Cherry Red Records Hellenic League Challenge Cup. Reports on North Leigh 1, Shortwood Utd 4; Abingdon Utd 1, Highworth Tn 0; Wootton Bass Tn 2, Clanfield 0; Milton Utd 1, Didcot Tn 2

North Leigh 1, Shortwood Utd 4

PREMIER Division leaders North Leigh came unstuck as Shortwood fought tenaciously to dump them out of the Challenge Cup in the third round on Saturday.

Shortwood's Richard Evans danced past two North Leigh players to open the scoring after only four minutes, and striker Craig Cole made it two almost immediately when converting a flick from a corner.

Midway through the second half, the visiting skipper Mike Green made it 3-0, before Shortwood defender Steve Walker put through his own goal to reduce the arrears.

Shortwood added a fourth in injury time as substitute Matt Green's shot was deflected into his own net by North Leigh defender Stuart Huxley.

Abingdon Utd 1, Highworth Tn 0

ABINGDON reached the semi-finals and avenged a 5-2 defeat by Highworth into the bargain.

The first half saw the visitors controlling midfield and creating the better chances, Carl Wilkins keeping them at bay.

After the break, United stepped up a gear in midfield and bagged the only goal through Chris Hooper whose glancing header flew into the net from a corner.

Wilkins foiled Highworth again with another good save, but United could have sewn it up through Ryan Curtin and Frankie Dorrian

Wootton Bass Tn 2, Clanfield 0

CLANFIELD were disappointed to lose this Supplementary Cup first-round tie to two disputed goals.

The visitors went behind on 15 minutes when Bassett appeared to be offside, but Clanfield buckled down and more than held their own against their Premier division hosts.

The home side increased their lead on 53 minute, Clanfield claiming handball and a foul on a defender in the build-up.

The visitors fought hard to get back into the game and went close on a number of occasions. They might have had a penalty when Peter Osborne was pulled back, but it was not to be.

Milton Utd 1, Didcot Tn 2

DIDCOT were made to work hard for their place in the second round.

The Premier Division side had numerous opportunities in the first half but had to rely on a disputed penalty in the 44th minute to open their account.

Glyn Jones played in a dangerous corner and defender Andy Cooper was impeded as he headed the ball. The referee saw it as a penalty, and Ian Concannon made no mistake from the spot.

Thirty seconds into the second period, the visitors doubled the advantage when Fletcher Hoey raced on to a Cooper pass and drove past keeper Ben Duke.

Milton battled admirably to get back into the game and got their reward from a corner. Didcot keeper Keith McLoughlin turned the ball on to the bar and defender Jamie Heapy slammed the ball into his own net as he tried to clear.