Wells City's crushing 4-0 defeat of Longwell Green Sports on Tuesday evening has put them within a point of the league leaders with a game in hand.

Saturday's crucial fixture against third in the table Calne Town has now become a headline maker as all three sides are now close enough to fight it out tooth and nail for the two promotion places, although Radstock Town are still very much in the mix.

Tuesday night's game was expected to be a tight affair, but despite the league leaders shortcomings over the 90 minutes Wells City, to their credit on an icy pitch, turned in the type of display that is needed to maintain a promotion push and on present form there cannot be a better side in the league.

The first half display especially was out of the top drawer as Wells City deservedly led 3-0 at the interval.

Wells dominated the early exchanges and they were to take a deserved early lead as a Craig Herrod header from a corner was delivered back across the face of the goal where Harvey Hadrill bundled the ball over the Longwell Green Sports goal line.

The advantage was doubled midway through the opening half when Hadrill was bundled over in the penalty area by Eugene Keery and Tom Hill stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way with his spot kick.

Wells were playing at the top of their game and their impressive first half display was summed up by a very fine individual effort, as Hadrill out-muscled two defenders and although he looked to have come off second best in a challenge with goalkeeper Jamie Powell, the goalkeeper inexplicably lost possession and Hadrill continued his run to walk the ball into an empty net to give Wells City a 3-0 advantage on 37 minutes.

Just before the break Ross Padfield had a header comfortably saved, but as poor as Longwell Green Sports were in the opening half, Wells to their credit had been outstanding in all areas of the park.

The visitors did improve in the second half, but they rarely threatened Harley Wilkinson in the Wells goal and credit has to go to the Wells back four who were outstanding throughout the game.

Padfield threaded a superb pass through the right channel of the visitors' defence where Herrod's trickery took him past two defenders before dragging an effort wide of the far post and Charlie Crook also tested the nervy keeper with a shot from a tight angle that Powell fumbled to safety.

The only time Longwell Green threatened was midway through the second half as substitute Samual Crumb had a couple of efforts comfortably saved by Wilkinson and the youngster, when he was beaten on one occasion, was bailed out by the impressive and evergreen Mark Randall.

Wells wrapped the game up as a contest on 88 minutes when the impressive Hadrill was brought down in the visitors' penalty area and substitute Harry Foster, who was returning from a one match suspension, sent the keeper the wrong way with his 26th goal of the season.

Referee Kevin Williams could so easily have brandished a card, but the official overall did very well throughout the game as it was allowed to flow and he did well to take in several of the challenges without making a fuss.

It was good to see as Wells ran out a 4-0 success that they thoroughly deserved, it's now on to Saturday (January 25) and a crunch battle with Calne Town who occupy third spot.

Man of the match went to Hadrill for his relentless work rate, hunger and desire, not only scoring two goals but also winning two penalties.