Trowbridge League round-up

On a day the preliminary round of the competition, sponsored by Revolutions Cafebar Chippenham, produced notable performances and incidents, the fortunes of the former league champions took another downward turn.

Frome Town Sports' Damien Edwards ended an era with a 66th-minute winner after keeper Craig Woodruff had made a fine partial save.

The revenge win for Frome, beaten by a single goal in last season's final by Gifford, immediately installed them as favourites but the cup, first won by Trowbridge British against Westbury Town in 1900, is up for grabs.

Gifford's second string may yet decide to keep the trophy in the club. The Division Two outfit still eye the silverware after a sensational 5-5 draw in their third successive meeting with Rudloe.

After a draw and a win, Gifford were facing defeat following two goals from Chas Young after Duncan Knight had equalised Tim Jefferies' opener for Rudloe.

Another strike from Knight and two from Richard Moules turned a 3-1 half-time Gifford deficit into a 4-3 lead but despite Jefferies receiving marching orders, Gifford were forced into extra-time through a Jason Cole equaliser.

In the extra half-hour Ian Johnson restored Gifford's lead only for Richard Boore to level again on 115 minutes.

A replay will also be required between Division Two Rowde Sports and Division One Dursley Arms following a 2-2 draw.

Rowde, who had Wayne Hillier red-carded in extra time, fought back twice through Neil Taylor goals, Andy Beaven-Witts producing the first equaliser and Stuart Beaven levelling from a last minute penalty.

The day's giant-killing act went to Division Three Bradford United 201 who reversed last season's 3-1 home league defeat by Westbury United A to put the early Division Two pacesetters out.

A Jason Uncles goal right on the stroke of half-time followed by Steve Bryant's 68th-minute strike and a third from Uncles in the 80th minute gave Bradford a well deserved victory with Paul Smith scoring a late penalty consolation for Westbury.

A rare shortage of officials left three matches without a registered referee but Steeple Ashton chairman Dave Pritchard, Kerry Sadd at Lavington and Derek Holder, who took control at North Bradley Saints, all emerged with great credit.

An injury to Andy Edwards left Ashton with only 10 men for 80 minutes against cup fighters Apetito who were finally sunk 4-3 by four-goal Guy Rowley, the final strike coming with seconds to spare after Darren Carter and Nigel Penelhum had wiped out a 3-1 Ashton lead. Earlier Neil Griffiths had brought Apetito level.

Rowley's quartet was matched by Paul Clarke in Deverills Reserves' 4-0 triumph at Hilperton United Reserves, who had first team defender Steve Appleyard in goal.

Appleyard said later: "Deverills were the better side but after the previous week we performed well.

"Most of our side are under 17 and on this occasion deserved to have scored."

Blue Circle player manager Steve Martin was even happier after his side, without a league win, beat Division One rivals Heytesbury 6-2. Graham Kirk was also a sharpshooter with a hat-trick, Liam Williams claimed two and Wayne Bristow completed the scoring.

Heytesbury, who were destroyed with goals either side of the break, replied through Colin Bennett and Darren Guy.

Early Division One leaders The Deverills also won through but it took two late goals from Scott Laidlaw and Aaron Stevens to inflict a 4-1 defeat on Dynamo West End, last season's unbeaten Division Three champions who were playing their first game of the new campaign.

A first half double from Stuart Carr gave Deverills the lead but Dynamo, with Nathan Mantle pulling a goal back, gave a good account of themselves.

Goals from Jamie Bloor, John Richards and Pete Gizzie gave Bratton a 3-0 victory at newcomers Frome Town Sports A while champions Castle Combe achieved the same score but had to thank half-time substitute Leyton Brown for preventing another cup shock against Warminster Town Reserves.

After a poor first-half Combe performance, Brown netted twice with Chris Scollen adding a third. New boss Tony Hulbert said: "Warminster played very well but we need to improve a lot."

The two sides meet again tomorrow this time at Weymouth Street in the A and B Cup.

A third-minute Robin Walker goal always had a young but very promising Trowbridge United side chasing their tie at Freshford where referee Gary Hunt celebrated his 32nd year officiating in the Trowbridge League.

Dean Murden almost grabbed an early equaliser for Trowbridge but a Dave Birleson second goal after goalkeeper Aaron Burrows palmed out a Walker cross in the 54th minute and the goal of the game from Dean Stritch on 68 minutes ensured there would be no upset at Brown's Park.

In the Premier Global Ltd-sponsored league programme Hilperton United, with goalkeeper Daniel Green making an excellent debut in place of Mark Binns who broke his right leg in two places last week, missed the chance of becoming Division Two leaders.

United led three times at Lavington and Easterton, through Jamie Allford, and Steve Iven (2, one penalty), but were pegged back each time by Tom Bishop, Jamie Cullip and Adam Gorham in a 3-3 draw.

Seend United Reserves also missed out on going second in Division Three when wooden spoonists Bromham Reserves repeated last season's 3-1 victory at The Lye.

An early Julian Putt second half strike wiped out Duncan Biggin's first half effort for Bromham but two quick replies from Biggin and Daniel Barber gave the visitors their first points.

North Bradley Saints made no mistake of taking full advantage of the cup ties to open up a two-point lead at the top of Division Three.

Another outstanding performance was reflected by a second successive hat-trick from Chris Fardell, including a penalty, two more from Carl Davies and one from Andy Colebrooke in the 6-1 destruction of Castle Combe Reserves, whose sole reply came from Steve MacBeth.