CROSS Farm Park Celtic went down 3-2 away to Yates in the Tower Trophy - but their improved performance over the previous week put a smile on manager Graeme Kelly's face.
They totally dominated the first half of their preliminary round tie, showing the fighting spirit which has been missing in previous games.
Their reward was to deservedly take the lead when some good play led to a cross from Donald Ferguson finding Paul Matcham unmarked and he fired home.
The midfield were winning everything and some strong tackling kept Yates at bay.
However, after a good run into the Cross Farm box, a defender was adjudged to have brought down a Yates midfielder and the home side converted the penalty to go in level at half-time.
Cross Farm went on the attack after the break and after a good tackle, man of the match John Richardson found Ferguson and he put the ball into the box for Lee Westney to make it 2-1.
It was then Yates' turn to put on the pressure, and two good runs led to two goals in the last ten minutes and they held on to secure a 3-2 win.
Cross Farm Park Celtic: Mark Heard, Graeme Kelly, Dave Chilcott, Will Giblett, John Richardson, Chris Carr, Donald Ferguson, Adam Elston, Sam Jordan, Paul Matcham, Lee Westney, sub Paul Mansell (used).
Also out of the Tower Trophy at the first hurdle are Periton Rangers, who suffered a surprise 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Gardeners United, and Bishops Lydeard, who lost by the same scoreline at home to Kings Park Rangers.
In the league, Watchet Blue Waves remain top of Division Three after a 5-4 home win over Blackbrook, but Milverton suffered an 11-0 mauling at the hands of Thatcher Spartans Colts.
Bagborough Rovers lost 3-2 away to Eastwick Rovers in Division Four.
Division Five brought defeats for Dunster, 8-0 away to Cherrygrove, Williton Rockets, 6-2 at home to Young Guns, and Milverton Reserves, 3-2 away to Swallowfield.
RESULTS
Stella Artois Cup Preliminary Round: Sampford Blues 4 Norton Fitzwarren 0, Hamilton Athletic 1 Crown Rams 5, TYCC 5 Cellar Vigo 1, Vivary Rovers 6 North Curry 4.
Tower Trophy Preliminary Round: Bishops Lydeard 2 KPR 3, FMV 2000 3 Ash Rangers 1, Yates 3 Cross Farm Park Celtic 2, Periton Rangers 2 Gardeners Utd 3.
Division One: Foxy Ferrets 4 Thatcher Spartans 5, Perfecto 4 Bathpool 3, Waggon Clavel 0 Eurobuilders 3.
Division Two: Moathouse 4 Pegasus 1, Trull Rovers 4 Royal Stoke 2.
Division Three: Linden City 1 Millers 2000 1, Milverton 0 Thatcher Spartans Colts 11, Watchet Blue Waves 5 Blackbrook 4.
Division Four: Eastwick Rovers 3 Bagborough Rovers 2.
Division Five: Cherrygrove 8 Dunster 0, Old Inn 7 Royal Crown 3, Swallowfield 3 Milverton Res 2, Williton Rockers 2 Young Guns 6.
FIXTURES
Division One: Bathpool v TYCC, Eurobuilders v Foxy Ferrets, Hamilton Athletic v Waggon Clavel, Thatcher Spartans v Wilton Rangers.
Division Two: Crown Rams v Moathouse, Norton Fitzwarren v North Curry, Pegasus v Vivary Rovers, Royal Stoke v Wiveliscombe, Trull Rovers v Sampford Blues.
Division Three: Bishops Lydeard v Milverton, Blackbrook v East Reach Wanderers, Cross Farm Park Celtic v Linden City, Millers 2000 v Yates.
Division Four: Ash Rangers v FMV 2000, Bagborough Rovers v Periton Rangers, KPR v Gardeners Utd, Old Boys v Eastwick Rovers.
Division Five: Milverton Res v Williton Rockets, Old Inn v Dunster, Royal Crown v Staplegrove Celtic, Weavers Wanderers v Swallowfield, Young Guns v Cherrygrove.