CHANTRY Digital Ltd-sponsored Knockout Cup holders Broughton Gifford surrendered the trophy which they won last term by beating Semington Magpies 1-0 when they crashed to a surprise defeat at the hands of second division Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves, whose 3-2 victory sets up a quarter-final showdown with Boomsbury.

Wanderers started brightly and had the majority of possession, however Broughton cancelled everything out and strung a few neat passes together, but were unable to penetrate the hosts tight defensive unit.

The first clean-cut chance of the game fell to Broughton and it was Leigh Rowles-Hitchcock who ballooned his chance over from seven yards out.

Wanderers keeper Aaron Harford had a busy period during the first half that saw him tip a Rob O’Harrow shot over the bar and even saw his bar rattled by Dan Hibberd.

Trowbridge Wanderers held firm on all attacks and had an effort chalked off when Broughton took a free kick in anger against Craig Gornall, who had not retreated the required 10 yards and himself latched onto the loose ball and tapped it home.

The referee bravely pulled the play back to the original free kick much to the annoyance of the home side.

However Gornall had the last laugh when Broughton needlessly handled in the box and Gornall dispatched his penalty with ease past John Wiltshire.

In the second half, Wanderers worked hard in all areas of the pitch to stamp out any threats, the defense of Charlie Heydon, Bruce Johnson and Jason Hughes kept Richard Radcliffe and Rowles-Hitchcock frustrated while Jakke Wayman and Mark Slade fought of the attacks from the Broughton wingers.

Jamie Moth, Gavin Francis and Andy Fennell hassled the Broughton midfield and were dominant in every aspect of the pitch.

They opened holes in the defence with splitting passes whilst also controlling the tempo of the game. Wanderers second however came with the quick-thinking when Francis flicked on Johnson’s throw and it fell to Gornall who tucked the ball away in emphatic style. Broughton rattled the Wanderers post soon after the second goal when Jason Hughes allowed the ball to squirm away from him, but Dan Barnett knew he should have done better.

Andy Fennell battled hard in the midfield and endured a hard time, but rarely lost any aerial battles, but it was Gavin Francis who was instrumental to breaking down the Broughton chances.

But Broughton did throw themselves a lifeline when Mark Slade let slip on a corner and allowed Jamie Lardner a simple tap-in.

However, it seemed only a consolation goal when Gornall completed his hat-trick when he brought down a Harford kick with a delicate touch and slipped it past keeper Wiltshire. Broughton did rally their troops temporarily and Rowles-Hitchcock headed in a second goal with seconds on the clock.

Bratton 1 Warminster Town Reserves 1 (AET, Warminster won 5-4 on penalties)

THE all-first division affair featuring Bratton and Warminster Town Reserves went the full distance before Warminster booked their place in the final eight thanks to a penalty shootout victory.

Neither team could break the deadlock in 90 minutes but James Sweetman struck in 110th minute to give Bratton the lead.

Tom Robson was on hand to bundle the ball home for Warminster’s equaliser two minutes from time when Bratton’s keeper spilled an Ollie Wort's free kick. The goal took the tie to a penalty shoot out where Nick Shuttlewood scored what proved to be the winning spot kick after both Kevin Balchin and Marek Miztra had missed for Bratton to see his team through 5-4 on penalties.

Warminster Town Reserves' prize for their victory is a home tie with Melksham Town Reserves in the last eight.

Foresters FC 5 Steeple Ashton 1

A BRILLIANT second-half display led by Graham Griffiths saw Foresters FC overturn a one-goal deficit and run out 5-1 victors over first division stablemates Steeple Ashton, who had been good value for their half-time lead.

Mike Hindle upset the Division One leaders when he gave underdogs Ashton a first-half lead and, for a short while, an upset looked to be on the cards.

But an inspired performance from striker Griffiths allowed Patrick Johnson’s Melksham-based side to turn things around in the second period as they blitzed their hosts, who had kindly switched the game to St Mary’s after Awdry Avenue had been left waterlogged after days of persistent rain.

Griffiths got Foresters back on level terms before he missed from the penalty spot.

Griffiths made up for his error when he fired Foresters ahead.

He then completed his hat-trick for 3-1 before Luke Turvey scored goal number four.

Griffiths then capped a superb personal performance with his fourth of the afternoon and his side's fifth that sealed a great win for his side who are one of the teams tipped to do well in the cup this term.

Foresters host fellow first division side The Deverills in the quarter-finals.

Freshford United 2 Westbury United Reserves 4

WESTBURY United Reserves upset the formbook when they defeated Freshford United 4-2 in the villagers own back yard.

Freshford, who were bidding for silverware on five fronts, had not lost in all competitions since they were beaten by Trowbridge Wanderers on the opening day of the season.

But they saw their cup dreams ended by a determined Westbury side, who had to come from behind to claim their win.

In a windswept first 45 minutes, Freshford were given the lead when Waleed Bakali scored direct from a corner.

Westbury made the most of the elements in the second half and they got back on level terms when Andy Backman helped a Mark Pearce effort over the line.

A rare goal from Sam Gooding gave Westbury the lead and they went 3-1 ahead through Marc Lanfear. Matty Mead sealed Westbury’s victory when he scored from the penalty spot to make it 4-1 after Sam Gooding had been fouled.

Freshford never gave up and Jed Osbourne scored a late goal for Hughie Fulton’s men, but it counted for nothing as Westbury progressed to the final eight where they will face either second division castle Combe or third division United FC whose game was off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Heytesbury 0 Melksham Town Reserves 4

FOR Melksham Town Reserves it must have been like starting the season all over again when they hosted second division rivals Heytesbury at The Conigre.

After 10 weeks of inactivity the Division Two leaders finally got a game under their belts and it was as though they had never been away as Steve Burns side ran out 4-0 winners.

Both teams are to be congratulated for getting the game played as it never nearly happened.

The tie had been scheduled for Heytesbury but due to the Deverills delayed County Cup game taking preference it meant it had to be postponed, but Melksham kindly offered to stage the game so they could get a fixture out the way.

Dan Moore was the hero of the hour for Melksham as he scored their opener, made it 2-0 and completed a first-half treble to put his team in the driving seat.

The goals may have dried up in the second half but the only person to find the net was Moore, who completed a fine quartet to set Melksham up wit ha trip to Warminster Town Reserves in the next round.

MATCH OFF: Castle Combe v United FC

TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE ROUNDUP, STATS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES