THERE'S nothing to beat a derby game to upset the applecart and the form book. Newnham, without a league win this season, put near neighbours Westbury to the sword in fine style.

The pre-match prediction was a narrow win for Westbury who had shown superior early season form including two wins.

But Newnham, as unpredictable as the Severn bore, tossed the visitors aside, scoring three goals inside the first 15 minutes. It was all over.

"I don't think they knew what hit them," suggested a delighted Newnham secretary, Roger Parrish. "Westbury settled down and had a lot more of play after that but it was effectively all over," he said.

Having lost a couple of players and with a new manager and a changed team, Newnham had shown signs of a revival by winning a County Cup game the previous week.

Westbury's team talk had probably not predicted the storming Newnham start. Westbury's goalmouth was peppered with shots. In just under 15 minutes and to the delight of the Newnham supporters, former Westbury player Steve Grindle scored twice with Craig Kibble netting the third.

"After that it was a lot more even," reported Parrish.

"Westbury had a lot more of the play and shortly before the break pulled a goal back. It was all Westbury for the first half an hour of the second-half. But we defended very well and hit them on the break and Steve Grindle scored again for a great hat-trick.

"Newnham deserved to win but, to be honest, I think the score flattered us."

A long-serving club official, Parrish has seen first-hand the ups and downs of village football. With players leaving to play elsewhere Newnham now field only one team.

"It's the way it goes. I'm hoping that this win and the cup win the previous week will kick-start us again," he says.

He praised new manager Shaun Morton for his endeavours.

"He has not had an easy start and we picked up a couple of heavy defeats. Hopefully we are in for better times now. We have proved we can at least hold out own and the two victories will give the lads some heart," said Parrish.