Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup

20/04/08

Crown Cosmos celebrate their Knockout Cup win

WESTBURY Rangers A blew their chance to end their 35-year wait for Knockout Cup glory as they were beaten by Second Division Crown Cosmos 1-0 in this afternoon's final of the presstoprint-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Cup competition.

Rangers went into the final as huge favourites to lift the cup for the first time in their history but, after having the better of the early chances in a frantic opening 20 minutes that saw the game flow from end to end and looked as if it would live up to the pre-match expectations, the contest fizzled out and won't be remember as being a classic.

But when the winning goal arrived deep into the second period of extra time it was worth the wait and was worthy of winning any game and it was nothing more than Devizes-based Cosmos deserved.

Will Kibby's Crown Cosmos side, who as The Southgate Inn were beaten 6-0 in last term's showpiece, defended well throughout as their younger opponents were unable to find a way through a well organised Cosmos defence, in which Andy Coombes and Nick Taylor were immense.

The match started at a frantic pace, with chances coming at both ends. Rangers striker Marc Lanfear was causing the Cosmos defence problems with his lightning speed and he almost broke the deadlock on three minutes when he lobbed the advancing Cosmos keeper Dave Hopkins but his effort rolled just wide of the target.

On six minutes the pacy Tim Coombes broke clear of the Cosmos defence and his cross was met by Matty Smith who should have tested keeper Hopkins from close range.

Cosmos had their best chance on nine minutes when Andy Davies's shot from distance was turned around the post by Rangers keeper Nathan Taylor. Moments later David Lloyd fired a shot across the face of the Rangers goal and had a Cosmos player taken a gamble and raced into the area it would have been 1-0 Cosmos but at it was the score line remained goal-less.

Rangers when straight up the other end and won a free kick, which Pete Ayton whipped over and Tim Coombes should have tested keeper Hopkins but headed over when unmarked.

On 17 minutes Cosmos were awarded a free kick and another quality delivery from Andy Davies picked out David Lloyd who headed into the side netting.

On 30 minutes Rangers went close to breaking the deadlock when Marc Lanfear cannoned a shot against the bar from eight yards out - and that might just have been the moments that Rangers realised that it wasn't going to be their day.

From then on the game fizzled out into one that will be forgotten rather than talked about for years to come.

The next chance to either team came two minutes before the break when Lanfear found himself in space before being crowded out by two Cosmos defenders and it was a relief when the half-time whistle sounded.

The second half started a pedestrian pace, but Cosmos almost took the lead on 51 minutes when Stuart Skinner's 30 yard shot beat Rangers keeper Taylor but just dropped over the bar.

Cosmos introduced Dean Potter into the game in the 57th minute and he almost worked his magic within seconds of coming on. The lively forward flashed a shot across the face of the Rangers goal and the ball arrived at the feet of the unmarked David Lloyd who should have put his team one up but inexplicably missed when it looked easier to score.

Cosmos started to gain the ascendancy at this stage and Nathan Sheridan blasted a free kick wide of the target on 68 minutes. Ten minutes later David Lloyd slipped at the crucial moment when he about to shoot.

Shortly after another chance fell to Lloyd who fired over from a good position. At the other end Nathan Hallett headed wide of the target in the 84th minute and Mark Young shot tamely at keeper Hopkins after Cosmos went close to nicking the game in normal time when another Sheridan free kick from 20 yards flew inches wide of the upright.

Westbury Rangers had the better of the first period of extra-time, with Pete Ayton curling a brilliant free kick around the wall that had keeper Hopkins beaten all ends up, but the ball thumped against the bar.

Further pressure from Rangers saw Sam Tucker and Mark Young have half chances but the Cosmos goal remained intact.

Rangers started the second period of extra-time in confident mood and Matty Smith had an 18 yard shot cleared off the line by Nick Taylor three minutes in and after eight Tim Coombes' hopeful shot from out wide drifted just wide of the mark.

