PF LOCO & FC DEVIZES WIN BIG TO MAKE SEMI FINALS
1st Round – SUNDAY 13 November 2022
With Trowbridge Athletic FC receiving a bye and Semington FC being awarded their First Round match of the newly introduced PJL Rail Services Ltd sponsored Memorial Cup, the remaining six matches had plenty of goals but few surprises.
The Pewsham FC 1 PF Loco FC 2
Division Three Pewsham FC gave Premier Division PF Loco FC a great battle before going down 2-1 in a close game, James Book and Jordan Jenkins scoring for PF Loco with David Raine replying for the home team.
Olympic Victoria FC 3 FC Devizes United 13
Division One Olympic Victoria who despite scoring twice in the first half could not match the fire power of FC Devizes United who leading 4-2 at the half ran out 13-3 winners.
Tom Potter, Andy Rhead and Jack Walker scored for the home team whilst Jamie Walters scored five for Devizes, Gabe Costello and Jack Coward each had a hat trick. Kian Fulford and Declan McStravick completed the Devizes goal tally.
Biddestone Athletic FC 3 Lansdown Reserves FC 1
Division Three rivals Biddestone Athletic FC and Lansdown Reserves were level at half time but the home team scored twice more in the second half to go forward to the Quarter Final courtesy of a 3-1 success.
Lewis Headen scored for the visitors and Kurt Baston, Benjamin Haines and substitute Scott Jones for Biddestone.
Hourglass FC v Sutton Benger FC 0
Devizes based Hourglass FC scored twice in each half to beat Division Two rivals Sutton Benger FC 4-0 with two goals coming from Jamie Wallen. Jamie Hall and Cullen Wylie completing the scoring for the home team who now move on to the Quarter Finals.
Warminster Athletic FC 4 Kingfisher FC 5
A close battling game between these Division Two rivals saw Kingfisher FC edge out Warminster Athletic FC 5-4, the latter ending the game with 10 men following a red card.
Kingfisher had held a 1-0 half time lead before the rush of goals for both teams in the second half.
A Darren Martin hat trick and substitute Blake Brautigam’s goal for Warminster were outscored by two goals from Adam Loveridge and goals from Josh Madle, Joshua Pullin and substitute Blake Heal.
TSW FC 0 Forest Renegades FC 7
Division Two Forest Renegades proved too strong for Division Three newcomers TSW FC as the away team ran out 7-0 winners after leading 4-0 at half time. Four goals from Tom A’Court, a brace from Lance Davis and one from Alex Bates proved too much for the newcomers as the Renegades moved on to the Quarter Finals.
QUARTER FINALS – Sunday 15 January 2023
Semington FC 0 Hourglass FC 9
Division One strugglers Semington FC were no match for Division Two Hourglass who after leading 4-0 at half time, ran out 9-0 winners.
Hat tricks from Cullen Wylie and substitute Bradley Whitbread along with goals from Jamie Hall, Matthew Lever and Alex Singh completed the Hourglass scorers. Hourglass now move on to the semi-final.
Kingfisher FC 2 Trowbridge Athletic FC 4
Third Division Trowbridge Athletic provided one of the shocks of the round when they defeated in form Second Division Kingfisher FC at the latter’s Buckley Barracks ground.
On a cold and blustery day, the pitch was in excellent condition considering the rain that had fallen in recent days. Kingfisher started much the brighter of the two teams having much of the play in the first half. Despite their dominance, Kingfisher unlike in previous weeks, were unable to convert their pressure into goals, constantly firing wide of or over the bar.
Against the run of play the young Trowbridge team were awarded a free kick outside the Kingfisher penalty area in the 36th minute. Edward Brown placed his low drive past the wall and into the bottom left-hand corner of the net to give Trowbridge a 1-0 lead. Despite further pressure from the home team, this remained the score at half time.
Kingfisher again started brightly and after two minutes were back level when George Galloway scored with a strong shot from outside the area. Minutes later the post denied Kingfisher the lead. Trowbridge then began to get more into the game with their youngsters playing some nice football and in the 56th minute they took the lead when Patrick Watkinson scored after a mix up in the Kingfisher defence.
This seemed to encourage the youngsters who scored again after 60 minutes from Jacob Thwaites. Two minutes later Callum Lane gave Trowbridge a 4-1 lead again from a direct free kick, this time over the wall. Kingfisher seemed dispirited by this, and heads began to drop. Trowbridge seemed happy with their lead and continued to frustrate their opponents.
Trowbridge were denied a penalty when a scramble in the goalmouth resulted in a forward seemingly being held on the ground whilst the keeper recovered the ball. Kingfisher then pulled a goal back in the 84th minute when Edward Baldwin scored but were unable to add to that goal. Trowbridge advancing to the semi-finals with their 4-2 win.
QUARTER FINALS – Sunday 12 February 2023
Sunday morning saw the conclusion of the remaining two delayed Quarter Finals from the PJL Rail Services Ltd sponsored Memorial Cup. Third Division Biddestone Athletic FC were looking to cause an upset when they hosted top flight side PF Loco FC and Forest Renegades from the Second Division were out to produce a David Vs Goliath display away at cup favourites FC Devizes United.
As expected neither of the underdogs could conjure up a performance of a lifetime and both suffered heavy losses as they exited the competition, FP Loco FC hammered Biddestone Athletic 11-0 to set up what will be a much sterner test in the Semi Final next week when they host Third Division promotion hopefuls Hourglass FC.
Nico Inglis top scored for the Fiddlers with a hat trick, Joe Lacey netted twice, Fin Norris, Angus Williamson, Aaron Fowler, Ziggy Kondratiaz plus two own goals made up the winners tally.
FC Devizes United 11 Forest Renegades FC 1
FC Devizes United proved way too good for Forest Renegades FC as an 11-1 romp over their Second Division opponents saw them cruise into next Sunday’s Semi Final showdown away at Third Division newcomers Trowbridge Athletic who like Renegades could end up on the wrong end of a high scoring contest.
Devizes who led 9-0 at the break took their foot of the gas in the second period as Tom A’Court found the net for the underdogs, however it was little more than a consolation. Jamie Walters 3-timer, two goals each from Kam Muhid and Kian Fulford plus singles for Kieron Gleed, Kass Anderson, Gabe Costello along with an own goal saw Devizes book their spot in the last four.
SEMI FINAL DRAW
19th March – PF LOCO FC Vs HOURGLASS FC – KO 10.45 am
19th March – TROWBRIDGE ATHLETIC FC Vs FC DEVIZES UNITED – KO 10.45 am
Reports Courtesy of Geoff Thompson