Hallen's Fairman hits another hat-trick as Bassett's goal drought deepens

Harrison Fairman collected his second hat-trick of the season on Tuesday night as Hallen beat Cirencester Town 5-1, and the club said it made him the Hellenic League's top scorer. It was the second time in four days that Fairman had done serious damage. On Saturday he scored twice as Hallen won 3-0 at Royal Wootton Bassett Town, rattling a post early on and then finishing twice more before the hour.

For Royal Wootton Bassett Town, the week was a study in chances missed. Their own match reports describe a handful of good opportunities spurned against Hallen, then three more in the opening twenty minutes of the second half at Highworth Town on Tuesday, where they lost 3-0 after a Liam Lye-Owens goal on the stroke of half-time. Opponents have now blanked them ten times in 19 competitive fixtures, and they have scored 14 goals in all. Their week had begun with a goalless draw against Malmesbury Victoria, a game that drew more than 200 people and featured Sam Collier, Jonny Aitkenhead's predecessor, in the visiting dugout for his first match in charge of the Vics.

Cirencester Town, who lost at Hallen, had been on the other side of a heavy scoreline three days earlier. Their 6-0 win at Mangotsfield United ended the hosts' unbeaten home league record, with 352 standing in silence beforehand to remember Alan Williams, whom the home club called a great club stalwart.

At Droitwich Spa, the first away win of the campaign came 2-1 at Bradford Town. Nathan Binner converted a penalty before the break, and Lewis Phillips, scoring his fourth goal in 223 appearances for the club, drove in the winner in the 57th minute after Leo Gallazi's early volley had put the hosts ahead. The Saltmen have lost once in their last seven league games.

There was a harder week at Corsham Town, who won 2-0 at home against Fairford Town. The club had described taking one point from a possible 18 after sitting top of the league, and had welcomed Keane Ashwood on dual registration from Westbury United and the returning Pele Koussioue. Elsewhere, Cinderford Town won 2-0 at Thornbury Town to go third as things stood, Stourport Swifts beat Tuffley Rovers 3-0, and Westfields drew 1-1 at Cribbs after Ben Tilbury's penalty levelled the game when Mike McGrath was sent off.