THE FA Vase aspirations of Highworth Town were destroyed in emphatic fashion on Saturday as John Fisher's men crashed 6-0 at Gosport Borough.
After a good run in the FA Cup under their belts, the Swindon side were tipped to fare well in the competition, but they were given a rude awakening by the Wessex League high -flyers in a one-sided second round tie.
Star striker Neil Scammell hit five in the rout, opening the scoring with a 20th-minute header.
Strike partner Graham Lindsey made it 2-0 and Scammell added a third with another header before the break.
Highworth were finished when Scammell completed his hat-trick two minutes into the second half.
The prolific forward added two more late on, the second a delightful lob from 30 yards to leave Highworth red-faced and manager Fisher less than happy.
"That was the worst performance I've seen in the two years that I've been here," he said.
"Not one of our lads performed with the possible exception of Pete Macklin.
"Gosport are a good side and I think they will go well in the competition, but six flattered them.
"Everything they hit went in in the second half, and they were scoring goals from 30 yards.
"But everyone experiences losing six or seven at some stage.
"The test now is how we react to it.
"We have to dust ourselves down and concentrate on the league."
Last season's quarter-finalists Devizes also crashed out of the competition in emphatic fashion.
Dave Hopkins' team were beaten 8-3 by a lower league Westbury side who were reduced to 10 men in the first half.
The Screwfix First Division outfit went ahead against their Premier Division counterparts when Jerad O'Pray netted on eight minutes.
Simon Drewitt equalised with a smart finish, only for the hosts to restore their lead through Steve Perkins.
Devizes were then handed a boost when Westbury keeper Mark Batters was sent off for handling outside his box on 37 minutes.
Steve Campbell immediately capitalised to send a skimming free-kick past replacement Lewis Porter, but O'Pray let fly from 25 yards just before the interval to send Wesbury in ahead at half-time.
Perkins added his second two minutes after the restart and Wayne Wheeler tapped in a fifth.
Two goals in 90 seconds from Marl Pearce and O'Pray put Westbury 7-2 up.
Justin Lisle briefly reduced the deficit only for Toby Colbourne to score the eighth from 30 yards.
In a bad afternoon for local sides, Fairford also slumped to a disappointing loss, 3-1 at Bitton.
The Screwfix First Division title pretenders reached the third round for the first time in their history at the expense of Mark Webb's charges.
The home side went ahead through Matt Huxley and doubled their lead when Adam Cole netted from the spot early in the second half.
Lee Clark gave Fairford some hope but James Raynes killed the tie from close range with five minutes remaining.
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