Blue Circle bid for Cup upset

North Star were one of five teams who had to fight their way through the preliminary round when they gained a 3-1 win over The Ship, who were seen as a potential banana skin to their chances of winning the cup for a second successive season.

Blue Circle will be out to cause the shock of the round. In recent weeks Blue Circle have started to come good, with three wins on the spin that has lifted them to third place in their division. But despite the cement-boys' good form it should be the Star that is shining brightly once again as they take a further step to keeping hold of the trophy they won in April.

AFC Pilot are another Division Three side who could cause an upset when they host First Division Christian Malford. Pilot have a number of experienced players in their squad, and manager Tony Couch hopes they will help bring about Malford's downfall.

Up until last Sunday Pilot would have gone into the contest as favourites, even though they are 23 places below Malford in league standings, but Malford go into the game on the back of a 4-1 victory over North Bradley, who topped their division before the teams met last weekend. Malford will be hoping that it won't be a case of after the Lord Mayor's show, but should they go out it would measure only a slight jolt on the Richter scale.

North Bradley should return to winning ways with what ought to be an easy win away to Second Division strugglers White Horse FC. White Horse have conceded 50 goals to date in league and cup competition, and even if the sun isn't shining Bradley's forwards should be making hay, and could well become the third team this season to put double figures on a Horse side who have yet to get out of the stable this season, let alone the stalls.

Bradley, who won the competition in 1991 and were runners up in 1998, believe they are due another cup final appearance and if they can get the luck of the draw in each round then manager Damon Berrelly may realise his goal.

Last season's beaten finalists Wheatsheaf, from Division Three, host Second Division Biddestone Arms, and for Wheatsheaf to have any chance of progressing they need to improve 100 per cent on their performances over they last two weekends which has seen them lose to Cooper-Avon and then give Somerford their first win of the season.

Having tasted cup final football Wheatsheaf would like to do it again, but their dreams of further glory could turn into a nightmare as Biddestone are tipped to beat Martin Belcher's side and make the final 16.

Second Division leaders Rowde travel to the Conigre, Melksham, where they lock horns with Cooper-Avon in a game that has all the ingredients of a classic.

Cooper-Avon are currently third in Division Three, but over the past year or so they have climbed out of Division Four and are doing well after being promoted from third spot. Rowde arrived in Division Two, through the same route. They missed out an automatic spot but since the start of the season have taken maximum points from their six matches to top the table. This game may go all the way, with Rowde favourites to qualify for the second round.

Rowde's Division Two rivals British Lion OC and Southwick Sports should progress at the expense of respective opponents, Chippenham Police and Westbury Rangers B.

British Lion should advance with ease as Phil Oliver's team entertain the boys in blue, who are struggling at the bottom of Division One. It is hard to see anything other than a home success.

Westbury Rangers' game with Southwick could be a lot closer than many people anticipate, and should things go their way on the day Rangers could slay Southwick and cause a big upset, just like the villagers did when they sent Winsley crashing out of the Knockout Cup.

Rangers' manager Dave Griffin is putting together a youthful looking team at Meadow Lane, but the magic formula is still missing as they struggle to find any consistency, but once they do that then the results will certainly come, and an unexpected win over Southwick could set them up nicely for the weeks ahead.

First Division Atworth United, who destroyed Division Four outfit Chippenham West End Club 7-1 in the previous round, welcome the league's bottom side, The Rising Sun, who will be without the injured pair of Lee Davies and Lee Barber. For a second time, their route to the next round should be easy and they could even better the scoreline that took them into this round.

Little George, the early pacesetters in Division Four, are one of a few teams from a lower division who will go into a match against higher opposition with the tag of match favourites. Little George visit FC Bradford and it is hard to see Bradford stopping the George from putting their name in the hat for the next round.

Current form suggests a comfortable win for Matt Scoble's team, and, with Ben Husband, Tom Jones and Nat Auckland on song in front of goal, Bradford will have to play extremely well to deny the George another game in the competition.

There are a clutch of First Division teams who on paper should make round two, but on the other hand they could end up being eliminated by the underdogs.

Semington Rovers ought to see off Division Four outfit AFC Melksham. A local derby is always unpredictable but Rovers should prove too strong for Luke Ballinger and co. But Rovers will be aware that Melksham go into the game on the back of their first loss of the season, and there is nothing worst than facing a wounded side whose pride has been hurt and with a point to prove.

Melksham may just have it in them to cause a major shock.

First Division FC Colerne lifted the trophy in 2002, the year after they finished as runners up to Chippenham Black Horse, who have since had a change of name to Chippenham Sports and Social club and who are themselves still in the last 32.

If the draw is kind to them, Colerne could go all the way this term and it will take someone very special to stop them as they are flying at the moment. Having hammered Kings Arms 6-2 at the weekend they will be high on confidence ahead of their trip to The Crown Devizes who have yet to win this season. Come 12.30pm on Sunday afternoon it is the visitors to Sands Lane, Rowde, who should be the happier of the two teams.

Both Pig and Whistle United and Chippenham Sports and Social Club came through the preliminary round and current form points to Second Division United getting the better of their First Division opponents. Both teams have yet to set their respective divisions alight but United, who defeated top flight Holt in the Knockout Cup, go into the encounter with a slightly better record and should progress.

After a poor start to the season, First Division Potterne look to be back on track with three successive wins which should become four when they host Third Division Biddestone White Horse. Potterne's return to form has coincided with a return to action of a number of their injured players and a return to form for striker Jonathan Emm, who has netted five times since his return to the club. His tally includes a hat-trick last time out against Foresters Arms and with Emm back on song, White Horse face a tough battle if they want to advance to round two.

