TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Lacock produce upset (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP: Lacock produce upset

12:00pm Monday 1st October 2012 in Sport

AN IN-FORM Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves outfit were hoping to transfer their excellent league form into their Chantry Digital-sponsored Knockout Cup clash at third division Lacock.

But Matt Rusling’s Wanderers side, who currently lie second in Division Two, suffered a surprise loss as Lacock came from two down to claim a 3-2 win.

Wanderers were somehow 2-0 up at half time in a game that Lacock dominated from start to finish. Will Bayley put them in front with a brilliant chip and Bayley doubled Wanderers' lead with a neat finish after good work from Lee Mounty.

Andy Wilkins started Lacock’s second-half turnaround, Adrian Webb leveled matters and Luke Wolf scored a third to complete Lacock’s thoroughly deserved win.

Boomsbury 11 Polenez Westbury 0

FIRST Division Boomsbury have suffered defeat in the last two Knockout Cup finals, but once again Ben Howe’s side are tipped to reach the latter stages of this term's competition and their cup run got off to a flying start.

It was little surprise that the current pole sitters in Division One were in the goals at home to third division Polenez Westbury, who they hammered 11-0.

Leading 3-0 at half time Boomsbury finally broke free of the shackles placed on them by the Polenez heavies as the second half saw the floodgates open.

Booker Woodford led the scoring with a hat-trick, Scott Askew and Reuben Spong scored two each with singles from Pete Spong, Richie Bliha, Ali Bradley and Steve Jackson making up the 11

Bratton 1 Heytesbury 3

HAVING beaten fellow villagers Heytesbury 4-1 on the opening day of the season, Bratton would have been confident of claiming another win over their second division rivals when the sides clashed at Leighton Sports Centre.

But the formbook was torn up as Heytesbury came out on top against a wasteful Bratton side who, despite having the majority of play suffered a 3-1 loss.

A new-look Heytesbury side took the lead through Leigh Kennedy and it was another club stalwart Chris Baker, who doubled their lead before Nathan Wills, making his debut for the club, added number three.

James Sweetman pulled a goal back for Bratton with 10 minutes remaining but even though they peppered the visitors goal they were unable to add a second as Heytesbury defence kept out everything that came their way.

Broughton Gifford 6 Bratton Reserves 2

BROUGHTON Gifford last won a game in November 2011 when they beat Calne Eagles in the A&B Cup, but going into their game with third division Bratton Reserves they were in a confident mood after earning earn their first league point in 14 outing last weekend when they drew 3-3with Worton & Cheverell.

The second division side didn’t disappoint as John Forester’s men claimed a effortless 6-2 success. Two excellent goals from Chris Turk and singles for Jack Woolsgrove and Ben Forester put Broughton 4-0 up at the break.

Bratton rallied at the start of the second half and got themselves back in the game thanks to a Liam Griffiths double the second of which was a stunning long-range effort.

Gary Turk settled any nerves Broughton may have had when he made it 5-2 and a second of the game from Ben Forester sealed a fine win for the hosts who will be hoping for a repeat score line when they take on the Bratton first team next weekend.

Holt v Melksham Town Reserves – walkover to Melksham Town Reserves

MELKSHAM Town Reserves' place in the second round of the competition was secured before the season kicked-off, Steve Burns side were drawn away at second division Holt.

With Holt resigning from the league back in August it meant that Melksham who won the cup back in 2011 received a place into the next round without kicking a ball.

Melksham Town A v Westbury United Reserves – walkover to Westbury United Reserves

WESTBURY United Reserves' defence of the trophy which they won last term by beating Boomsbury 3-2 began in the easiest of ways.

Phil Alford’s first division outfit had been drawn away at Division One basement side Melksham Town A and although Alford’s cup holders were predicted to coast into the final 16 they wouldn’t have expected a completely trouble-free passage.

But that's what they got, following the withdrawal of Melksham who were unable to raise a team for the game at the Conigre handing their guests a walkover.

Seend United 3 Bradford United 1

THE all-first division affair at the Lye between Seend United and Bradford United went the way of hosts who thanks to an impressive first half performance claimed a 3-1 triumph.

Seend were superb in the first half and opened the scoring through Rob Manning who scored from the penalty spot for 1-0. Nathan Walker put Seend two up and a second from Walker put Seend in complete control.

With Bradford determined to get back into the contest the second half was a more even affair with the game flowing from end to end but although Bradford did find the net Mark Maguire’s injury time strike was little more than a consolation as with the damage already done Seend ran out comfortable winners.