With just four minutes on the clock substitute Potter weaved his magic and produced a stunning strike to give Cosmos the lead. Potter's first touch was brilliant as he controlled the ball well and rifled home a sublime strike for what turned out to be the winner.

Rangers threw players forward in the hope of grabbing a late equaliser and had the Cosmos defence not put their bodies on the line as they cleared a series of late chances the game could have gone to penalties, Nick Taylor denying Matty Smith what looked a certain goal and with the ball safely in the Rangers half referee Kevin Purbrick blew for the final time.

Charlie Rawlings, manager of the Trowbridge branch of cup sponsors Presstoprint, presented winning captain Nathan Sheridan with the trophy and Cosmos defender Andy Coombes picked up the player of the match award for his outstanding display in the heart of his side's back four.

18/04/08

Westbury Rangers Captain Ross Parker

Fans of Westbury Rangers A and Crown Cosmos will descend on the Hardenhuish Park home of Chippenham Town on Sunday for the 41st final of the Presstoprint-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup.

Premier Division outfit Rangers will start as favourites to lift the cup for the first time in their 35-year history, but they won't have everything their own way as Devizes-based Cosmos, who are currently second in Division Two, will hope to go one better than they did last term when they were beaten 6-0 at the final hurdle by Corsham Centre.

From the 64 teams that started out in the competition back in September we are now down to the final two and both sides have had to overcome a few tricky obstacles before securing their place in what should be an entertaining match.

Just like last season when Cosmos, then known as the Southgate Inn, faced the Centre, it will be a case of experience against youth as the ageing Crown Cosmos side hope to seal another piece of silverware in their short league history.

They joined the league in 2005 and since then they have won the Division Four and Division Three titles and look a good bet for a third successive promotion this term.

Manager Will Kibby will be packing plenty of anti-freeze in the kit back this year in the hope that his side don't freeze on their big day as they did a year ago as they seemed for some reason to suffer from a bout of stage fright on their big day.

Crown Cosmos, who have just two players in the squad under the age of 30, began their cup run with a 7-0 home victory over First Division side Christian Malford. Stuart Skinner and Nick Taylor scored hat-tricks, with David Lloyd scoring the other.

In the second round they were drawn against top flight side Box Rovers, who were in great shape at the time but who were no match for Cosmos, who won 3-0 thanks to goals from Nick Taylor and Julian Alexander (2).

Round three saw them travel away from their Green Lane home for the first time but the outcome was the same as they coasted to a 6-0 victory over Third Division Westbury Rangers B. Julian Alexander, Brad Newman, an own goal and a treble from Stuart Skinner saw Cosmos set up a quarter-final showdown with Division Two stable-mates Cooper-Avon.

That match was all going to be a close one between two very good sides, but thanks to goals from David Lloyd and Julian Alexander, Crown Cosmos triumphed 2-0.

At this stage Cosmos could have been forgiven for believing that the draw had been unkind to them, and things didn't get any better when they were paired with local rivals AFC Bell in the all-Devizes semi-final which was hosted at Bromham.

After falling behind to an early goal Crown Cosmos hit back to win 2-1, with Nick Taylor and Nathan Sheridan, with a controversial late penalty, seeing them through to their second final in as many years.

Will Kibby, who is in the first season as manager of Cosmos, will hope to go one better than former manager Julian Alexander but he will have to do so without captain Andy Stone who will miss the game due to a Wiltshire County FA imposed suspension.

Stone should be Kibby's only absentee and he should be able to select a very good starting 11 and have quality on the bench from the squad that he has at his disposal.

Kibby will be hoping that striker Julian Alexander, who spent many years at Devizes Town, can add to the four goals he has netted in the run to the final and he will also look to Stuart Skinner to add to his six goals. His team should be very attack-minded and their should be a place for Davis Lloyd and Dean Potter, who is simply magic when he can be bothered to show up.

