WITH last term’s A&B Cup winners Westbury United Reserves and losing finalists Lacock FC no longer in the League, this season’s Briken Motors & A M Print & Copy sponsored competition is up for grabs.

Ben Howe’s North Bradley and Chris Birleson’s Freshford United are favourites to lift the trophy next April, but they can expect some stiff competition from third division Potterne who produced the result of the round as they thumped first division Bradford United 9-2 to booked their spot in the second round.

Steven House with two and Ashley Huntley gave Craig Campbell’s side a 3-0 interval lead before the floodgates opened in the second period. A second from Huntley, two from Neil Clark and singles for Myles Hickton, Wayne House and Campbell himself made up the villagers impressive tally.

Matt Stevens and Steve Bryant were on target for Bradford.  

Third division, Aces FC found themselves 3-0 down at home to first division Freshford United, but a spirited late first half fight back saw Aces get back to within one goal before finally running out 6-2 losers.

Dan Fowler wayward shot deflected in off Mike Little to put Freshford in front, own goals from Dan Hatcher and Dave Morris made it 3-0 before Steve Tuke and Tom Pang got Aces back in the game before second half goals from Tom Rooney, Steve Roddy and a second for Fowler sealed Aces fate. 

Holt progressed into the second round with a fine 7-0 performance over a poor Calne Eagles who have been in desperate form at the start of this season. Holt raced into a 5-0 half time lead, although at least three goals were down to bad errors in defence from Calne.

In the second half Calne improved and showed a bit more fight but Holt added two more goals and perhaps could have scored more if not for the agility of stand-in keeper Lawrence Elliott. Holt’s goals came from Elliot Johnston, Zack Manna and Fynn McCarthy-Driver who both scored two each and Mark Reynolds.      

Holt had Aaron Cockerill sent off for pulling back Calne’s Jake Goodwin when he was clean through on goal. 

Melksham Town A manager Barry Holloway tasted Spring Cup success with Trowbridge Town Reserves last term and prior to that he was part of the successful Melksham Town Reserves side of 2001/11 that won both the Knockout & A&B Cup. So it was little surprise that his third division outfit progressed to the next round after beating the second division opponents Trowbridge Rangers 2-0.

Jordan Kirk had the chance to give Melksham a first half lead but his penalty was saved by Rangers keeper Ben Forester. The second half saw Kirk make amends for his miss when he put Melksham in front before James Dark struck an all important second for Holloway’s side. 

A week on from their 9-1 loss to Hilperton United, Semington Magpies squared up to the same opponents in the A&B Cup and were unlucky not to avenge their previous defeat as they held Hilperton to a draw after 120 minutes before losing out in the penalty shoot out lottery.   

Sam Malone’s excellent half volley from the edge of the area put Magpies one-up. Sam Stevens leveled matters for Hilperton and Lee Frisby’s goal gave them a 2-1 half time lead.

A second from Frisby gave Hilperton a two goal advantage which was halved by Chris Dore, and a second from Dore who made it 3-3 from the penalty spot took it to extra time where neither team could conjure up a winner.

Nigel Hall, Dan Rimmer and Sam Malone were successful from the spot for Magpies, but with Dore and Joe Lewis missing from 12 yards, it was Hilperton who progressed thanks to Sean O’Brien, Sam Stevens, Kieran Fereday and Craig Sheppard who all score their penalties to take their team through.  

Both Steeple Ashton and Trowbridge Town Reserves have been struggling since the start of the season, so their meeting at St Mary’s would have given them some much needed respite from a division one league campaign that has so far drawn a blank for both teams.

With a number of former Ashton players now playing for Trowbridge and vice-versa the match was always going to be a highly charged cup tie and so it proved as Ashton came out on top claiming a thrilling 3-2 extra time win.

After a goalless first half, Levi Woods gave Trowbridge the lead. Kieran Stone squared things up and then struck a second to give Ashton a 2-1 lead. Nathan Taylor had the chance to add a third for Ashton but missed from the penalty spot, Ashton’s lead was wiped out in the final minute as Michael Johnston scored at the death to take the game to extra time where a Robbie Cunningham free kick in the 95th minute won it for Ashton.  

After picking up their first victory since February 2013 last week, The Stiffs were hoping for another fairytale result away to second division Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves but their dreams of cup success turned into a nightmare at Lambrok Road where they suffered a 10-2 loss to Matt Rusling’s side.

Will Browning and Will Bayley helped themselves to four goals each for Wanderers with Nick James and Mike Cooksey’s singles making up their tally. Terry Askew and Dave Carroll replied for the Stiffs.

After beating United FC 7-1 in their league clash last weekend, Heytesbury had to work a lot harder for back-to-back victories over their hosts when the second division rivals met at Clarendon Academy.

United actually led 3-2 at the break but for a second week running Leigh Kennedy who struck five in their previous win proved to be the difference as he inspired a second half revival as Heytesbury fought back to win 5-3.

Heytesbury took the lead on four minutes when a punt from keeper Sam Spratt found Brendan Hind who picked out Kennedy for the opener. United were back on level terms in the ninth minute courtesy of a superb individual strike from Bartzomiej Fedyk. Heytesbury regained the lead on 19 minutes, Brendan Hind converting a Chris Baker cross.

Their lead lasted just two minutes as United through another fantastic this time a Daniel Zbudniewez header restored parity for the home team.

United having twice come from behind got their noses in front on 38 minutes, Jacek Kapelka making the most of a defensive error to give his team a 3-2 interval lead.

Heytesbury got themselves back on level terms in the 50th minute, Kieron Edwards scoring a bizarre goal of, his back to square things up at three apiece.

Leigh Kennedy’s penalty on 57 minutes put the villagers back ahead for the third time in the time and when he struck again on 90 minutes, the villagers had finally booked their place in the next round.  

Third division, Zeals FC were looking for a cup upset when they visited Leighton Sports Centre, to take on Pete Ayton’s White Horse FC side, but their was no shock result as the tie went to form with the hosts breezing through to the final 16 courtesy of a thumping 9-0 success.

Zeals held their own for the first 45 minutes as goals from Marek Miszta, Dale Rowland and Kane Scott put White Horse three-up.

After the break and much to the disbelief of Zeals, White Horse added a further six goals, Stuart Barber bagged a brace, both Rowland and Scott added to their first half goals, Paul Beavers and Steve Munday with the final goal of the game completed the scoring.   

First division outfit North Bradley avoided a possible cup banana-skin away at second division Worton & Cheverell, Ben Howe’s side claimed a 5-1 victory over their hosts but for a 25 minute spell in the second period, Bradley had to huff and puff before finally claiming their win.

Scott Askew opened the scoring for Bradley and the hot shot striker made it 2-0 midway through the first period. Adam Bewley pulled a goal back foe Worton early in the second half and for a while they were in with a chance, but that was until Askew completed his hat trick with a stunning left footed volley from a Sam McWade cross. 

Scott Askew added his fourth for Bradley to kill off any hope of Worton getting back in the tie before Dan Mercer completed the scoring.