LAST season two Basingstoke side contested the final of the ADSL Presidents Invitation Cup but hopes of at least one local side reaching this year's final improved at the weekend with Lugershall Sports, Fred Druce and Barton Stacey all running out comfortable victors in Sunday's third round ties.

The local league was assured of at least one side in the next round with two of their sides drawn against each other and Pete Tunney's Fred Druce clinched their quarter-final spot with a 4-1 away win against Andy Kidney's New Street - despite four of the Fred Druce players leaving before the end to see the Worthington Cup Final in Cardiff.

In the end Paul Reidy, Matt Styles, Neil McManus and Dave Dunn did not arrive at the Millennium Stadium until half time and the return journey took them four-and-a-half due to traffic problems.

Street for once started with a full side and the luxury of a substitute but fine saves from Dave Whitcher restricted Fred Druce to a 1-0 lead at half time, Neil McManus having put them ahead just before the break.

In the second half Fred Druce increased their lead with further strikes from Andy Tobin and Matt Styles before Street were finally rewarded with a goal from Leigh Williams. They should have had another only for Sam Rea to miss a penalty for the second game in succession, with Jamie Tilley pulling off a smart save in the Fred Druce goal, and it was left to Styles to wrap up the game with a fourth goal for Fred Druce.

Street manager Andy Kidney would like to thank all who have been concerned over his son Tim who is now out of hospital "He's nowhere near his old self yet but hopefully he's make a full recovery," said Andy.

Simon Poultney's Ludgershall Sports notched an excellent 4-2 home win against top Basingstoke side Audeo in what was largely a scrappy affair due to the slippery conditions of the pitch at Astor Crescent.

Both side were also depleted through injuries, with Audeo playing for the first half with only 10 men after losing a player through injury, and Ludgershall were missing their influential strike force of Steve Witt and Ryan Macdonald, with the lat ter out for six weeks after chipping a bone in an ankle.

However, credit must got to Wayne Kerr who deputised up front and ran Audeo's defence ragged. "He had a superb game, his best so for the club, and was rewarded with two of the goals," said assistant manager Steve Winston.

The Richard Smith Financial Services backed Ludgershall side had a dream start with goal from Simon Macdonald after two minutes but it was short lived as Audeo equalised from a free kick five minutes later.

Two further goals from the lively Kerr put Ludgershall 3-1 up at the break and Steve Witt came off the bench in the second half to seal the game with their fourth goal. Audeo did add a second goal but it was too little, too late.

Roger Purdue and Andy Meighan's Barton Stacey were also excellent winners with a 5-1 home victory against Overton MI in their cup tie but Lee Filters crashed out to cup holders Kingsclere 6-1 at home.

In the league, Nick Anderton's St Mary Bourne opened a nine point gap at the top of the second division after crushing third placed Blaizers 5-1 whilst Perry Cocking's second placed Vernham Labels made hard work of their 2-1 win against a spirited Wyke Down, who played a lot better than their bottom-of-the-the-table position would suggest.

The sides were level at the break with Labels going ahead through Steve Aldridge but the lead didn't late long wi;th Wyke levelling on the stroke of half time with an impressive solo effort from Stuart Norridge.

Cookie Nixon grabbed Labels' second-half winner and they also missed a few other chances but Wyke, with Charlie Waters outstanding in defence, defended in numbers and almost forced a dramatic equaliser through Richard Smith at the death but Labels held on to claim all three points.

Twining upset the form book with a battling 2-1 away win against Swallow whilst Queen Charlotte and AKA Tidworth picked up a point apiece after sharing six goals.

In the third division, Leisure Centre picked up another valuable three points with a 5-2 away win at Collingbourne to maintain their lead at the top after second placed Andover Saints crashed 7-3 at home to Wallop Wanderers - their third defeat in a row.

Dave Millward and Chris Green's Leisure Centre missed a first-half penalty but led 2-0 at the break with both goals coming from Christian Nicel. In the second half Leisure Centre doubled their lead with two well taken goals from Neil Barker, however credit Collingbourne who never gave up the chase and replied with two goals before Barker completed a fine individual performance for his hat-trick and ALC's fifth for them to remain unbeaten this year.

Wallop Wanderers were twice behind in the first half but Matt Black and Dave Ling put matters right for Pete Morton's side before the break. Wanderers improved in the second half but were never firing on all cylinders, although they still hit a further five goals with Mark Dennis coming off the bench to net the last two and take his tally for the season to 26. Their other scorers were Snoopy Day and Andy Lister (2).

In the other third division games, Barton Stacey Res regained their form with an 8-2 away win against Bishops Argyle and Abbots Mitre also had something to celebrate - their first point of the season - after holding Blacksmiths Arms to a 1-1 draw away.

In the fourth division, leaders cruised to an easy 5-0 win at Crown & Anchor, second placed CAE Ludgershall were held 2-2 at home by SCWS Andover, Salto Centre beat Borough Arms 4-0 away and in the game between two sides battling to escape from the bottom four Wolversdene won 3-2 at home against Vernham Ath.