TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Workmanlike Melksham through

Melksham Town A, Steeple Ashton, The Lamb, Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves and Worton & Cheverell all received a bye into the last 16.

And there was just one major shock from the 11 games that were played with second division Warminster Town Reserves claiming the scalp of Broughton Gifford.

Knockout Cup holders Melksham Town Reserves began the defence of their trophy with a workmanlike performance away to a hard-working Bratton side, who gave it their best shot of causing an upset before going down 7-5.

Now in Division One, Melksham who completed a league and cup double last term were just too strong for their second division hosts.

Sam Walker gave Melksham the lead and last term's cup final hero James Eatough doubled the holders lead before Gary Davies pulled a goal back for Bratton.

Goals from Ethan Cox and Barry Holloway put Melksham 4-1 ahead but Bratton hit back with Shane Newman netting to reduce the arrears.

Melksham scored again before half time through Rob Manning and at that stage with a 5-2 it looked game set and match to Melksham.

Bratton were reduced to 10 men at the start of the second half when Dave Jones was given his marching order.

However, the villagers' response was great as they pulled two goals back with Darren Clements scoring twice to reduce the deficit to the odd goal. Melksham regained a three-goal cushion as Tom Staddon and Sam Walker netted to make it 7-4.

Back came Bratton and a Wayne Bristow goal set up a grand finale.

But Melksham made their man advantage count as they saw out the game to set up a meeting with first division stablemates Freshford United in the next round.

Boomsbury 18 Bradford United Reserves 0

THERE was something of a mismatch at North Bradley where first division leaders Boomsbury hosted third division Bradford United Reserves.

Matt Jones scored on his debut for Boomsbury who led 8-0 at the break.

Along with Jones' effort Dan Dominy and Scott Askew bagged singles, Neil Hannaford claimed a double and Steve Jackson hit a three timer.

The second half saw the goal rush continue, Reuben Spong helped himself to a hat-trick, Jones and Dominy added to their first half strikes.

John Baker also fired home and along with two from Richie Bliha and another brace from Hannaford which took his tally for the game to four the demolition was complete.

Broughton Gifford 0 Warminster Town Reserves 1

IN-FORM Warminster Town Reserves were hoping that they would take their excellent league form to first division Broughton Gifford and it was the second division side who came out on top as they claimed the result of the day, taking the scalp of Broughton as the only goal of the game came in the final few minutes.

Warminster had the better of the first half chance with Shaun Sheppard hitting the post.

Broughton’s keeper Nick Dibben was also on top form in both the first and second halves, producing a number of fine saves to keep his team in the tie.

But an error from the shotstopper at the death saw Chikiah Scassie scoring the all-important goal for Warminster whose reward for their win is a trip to first division Bradford United in round two.

FC Northbridge 0 Bradford United 6

A RESURGENT Bradford United travelled to Hilperton for their meeting with second division basement side Northbridge and things went to form as the first division visitors progressed to round two thanks to a comfortable 6-0 win.

Bradford had the game won by half time as two goals from Jonny Eamer and singles from Lee Gilder and Matthew Stevens gave the visitors a 4-0 lead.

Fynn McCarthy-Driver scored both goals from Bradford in the second period his second being a stunning strike after a great build up.

Freshford United 1 Holt FC 0

THERE was no upset at Brown’s Park, home of Freshford United, as Hughie Fulton’s hosts overcame a spirited Holt FC, who took the tie to extra time.

In an entertaining first half that saw the game ebb and flow, both sides had chances to open the scoring but neither were able to do so.

The second half was bossed by Freshford, but Holt defended superbly to take the game to extra time where they were finally undone by Ryan Mortimer’s excellent finish after Jed Osborne and Sam Elkins combined to set him up in the first half of added time.

Polenez Westbury 0 Calne Eagles 18

SECOND division Calne Eagles powered past third division Polenez Westbury 18-0 in the first round of the KO Cup.

Star of the show was striker Karl Sharratt, who scored 10 of his side’s goals.

The home side are not as unskilled as their results so far this season suggest, but they could improve their scorelines by playing percentage football, like other clubs at this level.

In this match, they continually played themselves into trouble in their own third of the field with intricate, high-risk passes, especially from their own set-plays.

This, combined with a real gung-ho style of play, sadly left them exposed defensively.

