PERITON Rangers - enjoying their best-ever start to a season - disposed of Division Three high-flyers Linden City 4-1 in the preliminary round of the Gardner Cup on Sunday.
Although they knew they faced a tough game against a side two divisions above them, they were confident they could win and from the start they carved out chances with A Knowles and D Bailey both going close.
Although Linden took the lead with a superb finish after a good move, Periton were playing the better football and it wasn't long before Rob Payton made it 1-1 with a brave finish from close range.
This stunned Linden and Knowles and L Allen soon combined to set up Payton for his second goal.
Linden mounted some good attacks but solid defending from Richard Cross and A Puttock kept them out, and Rangers secured a 3-1 half-time lead when joint top scorer Darren Lyons fired home an unstoppable shot.
Linden came out for the second half firing on all cylinders and when they hit the woodwork, Periton woke up to the danger.
The defence started playing the offside trap to great effect with Ruddy and Rodgers controlling the back four.
A superb strike by Eric Ruddy took a deflection off Lyons to make it 4-1, and although Linden were then denied by the woodwork and two goalline clearances, victory was never in doubt.
In the same competition, Cross Farm Park Celtic were far too strong for lowly newcomers Staplegrove Celtic and won 14-1 away.
Likewise, Watchet Blue Waves outgunned Dunster 8-1 away, and West Somerset Wanderers edged out Division Four leaders Gardeners United in a 7-6 thriller.
The news wasn't so good for other local sides. Williton Rockets lost 4-0 at KPR, Carhampton Rovers went down 2-0 at Royal Stoke, Bishops Lydeard lost 5-2 away to Spartans Colts and Bagborough Rovers were pipped 5-4 by Millers 2000 in extra time.
In the preliminary round of the Stella Artois Cup, Britannia Inn cruised through 7-2 at home to Sampford Blues, but Wiveliscombe lost 3-1 at home to Moathouse.
Milverton were the only local side in league action, drawing 1-1 at home to North Curry in Division Two.
RESULTS
Division 1: Staplegrove 1 Wagon Clavel 1.
Division 2: Wilton Rangers 9 Norton Fitzwarren 1, Milverton 1 North Curry 1.
Stella Artois Cup, preliminary round: Perfecto FC 3 Hamilton Athletic 4, Vivary Rovers 4 Priorswood Utd 2, Inter Royal 2 TYCC 8, Britannia Inn 7 Sampford Blues 2, Pegasus 1 Canonsgrove 8, Euro Builders 3 Bathpool 5, Wiveliscombe 1 Moathouse 3.
Gardner Cup, preliminary round: Perfecto Old Boys 3 Eastwick Rovers 2 (aet), KPR 4 Williton Rockets 0, Royal Stoke 2 Carhampton Rovers 0, Ash Rangers Reserves 4 Full Moon Vulcans 2, Royal Crown 7 East Reach Wanderers 1, Galmington 1 Weavers 7, Staplegrove Celtic 1 Cross Farm Park Celtic 14, West Somerset Wanderers 7 Gardeners Utd 6, Periton Rangers 4 Linden City 1, Crown Rams 11 Yates 1, Trull 11 Taunton Raiders 0, Dunster 1 Watchet Blue Waves 8, Bagborough Rovers 4 Millers 2000 5 (aet), Spartans Colts 5 Bishops Lydeard 2, Blackbrook 7 Carling Rock 2.