Potter is a wizard in front of goal and can conjure up almost anything from nothing. Potter, who has scored 11 goals in just a handful of games, could prove to be a match-winner for Crown, but he is not alone as they have many players who know where the net is.

Eliot Williams has scored 12 times this season and Andy Coombes, Jamie Gale, Nick Taylor, Nathan Sheridan and Brad Newman, who at 26 is the youngest player in the side, have also contributed goals throughout the campaign so the underdogs won't be short for fire power.

Their achilles heel could be in defence but having conceded only one goal in their five matches on route to the final they will hope that their back four and goalkeeper Dave Hopkins have great games and if they can keep Rangers top dog Marc Lanfear at bay they might just claim an historic win to match that of Parsons Nose, who were the last team from Division Two to lift the cup when they defeated Premier Division Biddestone Social 2-0 in the 2006 final, which was also staged at Hardenhuish Park.

Westbury Rangers, who are just one victory away from achieving their dream of ending their 35 year wait to lift the Knockout Cup, will hope they can do better than they did in the 2005 when the lost out 1-0 to Corsham Centre.

They won't have a better chance of success than they will on Sunday, but should they fail to perform then their dream could turn into a nightmare.

Rangers began their journey to Chippenham with a 3-2 victory over Premier Division rivals Winsley, with Mark Young scoring twice and Nick Mead once.

Next up for Rangers was a trip to First Division Chippenham Sports and Social Club who they beat 4-0, thanks to goals from Sam Tucker, Marcus Lewis and Marc Lanfear (2).

Lanfear was in the goals again in the third round when his hat-trick ended the hopes of another top-flight side. Lanfear scored all three goals in his team's 3-0 victory over Bradford News.

First Division leaders The Ship stood in Rangers' way of a place in the final four and they overcame a tough test of their credentials by winning a seven goal thriller by 4-3. Nick Mead, Paul Beavers and talisman Lanfear (2) made certain they did just enough to set up a semi-final showdown with old adversaries Dog and Fox Ashley.

Rangers, who took a first half lead through Pete Ayton, were pegged back with a late equaliser that took the game into extra-time and after a goal-less extra period the result was decided in a penalty shoot out that saw Rangers win 4-3 after successful kicks from Pete Ayton, Chris Storey, Sam Tucker and Matty Smith.

All they have to now is hold their nerve for another 90 minutes and the cup should be on its way to their Meadow Lane base.

Unlike their opponents Crown Cosmos, who have just two players under 30, the Rangers side is packed with youth and they only have one player who is 30, with the majority of the rest being in their teens or early twenties.

But also unlike his opposite number Will Kibby, Rangers boss man Shaun Gardiner has a few selection and injury worries ahead of the final.

Gardiner is thankful that his team got through their Thursday night game against North Star A without picking up any knocks, but he knows that for his team to lift the cup they will have to do it minus defender David Whyte, who has been out of action for a while and who will be a huge loss in the heart of defence.

Key midfielder Paul Beavers' chances of making the game are rated at 50/50 but if he doesn't make the starting line-up he may find himself on the bench.

Gardiner may have to call up a couple of reserve team players to make up his 16 but he will leave that decision until the morning of the game. He may be tempted to use either Dale Rowland or Sam Young and he could yet have to use both players who have been doing well for Dave Griffin's B side in Division Three.

The prolific Marc Lanfear, who has scored seven cup goals to add to his 23 league goals, should be certain to start in attack alongside Tim Coombes or Nathan Hallett.

Gardiner will also hope for big performances from captain Ross Parker and the experienced duo of Pete Ayton and Sam Gooding and hope that youngsters Nick Mead, Mark Young, Martin Little, Matthew Smith can handle the pressure and that 18-year-old goalkeeper Nathan Taylor can maintain the good form he has been for much of the season The match kicks-off at 2pm and could be good value for money.

30/03/08

Rangers Through to Final !

