CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE

SECOND Division West Lavington recorded a major upset in the first round of the Shoestring sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup.

In one of only six cup matches to survive the weather they defeated First Division Maud Heath Sports

6-4.

Marcus Lovesey's brace on his return from injury gave Lavington a 2-0 lead before the Sports hit back with goals from Matthew Waite (2), Dave Beal and Ian Townsend to move 4-2 in front. A storming second half performance from Lavington saw them reverse the scoreline to run out comfortable winners. Simon Drewitt, Steve Moxham, Tom Ponting and Kevin Bush, who was a member of Cooper Avon Rangers winning team last year, completed the scoring.

In the all-Third Division clash Chippenham Black Horse cantered to an 11-2 victory over Rowde. In an incident packed game that saw two Rowde players dismissed, the Black Horse were only 3-1 up at the break before they stormed to their impressive win. Darren Whiston (6), Terry French, Steve Mizen, Stuart Little, Tim Hughes and goalkeeper Graham Jones (penalty) completed the romp. Shane Hollaway and Martin Williams netted consolation goals for Rowde, who had Justin Maslin sent off for hand ball on the line and Luke Smith dismissed for an alleged technical assault on the match referee.

Premier Division Melksham Motor Spares were involved in a seven goal thriller against North Star A.

Wayne McLaughlin, Nick Fielding, Kevin Saunders and Ronnie Kallmeier fired the Star to a 4-0 half-time advantage and they looked to be coasting before the Spares staged a fight back. Stuart Roach, Steve Purnell and Bruce Newman hit the goals that gave their team hope of taking the tie to extra-time, but unfortunately for the Spares time ran out and they suffered a 4-3 defeat.

Things could have been a lot safer for the Star had Rob Smith not hit the bar from three yards with no goalkeeper to beat when the score was 4-2.

Premier Division outfit Winsley recorded a 7-1 victory over local rivals The Plough. The win owed a lot to veteran player Andy O'Pray, who gave Winsley the lead from their very first attack of the match. Winsley goalkeeper Chris Birleson produced an outstanding save to keep his side on level terms when he denied Russell Francis. The enthusiasm of the Plough saw Francis eventually grab an equaliser in the 35th minute. O'Pray restored Winsley's lead when he made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time and he completed his hat-trick in the 53rd minute. Two minutes later Paul Ranger converted from the penalty spot before being substituted. Within a minute O'Pray bagged his fourth goal to make it 5-1. Chris Henry's first goal for the club made it 6-1 in the 67th minute and the demolition was completed 12 minutes from time when Dave Birleson netted number seven.

Third Division Semington Rovers claimed a major scalp by beating First Division Colerne A, despite being outplayed for long periods. Dan Phillips gave Rovers a 10th minute lead when he lobbed the Colerne goalkeeper. Tony Trottman drew Colerne level in the 70th minute and just when it looked as if the tie would be going into extra time Kelvin Lockwood scored Rovers' winner in the dying minutes. If it had not been for the heroics of Rovers goalkeeper Richard Bean, who produced a number of breathtaking saves and the woodwork which Colerne hit on seven occasions, the outcome would certainly have been a lot different. Rovers' midfield combination of Martin Gray and Phil Gregson worked well to secure their side a nervy victor. The cup upset also earns Semington Rovers the team of the week award.

Second Division Westbridge United, last season's Subsidiary Cup winners, defeated Sir Audley Arms 3-1. They trailed to a Steve Mallard goal before Paul Bendell equalised in the 40th minute.

A second half double from Paul Daly saw United home. Arms' goalkeeper John Witts produced a number of fine stops to keep his side in the contest and, not for the first time this season, referee George Parks received praise from both sides for the way he handled the game.

With a change of criteria for entry to this season's Chronicle Subsidiary Cup, last term's winners Westbridge United were ineligible and unable to defend their crown. Premier Division outfit Westbury Rangers A have been installed as favourites to lift the new look competition, but face a wait before they tackle Third Division Malmesbury Victoria.

Of the games that did proceed in the preliminary round, Second Division Avon Bradford defeated Fourth Division cup giantkillers Corsham Park Rangers 6-2. Bradford came close to opening the scoring as early as the fifth minute when Alex Edwards' 25-yard drive was deflected over the bar by Neil Bolton. Moments later Bradford's Mark Hurkett saw a wind assisted shot saved well by Rangers' goalkeeper Stuart Beeho.

On 10 minutes Hurkett had another effort superbly saved by Beeho. Bradford's Neil Mounty volleyed over the bar from 12 yards a minute later.

Midway through the half Bradford's dominance was rewarded when Hurkett's corner was headed home by John Burt. In the 25th minute Bradford's player-manager Nick Gant wasted a glorious effort to increase his side's lead when his weak effort from close range was parried clear by Beeho. The clearance fell to Edwards, who blasted over from the edge of the area.

