to turn and shoot, but eight minutes before half-time, McKnight restored the lead when she tucked away an Uzzell cross.

Uzzell then hit the upright before stopper Becky Kench pulled off a smart double-save at the other end, only for the Bluebirds to draw level moments before the break through Kiera Isaac.

Buoyed by their equaliser, the home side improved in the second half and Ollie Brown gave them the lead for the first time with a tap-in.

The referee controversially disallowed an effort direct from a corner by Hayley Shipp that appeared to cross the line before being clawed away by the home keeper.

And four minutes later the home side wrapped the game up thanks to a far-post finish by Heidi Miles from a corner kick.

Spitfires Under 12s development travelled to Bath City where they lost a close encounter 3-2.

Emily Purvis bagged both Spits goals with Bath’s winner coming in the final minute.

  • SWINDON Spitfires reserves staged a dramatic late show to defeat local rivals Swindon Town reserves 3-1 in the Wiltshire County Women’s League.

Town were close to scoring early on, but stand-in keeper Rachel Eley tipped over the long-range shot.

Victoria Perry was not far away for Spitfires soon after with her left-footed effort flying just over the crossbar.

It was Town who seized the advantage after a quarter of an hour courtesy of Sally Butterfield, who placed her shot in the left corner.

In the second half Spitfires were the stronger side but it was Town that thought they had got on the scoresheet, only for the effort to be ruled out for handball.

Soon after Katie Wadey was denied by the crossbar, but the leveller was not long in coming.

With 12 minutes left, a cross from Megan Greening found Caroline Hook and she finished past the stranded keeper.

In the 89th minute, Spitfires hit the front for the first time when Lisa Curtis floated a free kick into the Town box which Hook touched in.

And the victory was wrapped up when a Curtis corner was fumbled by the Town keeper, allowing captain Zofie Stepien to smash through a crowded goalmouth and into the net.

Spitfires have no game this weekend and are next in action against Trowbridge on November 10.

Swindon Town’s South West Combination League fixture at Chichester was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.