PORLOCK'S reign as holders of the Rowbarton Charity Cup came to an end on Saturday when they fell foul of the golden goal rule at home to Blackbrook.

On a sticky surface, both sides started their first round tie cautiously with few chances being created, but on 25 minutes Blackbrook took the lead after a flowing move.

Porlock responded positively and were soon on level terms when Robert Southey found room on the right and, as he shaped for the cross, spotted the keeper off his line and fired in a snap shot at the near post.

Porlock pressed for the rest of the half and were unlucky not to take the lead when a clever dummy by Paul Long released Greg Howard but his shot hit the post.

The second half began with Blackbrook dominating and they again took the lead, but Porlock gradually got back into the game and drew level when Mark Gunn powerfully headed home a corner.

With few further chances created, the game went into extra time with both sides pressing forward for the all-important golden goal.

After five minutes, Blackbrook clinched the tie when Porlock's normally well-organised offside trap was breached and a striker was able to score with ease.

Porlock: D Farmer, R Southey, P Matravers, S Plenty, J Callary, D Healey, T Howard, M Gunn, G Howard, P Long, R Rich, subs I Cape, R Addicott (both used).

Unlike Porlock, Minehead Sports are hoping the golden goal rule will help them, following a mix-up over how their preliminary round tie with Victoria Rangers should have been settled.

With the match level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the referee said a full 30 minutes of extra time had to be played, followed by a penalty shoot-out if needed.

The score was 2-2 after extra time, and Victoria won the shoot-out to go through, but Rowbarton Cup rules are that the game should have been decided by a golden goal - and that would have seen Sports win.

The cup committee will now consider what to do, with a replay a distinct possibility.

In the game itself, Sports were guilty of missing some early chances and trailed 1-0 at half-time.

They pressed in the second half and were eventually rewarded when Neil Watson's cross was converted by Alex Dixon.

That sent the tie into extra time and Sports were the first to score, Watson firing home Karl Griffiths' cross.

Had the golden goal rule been applied, that would have sealed victory for Sports, but the game continued and Victoria equalised and then won the penalty shoot-out 4-2.

Minehead Sports: S Jordan, S Rimmer, K Griffiths, T Todd, T Long, R Jones, M Muscroft, A Dixon, N Watson, A Elston, M Taylor, sub R Summers (used).

Alcombe Rovers had a 3-2 home win over Marketeers in the first round after a slow start in which only 15-year-old Dan Rackham looked the part.

Not surprisingly Marketeers opened the scoring, a clumsy tackle by skipper Ross Baker giving them a penalty.

This sparked Rovers into life and after a great run and cross by Derek Leitch, Jason Hill put them level.

Alcombe were now playing well and they almost went ahead from an excellent free-kick which James Browning hit against the post.

However, as in recent weeks, Alcombe allowed their opponents back into the game, with poor defending gifting them a second goal.

Again Rovers came back and man of the match Leitch, playing as a makeshift forward, set up Dan Rackham to equalise.

The decisive goal came when Dick Furse passed to Leitch who set up Paul Matcham to calmly slot home.

Marketeers deserved to take the tie into extra time but couldn't convert any of their chances.

Alcombe Rovers: R Jackman, M Hill, L Hough, G Rackham, R Baker, D Rackham, D Leitch, D Furse, J Hill, P Matcham, J Browning, subs P Adams used), T Milton, D Jones.

Other local sides to go through to the second round were Williton, who had a good 4-3 win away to Hemyock, and Nether Stowey, 3-2 winners at Galmington.

But Dulverton Town bowed out 3-0 at Middlezoy and Stogursey went down 5-1 at home to Moortown, while in a preliminary round tie, Bishops Lydeard lost 1-0 away to Norton Fitzwarren.

In the league, Bishops Lydeard Reserves lost 2-0 at home to Spaxton, both goals coming from Barry Dobson, while in Division Four, Dulverton Town Reserves lost 6-3 at home to Bridgwater Sports Reserves.

Division Five saw Porlock Reserves win 2-1 away to Nether Stowey Reserves.

They continued their form of the previous week and after several chances at both ends a good pass from midfield found Chris Carr and his centre was headed home by Lee Hardick.

Several more chances came and went before Stowey equalised five minutes before half-time.

The second half saw substitute T Raynor net the winner and his first for the club after good work by P Swallow and Carr.

Porlock Reserves: A Jones, M Healy, M Sully, N Binding, K Ackland, B Swallow, I Groves, P Cuthbertson, C Carr, T Ollerenshaw, L Harick, subs T Raynor, K Sparks (both used).

Minehead Sports Colts lost 4-0 away to Staplegrove Colts.

RESULTS

Rowbarton Charity Cup Preliminary Round: Minehead Sports 2 Victoria Sports 2 (aet), Norton Fitzwarren 1 Bishops Lydeard 0, Appletree 2 Hulan 0, Taverners 1 Bridgwater Foresters 5; 1st Round: Wyvern 3 Highbridge 4, Bridgwater Sports 3 Staplegrove 4, Galmington 2 Nether Stowey 3, Porlock 2 Blackbrook 3 (aet, golden goal), Alcombe Rovers 3 Marketeers 2, Sampford Blues 6 Civil Service 2, Middlezoy 3 Dulverton Town 0, Stogursey 1 Moortown 5, Hemyock 3 Williton 4.

Division One: Redgate 0 Sydenham 8.

Division Two: Bishops Lydeard Res 0 Spaxton 2.

Division Three: Crown Dynamos v Wyvern cancelled, Westonzoyland 3 Norton Fitzwarren Res 4.

Division Four: Dulverton Town Res 3 Bridgwater Sports Res 6, Highbridge Res 1 Staplegrove Res 0.

Division Five: Cossington 1 Inter-Sceptre 1, Nether Stowey Res 1 Porlock Res 2, Staplegrove Colts 4 Minehead Sports Colts 0, Wyvern Foxes 2 Middlezoy Res 3.