The Evening Advertiser, Monday September 28th 1964

Highworth's first venture into the Amateur Cup proved disastrous on Saturday.

Fielding nine of the side which won the Wiltshire Cup last season, they lost 8-1 at home to Wootton Bassett, for whom Harkness was in splendid form.

Harkness scored two goals and made six – four for Challis, and two for Stephens. Smith

The Wiltshire Gazette, Thursday October 1st 1964

Last season's Wiltshire Senior Cup winners Highworth Town had a disastrous excursion into the competition, crashing 8-1 at home to Wootton Bassett.

Harkness scored two goals and made six through – through Challis (4) and Stephens (2), while Smith replied for Highworth.

The Football Pink, Saturday October 3rd 1964 (by Senior)

It was left to Wootton Bassett to strike the best blow for the Wiltshire Premier League by meeting the redoubtable cup terrors of the county, Highworth, on their own peculiar ground, and winning 8-1.

Without a doubt they earned the unspoken thanks of every other club left in, for the Highworth ground has become the graveyard of so many county clubs' hopes that all dread the thought of being drawn there.

Only Winston Menham and Peter Guy were missing from Highworth's successful Wiltshire Senior Cup side of last season. Wootton Bassett were short of three of their regulars, including their top scorer, Benny Lehane.

Freegard Prominent

In addition they had to face Highworth tearing down their infamous slope in the first half, endbut Chris Freegard was a defender no Highworth player could overcome.

Before long it became obvious that Highworth were in difficulties. Their attack could not penetrate and their defence ran into trouble against the wiles of Andy Harkness who dominated the field from his inside forward position more and more as the game proceeded.

He worked a goal for Dave Challis and then engineered a second one for the same player before half time.

Any side worth their salt who are two goals to the good at half time and are then set to play downhill at Highworth are as good as though and Wootton Bassett were full of confidence. Their play justified it too, for it was virtually one-way traffic towards the Highworth end throughout this half.

Challis completed his hat-trick with another goal worked out by Harkness.

At this stage Johnny Smith scored for Highworth, but Harkness restored the three goal Wootton Bassett lead.

Bill Stevens added two more goals, the openings again coming from Harkness.

After that Challis slipped in for his fourth success, the inspiration coming once more from Harkness.

Rewarded

After being concerned in all seven goals it would have been a shame if anyone other than Harkness had scored the eighth.

Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:38