TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: LEAGUE newcomers The Stiffs produced one of two giantkilling acts in the preliminary round of the A and B Cup.

Shaking off first half arrears from Guy Rowley's ninth strike of the season for Division Two Steeple Ashton, the Division Three side hit back superbly with a double from Pete Stephenson and one apiece from Keith Quadling and Sam McWade to record a 4-1 shock win.

Fellow newcomers and division leaders North Bradley Saints made it four straight wins by also claiming a Division Two scalp in a 4-0 triumph at Lavington and Easterton, where Brent Murden scored the first two goals. Carl Davies added number three before Murden completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.

Traditional cup fighters Apetito could have made it a Division Three treble of surprises but for Alan House's second half penalty miss against Dursley Arms.

The Arms snatched a 2-1 extra-time victory through Derek Pow after Neil Taylor's equaliser for the Division One outfit had wiped out House's opener.

Warminster Town Reserves will claim they were robbed of an extra half hour as they bowed out 2-1 to champions Castle Combe who beat them with three second half goals in the Knockout Cup only the week before.

A Wayne Melvin spot kick brought the sides level at Weymouth Street before Jamie Winks, whose first half effort separated the sides at the break, scored a controversial winner.

Another tie that went to extra-time but clearly should not have done was the clash between the top sides in Division Two, Hilperton United and Westbury United A.

Hilperton looked deserved winners until defender Ross Parker lobbed an unlikely 88th-minute equaliser for Westbury. Both sides could have scored in the opening exchanges before Jamie Hibbs put the Whaddon Lane visitors ahead in the 22nd minute.

Four minutes later Steve Lewin stole behind the Westbury defence from a free kick to head Hilperton level. After the break Dan Alford put Hilperton ahead and the home side should, despite two brilliant saves from Westbury's 17-year-old goalkeeper Lewis Porter, have gone on to win with the chances they had.

Following a goal-less first period of extra-time, Paul Riley struck for Westbury with Hilperton temporarily down to 10 men, Chris Hills requiring treatment off the pitch. Hilperton goalkeeper Dan Green made an excellent stop from Paul Smith but even then a glorious chance went begging at the other end. In the closing minutes Riley and then Smith clinched Westbury's victory.

The four games between Heytesbury and Bratton last term yielded 30 goals and there was another six in their cup tie, with the former extracting revenge for a 5-4 extra-time defeat last season in the second round. Steve Wyatt, Colin Bennett and Gavin Bailey gave Heytesbury a three-goal advantage before Pete Gizzie added a late second for Bratton.

Bradford United 201, conquerors of Westbury the previous week, could not repeat their cup shock, going down 3-0 at Frome Town Sports, whose goals came from Mickey Stride, Freddie Brown and Stewart Bryant. The tie was refereed by Bill Button, who stepped in due to a shortage of officials.

It was not so easy for The Deverills against Rudloe who shook their Division One opponents when Chris Gray equalised a first half opener from Oliver Worts, but the Division Two outfit were finally sunk by Scott Laidlaw's sixth strike of the campaign.

Top cup marksman was Dynamo West End's Dave Birch, who bagged the first five goals in the 6-0 defeat of Bromham Reserves. Simeon Mills completed the tally.

In the Revolutions CafeBar Chippenham-sponsored Knockout Cup, Bradford Sports chief Les Hurkett saw his side punished for glaring missed chances, particularly by Mark Powell, as Division One rivals Seend United maintained their unbeaten start, brothers Neil and Barry Holloway completing a 2-0 second half victory.

Broughton Gifford sides are top of Divisions One and Two of the Premier Global-sponsored league.

A weakened first team, without the likes of goal ace Chris Stiles, had to rely on an early second half penalty from Paul Bendell to beat Blue Circle who faced 10 men midway through the second half when Neil Willcox was dismissed.

At Sands Lane, Rowde boss Freddie Clark had no complaints as Gifford's second string also went a point clear with a 3-1 success. "We hit the woodwork four times but Gifford took their chances and we didn't, it was as simple as that," said Clark.

Richard Butler (two) and Richard Moules scored for the visitors and Andy Beaven-Witts replied.

Two goals from Shawn House helped Castle Combe Reserves to bounce back from the previous week as they inflicted a 4-1 defeat on Hilperton Reserves in Division Three.

Mike Cassidy and substitute Russell Webster doubled House's contribution after Dave Appleyard had given Hilperton a second minute lead.

Seend Reserves missed another chance of climbing the table, as Henry Ogunyemi's 55th minute strike gave newcomers Frome Town Sports A their first spoils of the season.