Third Division Corsham Park Rangers will be out to arrest a run of three successive defeats when they visit First Division Kingfisher, who have made a roller-coaster start to the new season, winning three and losing two of their five games. Marcus Young broke his duck for Kingfisher last Sunday with a brace against Hullavington and if Young has returned to form, then Rangers had better watch out as the prolific marksman will be out to make up for his recent barren patch.

Kingfisher will probably make it safely through what should be a tough match, but Rangers can recapture some early season form then an upset is on the cards.

Fourth Division The Crown have scored 15 times in their last three games but unbelievably they have won only one of those three matches, due to the fact that they have conceded 20 goals. Crown will need to tighten up at the back against opponents Somerford, otherwise the Third Division team could spring a surprise. Crown's strike force of Dean Potter and Nick Buckle are on fire at the moment with 12 goals between them, but unless the hosts get off to a flyer, Somerford could impose themselves on the game and should they do that then the Crown face an early exit from the cup.

Wanderers' clash with Sutton Benger at Leighton Sports Ground completes the first round draw, and the Fourth Division underdogs will want to take advantage of Benger's winless start to the season which has so far seen them pick up just two points from a possible 10 from their Second Division league programme.

Wanderers look to have improved greatly this season and three wins and a draw has seen them move up the table to fourth place and with current league form on their side they could well stun Benger and eliminate them from the competition at this early stage.

Premier Division

LEADERS Corsham Centre could face their biggest test of the campaign so far when they visit Dog and Fox Ashley.

The Centre are now unbeaten in 78 league matches, but if their record was to fall it could be against the Dog who took them to the limit last term before losing out 4-2 and 2-1.

The Dog have the players who can cause an upset, but the question is can they field them all in the one game?

If the answer is yes then the Dog and Fox manager Clive Bancroft could well be celebrating come Sunday afternoon.

Second placed Westbury Rangers A have drawn their last two games, but a trip to Maud Heath Sports should see them pick up a much needed victory as they battle to stay in touch at the top of the table.

Maud Heath have lost three games on the bounce and are just above the drop zone which was not predicted before the season kicked off. But Rangers will have to wary of Andy Townsend's team as they could return to form at any moment and take victory from a game they were expected to lose.

Sherston Town have won two games on the bounce and they would like to make it three at home to Holt, who have given a good account of themselves since gaining promotion at the end of last season.

Sherston stunned an in-form Box Rovers last Sunday and should they take a point off Holt they may well have at last turned the corner after a couple of seasons in the doldrums following their championship success of 2004.

Sherston will be more than happy with a midtable finish and the early season sign are looking good for that to happen.

Winsley will be without Larkhall manager Neil Kirkpatrick and a few other players for their match with bottom of the table Trowbridge Harriers.

Kirkpatrick will be taking the Larks to Truro City for their Toolstation League game the day before Winsley are due to face the Harriers, but in spite of losing many players Winsley should have enough to beat the Harriers. But had the game been against any of the leading sides they might well have called off for another day.

Box Rovers and Biddestone Social come face to face for the first time this season, and Biddestone will want to avenge a 3-1 defeat in April that ended their chances of taking the title from Corsham Centre. Both teams have failed to live up to pre-season expectations, but of the two team Biddestone have made a better start. Although they have been hampered by injuries to key players, Biddestone should just edge they game with a narrow victory.

Spencer Sports travel to Bradford News and will be expecting to take maximum points from their short trip. Spencers go into the game on the back of a 8-1 victory over Maud Heath Sports while the Newsmen crashed 5-1 away to Winsley. Tom Aust's team will fancy their chances of hitting the goal trail again but things may be a little harder against a Bradford side who never give up.

Division One

THE only game in this division should see Kings Arms (Trowbridge) beat Hullavington and take over at the summit from leaders FC Colerne, who are in cup action.

If Chris Carr's team make it to top spot it would be for the first time this season and would be a great achievement for the young manager who has guided his team to three successive promotions, including back-to-back titles as champions of Division Three and Two.

Division Two

FASCIA Graphics lock horns with AFC Calne in one of the two matches from Division Two, while the other sees strugglers The Horse and Groom entertain a quickly improving Ship FC.

Fascia have already lost to Calne this season and current form suggests Calne should have few problems in recording their first double of the season. When the teams met at the start of the month Calne won by the odd goal in seven and although Fascia ended a run of five defeats last Sunday their hopes of a revival should be ended quickly by a Calne side who should they win will take over at the top from Rowde, who are in cup action.

Horse and Groom are rock bottom and things are unlikely to improve against The Ship, who are looking for a win to edge closer to the leading three clubs. If things carry on as they are for the Horse then they are looking at back-to-back relegations, which was unthinkable only a few seasons ago, when, as Westbridge United, they looked to be heading to the top flight.

Since then the wheels have come off the wagon and they have been in free fall. The Ship should record a easy win, maybe by six goals or more.

Division Three

LEADERS The Southgate Inn should have opened up a four point gap on the sides below them come Sunday afternoon.

Due to cup involvement Southgate find themselves as the only team from the top half of the table in league action and a trip to Chippenham United RAOB should see them capture their sixth consecutive victory.

Trowbridge Town Supporters' Club and North Star B meet for the first time since they suffered relegation at the end of last term. Both meetings between the teams last season ended in victories for North Star, by 4-2 and 3-1. The Town would love to get revenge and the signs are that the game should be a high scoring one, with the Town taking the honours.