BLUNSDON marked themselves down as one of the contenders for the Advertiser Cup thanks to a powerful 8-2 victory over Marlborough Town Reserves on Saturday.

Eliot Wheatley, Jamie Pidgeon and Nick Craft all grabbed a brace while Jack Newton and Josh Skeates netted solitary strikes for the Swindon and District Premier Division side.

While most managers would not give such a comprehensive scoreline a second’s thought after the game, Blunsdon manager Ian Rosewell admitted he would have liked his side to have kept a clean sheet and scored more goals in his quest for perfection.

Rosewell said: “Both of the goals that we conceded were errors of our own making.

“In hindsight, we were probably a little bit disappointed to concede twice, and we wasted a lot of opportunities at the other end as well.

“It was a good performance, make no mistake, but we were slightly disappointed we didn’t reach double figures, so it could have been even better in all honesty.

“We were six goals ahead by the time they scored their second, so that one might have been down to us taking our foot off the gas slightly.”

And with a spot in the quarter-finals now assured, Rosewell has targeted going one better than last year’s semi-final defeat to FC Dorcan.

He said: “We got to the semi-finals last year, so we’re very keen to go one better at least this year.

“But we’re aware there are some good teams left in the competition.

“The Globe and Ruby Removals will be strong favourites – but as it’s a cup competition, the underdogs always stand a chance of surprising people.

“We’d like to think we can win it, but you never know with a cup competition.”

In the other two Advertiser Cup fixtures, Redhouse put their league troubles aside to progress thanks to a 5-1 victory away at Swindon Supermarine Development while Ruby Removals beat Priory Vale 2-1 at Hoopers Field.

In the George Thomas Cup, Paragon overcame Chiseldon 5-2, and Moredon beat The Regent 4-2 as both booked last-eight spots.

Down Ampney saw off Ramsbury 5-1 while Wheatsheaf Stratton edged out North Swindon 3-2 to join Wroughton Reserves, Lower Stratton and Cricklade Town Reserves in the quarter-finals.

FC Abbeymeads and Nalgo Sports Club will try again after their first round match was postponed.

Meanwhile, in the solitary Wiltshire Junior Cup fixture on Saturday, Bassett Bulldogs saw off the challenge of Calne Eagles to book their spot in the next round thanks to a 3-1 win.

And in the only league match to take place over the weekend, Premier Division leaders The Globe strolled to an easy 9-0 victory over Wroughton Reserves.