ALTHOUGH playing the more attractive football, there was no third time lucky for Box Rovers in the final of the PPL Presto-Print-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Cup.

Rovers, who were runners-up in both 1995 and 1999, suffered defeat number three against Premier Division rivals All Cannings A, who after 120 minutes of goal-less action in one of the worst ever finals in the competition's history triumphed 4-2 on penalties.

It was the first time in the history of the competition the final had to be decided on penalties.

Despite a sending off and a player suffering a suspected broken leg which delayed the match for 40 minutes the game was played in a very friendly manner which was a credit to the two teams involved.

The match started at a frantic pace and in the very early stages it had all the ingredients of being a classic.

But after things calmed down it was another final that failed to live up to all the pre-match hype and expectations.

On five minutes Box's Jamie Rowe was upended by James Ashford-Brown which resulted in a yellow card for the Cannings player and a free kick to Box which Harrison flashed just past the upright from 22 yards.

After an hour Cannings had Ashford-Brown dismissed for his second bookable offence on 60 minutes. Another clumsy challenge left referee Mark Sammut with no alternative than to give the over enthusiastic player his second yellow card.

Worse was to come for Cannings six minutes later when they lost Nigel Hiscocks with a fracture to his left leg after an innocent clash with a Box player.

When the game restated after a delay of 40 minutes Cannings, Tony Greenidge headed onto the bar.

In the penalty shoot-out Charlie Collier, 19-year-old Jack Williams , Stewart Beavan and Darren Walters scored for All Cannings. Jamie Harrison and goal keeper Paul Leach were on target for Box, but Robbie White, who was playing his last game for Box, and James Lye missed from the spot.

All Cannings 17-year-old goalkeeper Danny Appleton collected the player of the match award.

The presentations were made by Mrs Margaret Hughes, widow wife of the late Eric Hughes,

Premier Division

WESTBURY Rangers A captured their third consecutive Tuesday night victory, a 5-0 win over Hullavington Village moving them up to fifth place.

Box Rovers beat Dog and Fox Ashley 5-3 to keep alive their hopes of the runners-up spot. James Lye capitalised on defensive errors with two goals to put Box in command. Ricky Trott halved the half-time deficit when he lashed home from six yards.

The second half saw Box add three goals through Tom Smith, Jamie Rowe and Lye, who sealed his treble with a well taken goal.

Dog and Fox suffered another defeat at the weekend, going down 7-4 to a Malmesbury Victoria side whose win takes them within a point of second placed All Cannings A. With games in hand on their rivals they have now become serious contenders for second spot behind Percy's FC.

Dog and Fox trailed 3-1 at the interval but were blitzed in the second period as goals from Wayne Kibble (3), Anthony Vizard (2), David Pope, and Alan Webb saw the Vics home.

Pack Horse are still deep in relegation trouble following their 4-1 defeat at home to champions Percys FC. Frank Rogers Dave Kilmurray, Simon Dent and Martin Blackman, with his first goal of the season, scored for Percy's with Dean Fisher bagging Pack Horse's consolation.

Division One

THE midweek battle of struggling pair Trowbridge Harriers and Atworth United went the way of the Harriers who hit six past a United side while keeping their only their third clean sheet of a troubled season.

Trowbridge Harriers followed their victory with defeat as Maud Heath Sports returned to Calne with both points at the weekend after a convincing 7-3 victory. Daylan Gleed, Dean Slade, Ady Simpkins (2) and Simon Hillier (3) scored for Maud Heath.

With West Lavington already guaranteed a top two finish, Melksham-based West End and their Trowbridge rivals Terry's are contesting the other automatic spot.

Terry's are favourites to claim the spot ahead of Nathan Mantle's West End side who will still have a huge say as to who will end up as champions. West Lavington have one game to play, which is against the West End, while Terry's have to face West End and Maud Heath Sports.

Should they lose both of those games their greater goal difference should keep them in second spot ahead of the West End who need to win their remaining games against Westbridge United, Terry's and West Lavington by a huge margin if they are to threaten Jamel Messaoud's team for the other place in next season's top flight.

Division Two

NORTH Bradley suffered their heaviest defeat for many seasons as they finished their game against champions Semington Rovers with only seven players after Stuart Powell and Marc Burrell both walked off in the first half, Leigh Trainer was sent off and Ben Gardner was injured.

Bradley trailed to an early double from Kelvin Lockwood but pulled a goal back through Daniel Foster before things took a turn for the worse.

Powell walked off after he was shown a yellow card and when Semington were awarded a penalty Bradley goalkeeper Trainer saw the red mist and was given his marching orders for using foul and abusive language towards the referee.

Stuart Barber converted the spot kick and from then on there was no way back for Bradley as the floodgates opened and they fell apart.

Burrell walked off when he got disillusioned with proceedings. Lockwood added another three goals to take his tally to five and Dave Castle, Dan Phillips, Stuart Donohoe, Ricky King and a second from Barber completed Bradley's worst day in their long history.

Spencer Sports and Christian Malford turned up at Spencer's Shaw pitch only to find the letting manager had double booked the pitch and there was a game from the Mid Wilts Sunday League being staged there.

Division Three

CHAMPIONS Holt beat Cooper-Avon 7-0 in front of a crowd of 170 supporters.

AFC Unicorn visited Rowde in midweek and came away with two valuable points from a 4-0 win in their bid for the runners up spot.

Lee Scutter bagged a hat-trick to move back above Dean Fry as Unicorn's top scorer. Kevin Woolford added the fourth.

Three goals in the space of 12 second half minutes settled the game between the Hare and Hounds and Corsham Park Rangers. Steve Bowell, with his first goal of the season, and Gary Boyce scored for Hare and Hounds, with Ross Harley replying with his first goal for Rangers.

Division Four

LOSING WG Parr Trophy finalists Four Seasons' hopes of finishing the season on a high by claiming the runners-up spot ended in disappointment at the weekend with a 0-0 draw against Westbury Rangers B.

The point was good enough to see Rangers crowned champions ahead of Trowbridge Town Supporters' Club who take second spot following their goal-less draw with Bradstone Rovers.

Adam Smith (3) and Kelvin Page scored for Four Seasons in their 4-1 midweek victory over KSM, whose replay came from Jason Cole .

Wooden spoonists Plough suffered a 6-3 defeat away at All Cannings B who cruised to their win with goals from Darren Gray (2), James Webb (2), Bobby Wadcock and Tim Chilton. Jason Harford, Pete Collier and Geoff Remington scored the Plough's goals.

Richard Bright's goal from 50 yards was the highlight of Parsons Nose's 5-2 victory over Old Road Tavern. Wayne Bailey, Gavin Bailey and a double from Andy Sayers completed the scoring.

Rob Dark (penalty) and Pete Smith replied for Tavern.