Late heartbreak

Sat 19th Feb. Southern League Div. One. Att: 346 Melksham Town 3 Mangotsfield United 3

DESPITE red weather warnings nationwide on Friday 18th February, Storm Eunice wasn’t enough to keep any action away from Oakfields as struggling Mangotsfield travelled to face a Melksham side unbeaten in their last 4 league games.  

Continuing their recent uplift in form, an unlikely scorer in Aaron Parsons popped up at the back post to power home from Albie Hopkins’ flick on, giving Town the lead after 20 minutes.  

Having beaten the visitors 6-0 and 2-0 already this season, Melksham were looking to make it 3 wins out of 3 against Mangotsfield, and were looking in prime position to do so. 

Another player enjoying a good spell is Jay Malshanksyj, and he notched his 4th goal in 4 games after racing through on goal and showing great composure to slot home past the ‘keeper.  

Town, two to the good with just under 15 minutes of the half to play, it was looking good for the in-form hosts.  

However, you can never be complacent in this league, and Mangotsfield reminded Town of that as they pulled a goal back just 7 minutes later, Mircea Ilea the scorer. But to the delight of the Town faithful, the ever-dangerous Albie Hopkins finished superbly to restore Melksham’s two-goal advantage a minute before the break.  

Mangotsfield were always going to be a threat second half; the struggling visitors were going to throw everything they had at a stern Melksham defence to try and take something from the game. The resolute Town did defence did well to keep out the second half pressure from the visitors, that was until the 81st minute, when Kye Simpson managed to pull a goal back and bring Town within reach with just under 10 minutes to go.  

Suddenly it was an incredibly tense closing stages, and it was soon to be heartbreak for Town who couldn’t quite hold out for long enough. Joe Cattermole bagged an equaliser with minutes left on the clock, too late for Town to try and find yet another goal in what had already been a great afternoon for football.  

By Lewie Simmons