Melksham Town exit FA Cup at Devizes

Saturday 22nd August

FA Cup Preliminary Round

Devizes Town 2-1 Melksham Town

Melksham Town were knocked out of the FA Cup after going down to a 2-1 defeat at Devizes Town in Saturday’s Preliminary Round tie.

Jay Walters put the hosts ahead after 19 minutes before Dan Demkiv doubled Devizes’ advantage in the 67th minute.

Kitan Jaiyeoba pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 87th minute but Melksham could not find an equaliser.

The result came after Town’s previous match at Exmouth Town in the league was abandoned shortly before half-time following a clash of heads involving Melksham players Alex Hallett and Mark Cooper.

Alex was taken to hospital for treatment but was able to travel home with the team. Mark was also treated in hospital and returned to Melksham in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Speaking after Saturday’s defeat, Town manager Kieran Baggs accepted responsibility for the performance.

“I think I’ll have to pick up a lot of the responsibility today,” he said. “The way I’ve set up, the team I’ve selected, the way we’ve tried to play today, I think I’ve got that wrong.

“Devizes deserved the victory. On another day, I think if we take our chances, it can be a little bit different, but that being said, I don’t think we’ve created enough in the final third, had enough quality, had enough bravery on the football.”

Kieran highlighted the absence of Alex Hallett and Mark Cooper who had formed his first-choice centre-back partnership. “No Alex and no Mark today which is absolutely huge, to lose both your first-choice centre halves is not ideal but our squad is good enough and the boys that came in are more than capable football players.

“No excuses from me. Beaten by the better side today, outworked, out fought, out battled. and they had that bit of extra quality in front of goal. So apologies to the fans that came over today, but hopefully they’re still going to get behind us like they always do.”

Kieran singled out 16-year-old Callum Kirkman, who came on as sub to make his competitive debut. “I don’t think he’ll be too far away from getting a start for us at 16 years old; to have that sort of hunger and desire, he came on and won the penalty,” said Kieran.

There was also an update on the injured centre-backs with Kieran saying Alex was expected to be available for the coming weekend, while Mark could be out for “a month, if not five, six weeks” as he recovers from his head injury.

Melksham now face a difficult trip to Weymouth in the FA Trophy next Saturday, followed by another meeting between the sides on the Monday in the league at the Meads of Melksham Community Stadium.

“We are under no illusions how difficult the next two games are going to be,” said Kieran. “Anything we can get from those two games is going to be a huge bonus for us.

“We’ve got to roll our sleeves up, dust ourselves down. Lick our wounds and go again.”