MARLBOROUGH Town denied champions in-waiting Trowbridge Town the chance to return to the top of the table as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home.

Victory for Kieran Baggs’ side would have seen them climb back above Shrewton United, who went down 2-1 at Trowbridge Wanderers.

However, the draw means they remain a point behind in second place but still with five games in hand.

Marlborough boss Robert Harland had planned for a stiff test at Woodmarsh, so was delighted with the response he got from his players to make it three games without defeat.

“Everyone knows what the league table looks like and they are probably going to win it, so we knew we had a really hard task in front of us,” said Harland, whose side are 12th in the table.

“If anything, we maybe deserved to win it as we had a few decent chances but I’m certainly not going to complain about a draw against such a good team. I’m very pleased with that result.

“The pitch was really boggy, I was surprised that the game was kept on, but our performance was really good and I’m proud of the players.

“We started a good little run before Christmas but then there were a few rain-offs and we were really disappointed to lose our first game back.

“We seem to have found our form again and hopefully we can have another good little run to climb a few places in the table.”

Marlborough broke the deadlock through Jordan Ball before two Trowbridge goals – the first from the penalty spot – turned the game around. However, the visitors were not to be denied and Nathan Good’s strike earned them a share of the spoils.

There were almost as many red cards as goals, with two Trowbridge players given their marching orders alongside Marlborough’s Ryan Banks, but Harland insisted those moments of ill-discipline did not reflect the game overall.

“It wasn’t a bad tempered game, there was hardly a bad challenge at all,” added Harland.

“Their first red card was for some bad language at the referee and it came totally out of the blue.

“For us, Ryan got a yellow card in the first half and then picked up a second for a few niggling fouls after half-time, and then their second red card was after the final whistle for more bad language.”

Elsewhere, fourth-placed Malmesbury Victoria moved within three points of the summit after a 4-1 win at home to bottom side Sarum Youth.

Wilts Calne Town put more distance between themselves and the foot of the table with an impressive 5-1 win at Devizes Town Reserves, while Wroughton were beaten 3-1 at Ludgershall Sports.