Westbury Rangers A have kept alive their dreams of ending their 35 year wait to lift the presstoprint-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup after they defeated Premier Division rivals Dog and Fox Ashley to set up a meeting with Second Division Crown Cosmos at Chippenham Town's Hardenhuish Park on Sunday April 20.

The match was played in glorious sunshine at a very damp Melksham Town ground in front of healthy crowd of over 100 supporters and although the football might not have lived up to pre match expectations they certainly got value for money as the game needed extra-time and a penalty shoot-out before Rangers progressed to their second final in four seasons.

After 120 gruelling minutes the score was tied at 1-1 before Rangers triumphed 4-2 on penalties.

Westbury manager Shaun Gardiner was forced into making a couple of changes after he lost Paul Beavers and Dave Whyte through injury and although it was the Dog and Fox who applied the early pressure to Nathan Taylor's goal it was Rangers who slowly started to gain the upper hand as the first period progressed.

Nick Mead's timely challenge denied the Dog's Mark Gerrish the chance of an opener in the first five minutes and although the Dog and Fox played a the long ball over the top on a slippery surface Rangers were able to deal with any threat.

In the 10th minute Tim Combes and Marc Lanfear combined to cause the Dog and Fox a few problems, with Lanfear falling to test the Dog's goalkeeper Craig Guthrie with his final effort.

Two minutes later Guthrie produced a fine save to deny Nathan Hallett from long range.

The Dog and Fox started to come to terms with the tricky conditions and only excellent work from Nick Mead saw him cover well for Rangers shaky defence.

The second half of the first period belonged to Rangers, with the odd attack from the Dog and Fox, and after 26 minutes Nathan Hallett went close to breaking the deadlock with a diving header that just missed the target.

Minutes later Hallett shot across the face of goal and had one of the incoming Rangers players been able to apply a final touch Rangers would have been ahead.

With half-time approaching Rangers were in the driving seat but any clear cut chances were at a premium and both teams were more than happy to leave the field for their half-time cup of tea with the scoreline goal-less.

Rangers were quicker out of the blocks at the start of the second half and Sam Gooding couldn't believe his luck when his header on 48 minutes rebounded off the bar to Marc Lanfear who was denied by a great stop from keeper Guthrie.

Guthrie was called into action again after 55 minutes when he tipped Mark Young's long range strike over the bar. At this juncture the Dog and Fox were content to soak up the pressure and hit Rangers on the break but they were almost caught out in the 65th minute when Mark Young's 35 yard shot sailed inches over the bar.

Rangers finally broke down a stubborn Dog and Fox defence after 74 minutes.

Having been award a free kick 20 yards from goal, Pete Ayton tried his luck and his low strike saw Guthrie fail to hold onto the slippery ball and it squirmed under his body and into the net.

Ricky Trott went close to squaring thing up for the Dog and Fox in the 81st minute and with time running out it was looking as if it was job done for Rangers. But with two minutes of normal time remaining Mark Gerrish shot from 12 yards and the ball took an eternity to cross the line to give the Dog and Fox the equaliser and take the game to extra-time.

Chances were few and far between in the extra half hour, with Rangers Sam Gooding having their best opportunity to score a winner in the very first minute of added time and Marc Lanfear having their last in the dying moments as both teams were resigned to the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Pete Ayton was first up for Rangers and he calmly slotted past Craig Guthrie to make it 1-0. Ricky Trott's spot kick sailed wide of the target and Rangers took a 2-0 lead when Chris Story made no mistake from the spot.

Mark Gerrish stepped up to take the Dog's second penalty and like Trott before him he sent his effort wide of the mark. Nick Mead saw his effort saved by Guthrie and when Steve Roddy fired his effort home the Dog and Fox were back in the contest.

Sam Tucker made no mistake with Rangers' fourth and Steve Latham kept the Dog in the game when he drilled home their second successful kick.

