DUE to the weather last term the Division Two Cup was unable to go ahead, but the competition last won by Westwood Social Club saw a welcome return to the Trowbridge League’s fixture calendar at the weekend with the two matches from the preliminary round of this season’s Briken Motors-sponsored competition being played out in glorious sunshine. The match between Calne Eagles and FC Northbridge was an entertaining, end to end game, after which Calne Eagles secured a place in the quarter final.

But they had to endure a very nervy second half after taking a commanding 3-0 half-time lead before running out 3-2 victors.

This was the second game running that The Eagles put on a superb first half display and it was also the second game running that their striker Adam Bewley reaped the rewards with a fine hat-trick.

Northbridge started the game on the ascendency and nearly scored inside 30 seconds.

Striker Will Bailey latched onto Tom A‘Court’s cross but his back post effort was well blocked by right back Rich Maslen.

Despite that early scare the home side soon settled and started the passing the ball with great confidence.

Calne opened the scoring after 10 minutes when Adam Bewley scored direct from a high in-swinging corner that flew in at the back post.

Eagles continued to look the better side and they had Northbridge’s defence stretched on numerous occasions.

However, at the other end Northbridge also had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down when Calne defender Roy Wenham sliced a clearance, which inadvertently spun up and hit his arm, but the referee quite rightly decided there was no intent.

As the half progressed Calne continued to look the most dangerous side and they doubled their lead with 22 minutes gone when a superb left wing cross from Adam Moody picked out Bewley who showed great composure to finish from 12 yards.

With 12 minutes remaining of the first half Northbridge conceded a needless penalty, which ultimately lost them the match.

Centre back Nick James dived into a challenge on Calne winger Sam Rogers, clearly taking the man and not the ball.

James had also already been lucky only a few minutes earlier when he had taken two or three kicks at Calne's target man Brett Cullen inside penalty area. From the resulting penalty Adam Bewley completed his hat-trick, taking his tally for the season to 15 goals.

The second half started the same way as the first half with Will Bailey instantly getting a chance to score, but this time he was denied by Calne goalkeeper Andy Windsor.

But unlike the first half Northbridge kept up the pressure and played the better football. They were given a route back into the game after 54 minutes when some indecisive defending let in Mike Cooks who’s rasping shot from six yards out was pushed onto the crossbar by Andy Windsor.

However, the rebound struck defender Tom Evans from close range and bounced straight back over the unguarded goal line.

Soon after Will Bailey once again made a great run in behind Calne’s defence, but once again he was denied by keeper Andy Windsor.

However, Bailey did finally get the goal that his performance deserved with 11 minutes left when Calne failed to deal with a long throw from Harry Hamlin, which left the pacy striker with a tap-in at the far post.

Despite pushing forward in numbers in an attempt to force extra time, Will Bailey’s goal proved to be Northbridge’s last chance to score.

In fact, it was Calne who missed numerous gilt-edged chances to kill off the contest, especially through their sub Karl Sharratt who missed two open goals.

The first was from close range when Sam Rogers, who was clean through on goal, chose to square the ball to Sharratt rather than shoot himself.

Karl Sharratt’s second chance was from much further out. Northbridge goalkeeper Mark Binns ventured forward into Calne’s penalty area for a corner kick and on the counterattack Sharratt had a chance to score from 40 yards, but his shot rolled agonisingly wide of the empty goal.

Binns also brilliantly saved Adam Bewley’s 30 yard lobbed effort, tipping it onto the crossbar.

Despite the flurry of late chances, the score remained 3-2 and Calne Eagles will now face Holt in the quarter finals on the 17th March.

Worton & Cheverell 1 Bratton 4

WORTON & Cheverell suffered a 4-1 home loss to Bratton, but the villagers may not be too disappointed to exit the cup at its preliminary round stage as the prize for the winners of tie with Bratton is a home fixture with leaders Boomsbury who have convincingly beaten both sides twice already this season.

Bratton led through Chris Storey but they were pegged back before the break when Worton squared things up courtesy of Ben Mason who scored direct from a corner.

Bratton pressed home their advantage in the second half once Barny Reed had put them 2-1 up when he volleyed home a stunner from 18 yards.

A second from Storey made it 3-0 and the victory was completed when Shane Rendell netted number four.

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