FOLLOWING months of good weather, the league made the decision to run the Subsidiary Cup for the first time since Biddestone Social won the competition in 2013.

Yet, as the weather took a turn for the worst, three of the Gooding Accounts-sponsored competition were lost to waterlogged pitches.

In Group A, Faded FC opened with a 4-1 victory over fellow third division outfit North Star Club.

Faded were 3-1 up at the break through goals from Matt Minnis (two) and Steve Evans, with Tom King replying for North Star.

A third from Minnis saw him complete his treble and the scoring in the second half.

Top-flight Corsham Youth, who are one of the favourites to lift the cup, kicked off Group B with a 7-2 triumph at home to first division Sutton Benger.

Max Bray top scored with a four-timer, Simon Gray, Jake Marshall and 16-year-old Elliott Rivers shared the others.

James Weston from the penalty spot and Tom Bull got Benger’s consolations.

Westbury Conservative Club were indebted to a late Steve Ball winner as they overcame third division Forest AFC 3-2 to stake an early claim to top spot in Group C.

Westbury made the better start, but they fell behind when Brentley Roberts hit them with the classic counter attack to put Forest 1-0 ahead.

Simon Kent’s penalty got Westbury back on level terms before half time and Conner Stevens goal early in the second half put them 2-1 up.

Forest then had keeper Rob Brown sent off, but got back on level terms through Paul Cuthbertson as his weak free kick beat keeper Frankie McEntegart, whose blushes were spared when Ball grabbed a last-gasp Cons’ winner.

Group D was the only one were both games beat the weather and it is first division FC Bradford who, thanks to their 5-2 victory over second division FC North Wiltshire, who are the early pole sitters.

Harry Hamlin, Wayne Duggan, Phil Lewis, Steve Bryant and Josh Maguire shared the goals for a makeshift Bradford outfit, who were grateful to Lee Ridout for his man of the match performance and Phil Lewis, who rolled back the years with a stunning goal that saw him run from his own half and beat several players before firing into the top corner.

Dave Biggs scored both goals for North Wiltshire.

The other game in the group ended with the points being shared as Old Road came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at The Foresters Arms.

David Williams saw his opener for Foresters cancelled out by Jake Collins beautiful left-footed shot into the bottom corner to claim his first goal of the season.