CRICKLADE Town overcame a stuttering first half display to return to winning ways in the Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division last weekend.

Luke Alford’s side suffered a 3-2 defeat at the hands of title rivals Wroughton last weekend and despite a Ben Carter hat-trick, they led by just a single goal halfway into their trip to struggling Pewsey Vale Development, who have lost every one of their games so far this season.

However, Cricklade finished off the job emphatically, with Carter notching again to take his tally for the afternoon to four while Gio Wrona’s hat-trick and Bradley Clark’s effort rounded off an 8-2 triumph.

“We were 3-2 up at half-time on Saturday and we’d given away two sloppy goals, which is something that we’ve done a bit too much recently,” said Cricklade manager Alford.

“We’ve got Ben Carter up front and we weren’t playing to his strengths, so we got them in at half-time and told the lads that we needed to do things a bit differently.

“It was just about changing the tactics a little bit and the second half was a walkover.

“We just lost to Wroughton and we think they’ll probably go on and win the league but we’ll keep going and see what we can do.

“They’ve been together for a little while whereas it’s our first season and we’ve not done too badly at all.”

Elsewhere, Wroughton moved two points clear at the top of the table with a 3-1 victory at Malmesbury Victoria Development – their ninth win on the spin.

Marlborough Town have dropped down to fourth in the table after they suffered a heavy 5-2 defeat at Ludgershall Sports while Corsham Town Reserves put seven goals past Royal Wootton Bassett Town Reserves.

A brace from Bassett’s Ryan Thomas cancelled out Adam Mitchell’s effort in the first period but the Corsham man went on to complete his hat-trick in the second period, notching once from the penalty spot, with Aaron Masson and Josh Bright also weighing in with braces as the visitors ran out 7-2 winners.

Trowbridge Town were hammered 7-0 at Shrewton United but there was better news for Wilts Calne Town, who won 4-1 down the road at Beversbrook, Nathan Davis scoring twice from the spot while Eddie Summers and Rory Davis also netted.

Devizes Town Reserves claimed only their second victory of the season with a 2-0 win over Bromham.