Corsham Centre ring the Bell

And for the second time in as many weeks it proved to be a fruitless exercise as the weather again intervened to cause havoc with the league programme as well as all three cup competitions.

Of the scheduled seven cup matches the only one that beat the rain was the long overdue presstoprint-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup second round clash between cup favourites Corsham Centre and Division Four hot-shots AFC Bell.

The match was due to be played at the Bell's pitch at Green Lane, Devizes, but had to switched to Centre's Meriton Avenue pitch.

Although the Centre were odds-on to progress they knew that they would have to be on their guard against a possible cup shock as the Bell had a few half decent players who could have caused them problems, but the Bell's dreams of cup glory ended as the Centre ran in nine goals without reply.

If there was going to be a possible upset, it would have needed the Bell to settle quickly and grab a foothold in the game. But this was not to be as within six minutes Centre had taken the lead.

Simon Gray slipped through the Bell's defence and although his shot looked to be rolling wide, Ben Moore slid in at the post to make it 1-0.

Four minutes later it was only a desperate last-ditch tackle by Shaun Moffatt that prevented Gray from extending the lead.

The Bell had reshuffled their side to cope with a possible onslaught and top scorer Craig Townsend was playing in an unfamiliar centre half role.

Although the Bell's midfield pairing of Moffatt and Gareth Veitch did their best to get a grip of the game, the movement and slick passing of the Centre side was proving too much for the Division Four side.

Gray again went close after 18 minutes when his snap shot was well saved by Ben Forsey in the Bell goal. But Forsey could do nothing four minutes later when Gray was set free and he danced round the goalkeeper to tap into an empty net.

Within a minute Richard Boore's beautifully weighted pass was rolled into James Lye's path by Scott Lye's deft back flick but again Forsey came to the rescue.

After half an hour, Scott Lye's pinpoint long ball found Gray and he lobbed his shot wide. He was not to be denied as straight afterwards a slick move ended with Moore's header finding him in space by the penalty spot and this time Gray calmly side-footed home to make it 3-0.

Shane Godsell had the ball in the net three minutes later but this time the goal was ruled out for offside. Two minutes later it was 4-0 thanks to a quality strike from Scott Lye. With his back to goal, he neatly teed-up the ball and from 20 yards his left foot volley whistled past Forsey Centre made it five just before the break. Moore's deep cross put Bell defender Phil Robinson under pressure and the unlucky full back could only divert the ball into his own net.

Centre maintained their dominance going into the second period. After 50 minutes, a series of smart one-twos between Moore and Gray resulted in a cross to James Lye at the back post, but again Forsey blocked the close range effort.

Despite the dogged resistance, the inevitable sixth goal came five minutes later. Gray's first strike was well blocked by Forsey but he was unable to keep out his follow up drive as the forward claimed his hat-trick.

It was 7-0 on the hour, when another smart interchange between Gray and Tim Jefferies gave the former a free run on goal. As Forsey narrowed the angle, he unselfishly squared the ball to strike partner Jefferies to tap in.

Bell's best chance came straight after the restart. Townsend's free kick was flicked on to Jonathan Couch but the young striker snatched at the chance and lashed the ball over the bar from 15 yards. At the other end, Forsey again came to the rescue as he acrobatically tipped over a vicious 30-yard pile driver from Daniel King.

As the game went into the final 15 minutes, Centre switched their side around and goalkeeper Ross Lye moved into midfield. The decision immediately paid dividends when Forsey's mishit clearance went straight to Ross Lye and he passed the ball into the empty net form 30 yards.

The Centre's ninth and final goal also involved Ross Lye two minutes later.

His cross found Godsell whose 18 yard shot was deflected past the unfortunate Forsey. Centre had chances in the dying minutes to make it ten but Forsey proved to be resolute and denied first Jefferies from 25 yards and then Scott Lye.

Centre manager Pete Ralph praised AFC Bell who said although they had suffered a heavy loss they never gave up and were first rate both on and off the pitch.

Centre were due to play First Division North Star A in round three but the Calne-based team have conceded the game to the Centre which means that they will now meet the winners of the delayed game between top flight side Spencer Sports and Division Two side The Ship FC in the final eight after they suffered a fourth postponement to their third round game.

Spencer and The Ship did everything they could to get the game played but in the end their efforts were wasted as the pitches at Shaw and the Stallards were more suited to a game of water polo rather than football.

Cooper-Avon and Biddestone White Horse also suffered a fourth failure to get their third round match played. First Division Kingfisher lay in wait for the winners of the all-Third Division clash.

Both of the quarter-final matches were lost. The game between FC Colerne and The Southgate Inn has had to be delayed due to Southgate's involvement in the Wiltshire Sunday cup, while the Steeple Ashton pitch was unfit to allow Semington Rovers to host their game with British Lion OC who have already knocked them out of the WG Parr Trophy.

WG Parr Trophy

SHOULD last season's beaten WG Parr Trophy finalists Wheatsheaf FC get the better of Fourth Division Little George FC when they eventually get to play their outstanding second round match from the Chippenham based Westernsport Trophies sponsored competition they will set up a quarter-final showdown at home to Second Division top dogs British Lion OC.

For a second successive week Wheatsheaf's pitch at Goatacre was ruled unplayable for the overdue contest and with the George's home patch at Yatton Keynall suffering the same fate the clubs were left with no other option than to shelve the game once again.

The quarter-final draw has produced two all-First Division encounters and a mouth-watering Melksham derby between Second Division Pig and Whistle United and Third Division AFC Pilot, with United having home advantage.

FC Colerne, who knocked holders North Star A out in the previous round, welcome North Bradley and with both teams having returned to form recently it should be a close call between two of the sides that have lifted the trophy in the past.

Kingfisher, who are also through to the last eight of the Knockout Cup, will fancy their chances of making it into the final four of the trophy. Their reward for beating Wanderers in the last round is a trip to Division One stable-mates Atworth United and like the Colerne versus Bradley game it promises to be a tight affair but unlike their earlier league meeting which ended goalless the game will produce a winner even if it comes after extra time or penalties.

All four matches are planned for Sunday February 18.