THERE was a cracking local Division One derby at Staplegrove on Saturday in the Taunton VW Football League where they played Bishops Lydeard for the second week running.

And the game ended in the same result with Lee Palk getting the only goal of the game for Lydeard.

Middlezoy Rovers have moved a step closer to taking the championship after a 4-1 away win at one of their challengers Highbridge Town. Bridgwater Sports had a 3-1 away win at North Petherton, while Civil Service were unable to raise a side on his holiday weekend and have had three points deducted.

Tom Edwards opened the scoring for Locomotives from the penalty spot in their West Somerset Rose Bowl semi final against Alcombe Rovers but before they knew it found themselves 1-3 down by half time with Andrew Land netting twice and Martin Green once.

Locos manager Matt Lukins made some tactical changes at the break and his team came out a different side in the second period.

James Conway added one as did Tom Edwards who got the chance for his hat trick again from the penalty spot to get his team into the final where they will meet the winner of the Westonzoyland abd Nether Stowey tie.

The top two in Division Two met at Wellington in this six-pointer between Sampford Blues and Dulverton and the spoils went to the home side who won 2-1. Craig Aspin and Matt Holmes netted for Blues and Dave Kelland did the same for Town.

Mind you that could all be academic as SRL Allsaints have games in hand on both of them and if they win them will go top. They helped their cause this week by beating Westonzoyland 2-1 and that was the home side’s last league game and they will have to wait and see what the others do below them over the next few weeks. Leighton Ballentine got Saints off the mark in the second half but Matt Evans got Westozoyland back level from a set play but Dave Baker got the winner for Saints.

Staplegrove Reserves lost a hard fought contests against local rivals Wyvern Rangers 2-3 despite goals from James Nutt and Liam Leavy, Derek Forde, John Chmiewliski and James Osborne got the Rangers goals to secure them the points.

The mid table clash between Wembdon Saints and Nether Stowey went the way of Saints 4-2.

The Division Three game between leaders Appletree and Sydenham Rangers was sadly abandoned after only 20 minutes following an unfortunate incident.

Hamilton Hawks are leading the chasing pack after their 4-0 home win over Minehead thanks to a perfect hat-trick from Andy Lawton, one left foot, one right foot and a header, the other coming from Rob Chambers.

Bishops Lydeard Colts are still hunting down a promotion spot after their 5-3 home win over Stogursey. Matt Harris scored four for Lydeard and Adam Watson one, replying for Stogursey were Murray Lister, Ryan Chidgey and Dave Spilbury.

Williton are running out of games to get themselves out of the relegation zone and losing 3-2 at home to Bishops Hull has not helped their cause. Jay Darrell and Damian Redman scored for the home side but two goals from Tom Wadham and one from Lee Hawkings gained Hull the points.

Redgate had a 3-1 home win over Norton Fitzwarren thanks to two goals from Sam Granville and one from Sergio da Silva Faria, Mark Beckhurst got the Norton goal. Dan Casson and Ben Cheffy both got a goal each for Wembdon in their 2-1 away win at Highbridge Town Reserves for whom Rich Burke scored.

At the start of the day it was unlikely for Milverton to get the top spot in Division Four but it was crucial that they took the points against fellow chasers Blagdon Hill to give themselves a good chance of runners-up.

However The Hillbillies had different ideas and a comprehensive 5-0 win kept them on track to take the title. Matt Francis scored a hat trick, Scott Seldon and James Walpole added one each It is too late for Staplegrove Colts to escape the drop but it is still good to pick up a rare win which they did with a 4-2 result away to Dulverton Town Reserves. Gary Bishop, Andy Wallbridge, Tom Pantlin and an own goal scoring for them and Jack Crocker and Ryan Lobb replying for Town.

Division Five champions North Petherton Reserves were not playing but the battle for runners-up spot is still on with Morganians, Exmoor Rangers and Galmington Dragons fighting for that elusive spot but no change with both winning with just one more game to play each.

Galmington Dragons made no mistake with a comfortable 4-0 home win over Halcon Utd, John Mumby scored twice, Tim Bottomley and Adam Gamble once each.

Morganians had the harder task at home to another challenger Exmoor Rangers but they picked up the three points with a 4-2 win, Liam Tomlinson, Matt Brewer, Sam Tucker and Dan Frost all scoring, Chris Parfitt and Jimmy Baker got Rangers' goals.

Wembdon Saints Reserves beat Tone Youth 3-1, Rob White not satisfied with the four goals he scored for his first team in the early kick off got his fifth of the day and Lee Neilson scored the other two, Tim Scarlett netted Tone's goal.

Sampford Blues Reserves and Nether Stowey Reserves shared the points in a 2-2 draw, with Dave Rowsell getting both Stowey goals, Liam Thorne got both Blues goals.