EXMOOR Rangers pulled off an impressive 6-2 home win over Division Four high-fliers Wellworthy Saints to go through to the third round of the Rowbarton Charity Cup.

Skipper T Matravers' decision to kick against the wind looked a mistake when after only ten minutes Wellworthy's right winger cut inside unchallenged to fire home a 25-yard shot.

But Rangers rallied with neat interchanges between K Cross and K Richards in midfield, and when R Norman was put through on the right, he ran into the box, rode a challenge and lobbed the keeper for the equaliser.

Saints had to endure a spell of pressure but against the run of play they took the lead again from close range.

Exmoor equalised again when M Sherring whipped in a near-post corner and G Northam headed home.

They took the lead just before half-time when, after a scramble in the six-yard box, Richards reacted first to poke the ball past the keeper.

With the wind helping Rangers in the second half, Wellworthy didn't have a shot, and their hopes were sunk when Northam headed home Exmoor's fourth from a long throw by Cross.

After Saints had replaced their injured keeper, Sherring made it 5-2 when he burst down the left and volleyed home, the stand-in keeper helping the ball into the net.

P Cuthbertson could have scored when he chipped the keeper but the wind took the ball over the bar.

Man of the match Richards then wrapped up a dominant display by Rangers when he drove the ball home off the bar from 20 yards.

Exmoor Rangers: T Matravers, D Phippen, J Smith, M Matravers, R Howe, K Cross, K Richards, M Sherring, R Norman, P Govier, G Northam, subs P Cuthbertson, W Sherring (both used).

There was no cup joy for Porlock, whose disappointing new year form continued as they went down 7-2 away to Bishops Lydeard in the second round of the League Knockout Cup.

They struggled to come to terms with the uphill slope and stiff wind and it wasn't long before Lydeard found themselves 2-0 up after two flowing moves down the flanks.

Porlock got back in the game with a penalty from Dave Sowden after Luke Taylor had been fouled, but Lydeard immediately hit back with a penalty of their own.

They increased their advantage with a chip over the keeper, and with half-time approaching, there was time for them to make it 5-1 with the most bizarre goal of the game.

From a Porlock goal kick, the wind carried the ball back into their penalty area and when it finally fell to earth a Lydeard striker was first to react and head home.

The second half began with Porlock going for all out attack with the strong wind behind them, but they were twice caught on the counter and Lydeard went 7-1 up.

Despite good periods of pressure for the rest of the game, Porlock were restricted to long-range efforts and could only manage a consolation goal five minutes from time when Sowden's 25-yard effort flew in off the underside of the bar.

Porlock: M Lovell, I Cape, P Matravers, D Chaffey, J Harris, M Gunn, L Taylor, S Plenty, D Sowden, P Long, R Rich, subs S Rimmer (Used), S Thompson, R Wood.

After two good weeks, Alcombe Rovers turned in a disappointing display as they crashed 5-0 at home to Highbridge in Division One.

The visiting keeper had little to do as Rovers failed to match Highbridge's fitness and will to win.

The visitors went ahead after 20 minutes when an Alcombe free-kick was taken too hastily by Craig Carr and went straight to a Highbridge player.

Five minutes later their defence was left floundering and Highbridge netted another easy goal, and by half-time, despite the valiant efforts of keeper Dave Frost, it was 3-0 as the strong wind carried a shot in off the post

Highbridge could easily have scored two early goals in the second but shot wildly wide.

As it was, it only took them ten minutes to add their fourth and their fifth soon followed.

Alcombe prevented any further goals and Highbridge had a player sent off late on as the high wind ruled out any good football.

Alcombe Rovers: D Frost, P Matcham, P Jenkins, M Hill, P Ahmet, C Carr, D Furse, N Craig, N Sutton, S Antonelli, J Hill, sub M Sax.

Second-placed Redgate proved too strong for visitors Dulverton Town and ran out 4-0 winners.

In Division Two, Watchet Reserves and Bishops Lydeard Reserves swapped places at the foot of the table as Watchet beat them 1-0 at home, but both sides remain well adrift of the sides above them.

Nether Stowey lost 3-0 at home to Norton Fitzwarren and Spaxton went down 2-1 to visitors Taunton GWRSA.

In Division Three, West Somerset Sports lost further touch with the promotion contenders when they could only manage a 1-1 draw away to Wyvern Reserves.

Division Four saw Dulverton Town Reserves outgunned 5-0 at home by Bridgwater Sports Reserves, and Stogursey went down 4-0 away to Highbridge Reserves.

A flood of goals in Porlock Reserves' Division Five match at home to Commercial saw them finish 8-5 winners.

Minehead Celtic won 3-1 away to Staplegrove Reserves and Nether Stowey Reserves cruised to a 5-0 win at Brandon, but Williton were edged out 2-1 at home to Appletree.

RESULTS

League Knockout Cup 2nd Round: Middlezoy 1 Sydenham 5, Bishops Lydeard 7 Porlock 2, Galmington 0 Wyvern 3, Westonzoyland 1 Sturm Sports Bar 2 (aet).

Rowbarton Charity Cup 2nd Round: Exmoor Rangers 6 Wellworthy Saints 2, Moortown 1 Wellington 2.

Division One: Alcombe Rovers 0 Highbridge 5, Marketeers 3 Creech 4, Redgate 4 Dulverton Town 0.

Division Two: Bridgwater Sports 4 Haygrove 2, Civil Service 1 Staplegrove 1, Nether Stowey 0 Norton Fitzwarren 3, Spaxton 1 Taunton GWRSA 2, Watchet Res 1 Bishops Lydeard Res 0.

Division Three: Bridgwater 7 Taverners 1, Knight Rangers 1 Hulan 6, North Petherton 1 Blackbrook 7, Sampford Blues 6 Norton Fitzwarren Res 3, White Hart 6 Crown Dynamos 2, Wyvern Res 1 West Somerset Sports 1.

Division Four: Dulverton Town Res 0 Bridgwater Sports Res 5, Highbridge Res 4 Stogursey 0, Marketeers Res 2 Hemyock 2, Vale 5 Haygrove Res 2.

Division Five: Brandon 0 Nether Stowey Res 5, Porlock Res 8 Commercial 5, Staplegrove Res 1 Minehead Celtic 3, White Hart Res 5 Wyvern Foxes 1, Williton 1 Appletree 2.

FIXTURES

Rowbarton Charity Cup 2nd Round: Bridgwater v Bridgwater Sports, Porlock w/o, Sydenham v Marketeers, Sturm Sports Bar v Highbridge, Galmington v West Somerset Sports, Staplegrove v Sampford Blues.

Division One: Alcombe Rovers v Dulverton Town, Bishops Lydeard v Creech, Middlezoy v Wyvern.

Division Two: Haygrove v Bishops Lydeard Res, Nether Stowey v Spaxton, Norton Fitzwarren v Civil Service, Westonzoyland v Porlock.

Division Three: Crown Dynamos v North Petherton, Knight Rangers v Blackbrook, White Hart v Hulan, Wyvern Res v Norton Fitzwarren Res.

Division Four: Exmoor Rangers v Vale, Dulverton Town Res v Marketeers Res, Haygrove Res v Stogursey, Highbridge Res v Wellworthy Saints, Wellington v Hemyock.

Division Five: Appletree v Commercial, Brandon v Wyvern Foxes, Minehead Celtic v Nether Stowey Res, Porlock Res v Dinamo Watchet, Williton v Staplegrove Res, Moortown v White Hart Res.