THE CIA-sponsored Arthur Shipway and Mills-Roberts Cup quarter finals took centre stage last Saturday with all four ties in each competition being played.

In the Arthur Shipway Cup, South Cerney had a tough tie at home to Division One leaders CHQ Utd, and although not creating many opportunities themselves, they also restricted CHQ's goalscoring chances with a solid and battling display.

However, when they lost central defender and skipper Adam Keslake through injury midway through the second half, they had to reorganise, and the disruption cost them a goal not long afterwards, when Richard Gardiner was allowed to run through unchallenged to put CHQ ahead. Chris Saunders sealed victory near the end with a neat piece of close control and finish.

Inspired by their hard-earned draw the previous week against title challengers Bibury Reserves, bottom-of-the-table Stratton United convincingly beat visitors Oaksey 5-0, in what apparently was a very disappointing performance by the Wiltshire side.

Dan Timbrell, with two goals, Shaun Browning, Ben Collett and Dan Thomson were on target for the victors.

In a very close game at Real Fairford, Lechlade progressed to the semi finals with a hard-fought 3-2 victory. Luke Richards and Louis Cusack scored for the home side who would have fancied their chances of progressing after having put out Poulton in the first round.

Siddington Sports, who appear to be in a period of contrasting form – good one week, poor the next – crashed 8-0 at The Beeches, for whom Danny Gudger hit four goals and Richard Sutton three. The other goal came from Ryan Adams.

In the Mills-Roberts Cup, the top four sides in Division Two are through to the semi finals. Kingshill Sports saw off the challenge of South Cerney Reserves in a 5-2 victory, but needed extra time with the score 2-2 after 90 minutes. Sam Carter and James King scored for Cerney, but Scott Reynolds(2), Ben Mutlow, Tom Gardiner and Sean Wiltshire took them through. Siddington Sports Veterans beat Tetbury Town III 3-0 with Declan King and Mark Smith (2) finding the net.

The form book would have suggested that CHQ Utd Res would easily overcome visitors and bottom-of-the-table Minety, but it proved anything but easy as the home side scraped a 1-0 victory with a goal from Eddy Sproule.

Down Ampney failed to make home advantage count against Ashton Keynes, for whom Alex King scored both their goals in a 2-1 win. Ampney's cause was not helped by being reduced to 10 men when they were leading 1-0, having taken the lead through Dan Read.