All the pressure was on Dog and Fox goalkeeper Guthrie to save Matty Smith's penalty but Smith made certain that the Dog didn't have to take their fifth spot kick as his effort from 12 yards hit the back of the net to scenes of jubilation from his team-mates and supporters.

Rangers know that they are just 90 minutes away from lifting the Knockout Cup for the first ever time but they will be well aware their opponents Crown Cosmos, who were last term's beaten finalists, pose a serious threat to their hopes and they will have to raise their game if they are going to end their 35 year wait for cup glory.

28/03/08

Old rivals set for semi-final showdown

A place in the final of this season's presstoprint-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup will be the reward for the winners of Sunday's second semi-final between Premier Division sides Westbury Rangers A and Dog and Fox Ashley.

Second Division Crown Cosmos await the victors in the final, to be at Chippenham Town's Hardenhuish Park ground on April 20.

Although Shaun Gardiner's Westbury Rangers side go into the heavyweight battle at Melksham Town's Conigre ground on Sunday afternoon as firm favourites to progress to their second final in four years they will face stiff opposition from Clive Bancroft's Bradford-based Dog and Fox outfit, even if current league form suggests otherwise.

Rangers have won four games on the trot while the Dog have lost their last four matches, but the form book could be ripped up on this occasion as the Dog and Fox look to get back to winning ways with a bang.

Over the years the two clubs have played out some thrilling games, but the last three seasons have seen Rangers have the upper hand, with three victories from the six meetings while the other three have ended in stalemate.

Rangers started March with a 6-3 victory over the Dog and Fox and they would dearly love to end the month with another convincing win as they aim to keep alive their hopes of lifting the cup for the first time in their 35 year history.

Marc Lanfear and Mark Young both scored hat-tricks in Rangers' excellent win, while Steve Roddy (2) and Mark Gerrish scored for the Dog and Fox, who will be attempting to beat Rangers for the first time in any competition since goals from Steve Wickings and Jack Sheppard earned them a 2-1 victory in October 2004.

Both sides have had to overcome a couple of potential banana skins to reach the last four and it would have to be said that Westbury Rangers A, who are currently second in the top flight, have had the toughest route to the Conigre.

Rangers began their journey with a 3-2 victory over Premier Division rivals Winsley, with Mark Young scoring twice and Nick Mead once. Next up for Rangers was a trip to First Division Chippenham Sports and Social Club who they beat 4-0, thanks to goals from Sam Tucker, Marcus Lewis and Marc Lanfear (2).

Lanfear was in the goals again in the third round when his hat-trick ended the hopes of another top flight side, Lanfear scoring all three goals in his team's 3-0 victory over Bradford News.

First Division leaders The Ship FC stood in Rangers' way of a place in the final four but they overcame a tough test of their credentials by winning a seven goal thriller 4-3. Nick Mead, Paul Beavers and talisman Lanfear, who score a fine brace, made certain they did just enough to set up their meeting with the old adversaries.

Dog and Fox Ashley were thankful to goals from Chris Maskrey and Steve Roddy for giving them a 2-0 success over Third Division opponents Pack Horse Rangers in the first round.

Their second round victims were First Division North Bradley and once again their super marksman Steve Roddy stole the show with three of the four goals, with Nathan Gant making up the quartet.

Dog and Fox faced top flight rivals Miller Sports in the third round and surprisingly the match gave them their easiest win. Roddy hit form again, scoring four times in their 8-3 win. Steve Latham, Ricky Trott, Dan Cottrell and Nick Quinton shared the others.

Like Rangers, the Dog and Fox's quarter-final opposition hailed from the First Division, and, just like The Ship who gave Rangers a tough game, Rowde were equal to the Dog and Fox for the majority of the game but succumb to two late goals that saw the Bancroft Boys triumph 3-0.

An own goal and singles from Trott and Roddy gave the Dog and Fox their semi-final berth and another chance of making it to their first ever knockout cup final appearance.