Polenez started the game brightly and clearly surprised Calne Eagles with the quality of some of their passing in the first 10 minutes.

They won four rapid corners early on, forcing Eagles to defend deep.

Nonetheless, once Sharratt prodded home a superb Gary Wootten cross after 10 minutes, the floodgates opened.

By half time, Sharratt had taken his tally to five, while a goal apiece from Sam Rogers, Adam Bewley and Stuart Windsor made the interval score 8-0.

In the second half, Calne really dominated possession.

Sharratt was taking almost every chance that he got and duly scored another five goals, while Bewley and Windsor both completed hat-tricks.

Adam Moody completed the scoring with sweet strike from just inside the box.

Seend United 1 Castle Combe 3

THE match between hosts Seend United and Castle Combe was one of two all-first division affairs and it was the visitors to the Lye who booked a second round meeting with Calne Eagles thanks to their 3-1 win. Both Seend and Castle Combe created chances in the first half but were unable to convert any of them.

Combe should have gone in at the interval ahead, they were awarded a penalty just before the break when Lee Fernandez was taken down in the area.

Up stepped Darroen Whiston whose effort was well saved by the Seend keeper.

In the second half Combe stepped up a gear and they were rewarded when Carl Dawson latched on to a cross and his spectacular overhead kick found the top left corner of the goal to fire Combe into a 1-0 lead.

Combe began to dominate and Jamie Penton outjumped his midfield counterpart to head the ball to Ben Pemberton whose neat one-two with Lee Fernandez opened up the Seend defence for Fernandez to score his first goal for Combe.

Carl Dawson made sure that Combe progressed to the next round when his clinical finish inside the penalty area found the bottom left corner to put Combe three up.

Seend scored a consolation goal from a corner in the last minute with Nick Groves finding the net.

Semington Magpies 0 Westbury United Reserves 2

IN THE second all-division one tie of the first round Semington Magpies played hosts to Westbury United Reserves and it was the visitors, who emerged victorious by virtue of their 2-0 triumph.

Westbury led 1-0 at half time thanks to a Mark Pearce goal and they finally killed the tie off when Phil Hampson scored direct from a corner, pairing them with Worton & Cheverell in the final 16.

United FC 4 The Stiffs 1

WITH Division Three leaders The Lamb already through to the final 16 by virtue of their bye, they were guaranteed to be joined in round two by at least one other third division side after United FC and The Stiffs were paired with each other.

It was the former who made it through courtesy of a 4-1 victory. The Stiffs took the lead against the local rivals thanks to Steve Smart’s goal on 10 minutes.

United fashioned an equaliser before half time when Maciej Niedzielk struck a shot from 25 yards that deflected in off Scott Ball.

Both teams pressed looking to take a second-half lead but the game turned in favour of United 20 minutes from time when the Stiffs lost Steve Smart through injury.

United took the lead via a classy finish from Sebastian Koszyki.

Marcin Kaminski made it 3-1 and a fourth from Bartlomiej Okonski finally put the tie to bed.

United had the chance to add a fifth but the Stiffs keeper John Jones produced a fine save to keep out Agim Iljazi’s penalty.

Westbury Town 0 North Bradley 8

THIRD division Westbury Town were unable to take their league form into their cup clash with high flying second division outfit North Bradley who coasted into the second round thanks to their 8-0 success.

But had it not been for Westbury keeper Paul Davies, who produced a number of great saves the winning margin would have been even greater.

Nathan Flower’s first-half double and singles from Jamie Young, Shaun Percival, Jack Heard and Craig Brown, who scored from the penalty spot, gave Bradley a commanding interval lead.

The second half saw keeper Davies deny Dean Murden on at least three occasions and Heard twice before Flower scored to complete a deserved hat-trick and Young wrapped thing up with his second of the afternoon and his team's eighth.

Westwood Social Club 1 Trowbridge Wanderers 5

FIRST division leaders Trowbridge Wanderers' reward for beating third division Westwood Social Club in their first round match is a showdown with their own reserve side at the end of November.

Ben Cowdrey curled in a superb corner for Westwood but his effort was just a consolation as the villagers slumped to a 5-1 loss.

Grant Price, Otis Young, Jack Powell, Craig Gornell and Alex De Silva sharing Wanderers goals.

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