"With the completion of the third round of the BFA Challenge Cup competition yesterday (5 February 1956), two teams from the Combination and two from the League entered the semi-finals for the first ever open knock-out trophy. BAA and Sandys of the BFC and Southampton Rangers and Key West of the BFL emerged with clear-cut victories after games played in brilliant sunshine which drew big crowds of spectators". (, 6 Feb 1956).

In summarising the four matches, and commenting on the game played at White Hill, of 6 Feb 1956 noted that "with two goals scored by 'Chummy' Flood ? one of which was a penalty ? and a fine header by Rob Redding, Sandys Boat Club defeated their Dock Hill opponents 3-1. Right winger 'Chalky' Thomas scored the only goal for Dock Hill. Neither side played attractive soccer ? for the most part the game was of a drab kick-and-rush style with not much direction to the kicking and plenty of robust rushing ? except in the closing minutes of the match when (it suddenly) came to life and sparkled".

At Cox's Hill, "the Southampton Rangers ousted the National Sports Club by building up a 2-1 lead at half-time and increasing their goal margin with two more goals by the end of the game. Yuni Sousa started the scoring with a goal for Nationals ? the only one they were to claim throughout the entire dreary game. George Dwyer and George Ray for Southampton put their team ahead, and after the interval, Joynes scored Rangers' third and Jones added the final tally". A comprehensive 4-1 win for Southampton, but an apparently disappointing and uninspiring game with neither team performing above-average.

The third fixture of the round saw "BAA down St George's 4-0" at the BAA field. "Dominating all phases of play, the BAA scored once in the first half, and three times in the second. The final tally might have been much higher had the winning team capitalised on a number of opportunities. BAA's high-scoring centre-forward, David Thorne, notched the first of the day, with Chris Triantopoulos, Ray Constable and 'Blacky' Lewis each scoring after half-time". (6 Feb 1956) reported that "St George's traditional cup match 'charm' deserted them, and BAA generally had the run of play. Had it not been for some excellent saves by Fred Luther in the St George goal, they would have scored considerably more than four times".

The fourth quarter-final took place at Cox's Hill where "Key West Rangers triumphed over Happy Valley 5-2, with Cal Symonds scoring his team's first three goals, his opening one being a solo effort shortly after the game started. A few minutes later, Cal went through again for his second". However, Happy Valley pulled one back when the Rangers' goalkeeper "failed to cut out a cross from the right wing and Stephens put in their first goal", leaving the half-time score at 2-1.

"Right from the kick-off of the second-half, Symonds hit a grounder from about 30 yards to score his third goal" and Ming got the fourth. Tucker, who scored 4 goals in Happy Valley's previous Cup win, then "scored from a goal-mouth scramble before Townsey Russell got the fifth (for Key West) with a long shot from about 35 yards out" (, 6 Feb 1956).

Although none of the above four quarter-finals could have been described as 'outstanding' games of soccer, their results now left the alternatives of either one all-BFL semi-final and one all-BFC pairing, or two inter-league matches ? the latter obviously the more appealing prospect. This semi-finals draw, with comments and considerations, will be found in next week's BFA Anniversary Diary.