SWINDON Supermarine reached the FA Trophy first round thanks to a comfortable 3-0 victory at home to Cirencester Town on Saturday.

Lee Spalding’s men relied on three different scorers to book their spot in the first-round draw, with the Centurions barely laying a glove on Connor Johns’ goal in response.

It was Brad Hooper who opened the scoring early on at the Webbswood Stadium via a superb long-range strike. The Marine midfielder received the ball 25 yards out and curled an inch-perfect shot into the top corner in the 10th minute.

Neither team managed to generate much goal-mouth action in the remaining minutes of the first half, with the hosts doubling their lead seven minutes into the second period. A counter-attack down the right resulted in James Harding flicking a low cross in at the near post.

And the contest was effectively settled in the 71st minute following another well-taken counter-attack by Marine. A Ciren free-kick was blocked by the wall, and one long ball later saw Harding break away. Although he was fouled, the referee handed Marine the advantage, and Zack Kotwica took his chance to roll the ball around stopper Alex Harris and into the unguarded net.

Marine's reward for progression is an away tie against Winchester City on Saturday, October 29.

Winchester are struggling towards the foot of Southern League Premier South, and have won just one of eight league games so far while Marine currently sit 12 places above them. 

Meanwhile, in Southern League Division One Central, Highworth Town lost a highly-eventful contest 3-2 against Hertford Town on Saturday.

Both teams finished with 10 men after Christopher Gosling was dismissed in the 16th minute for pulling Felipe Barcelos down on the edge of the box when clean through. Ash Edenborough was later sent off for the Worthians.

Nick Stanley put Highworth in front midway through the first half via an excellent free-kick, only for Hertford’s David Ogbonna to equalise seven minutes later.

The visitors were presented with an opportunity to go in front shortly before half-time when Highworth’s Novakovic gave away a penalty, but goalkeeper James Walker rescued his teammate by turning away Dontai Stewart’s spot-kick attempt.

Darnel Baxter-Alleyne curled home for Hertford 12 minutes after Edenborough’s dismissal, and the hosts edged further in front prior to Harrison Edwards’ 84th-minute consolation goal.

Gareth Davies’ men are now third from bottom after just one win from seven games.

In the Hellenic League Premier Division, Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s five-game unbeaten run came to an end courtesy of a 3-2 defeat away at struggling Brimscombe and Thrupp.

Despite having only won a single Hellenic League game before the weekend, the Gloucestershire outfit shocked Bassett thanks to goals from Sam Folkes, Oliver Barnes, and Liam Harper.

Alan Griffin’s brace was not enough to secure any reward for Sam Collier’s high-flyers.