THE Soccer Site Malvern League Senior Cup holders Bishops Frome entertained Bell Inn 98 and were made to fight hard for their eventual passage to the semi-finals courtesy of a 5-3 victory.

Despite taking the lead with an own goal from a deflected free-kick, Bishops Frome seemed to still be feeling the effects of their defeat last week in the HFA Cup and Bell Inn 98 soon pulled it back to 1-1. The home side regained the lead courtesy of a Jason Westmacott penalty but Bell Inn 98 equalised again minutes later to make it 2-2 at half-time.

Shaun Harris came on as a substitute for Frome at the start of the second half and it only took him five minutes to make his mark when he raced through to flick the ball past the advancing Bell keeper. But Bell were determined not to go down without a fight and equalised for the third time.

Bishops Frome took the lead again when Shaun Harris netted following a goalmouth scramble, which saw him tap the ball in from close range. This time there was to be no equaliser from the visitors and the game was made safe for Frome with the goal of the game from Wayne Tizzard. His 25-yard left foot screamer thundered into the top of the net giving the visiting goalie no chance. Scorers for the Bell Inn 98 were Ben Ledbury and two from Chris Grubb.

Morgan Aero 8 progressed to the semi-finals following a 2-1 victory at Talbot Head. With conditions in their favour, Morgan took the lead when a long through-ball from Richard Bird found Cornel Wilde, who raced through to give Nick Rogers in the home goal no chance with his shot.

It became 2-0 to the visitors when, following a goalmouth melee, Talbot failed to clear the ball and Morgan sub Phillip Dunn thundered his shot into the roof of the net.

Mark Philpotts missed a golden opportunity to tie the game up for Morgan when he found himself clear with only the keeper to beat but he put the ball wide. Talbot Head tried to get back into the game but it took until the 82nd minute for them to pull a goal back. Danny Briscoe beat several players on a mazy run before hammering the ball home. Despite their best effort, the home side were unable to produce a late equaliser.

In the clash of the Keys it was division one side Cross Keys who put an end to second division rivals Belmont Keys' recent good form when they achieved a rather flattering 5-1 victory after an excellent sporting contest.

Cross Keys took the lead after 20 minutes when Ollie Endacott was brought down in the box and then got up to convert the resultant spot kick. It became 2-0 in the 40th minute when, following a fine one-two with Paul Edwards, Rob Cullen ran through and blasted his shot under the diving keeper.

It was Rob Cullen again who was in the right place to increase Cross Keys' lead in the 65th minute when he volleyed home from 12 yards following a corner. Belmont Keys deservedly pulled a goal back in the 67th minute when Dave Perera scored a fine individual goal when he went on a run in which he beat several defenders before giving the keeper no chance with a low shot into the corner.

This was a signal for Belmont Keys to push forward looking for a second but they paid the price when they were caught out by a counter attack which saw Damian Lloyd receive the ball in his own half and then proceed to run 60 yards before calmly slotting the ball home.

The scoring was wrapped up in the 83rd minute when, following a Cross Keys' corner, the ball was unfortunately headed into his own net by a Belmont defender.

The quarter-final tie between Oak Allstars and Dynamo Ledbury was postponed.

In division two, Keyz 04 were denied the opportunity to go top of the table when their game at Dilligaf United was called of due to a waterlogged pitch.

The draws for the cup semi-finals has resulted in:

President's Cup: Keyz 04 v Perowne Park Rangers, Ganglands v Dilligaf United. Ties to be played Sunday March 13.

Senior Cup: Morgan Aero 8 v Bishops Frome, Oak Allstars/ Dynamo Ledbury v Cross Keys. Ties to be played Sunday April 3.