Edwards eventually found the mark to double his side's lead in the 35th minute with a splendid strike from 18 yards. In the 43rd minute Beeho foiled Mounty with an incredible point-blank-range save.

On the stroke of half-time Rangers clawed their way back into the game. After Bradford's Mark Skuse had fouled Luke Wolf in the area, Paul Park drilled the resulting spot kick home to make the score 2-1.

Avon Bradford were forced to make a half-time substitution to goalkeeper Matt Cuthbert, who was replaced by Robert Slade. This did not seem to affect the team in any way as they moved 3-1 in front within a minute of the restart, Edwards racing clear to stroke the ball past a stunned Beeho for his second of the match.

Luke Wolf then wasted a chance to reduce the arrears when he fired wide from close range in the 50th minute. Moments later Wolf's brother Mark was only denied by a timely Jason Burt intervention and Neil Bolton saw a 25-yard free kick flash inches wide of the upright.

On the hour Bradford's Mounty saw an angled shot pushed out for a corner.

From the resulting corner Hurkett's initial shot was blocked, the rebound falling kindly to Mounty whose dipping volley from 20 yards made it 4-1.

Rangers still battled on bravely and Bolton and Mark Wolf came close to pulling one back before Mounty added his second of the game in the 67th minute when he beat the offside trap to tap the ball home to make it 5-1.

Ten minutes from time Mounty completed his hat-trick when he completed Bradford's half dozen. Rangers' Mark Wolf saw a 20 yard drive cannon off the bar before veteran defender Les Hurkett blocked brother Luke's close range effort.

Neil Garrett then drove wide for Rangers on the stroke of time before a John Burt mistake gifted the ball to Garrett who made it 6-2 in the dying seconds.

Match referee Tony Frith had an excellent game.

After the match Avon Bradford's manager Nick Gant was more than pleased with his team's performance. He said: "It has been a long time coming, but it has been waiting to happen all season and hopefully we can take this cup victory and build on it with some much-needed wins in the league."

The First Division's bottom club Atworth United recorded their first win of the season by defeating Fourth Division side Black Horse Trowbridge 3-1. Steve Vince opened the scoring for United before Stuart Holland lobbed home the second from 40 yards. Chris Simms pulled one back for the Black Horse before Steve Archard added United's third. United goalkeeper Steve Morris had an excellent game and kept his side in the game on a number of occasions.

Premier Division Avon News had a 2-1 win over Second Division Navy Tavern United, who took the lead through Paul McCarth. The newsmen drew level 30 seconds into the second period when Ben Rothwell stroked the ball home for his first goal of the season. Rothwell followed it up with his second and Avon's winner midway through the half when he lashed the ball home from 18 yards. United battled bravely for the equaliser, but could not find it despite hitting the woodwork on two occasions.

First Division All Cannings strolled to the next round by defeating Fourth Division Peter Black 11-1. Richard Mansell (3), Nick Oram (2), Tom Williams (2), Stuart Bevan, Jeff Potter and two own goals made up Cannings' total. Shane Randall netted the Blacks' late consolation.

Third Division leaders Old Lane United had a fine 4-2 win over Division Four Bradstone Rovers. A tap in and a 25-yard thunderbolt from Mark McIntyre added to a thunderous header from Rob Hickman and an outstanding individual effort from Marcus Young helped the Lane to a 4-0 half-time lead.

A second half double from Alan Eades gave Rovers hope but it was a case of too little too late.

The all-Fourth Division clash between North Star B and Classic FC went the way of the home side, who recorded the narrowest of 1-0 victories courtesy of a Mark Forrester header.

The George Lacock came out on top in their clash with Hullavington. The battle of the First Division sides saw Les Davies give the George the lead and Mark Garner double it before Andy Martin pulled one back for Hullavington. Further second half goals from Garner and substitute Martin Symcox secured the George's passage to the next round.

Second Division North Bradley earned their first win of the season with a 6-1 victory over Fourth Division Westbury Rangers B in a match that saw Rangers' players bag four goals, but unfortunately for the visitors three of them were in the wrong net.

Steve Wyatt put Rangers 1-0 up before Ben Shave put through his own net to bring Bradley level. A Paul Stacey own goal gave Bradley the lead before Bradley's goalkeeper Ryan Marks produced a great save to deny Rangers' Steve Bruce shortly before Pete Stephenson netted to put Bradley 3-1 in front.

At half-time Rangers replaced former Bradley player Mark Butcher with Paul Osment senior, but the change made little difference as Stephenson added his second 10 minutes into the second half.

Craig Brown made it 5-1 before Paul Stacey added his second own goal of the game two minutes from time.