HIGHWORTH Town Sunday sprang a surprise in the Bunny Uzzell Memorial Shield preliminary round with an impressive 3-1 win away at Croft Junior, who play two tiers higher.

Boss Mitchell Brown was one man who was not overly shocked by the outcome, however, as his troops had won each of their seven games in all competitions prior to the cup clash and sit top of Division Five.

There was little to choose between the two sides in an even first half at Croft Sports Centre but Highworth took control after the break to book their safe passage into the first round.

Adam Brooks led the charge as he bagged a brace for the Worthians, while Dom Stagg was also on target.

“It was quite a good game. It was pretty even in the first half but in the second, we managed to put a few chances away and came away with the win,” said boss Brown.

“We could have taken a few more chances by the end to make it a bit more comfortable. We let a few goals slip us by so it wasn’t our best performance but a win is a win and we’re through to the next round and that’s the most important thing.

“We are unbeaten in all competitions so far this season. We have a few new players in this season and they have managed to gel straight away and we’re playing well.

“I think we are capable of winning the league and if we keep playing the way that we have been then we should stand a very good chance come the end of the season.”

Five seemed to be the winning number in the competition as four sides racked up that many goals en route to victory, including in another shock courtesy of a Division Five side as Save on Tyres Athletic stunned Division Three opponents Moovahome 5-2.

Another Division Three outfit Willowgreen Hotspur avoided a similar fate against bottom tier team Sevenfield United as they won by the same 5-2 scoreline, while Chiseldon Sunday got the better of the all Division Four battle against Smart Movers 5-4.

Purton Freshbrook and Haydon showed their Division Three class against Division Five opponents Paxton House United and Purton Red House respectively, winning 4-1 and 3-0.

Finally, Nationwide edged to a narrow 3-2 win at home to Swindon Athletic in another all fourth tier battle.

Elsewhere, Penhill United claimed a first league win of the campaign with a 3-2 success at home to FC Walcot to climb up to third in the Division One table.

There was more misery for Division Two's bottom side Wanborough as they fell to an agonising 3-2 defeat at home to Your Sport Swindon to remain without a point this term.