CROFT Junior sealed their place in the next round of the Wiltshire Sunday Cup with a dramatic 5-3 win over visitors Rudis after extra time.

The hosts scored three times in extended play to see off the league strugglers in a game that served up all the hallmarks of a classic cup encounter.

Manager and goalkeeper Christy Millar saved a penalty late in normal time, while James Whatley’s top-corner strike from just shy of 30 yards also made it a day to savour.

Millar said: “Rudis are in the same league as us and they were always going to make it awkward for us to set up and play against them.

“The penalty save in the last minute took it to extra time and then we got the ball down and passed it a lot better than we did in the first 90 minutes.

“We got three goals in extra time and even though they pulled one back, it was enough to win. It was a good win and it gives us a bit of confidence going into the next game.”

Sam Matthews, Joe Grant, Liam Flanagan and a James Whatley double secured victory at the Croft Sports Centre.

The triumph followed a 5-2 Division Two defeat against top-placed Eldene in the previous game and gave a morale-boost to the mid-table side.

“It was a disappointing result against Eldene,” said Millar. “We should have performed better in that game so it was good to bounce back with a win.”

Division Two rivals Royal Wootton Bassett continued an impressive maiden season with a 13-0 thrashing of visitors Wanborough.

Manager Danny Groom has coached many of the players through the youth sides up to the current level, where they are thriving alongside his more experienced troops. Bassett’s positive goal difference of 40 is more than double that of league leaders Eldene.

“We have got good players who are also good mates, and that includes three sets of brothers,” Groom said.

“They have been here since the U11s and U18s and are good technical players who know what they’re doing.”

Bassett now lie third in the table with two games in hand over Purton Redhouse immediately above. Division leaders Eldene showed their mettle with a 9-4 home win over Save on Tyres Athletic, while Stratton Saints ended the weekend three places from bottom after losing 4-3 at home to Atletico Marlborough.

In Division One, Coleshill Youth top the board after a 2-1 home win over Rodbourne Real.

The pace-setters are tied on goal difference with Cleeve Tech, who suffered a 2-0 reverse at the hands of visitors Tidworth Town in the Wiltshire Sunday Cup.