WITH THREE of last term's Briken Motors & AM Print & Copy-sponsored A&B Cup semi-finalists no longer in the league, and with holders Boomsbury among those defunct clubs, the battle to claim the trophy is one of the most open for many seasons.

Second Division leaders Lacock FC, who have been in excellent form since the start of the season, can count themselves among the front runners as Joe Martin’s side booked their place in the last 16 after a 2-0 win over First Division Castle Combe.

After a goalless first half, Andy Wilkins gave Lacock the lead and the victory was wrapped up when Adie Webb fired in their second of the contest.

Heytesbury 4 Bradford United 4 AET (Heytesbury win 7-6 on penalties)

Division Two Heytesbury took their recent upturn in league form into their game with first division Bradford United.

Heytesbury came from 2-1 down at the break to take what was a thrilling cup tie to extra time, before finally winning an enthralling penalty shoot out 7-6 to book their place in the next round.

The villagers stunned their guests by taking the lead through Aaron Stevens but Bradford got back on level terms through Richie Bliha, who headed in from a corner before they took the lead courtesy of a 20-yard strike from Theo Sing.

Heytesbury restored parity in the second half, with Declan Griffiths tying things at two-apiece, and they shocked Bradford again when Craig Sheppard put them 3-2 ahead.

But Bradford fought back and took the game to extra-time via another long-range effort from Sing.

Extra-time ebbed and flowed and it was Heytesbury who got their noses in front for a third time, with Leigh Kennedy scoring from the penalty spot.

But Bradford replied and fashioned another equaliser, with Phil Little hitting the target to tie things at 4-4 and take the game to penalties.

Leigh Kennedy, Craig Sheppard, Aaron Stevens, Declan Griffiths, Paul Arnold, Kieron Edwards and Chris Baker, who hit the winning penalty, were all on target for Heytesbury but it was their keeper Sam Spratt who was the hero between the sticks as his save to keep out Scott Mitchell’s spot-kick took his team into the second round.

Holt FC 2 Westbury United Reserves 5

Division Three leaders Holt were unable to transfer their excellent league form into their cup tie with first division Westbury United Reserves, who despite falling behind twice, proved too strong for their hosts as they battled to a 5-2 success.

Matthew Woodland saw his opener for Holt cancelled out by Nick Taylor.

A second from Woodland early in the second period had Holt dreaming of a cup upset but those dreams soon disappeared as Eben Mortimer-Taylor dragged Westbury back on level terms and after that, Westbury moved up through the gears and scored three unanswered goals.

Ashley Easton put Westbury ahead for the first time in the game and they were given some breathing space by Gary Tugwell’s effort before the win was secured by a fourth goal of the season from Elliott Hughes.

Marshfield FC 3 Trowbridge Town Reserves 4 AET

Third division newcomers Marshfield FC produced a battling performance but it wasn’t enough to save them from suffering a 4-3 extra-time defeat at home to second division Trowbridge Town Reserves.

Neil Grant fired Trowbridge ahead and although Andy Jefferies got Marshfield level when he scored from the penalty spot, Dave Jenkins' side must have thought their tie was in the bag after goals from Craig Neate and Zach Manna put them 3-1 up at half-time.

Marshfield turned the game on its head in the second half and got back on level terms thanks to goals from Jeremy Bond and Jordan Bennett, who scored five minutes from time to take the game in to an extra 30 minutes.

Manna turned out to be the match winner when his stunning 30-yard volley sealed victory for the second division outfit, who at this stage of the competition last term, were the giant killers after they disposed of Freshford United.

The Fleece 2 The Lamb FC 4

Second division The Fleece never really got into top gear in their contest at home to first division Lamb FC, who although not having everything their own way, did just enough as they claimed a 4-2 win.

Tom Blackman opened the scoring for the Lamb, but his effort was cancelled out by Dan Thorne prior to the interval.

Sam Stevens regained the lead for the Lamb and thanks to a second from Stevens, they moved further ahead.

Dan Thorne reduced the deficit for the Fleece but any hopes they had of producing an upset was ended when Blackman struck his second of the game to hand Lamb their 4-2 success.

Trowbridge Rangers 8 Drummer Boy 0

Four-goals in each half saw Trowbridge Rangers ease into the second round of the A&B Cup at the expense of their third division stable-mates Drummer Boy.

A Jamie Mead own goal gifted Rangers the lead, which was doubled by Cameron Thomas  before Tom Doveton and Joe Clayton netted to give the hosts their 4-0 advantage at the break.

The second half saw Doveton score a further two goal to complete his hat-trick, Clayton bagged his second of the afternoon, and Jordan Field’s lone strike made up his team's eight.

Semington Magpies 4 Zeals 0

Ricky King’s first division outfit Semington Magpies avoided a potential banana-skin at home to third division Zeals FC.

Magpies, who have seen their cup hopes ended by lesser opponents so many times in the past,  proved too strong for Jason Carter’s visitors to Littlemarsh, who suffered a 4-0 loss.

Andy Harrison chested in a Corey Williams cross to put Magpies ahead and Chris Dore’s well-placed header from a Chris Berrelly corner doubled the lead prior to half-time.

The second half saw a second from Harrison make it 3-0 and Matt Jenkins finished off the scoring with his first goal for the club after the Zeals keeper failed to hold a Marc Scammel shot and the ball fell for him to knock in.

United FC 6 Westbury Town 2

Third division United FC eased into the second round of the A&B Cup thanks to a 6-2 win over Second Division Westbury Town.

Westbury had the better of the early exchanges and took a deserved lead when Mark Gee headed home after Levi Wood’s header rebounded of the post to him.

Westbury doubled their advantage thanks a great individual effort from Wood but after that, United woke from their slumber and peppered the Westbury goal with little joy.

The second half was a lot different, and United’s player of the moment Allen Shavon started their fightback.

Marcin Kaminski drew United level and a second from Shavon handed United the lead.

A second from Kaminski put United completely in control and further goals from Arkadiusz Jedrejewski and Jozef Zapotoczny made up the six.

Warminster Town Reserves 2 Calne Eagles 1

Warminster Town Reserves and Calne Eagles met at the same stage of the competition last term and with both sides now in Division One Warminster emerged triumphant with a 2-1 triumph.

Early in the second half, Warminster opened the scoring when James Lindsey scored with a powerful free-kick into the bottom corner of the net.

Calne responded strongly and their top scorer Stuart Windsor equalised shortly after when he latched onto a perfectly-weighted through-ball from midfielder Jordan Winter before rounding the keeper to score.

With 20 minutes to go, Calne were caught on a counter attack from their own free kick on the edge of the box.

Warminster raced away down the pitch and Luke McGulkian struck the winner with a superb finish from 12 yards out.

Westwood News v Worton & Cheverell (Home walkover) 

The all first-division cup clash featuring Westwood News and Worton & Cheverell had the makings of being a cup classic buti t was Westwood who booked their place in the last 16without even having to kick a ball as Worton were unable to raise a team for their trip to Bobbins Lane.

BYES: Freshford United, Steeple Ashton, Trowbridge Wanderers & White Horse FC.

MATCHES OFF: Bratton v Polenez Westbury, North Bradley v The Stiffs