Town make semi-final but league prospects dented

Sat. 1st April – Les Philips Cup Quarter Final
Melksham Town 1-0 Buckland Ath.
Monday 3rd April – Toolstation Premier Div.
Melksham Town 1-0 Hallen
Saturday 8th April – Toolstation Premier Div.
Melksham Town 2-3 Street

MELKSHAM Town suffered a setback in their bid for top two finish after their formidable run of recent results came to an end against Street, but there’s still all to play for as they vie for a top three spot and a cup final place.

Town suffered their first loss since February last weekend in a game against runners-up rivals, Street. It was only the fourth league match all season where Town finished without at least a point.

In the week beforehand, however, Town had landed three points in a victory over Hallen, and secured a place in the Les Philips Cup semi-final with a 1-0 win over tough Devon side, Buckland Athletic.

Thanks to an 85th minute goal from Luke Ballinger, third-placed Town are the highest ranked team left in the Toolstation League Cup, and will next face 10th-placed Gillingham Town.

Manager Darren Perrin said, “The Buckland game was a magnificent advert for Western League football. It was a very tough game for us and could have gone either way; we’re indebted to keeper Rob Brown who made some brilliant saves and to Luke Ballinger for a great finish.

“I’m delighted to have made it to the semi-final and I’m confident we can win the competition, but we’re under no illusions that the next game will be a tough one, too.”

A Monday night game on 3rd April saw Town do battle with Hallen AFC. Playing just two days after the Les Philips Cup match, the players were tired and jaded, Darren said, but striker Dan Kovacs scored the only goal of the night to make sure Melksham took all three points for their league campaign.

Then last weekend, on Saturday 8th April, disaster struck at Oakfields when Town let a two-goal lead slide and lost to Street in a pivotal battle for the Premier Division’s runners-up spot.

Sparks flew at the clash between two of the league’s strongest sides, with three Steve Hulbert and Ben Thomson both receiving cautions and Lee Davidson being sent off minutes into the second half.

Town had been 2-0 up at half-time after goals from Ben Thomson and Gary Higdon, but the drop to ten men allowed Street to edge Melksham aside to take the lead with just 15 minutes to go.

Darren Perrin said, “We were all absolutely distraught after the game. In the first half we were 2-0 up and absolutely cruising; it looked like we could have won by three, four or five goals.

“In what was a total lapse in discipline Lee lashed out and was sent off. It was completely out of character and I’m not prepared to criticise him too much because he has apologised to myself and the players, but it cost us the game.

“Street scored from the resulting free kick and we couldn’t recover in time. It was a hot day and with ten men against a tough team we just ran out of legs.

“That said, the players were magnificent for the first 55 minutes and I’d like the thank the fantastic crowd of 495 people who turned out. The whole club has been and continues to be delighted with the support the people of Melksham have given us since we moved to Oakfields.”

The result means Town are now four points behind Street with no games in hand, and will instead have to fight to stay ahead of Buckland Athletic, who are three points behind in fourth place.

Melksham Town FC have recently had their ground rating upgraded and approved for the Southern League, so if the team meet the threshold for promotion over the next three years, they will be able to step up to the eighth tier.

Perrin added, “It’s a shame we’ve got this two years after winning the league but it’s greatly appreciated by all at the club, and testament to the hard work of Dave Wiltshire and the committee who have done so much to get us here.”