POTTERIES duo Dave Harold and Jamie Cope have both failed to qualify for this season's Wembley Masters.

Both players fell at the first hurdle yesterday as they tried to qualify for snooker's prestigious invitational event.

Former Asian Open winner Harold was upset 5-2 by Thailand cueman Anda Zhang in their showdown at the Pontin's Holiday Park in Prestatyn.

And it also proved to be a bad day at the office for Longton professional Cope as he slipped to a 5-2 loss to Norwich cueman Barry Pinches in North Wales.

"I didn't play particularly well," reflected Cope. "I've not started the season particularly well, it would have been good to have played at Wembley.

"I'm sure I'll play there one day, but it was always going to be tough to qualify because you've got to win five qualifying matches."

Cope managed a top break of 47 as he found himself 3-1 down at the interval.

And Pinches deservedly won thanks to breaks of 54, 59, 48 and 51 to earn a meeting with Gloucester's Robert Milkins in the next round.

Harold also failed to sparkle as he was surprisingly beaten by Zhang, a qualifier who doesn't have an official world ranking.

Zhang won the opening frame with a break of 81, but Harold rallied and levelled the match with a run of 69.

But his opponent edged 3-1 ahead thanks to a break of 71 and then won a scrappy fifth frame for a commanding 4-1 lead.

A break of 48 helped Harold keep his qualifying hopes alive, but Zhang pocketed a break of 84 in the seventh and deciding frame to progress.

"That's one to forget," admitted Harold. "That was not one of my best games!"