The Lamb 3 Calne Eagles 0

THE Lamb continued their 100 per cent start to the season in all competitions with a 3-0 Cup win over fellow Division two side Calne Eagles.

After last week’s poor showing against Bratton, Calne passed the ball much better throughout the match and it was a much more even contest than the score line would otherwise suggest.

All the goals coming in a 15 minute spell in the first half, and although The Lamb took their chances exceptionally well, Calne will be ruing their first half defensive performance.

Calne created the first good chance of the game when a quickly-taken free kick from Adam Moody was headed goal wards by Stuart Windsor, but Ashley Ellis a late replacement in goal pulled off a great reflex save, parrying the ball to safety.

The Lamb opened the scoring after 12 minutes when Bradley King-Taylor latched onto a good through ball and fired an unstoppable shot past Andy Windsor in goal.

They then doubled their lead four minutes later when Tom Parr headed home from a corner. At this point Calne started to really struggle and it was no surprise when Orrie Galvin fired home from 10 yards to make the score 3-0, after Calne had failed to clear the ball following a good save from Andy Windsor. The away keeper also made further good saves from King-Taylor and Galvin.

Calne midfielder Adam Moody came close to pulling a goal back just before the break when he fired a rasping shot from distance just over the bar.

In second half Calne regrouped and the game became a much more even affair. The Eagles were denied an opening goal by another great double save from Ashley Ellis, who denied both Stu Windsor and Adam Bewley.

At the other end Andy Windsor saved well from King-Taylor. Furthermore, sub Nathan Smith was also incredibly unlucky when his thunderous strike from distance hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing on the goal line and being cleared to safety.

Despite Calne’s improvement in the second half, the result was never in doubt and it is The Lamb who go through to next round.

Trowbridge Rangers 4 Levi’s FC 7

TWO of this season’s newcomers were paired together at Whaddon Lane where hosts Trowbridge Rangers took on Levi’s FC and it was the visitors who came out on top thanks to a 7-4 success.

Two goals from Jason Povey and Levi Woods first of the afternoon put Levi’s 3-1 to the good at the interval, Sam Miller scoring for Rangers.

A second from Miller and goals for Dam Moore and Patrick Kapelka kept Rangers in the game but the were eventually sent packing by their guests who thanks to goals from Aaron Latchem, Rich Furnival and two more from Woods which saw him complete his second hat-trick in as many games saw them run out easy winners.

Trowbridge Town Reserves 2 Bradford United Reserves 1 (played at Culver Close)

WITH Trowbridge Town Reserves unable to use their Woodmarsh pitch for their cup clash with third division rivals Bradford United Reserves, the tie was switched to Bradford’s base at Culver Close where the Bees claimed the narrowest of victories.

Trowbridge started the brighter team, with some controlled football bringing early chances for Natty Mills, Mitch Spackman and Craig Neate, but it took until the 25th minute for Trowbridge to break the deadlock when Neate and Spackman combined well, with Spackman curling a great shot into the top corner from the edge of the 18 yard box for Town to make their dominance pay.

The remainder of the half was much the same, with influential midfielders Kieran McCaldon and Kurt James controlling the game for The Bees.

Trowbridge went close to extending their lead on numerous occasions, despite losing Spackman after 35 minutes through injury, but just couldn't find that final touch, and went in at half time scratching their heads as to why they were only 1-0 up.

The second half saw Trowbridge step up another gear, with Kieran McCaldon going close twice, once with a volley and then a shot which grazed the bar, James also went close, along with Ashley Poms and Dan Cockerill, before Mills also saw an excellent header come back off the bar as well.

Trowbridge lost a bit of momentum after McCaldon had to come off with an injury on the hour, but it was still very much against the run of play, when Bradford, awarded a free kick 40 yards out, floated the ball into the six yard box and the Trowbridge defence didn't deal with it, and Elliott Hinton squared things up on 66 minutes.

The game finished off rather scrappily with Trowbridge desperate to get the result they deserved, whilst Bradford tried to take the opportunity of their comeback to get a winner of their own. It took a fantastic run and finish from top scorer Kurt James to decide the game, putting it beyond Bradford's reach on 80 minutes with what proved to be the killer goal.

Trowbridge Wanderers 3 Warminster Town Reserves 1

TROWBRIDGE Wanderers came out on top in their battle with fellow first division outfit Warminster Town Reserves with Craig Gornell proving to be Wanderers match winner, netting twice in their 3-1 success.

