TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: FORMER league giants Broughton Gifford go into the new year chasing four trophies and it will take an exceptional side to prevent them from fully restocking their display cabinet.

For the second successive week Gifford hit seven without reply and for the second week Chris Stiles bagged a hat-trick as Stuart Irons' side crushed their arch rivals Castle Combe 7-0 in the first round of the Pied Piper Promotions sponsored A and B Cup.

As a contest it was all over in seven minutes. Steve Burns' header from Adam Gingell's free kick was tucked away by Tom Staddon before Burns set up Stiles to put Gifford on the road to a ninth straight victory.

By the 15th minute Combe had not launched an attack when Stiles' effort rebounded off a post but it was 3-0 ten minutes later when Neil Wilcox's cross led to an own goal.

Combe's best period in an attempt to salvage some pride came late in the first half but when James Pope missed a great chance it was immediately punished at the other end by Stiles making it 4-0 at the break.

Two more goals in the 52nd and 53rd minutes by substitute Simon Price and Stiles, from crosses from Staddon and Willcox, made it 6-0.

Gingell's superb free kick concluded the unexpected slaughter with Combe's one-second half-chance coming from Daniel Gernonn whose header was brilliantly tipped over by Kevin Challis.

In a second all-Division One affair Rudloe were also in firm control with a four-goal interval lead through Russell Gibbings, Simon Young (2) and Simon Gray against Seend United, who conceded another Gibbings' effort in the second half in a 5-0 exit.

There were no giant-killers, but Semington Magpies left another side bemused as to why they are propping up Division Three.

Two down at the break through Nigel Newell and Dave Birch, Magpies flew into a 3-2 lead against Division One Dynamo West End with replies from Josh Mills, Ben Phillips and Jamie McDine before Birch saved Dynamo's blushes three minutes from time. Birch then struck twice more in the extra half-hour for a 5-3 win.

Both The Stiffs and Bromham Reserves found cup life tough at Hilperton and Bradford United.

Leigh Ovens and Johnny Harris gave Hilperton a two-goal interval cushion which was doubled by Tarick Yachou's fine individual effort and Harris supplying Steve Fox for his first goal for the club. A 4-0 lead was reduced by a late free kick by Leigh Trainer.

Bradford also increased a two-goal half-time advantage, through Alex Edwards and Paul Tunnell, when Matt Edmunds struck in the 58th minute to cement a 3-0 victory over Bromham who poised more problems before than after the break.

In the Premier Training International-sponsored league there was a massive Christmas boost for newcomers FC Northbridge who, having done their bit to avenge an earlier 4-0 defeat by Division Three leaders Seend United Reserves, were then toasting Bradford United Reserves who held second place Castle Combe Reserves away 3-3.

James Starr's second hat-trick of the season at Seend, for whom Chris Bishop wiped out the first effort, took Northbridge to within two points of the leaders with a game in hand and extended their run to eight unbeaten matches.

Seend's second half performance was described by manager Nigel Hall as 'the best of the season' but the home side just could not score.

Bradford's third successive draw was produced by a Neil Mitchell penalty equaliser and two from Gary Williamson in a fluctuating encounter at Combe for whom new signing Scott Evans notched two with Simon Sharp giving Combe the lead for the second time.

In Division Two Dursley Arms' eighth successive home game brought the downfall of leaders Broughton Gifford Reserves.

Gary Gillings' 70th minute equaliser extended Arms' unbeaten league-run to five matches after Danny Reeves had given Gifford a second half lead.

There was festive cheer at Steeple Ashton who recorded their first league success at the expense of bottom club Lavington and Easterton.