Robin Nicholls nets hat-trick for Yate

ROBIN Nicholls hit a hat-trick as Yate clocked-up double figures in their 10-1 FA Cup preliminary round victory at home to Melksham.

The visitors, unbeaten with 10 points from four Toolstation League First Division games, simply fell apart after conceding twice in the opening five minutes at their Evo-Stik Southern League hosts.

Nicholls tapped in the first inside two minutes and drove in the second just three minutes later.

Edd Vahid's powerful header made it 3-0 on 21 minutes and Russ Church robbed a defender to add the fourth ten minutes later.

Melksham enjoyed some brief respite when Dave Macey curled a shot home after 34 minutes, but the home side were soon back in business.

Church grabbed his second six minutes before the break and then Adie Adams crashed in a 25-yard free-kick to make it 6-1 at half-time.

The shell-shocked visitors held out for 22 minutes of the second half before Nicholls completed his hat-trick.

Vahid scored his second goal with 71 minutes played and Joe White got in on the act to make it 9-1 four minutes later.

Melksham's misery was completed in injury-time when Yate player-coach Michael Meaker scored his side's 10th goal.

Clevedon gained revenge for their league defeat on Bank Holiday Monday by dumping Paulton out of the FA Cup at the preliminary round stage with a 2-1 away win.

Town opened the scoring after 25 minutes when Cameron Ricketts got away from the Rovers defence to cross for Josh Klein-Davies to convert.

The visitors always looked dangerous and deservedly scored a second goal nine minutes after the turnaround.

Ricketts again was the creator, this time setting up Lloyd Mills, who drove the ball into the net from 12 yards.

Paulton produced something of a rally late on and gave themselves hope five minutes from time when Ben Lacey ended a fine run with a great finish.

The hosts poured forward in search of a late equaliser, but Clevedon held out to progress to the first qualifying round.

Brislington had Liam Peart and Michael Rimmer on the scoresheet as they won their tie 2-1 at Radstock, while Bishop Sutton will entertain Shortwood in a replay tomorrow night after the sides drew 1-1 at Meadowbank, Pete Sheppard netting the Sutton goal.

Marcus Griffiths scored the only goal of the game as Longwell Green went out of the FA Cup to Merthyr at the preliminary round stage.

The Welsh side could have been out of sight by half-time as Garry Sheppard, Scott Armitage and Ryan Prosser all had good chances.

Longwell Green's one first-half opportunity fell to Simon Dew, but he could only shoot at Joe Perry in the home goal.

Merthyr made the breakthrough six minutes before half-time when Griffiths drove the ball home following Kris Leek's long throw.

The hosts continued to create chances after the break, but Griffiths and Leek were unable to extend the lead.

Indeed, Merthyr were fortunate not to concede a late equaliser when Matteo King rounded Perry only to miss the target.