The outcome of the match may well depend on which camp have their first choice team to pick from and Shaun Gardiner, Rangers' equivalent to his beloved West Ham's Alan Curbishley, is keeping his cards close to his chest.

He will definitely be without the suspended Martin Little and other doubtful players are defender Dave Whyte and key midfield playmaker Paul Beavers who are both struggling with injury.

Gardiner may have to resort to calling on reserve team player Sam Young to link up with his team after probably playing in the morning for Rangers B against Bromham.

Gardiner will make a late decision on what to do about Young, however one decision he won't have to think about is who to start up front.

That job with go to Marc Lanfear and his partner is likely to be Mark Young or Matty Smith.

Gardiner will hope for big performances from Nathan Hallett, Sam Tucker, Sam Gooding, captain Ross Parker and the experienced Pete Ayton and Tim Coombes.

And if goalkeeper Nathan Taylor is on form, as he has been for much of the season, then the manager should be a happy man come full time.

Gardiner's opposite number Clive Bancroft is in his second season in charge of the Dog and Fox and his management style has been likened to that of Rafa Benitez as he struggles to find a consistent winning formula.

Bancroft should have 16 players to pick from, barring injuries to any of his Saturday players.

Bancroft will definitely be without Dom Khaekphong, who is on holiday, but he should be a very happy man as a quartet of players who normally would be playing for Bradford Town on a Saturday in the Toolstation League - defenders Tom Rooney and Steve Wickings, midfielder Russell Whatley and star striker Steve Roddy - are without a game.

And with captain Ricky Trott also sitting out Saturday as Melksham Town don't have a fixture his only major worry will be that Mark Gerrish avoids injury while playing for Trowbridge Town.

Bancroft may have to make the choice of whether to play Craig Guthrie or Nick Quinton in goal. Both are good keepers but are also prone to making costly errors and this is the one match that the manager will expect his back line of defence to turn it on.

If Bancroft can get the best out of his big game players and get the likes of Nathan Gant, Steve Rose, Jim Burbidge, Chris Maskrey, Dan Cottrell, Lewis Maillam and Andy Tozer to raise their game and compete for 90 minutes then the Dog and Fox, who have already been written off, will have a good chance of taking their place in April's final.

The match at the Conigre, which kicks off at 2pm, could be good value for money as it could go all the way and may need extra-time to find a winner.

13/02/08

As fully expected, Rangers will meet fellow Premier Division team Dog & Fox Ashley in the semi-final of the cup (the 'draw' is made privately !?!).

THE opportunity for a team from outside the Premier Division winning this season's presstoprint-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup remains a possibility after the semi-final draw paired top flight sides Westbury Rangers A and Dog and Fox Ashley together.

The tie was the one Westbury Rangers A manager Shaun Gardiner wanted to avoid, but for Rangers to keep alive the dreams of ending their 35-year wait for Knockout Cup success they must overcome Clive Bancroft's Bradford based outfit.

Gardiner believes the Dog and Fox are their bogey side but from the 17 meeting of the sides since they first met in the top flight back in the 1999/2000 season Rangers have in fact won eight, three have ended all square and the Dog have won the other six, so the semi final promises to be a closely fought affair that could go either way.

The other semi-final is an all-Devizes affair featuring Second Division high-flyers Crown Cosmos and Third Division hot-shots AFC Bell.

Will Kibby's Crown side were beaten finalists last term when as The Southgate Inn they were routed 6-0 by Corsham Centre.

To reach their second successive final they must overcome Craig Townsend's Bell side who might be 14 places below them in the league standings but are a very good side and have many experienced players in their squad, including past cup winners in Gareth Evans and Townsend himself. Both were members of the Parsons Nose side who beat Biddestone Social 2-0 in the 2006 showpiece. In that final Townsend scored a stunning 25 yarder that to this day is still probably one of the best ever goals scored on Chippenham Town's Hardenhuish ground.

