Sat. 13th Nov, Southern League Div. One. Melksham Town 3 Lymington Town 2
DESPITE Tuesday’s cup exit [9th November], Town were still in fine league form as they headed into this game unbeaten in their last four in the Southern League, winning three of those.
Town’s opponents came in the form of Lymington Town FC – who come into the game just one point behind Town, however the visitors have played two more than Melksham.
A cagey first 20 was put to bed when Albie Hopkins showed great feet to beat his markers and put the ball on a plate for Sam Hendy. With great composure, Hendy beat the last defender and slid the ball past the ‘keeper to give Town the lead.
Town replicated last week’s effort of 2 goals in 2 minutes when Luke Ballinger was on hand to slot home Town’s second, after some tidy work from Hendy turned him provider by squaring the ball to an unmarked Ballinger.
With a two-goal lead for the second week in a row, Town were desperate to get in at half-time with that lead still intact, and not make the same mistakes as the previous week. With some good defending including a superb block from Will Christopher to deny the visitors a goal back in the game, Melksham ultimately ended the half with a two-goal lead and one hand on a big three points.
After the half time break, Town came out of the second half looking to add the killer third goal. Refusing to sit back and defend the two-goal lead, Melksham kept pushing and were rewarded with a beautifully struck effort from Jake Mawford on the 58th minute. Sam Hendy, who already had a goal and an assist to his name for the afternoon, picked up the ball in midfield and drove at the defence before releasing Mawford, who cut in on his right and curled one in off the far post. Town 3 goals up and carrying on their highly impressive Southern League form.
Late on in the game, Lymington were able to get themselves a consolation goal; static defending allowed veteran striker Craig MacCallister to slot home from close range – ending any hopes of a clean sheet for Matt Hall.
This wasn’t to be the only late scare for Town, as Lymington got a second in added time. However, Town were able to see out the game as 3-2 victors: putting further distance between themselves and their opponents in the league table.
By Lewie Simmons
