DIVISION Two leaders Alcombe Rovers made hard work of beating Watchet Reserves 3-1 in their Rowbarton Charity Cup derby.

They took the lead after ten minutes when a corner from James Browning was headed on and, from a scramble in the goal area, man of the match Rob Matcham put the ball in the net.

Alcombe were well on top but missed a string of easy chances to extend their lead against their Division Three opponents, and it was close to half-time before they made it 2-0, Paul Matcham netting from Jason Hill's pass.

After the break Rovers missed more easy chances before making the game safe in the 70th minute through Matt Lawrence.

Watchet kept battling and gained some late consolation when a cross from the left was misjudged by keeper D Jones and Craig Walsh put the ball away.

Alcombe Rovers: D Jones, M Hill, R Matcham, R Baker, D Rackham, J Browning, D Furse, P Matcham, D Leitch, J Hill, M Lawrence, subs R Jackman, P Ahmet, T Milton (all used).

In the Gardner Cup, Porlock Reserves lost 3-1 at home to Westonzoyland, Dave Bosley getting their consolation goal.

Dulverton Town Reserves also went out, losing 8-4 away to Bridgwater Sports Reserves.

Porlock fought out a 1-1 draw away to Bishops Lydeard Reserves in the Rose Bowl and now have to beat Nether Stowey at home tomorrow (Saturday) if they are to progress any further in the competition.

A rare win of the toss saw Porlock choose to play down the slope but the plan backfired when Lydeard took the lead after 15 minutes, a deep cross from the left being headed home by midfielder Andy Howe who timed his run well.

Porlock's best chance of the half came when the evergreen Ian Cape lost his marker but headed straight at the keeper with the goal at his mercy.

The second half continued much as the first with few chances being created by either side.

Porlock made two substitutions in a bid to change the pattern of the game but it wasn't until right on the final whistle that their equaliser arrived when Greg Howard curled in a corner which the keeper flapped at and missed and the defender on the line couldn't prevent the ball from going in.

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

In the same competition, Dulverton Town went down 4-1 at home to Redgate.

In Division Two, Spaxton lost 3-2 away to Civil Service, who moved out of the relegation zone as a result.

Division Three saw Minehead Sports return to winning ways, beating Norton Fitzwarren Reserves 6-1 away.

They took an early lead when Neil Watson crossed for Mark Taylor to fire home then Taylor returned the compliment with a cross for Watson to make it 2-0.

A lapse in defence allowed Norton to cut the deficit, but some good play by Sports eventually led to their third goal, Watson again putting Taylor through to score just before half-time.

The start of the second half saw Sports penned in their own half as Norton did their utmost to get back in the game .

The home side forced several corners and Langdon cleared off the line before Sports broke quickly and Muscroft put Watson through to shoot past the keeper and make it safe at 4-1.

This visibly knocked the stuffing out of Norton and Taylor and Watson both squandered chances before man of the match Taylor completed his hat-trick, heading home another Watson cross.

The final goal came when a Sports attack looked set to break down but up popped substitute J Shepperd to shoot low and accurately past the keeper to complete a morale-boosting win before tomorrow's Seward Cup semi-final.

Minehead Sports: S Jordan, A Elston, K Griffiths, M Rounds, T Long, P Langdon, M Muscroft, T Todd, N Watson, M Taylor, T Hills, sub J Shepperd (used).

In Division Four, two goals from Keith Richards couldn't save Exmoor Rangers from a 5-2 defeat at home to Staplegrove Reserves.

In Division Five, Stogursey lost 6-0 at home to leaders Middlezoy Reserves, while at the bottom of the table, Minehead Colts drew 2 – 2 at Wyvern Foxes.

Nether Stowey Reserves beat Brandon 6-2 away with four goals from Patrick Villis and one each from Dale Sheppard and Daniel Friend.

RESULTS

Somerset Junior Cup: Brislington B 4 Wyvern 5(aet), Galmington 7 Chard Utd 0.

Rose Bowl: Group A, Middlezoy 0 Highbridge 0; Group B, Bishops Lydeard Res 1 Porlock 1; Group C, Dulverton 1 Redgate 4; Group D, Sampford Blues 1 Bridgwater Sports 1.

Rowbarton Charity Cup 2nd Round: Crown Dynamos 2 Blackbrook 1, Alcombe Rovers 3 Watchet Res 1, Staplegrove 2 Norton Fitzwarren 4.

Gardner Cup Preliminary Round: Porlock Res 1 Westonzoyland 3; 1st Round: Highbridge Res 2 Cossington 3, Bridgwater Sports Res 8 Dulverton Town Res 4.

Division Two: Civil Service 3 Spaxton 2, Knight Rangers 4 Wellworthy Saints 3

Division Three: Norton Fitzwarren Res 1 Minehead Sports 6, Wyvern Res 2 Marketeers 3.

Division Four: Bridgwater Foresters 2 Wellington 1, Exmoor Rangers 2 Staplegrove Res 5, Taverners 0 Hemyock 2.

Division Five: Brandon 2 Nether Stowey Res 6, Inter-Sceptre 4 Staplegrove Colts 1, Stogursey 0 Middlezoy Res 6, Wyvern Foxes 2 Minehead Sports Colts 2.

FIXTURES

Seward Cup Semi-final: Staplegrove Colts v Minehead Sports.

Rose Bowl: Civil Service v Highbridge, Middlezoy v Norton Fitzwarren, Porlock v Nether Stowey, Knight Rangers v Sampford Blues.

Rowbarton Charity Cup 2nd Round: Wellington v Inter-Sceptre.

Division One: Bridgwater Sports v Redgate, Bishops Lydeard v Sydenham, Wyvern v Galmington.

Division Two: Blackbrook v Bishops Lydeard Res, Dulverton Town v Alcombe Rovers, Welworthy Saints v Spaxton.

Division Three: Crown Dynamos v Wyvern Res, Marketeers v Appletree, Victoria Rangers v Norton Fitzwarren Res, Westonzoyland v Hulan.

Division Four: Highbridge Res v Exmoor Rangers, Hemyock v Bridgwater Sports Res, Taverners v Dulverton Town Res, Williton v Bridgwater Foresters.

Division Five: Cossington v Nether Stowey Res, Wyvern Foxes v Porlock Res, Moortown v Brandon.