Like the other semi-final, this one could also go all the way and if it lives up to expectations could be a thriller.

The venues, dates and kick-off times for both matches will be decided at a later date.

03/02/08

Nick Mead

Premier Division Westbury Rangers A remain on course to lift the presstoprint-sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup for the first time in their 35-year history after the overcame Lee Hayward's battling First Division outfit The Ship.

The Ship put their 4-3 defeat down to sloppy defending, along with poor goalkeeping by former Rangers number one Lewis Porter, whose errors helped contribute to the downfall of his new club.

With holders Corsham Centre A and top dogs Biddestone Social already out of this season's competition Shaun Gardiner's Westbury Rangers are just one of two top flight sides who have reached the quarter-final stage and their tie against the Ship was seen as a potential banana skin. But now they have booked their place in the last four they will be favourites to go on and lift the cup.

The Ship applied the early pressure and saw an Adam Glover header and a Dave Percival shot cleared off the line before Rangers started to adapt to the lightning start that the hosts had made.

Rangers were gifted the lead when hesitation from Ship goalkeeper Porter allowed Marc Lanfear the chance to set up Paul Beavers who made no mistake as he put the visitors ahead. The Ship battled back and were rewarded for their efforts when Danny Amorouso ,who was celebrating his 18th birthday, headed home a Ashley Bennison long throw to bring the scores level.

Rangers regained the lead when goalkeeper Porter was caught out of position and Marc Lanfear squeezed the ball home to make it 2-1. The Ship were not behind for long as a glorious left footed volley from Adam Nunn brought the hosts level.

Frailties in the Ship defence left them exposed again as they failed to deal with the long ball over the top and once again the prolific Marc Lanfear made the most of his opportunity to fire Rangers into a 3-2 lead.

The Ship equalised for a third time with a moment of quality from Dave Percival, whose great finish made it 3-3.

The Ship manager made his final throw of the dice as he went looking for the win. Hayward put himself, Tom Bonsor and Dave Appleyard on, but within minutes his plan had backfired as Rangers took the lead for a fourth time and it owed much to another mistake, this time from Toby Dawson who failed to cut out a defence splitting pass from Lanfear that played in Nick Mead who made no mistake from close range as he scored what proved to be the winner and earn Rangers a 4-3 success.

The Ship twice went close to taking the game to extra-time, but both Shaun Percival and Hayward, who had a header cleared off the line, couldn't make the vital breakthrough.

David Whyte

Westbury Rangers A are one of just two Premier Division sides left in this season's presstoprint sponsored Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup and Shaun Gardiner's side, who have never won the cup in their 35-year history, will have to overcome First Division high-flyers The Ship if they are to live up to their tag of favourites and end their long wait for cup glory.

Rangers will face a tough challenge from Lee Hayward's Ship side, who defeated British Lion and Potterne FC in earlier rounds to set up a heavyweight battle against the top flight leaders.

The match, which is due to be played at the Stallards, playing field in Trowbridge, has the makings of being a classic and will feature a number of top players.

The Ship will probably be at full strength and if Shaun Percival, Dave Percival, Adam Nunn, Tom Bonsor and Adam Glover all play then the Trowbridge-based side will have a very good chance of causing a cup upset.

Hayward might be tempted to use former Rangers keeper Lewis Porter as his number one but he will have to be at his best to keep out Marc Lanfear, who should return to the side having missed the defeat by Corsham Centre last Sunday. Along with the return of Lanfear, Rangers hope to have David Whyte back from suspension.

Gardiner knows the Ship will be a hard team to beat so he will be hoping that Paul Beavers, Matty Smith, Mark Young, Pete Ayton, Ross Parker and Tim Combes will be available for the game that could make or break Rangers season.

The match is too close to call but it should be a thriller and if the Ship were to progress to the final four it wouldn't be a surprise as Hayward has got together a team who are capable of winning both the Knockout Cup and First Division title.