Trowbridge-based Carpenters Arms began the defence of the Westernsport Trophies-sponsored WG Parr Trophy with a 4-2 preliminary round victory over Audley FC.

Second Division Audley led their First Division opponents 2-1 at the interval before the Carpenters, who won the competition last season as Coyote when they defeated Potterne 5-2 in the final, hit back with Matt Minnis showing his quality to guide the holders through to the first round proper where they will host Blue Circle (Sunday).

A shortage of players almost forced Carpenters Arms to concede the tie and things looked desperate for the champions as they started with just nine players and had it not been for the efforts of the injured Steven Fox, who played despite picking up a knock the previous day, things would have been a lot worse.

Things started badly for the Carpenters as they fell behind to a Craig Manley goal. Dave Sykes equalised for Chris Carr's side but they found themselves trailing at the break at Chris Yeo put the Audley 2-1 ahead.

Carpenters were up to full strength for the start of the second half after the late arrival of a couple of players and from then on they gained the upper hand as, inspired by Matt Minnis, they went on to take the game.

Minnis scored all three second half goals for the Carpenters, who had Richard Grey sent off.

Chippenham United RAOB 3, Hullavington 7

SECOND Division Hullavington progressed to the first round of the competition after a comfortable 7-3 win over Fourth Division Chippenham United RAOB.

The game was over as a contest within 35 minutes as Hullavington raced into a 5-0 lead, but United never gave up and were rewarded with three goals.

Hullavington were in superb form in the first half and took the lead when a corner was only cleared to the edge of the box where Jif Wilkins hit a superb right foot volley into the net. The same player made it 2-0 when he cut in from the right and struck a fine left footed shot into the net.

Ed Wilkins scored the third when James Nation flicked on Matt Wilkins' left wing cross and Ed Wilkins hit a left footed volley back across the keeper.

It became four within half an hour as Jake Fisher won possession in his own half and released Ed Wilkins who coolly chipped the goalkeeper for his second. The fifth goal also came from a Wilkins brother as player-manager Matt got in the act. Louis Slater flicked on a Ben Wright corner and Wilkins was on hand to head powerfully home from six yards.

United then pulled a goal back when Gary Waldron raced out of his goal, won a challenge with the onrushing striker but then saw the ball lobbed back over him by Matty Page.

There was still time for Hullavington to extend their lead before half-time as Wright was pulled back in the box and Ed Wilkins drilled home the penalty to make it 10 goals in two games so far this season.

The second half saw Hullavington take their foot off the pedal and the hosts were first to score when Ryan Hunt's soft shot from outside the box somehow found its way past Waldron and into the net.

Liam Bailey quickly restored Hullavington's five goal lead, drilling the ball home from inside the box with his first touch, but this was the end of the scoring for Hullavington and United had the final say when Page curled a left foot shot into the roof of the net from outside the box.

Corsham Centre B 6, Somerford 1

CORSHAM Centre B entertained Somerford in an all-Fourth Division affair, and although it was the away side who took the lead in the first few minutes in bizarre circumstances, they were eventually beaten 6-1.

Somerford took the lead after a quick counter attack and some confusion in the Centre defence saw a long range shot from Jamie Farquharson just dip in underneath the bar.

The Centre equalised just a few minutes later through Warren Jones and took the lead through Paul Park's first goal of the season after 20 minutes. Alex Mitchell scored his third goal of the season for the Centre to see them take a 3-1 lead into the break.

Man-of-the-match Mitchell scored again shortly after the restart to allow the Centre even more breathing space, before defender Steve Burley pulled back a Somerford attacker in the box and was lucky to avoid a card for his trouble. Goalkeeper James Whitehead managed to pull off an astounding save from the resulting penalty. Despite initially being sent the wrong way he somehow kept out Wayne Burry's spot kick.

Slack defending then saw Somerford presented with an open goal and only the acrobatics of the very impressive Whitehead stopped them from scoring a deserved second goal.

Further goals from Jones and Park ensured that the Centre go into the hat for the draw of the next round.

Foresters Arms 6, Chippenham Sports and Social Club 0

THE all First Division cup tie at Awdry Avenue, Melksham, between Foresters Arms and Chippenham Sports and Social Club saw both set of players observe a minute's silence prior to kick off in memory of Dean Gosley who was killed in a recent road traffic accident and whose company Audio Visual Solutions sponsored Foresters.

Foresters progressed to the final 32 courtesy of a 6-0 victory and will no doubt want to go on and win the trophy.

Martin Williams gave Foresters the perfect start when he put them in front within the first minute. Sean Fordham's first goal for the club since his move from Atworth doubled the lead after six minutes and Luke Turvey's stunning strike on 40 minutes gave Foresters a 3-0 interval lead.

Leigh Rowles-Hitchcock made it 4-0 and a Luke Turvey glancing header from a Williams corner saw the score move to 5-0. Turvey was presented with chance to complete his hat-trick but he drove a penalty wide of the target.

Foresters were awarded a second spot kick and although Turvey wanted to take it the ball was given to goalkeeper John Wiltshire who completed his team's half dozen when he powered his spot kick past his opposite number.

Pack Horse Rangers 1, AFC Melksham 9

SECOND Division AFC Melksham, put last week's shock 1-1 draw against Pig and Whistle United behind them as they brushed aside the challenge of Third Division Pack Horse .

Rangers were beaten 9-1 by a very competent AFC Melksham side who put in a great performance from start to finish.

The match was evenly matched for the first 20 minutes in which time Wayne Bailey had scored after 10 minutes for AFC Melksham but his goal was wiped out shortly after by Simon Reid whose spectacular strike from 35 yards squared things up.

Owen Bryant regained the lead for AFC Melksham in the 22nd minute and a second from Bailey three minutes before the interval gave AFC Melksham a 3-1 lead.

The second period belonged to AFC Melksham with Steve Pegler scoring within minutes of the restart. A second from Pegler after 56 minutes made it 5-1 before substitute Chris Dore chipped the goalkeeper after being set up by his own keeper Gareth Evans in the 65th minute. Bryant (69 minutes), and Joe Murray, who scored a deserved goal for his efforts, and Steve Pegler, who completed his hat-trick with a rare header two minutes from time, made up AFC Melksham's nine.

Three Crown United 6, Kings Arms 1

THIRD Division Three Crowns United had the worst possible start against their Fourth Division opponents Kings Arms when after just three minutes they were reduced to 10 players by the sending off of Luke Stoneham.

They then trailed to a Karl Jacobi goal before captain Mark Baldwin rallied his side who went on to claim a 6-1 success which saw United have probably their best ever game since they joined the league in 2007.

Marcus Young was brought down for a penalty and he picked himself up and dispatched the spot kick with ease to draw United level. Young gave United the lead after good work from Steve Warner. Warner was the creator of United's third goal when he set up Rob Hurkett for his first goal for the club.

Marcus Young completed his hat-trick and added a fourth which owed much to the efforts of Kelvin Page before he was substituted. Paul Dodimead, on for Young, had a hand in United's final goal when he squared to Nick Still whose audacious chip saw United to a well deserved win.

Eastlands FC 0, Old Road Tavern 3

BERNIE Court's Old Road Tavern side may claim the shock result of the round after the Fourth Division side disposed of Second Division Eastlands 3-0.

But having beaten them in a pre-season friendly the result didn't come as a surprise to Eastlands manager Adam Davey who is more than happy to concentrate on their league programme.

Robbie Burton put the Tavern in front with a long range effort and Scott Nash doubled Tavern's lead before a second from Burton - this time a tap-in - sealed the win for the Chippenham-based side.