A BRAVE Faded fightback was in vain as they were beaten 3-2 by Lion & Fiddle after extra time as the AM Print & Copy-sponsored Knockout Cup got under way in the Shoestrings Chargrill-sponsored Chippenham & District Sunday League.

Faded had to play much of the preliminary round tie with 10 players due to injury, and Lion capitalised as goals from Jordan De Silva and Jake Hiscock put them 2-0 ahead. Josh Parsons’ finish and a long-range strike from Matt Hall made it 2-2 before Faded keeper Nick Dibden denied Jordan Pinder the winner from the penalty spot in normal time. However, Pinder atoned for that miss with a crucial strike in the additional half-hour to snatch the win for Lion.

A total of 15 goals were scored between Biddestone and Lavis, with the latter earning progress thanks to a 9-6 triumph.

Jack Booth claimed a hat-trick for Lavis, Zack Manna and Nick Taylor scored twice each and Mark Maguire and Jack Sterling added the others. Ryan Armstrong, Nick Eggleton, Adam Loveridge and Keenan Burnell all replied with a brace apiece for Biddestone.

Bromham returned to winning ways with a 6-1 triumph over Pack Horse.

Ed Summers’ first-half double for Bromham replied to Matt Spear’s strike for the Horse before further efforts from Luke Child (2), Caleb Englefield and Sam Wallis secured the win.

Premier Division

EARLY pace-setters Semington fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at pre-season title favourites FC Lacock.

Mark Dolman’s goal for Lacock separated the teams at the break. Chris Berrelly got Semington back on level terms, and it looked as if the points would be shared, only for Kieron Gleed to snatch the win for the hosts late on.

With their pitch at Biddestone unavailable, Bath Road switched to Stanley Park for their meeting with AFC Melksham, and the visitors claimed a 5-2 win.

Quinnan Tarawali’s effort for Road was cancelled out just before half-time by Kieran Mills before efforts from James Dark (2), Paul Gittens and Derek Wheeler put Melksham in control after the break. Tyler Austin scored Road’s second.

Bottom-of-the-table FC North Wiltshire slumped to a fourth successive loss after they were beaten 7-1 at home by Worton & Cheverell.

Tom Slatter opened the scoring after only two minutes before Ben House, Wayne House and Gary Campbell added further goals to give Worton a 4-0 interval lead. Slatter competed a hat-trick after the break and a second for House made up the seven. Ben Simpson replied for North Wilts.

Westbury Rangers' clash with Box Rovers was postponed.

Division One

AFTER conceding 23 goals in their last two league matches, FC Libby stemmed the flow when hosting The Bell and battled to a 2-2 draw.

Jordan Croad and Rhys Edwards put Libby 2-0 ahead with 15 minutes remaining but Ben Tylee halved the arrears before Carl Jacobi’s late equaliser earned Bell their point.

Kingfisher edged to a 3-2 success at home to near neighbours Sutton Benger.

Goals from Matt Bartlett and Ethan Jones for Benger sandwiched an effort from Kingfisher’s Will Stone before Chris Yeo made it 2-2 at the break. Both teams had chances to snatch a winner in the second half, with Yeo duly delivering for the Fishermen.

Old Road were beaten 4-2 at home by North Star.

Paul Green and Mike McKeller scored for Star after Aaron Holbrook had given Road the lead. Matt Poole got the hosts back level before half-time but a Dean Fry free-kick and Frankie Vaz’s own goal sealed the victory for the Star.

New Inn Wacker came from 2-0 down to beat Sporting Box 3-2.

After a goalless first half, the second exploded into life when a brace from Lee Grealish put Box in charge. Steve Badger’s header reduced the deficit for New Inn before he levelled things up with a penalty. Brentley Roberts then rifled home to earn Wacker all three points.

Westbury Railway suffered a first defeat of the campaign when they were beaten 4-3 away at The Foresters Arms.

Westbury went 2-0 up through goals from Josh White and Steve Jackson but were pegged back prior to the break following efforts from Tom Robinson and Kai Miller. Graham Griffiths put Foresters 3-2 ahead, only for Joe Cragg to restore parity for the Railwaymen before Jim Sandiford got a late winner for the home side.

Division Two

FC DEVIZES United extended their winning run to four matches courtesy of a 4-2 triumph away at 10-man FC Trowbridge.

Alex Churchyard’s double for Trowbridge were little more than consolations as Declan McStravick, Mike Booth, Ashley Lock and Charlie Strickland shared United’s goals

Patch Whitlock netted a hat-trick as London Road overcame Misfits 9-4.

Louis Harris and Cosmin Soreanu scored a couple each, while singles from Marcus Toop and Sam Parmenter made up Road’s nine. Gareth Jones’ hat-trick and one from Conner Laidlaw were in vain for Misfits.

After picking up their first-ever league win last time out, Wednesday Warriors returned to earth with a bang after losing 10-1 at home to Chippenham Icons.

Clinton Hartley, who also missed a penalty, scored a four-timer, Ryan Nicholls and Martin Riddell got two each, while Adam O’Keeffe and a penalty from Jack Brain took Icons into double figures. Bradley Edwards replied for Warriors.