Goals from Mark Reynolds and Gornell gave Jake Wayman’s side a healthy 2-0 half-time lead. Warminster were much improved in the second half and they had chances to get back in the game with Matt Dyer guilty of missing a couple of golden opportunities to reduce the arrears before Gornell scored his second and Wanderers third to all but end Warminster’s hopes of making the final 16.

Ali Rose bagged a late reply for the visitors to Lambrok Road, but it was nothing more than a consolation for a Warminster side who had managed a 1-1 draw with their hosts in their opening game of the season.

United FC 4 The Fleece FC 7 AET

UNITED FC’s tie with their third division stablemates The Fleece produced probably the match of the day as United fought their way back from 3-1 and 4-2 down to take the game to extra time before losing out 7-4 in a thriller that saw Simon Parfitt’s four-timer book a place for Fleece in round two.

The game started at a blistering pace and United opened the scoring on three minutes through Mateusz Piotrowski.

Tom Downes restored parity for the Fleece who took the lead in controversial fashion with Tom A’Court scoring to make it 2-1.

Simon Parfitt added a third for the Fleece before Mariusz Jackiewics reduced the arrears for United prior to half time.

A second from Tom Downes looked to have put the Fleece back in the driving seat at 4-2, but a spirited United side upped their game and narrowed the gap via Jozef Zapotoczny and in the final minute of normal time their tied the scores at four apiece with Agim Iljazi scoring to take the game to extra time.

After doing all the hard work to get back in the game United then switched off in extra time and allowed Fleece to regain the lead thanks to a second from Simon Parfitt.

Parfitt completed his hat trick to extended his teams advantage even further and he wrapped things up with his team's seventh and his fourth of the afternoon.

Westbury Town 4 Semington Magpies 1

SECOND Division Westbury Town were another side who can claimed to have caused a cup upset.

Andy Cousin’s side put in an excellent all round team performance to dispatch first division Semington Magpies whose dreams of cup glory were ended by their hosts who ran out 4-1 winners.

Tim Coombes goal for Westbury separated the sides at half time and a second from Coombes doubled the hosts lead early in the second half.

Kelvin Lockwood got Semington back in the game with a clinical half volley from 10 yards out, but a mistake from Semington’s keeper Corey Williams led to Ryan Earny scoring a marvellous 35 yard free kick to restore Westbury’s two goal advantage which hall but ended the tie and Semington’s fate was sealed when Jamie Reeves added a fourth for home sides to give them a 4-1 win.

Westwood News 3 Steeple Ashton 0

A WEEK before they play each other in the Wiltshire Junior Cup, Westwood News and Steeple Ashton met in the Knockout Cup.

Both sides having made good starts in their respective divisions were up for the game but at the end of an entertaining contest it was Division Three leaders Westwood who progressed to the next round by virtue of their 3-0 success.

Westwood had to wait 35 minutes before getting they better of their second division opponents at Bobbin Lane, which is becoming something of a fortress for Mark Hurkett’s side who had won all three of their opening home fixture this campaign. Will Young scored on his debut to give Westwood the lead.

Westwood keeper Martin Cowdrey produced a breathtaking stop to deny Steeple Ashton an equaliser and the keeper was in fine form early in the second half as he came to his side's rescue as Ashton threatened to get on top.

But after weathering the storm the hosts doubled their tally when Dan Thorne volleyed home number two on 70 minutes and five minutes later Harry Hamlin fired in number three to earn the hosts a comfortable win ahead of next weeks Junior cup showdown between the sides.

Worton & Cheverell 3 The Stiffs 1

THIRD Division The Stiffs gave a good account of themselves away at second division Worton & Cheverell, who were made to work hard for their place in the next round.

The Stiffs held their hosts at bay for 32 minutes but were final undone by the ever youthful Dave Close who put the home team one-up. Worton knocked the stuffing out of their guests with a second just two minutes later, Matthew Hamblen making it 2-0.

In a repeat of the first half, Stiffs defence were playing well but they were unable to keep their hosts as they sealed the win when Ben Mason added their third on 75 minutes.

Stiffs grabbed a goal their efforts deserved in the 80th minutes, Darren Brewer finding the net, but despite a couple more chances Stiffs were unable to add to Brewer’s goal and Worton saw the tie out with ease.

TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE ROUNDUP, STATS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport