WITH runaway leaders Barrington out of action, Millwey Rise closed the gap at the top of Division One to five points thanks to a 3-1 success at Forton Rangers.

Strikes by Keith Forsey, Leo Maguire and Mark Pike moved them up to second. Justin James hit Forton’s consolation as they drop to fifth.

Chard United have lost too many games to hold any real prospect of catching Barrington, but they moved back into the top half of the table after beating Luso-Chard 3-1.

The winners were short on numbers and had to call up Darren Kosmalski and Kieran Bradshaw from the club’s third team but both scored goals in the triumph that was completed by Kamil Wilk.

The losers’ cause was not helped as they were reduced to ten men just before the interval when Bruno Ferreira was shown a red card.

They ended up with eight players after a number of players leaving the field through injury.

United boss James Govier is looking to strengthen his side and has put in seven days notice of approach for Luso’s top scorer, Renato Silva, after the player showed his intention of a move.

Barrington should have been in cup action, but were given a free pass into the quarter-finals of the Somerset Intermed-iate Cup when opponents Pensford reserves withdrew.

Premier Division Following a week of showers and overnight frosts, the top division’s fixture list was wiped out as the clubs found their pitches either waterlogged or frozen on Saturday morning.

Division Two pacesetters Drimpton held on to their seven point advantage at the top by beating visitors Uplyme by the odd goal in three.

Mark Taylor scored direct from a 25 yard free-kick to give Uplyme the lead before Terry Farrell took his season’s tally of goals to twenty-one by hitting an equaliser five minutes later.

Craig Lodge earned Drimpton their tenth maximum points of the season on the hour mark, when he sped past two defenders and around the keeper to score from close range.

Jon Legg hit two goals for second-placed Waytown Hounds as they beat local rivals Beaminster reserves 5-1. Also finding the net for the winners were Ethan Guppy, Gary Goodall and Simon Smyth, with Owen Ward replying.

Thorncombe remain in third spot after gaining their best victory of the season by hammering bottom club Ilminster Town A 9-0.

Bryan Garrett was the Thorns’ top scorer with four goals and he was ably assisted by Lee Fisher who bagged a hat-trick. The total was completed by Warren Gabbidon and an own goal.

With games in hand on all the sides above them, fourth-placed Crewkerne Town reserves must fancy their chances of claiming one of the promotion spots after they beat Charmouth 3-1 courtesy of a Paul Gold brace and an own goal.

A 5-3 success saw Crewkerne Rangers complete the double over Combe A to consolidate fifth place.

Jack Male (2), James Martin, Simon Denslow and Andy Loveless were the winners’ marksmen, while a Wayne Long double and a Ross Bicknell strike weren’t enough to save Combe from their first defeat in three outings.

Division Three top scorer Liam Male reached the 20 goal mark by scoring twice for leaders Chard United reserves as they beat hosts Merriott Dynamos 3-1.

Glyn Kneil was the winners’ other scorer with Barry Hayne finding the net for Dynamos.

Barrington reserves stay one point adrift of United following a narrow 3-2 win at Shepton Beauchamp reserves.

Aaron Stayner and Matt Powell hit a goal apiece for Shepton, but it was the visitors who took home the points thanks to strikes by Tom Butler, Leighton Cox and an unlucky home player.

A hat-trick by Jake Russell set Kingsbury on course for a 6-1 win at bottom club Millwey Rise reserves.

Shane Reeks (2) and Dan Neate completed the Kings scoring. Alex Rockett was the home side’s lone scorer.

Hawkchurch returned to winning ways by hitting six goals without reply against visitors Thorncombe reserves.

Andy Dymond and Jamie Harris notched two goals each for the winners who had Gavin Herrod and Luke Harding also getting their names on the scoresheet.

Division Four Hinton St George haven’t had much to shout about in recent years, but on Saturday they were the day’s highest scorers when they won 10-2 at Chard United All Stars.

Kenny Forbes netted half of the visitors’ goals with Ross Jewell and Danny Baker adding a brace each. Ian Bambury completed the scoring with Kuda Tobaiwa on target twice for the hosts.

The last time Hinton hit double figures was in the 2003-04 season when they beat Perry Street Reserves 10-0.

The division’s top marksman, Ash Cooper, struck his fourth hat-trick of the current campaign to take his tally for the season to 23 as top team Merriott Rovers were 6-0 winners at Uplyme reserves.

Also finding the net for the visitors were Kev Richardson, Mike Browncey and Gavin Charles.

Winsham United reserves recorded their first double of the season by winning 4-1 at home to Chard Rangers reserves.

Anthony Rockett opened the home sides scoring on the half hour and the advantage was doubled before the interval when Paul Stuart latched on to a long through ball and tucked it neatly into the bottom corner of the net.

Early in the second half, a goalmouth scramble resulted in the ball falling to the feet of Richard White and the experienced striker made no mistake as he slammed it past keeper Jamie Bryant to make it 3-0.

Rangers reduced the arrears as home gloveman James Taylor failed to hold on to a shot and Kev Cavanagh was first to react to the loose ball and scored with ease.

However, Winsham hit back almost immediately when good work by Matty Crabb and White set up substitute Jordan Fowler to complete the scoring.

Crewkerne Rangers reserves extended their unbeaten run to four by beating Farway United reserves 5-1.

Kerry Cabell, Elliott Greed, Mark Holton, Nick Bacharach and Aaron Hole hit a goal each for the winners who are looking for a top three finish after a good team performance.

LEADING scorers: Premier Division – 23 Josh Hunter (Beaminster) & Dan Smith (Shepton Beauchamp), 17 Jamie Spurdle (Crewkerne Town), 15 Richard Hebditch (South Petherton) & Dan Peach (Shepton Beauchamp), 14 Mark Cawley (West & Middle Chinnock). Division One – 23 Andy Whitefield (Barrington), 16 Sam Dibling (Millwey Rise), 14 Shane Partridge & Tom Stead (Both Winsham United), 13 Stuart Packer (Chard United) & Andy Stevenson (Forton Rangers). Division Two – 21 Terry Farrell (Drimpton), 16 Bryan Garrett (Thorncombe), 14 Simon Denslow (Crewkerne Rangers) & Paul Gold (Crewkerne Town Reserves), 13 Jon Legg (Waytown Hounds). Division Three – 20 Liam Male (Chard United res), 15 Andy Dymond (Hawkchurch), 13 Jake Russell (Kingsbury), 12 Jamie Brown (Chard United res) & Jimmy Rees (South Petherton res), 11 Luke Harding (Hawkchurch). Division Four – 23 Ashley Cooper (Merriott Rovers), 14 Graham Cleal (Combe B), 12 Aaron Hole (Crewkerne Rangers res) & Niall Waterhouse (Uplyme res), 11 Danny Rudge (Merriott Rovers).