Pewsey Vale 0 Whitchurch Utd 3.

Whitchurch travelled to Pewsey for the first time in 18 months for a first round tie in the League Cup, a competition in which they reached the semi-final stage last season.

The starting side showed two changes from the win at Bournemouth with Tim Brasseur replacing the unavailable Elliot Parker and Danny Barker making his full debut after Scott Hassall sustained an injury in the warm-up The visitors nearly took the lead over their Division One hosts in the opening seconds as Jamie Mansell won the ball but the angle was tight and goalkeeper Richie Payne blocked the effort with his legs.

Neither side could make any real impression though Whitchurch ‘keeper Brad Snelling did well to hold a Pewsey corner in a crowded goalmouth and, to quote manager Carl Bennett: “Whitchurch were comfortable without making progress” while the home side posed little threat at the other end.

Danny Phillips found Green on the left but Jack Garner was stopped by weight of numbers and when Green then found space to combine with Mansell the shot from Phillips was inches the wrong side of the post.

A corner caused some confusion in the Whitchurch area until Snelling hung on to the ball before the breakthrough came after 35 minutes.

Jack McCarthy was the provider, his pass finding Mansell, and the latter’s control took him past two defenders before slotting the ball past Payne.

The second half started with the visitors to the fore and the ball bounced round the home area pinball fashion before finally being cleared but the relief was only temporary as another Whitchurch attack ended with Phillips doubling the lead.

The same player then forced Payne to save at full stretch before the home side’s best chance came and went.

Dan Sloan made ground down the left but Tom Whitham could not make proper contact with the cross and the ball bounced harmlessly to safety.

With an hour gone the visitors sent on Adam Battison and Ben Thompson for Barker and Green and immediately claimed goal three.

Adam Pearson, solid as ever with Mitch Fear at the back, started the move and both Battison and Phillips were involved before McCarthy beat Payne from 12 yards.

With a quarter of an hour left young Tyler Lewis came on for his debut in place of Phillips and Snelling again showed his powers of concentration when five minutes from the end of a quiet afternoon he tipped a fierce drive over the bar.

Whitchurch now face another Division One side, New Milton, at Longmeadow at the end of October in round two but thoughts will be focused on the Vase trip to Chippenham Park on Sunday.