Town kick off league campaign plus best showing in FA Cup for 24 years

Sat. 19th Sept. Southern League Div. One Melksham Town 1 Winchester City 2 Weds. 23rd Sept. FA Cup Highworth Town 1 Melksham Town 1 (4 – 5 on penalties) Sat. 26th Sept. FA Trophy Melksham Town 3 North Leigh 3 (4 – 5 on penalties)

IT’S been a mixed fortnight for Melksham Town FC, with disappointing losses in the league and FA Trophy, but an historic FA Cup win, reaching the second qualifying round for the first time in 24 years.

Despite the mixed fortunes of the club, Town’s manager, Richard Fey, has nothing but praise for his squad with “outstanding” performances, an “unbelieveable” goal, and now a club record, all picked out as highlights for the fortnight.

Town’s first league match of the season saw them up against league favourites Winchester City, but an early red card saw them a man down for most of the match. And despite a goal from Phil Ormrod and an “outstanding” performance, a late mistake saw Town end the day with a 2-1 loss.

“I gave a debut to Felipe Barcelos whose signing attracted some excitement for the club –  he was the top goal scorer in the league last year,” said Richard speaking to Melksham News.

“But unfortunately it was a debut for him to forget – he got sent off after 20 minutes for so say an elbow into an opponent’s face – he got a straight red card. 

“At the time it was 0-0 and we were comfortable – but then to have to play the last 70 minutes with 10 men against a team that finished third in the league last season –  it was a tough ask, on what was already going to be a tough match.

“But overall the lads were outstanding, the fitness levels were brilliant, and we stuck to a game plan. Unfortunately we conceded just before half-time, but we scored from a set piece to equalise in the second half. Unfortunately a mistake at the back gave a goal away with 10 minutes to go.

“It was one of those days to forget! If we had 11 men I think we would have been comfortable and would have had a chance of getting a positive result.”

Next up for Town was their FA Cup draw away to Highworth Town. An “unbelievable” goal from Luke Ballinger put Town in front in the second half, but an equaliser from Highworth took the match to penalties.

Town held firm, winning the shootout 5-4, taking the club to the second round qualifying – the furthest Town have gone in the FA Cup in 24 years.

Richard said, “We had no captain, Josh Ford, who was away with work, and no Ollie Webb, so we only had one recognised centre defender, but I managed to ask Dave Thompson, who is recently retired, to help us out. He came in and was outstanding.

“Luke Ballinger scored an overhead kick, which was an  unbelievable goal and worth every entrance fee to see a goal like that at that standard and at that class.

“But we couldn’t hold on to the win and Highworth managed to get one back 10 minutes later and it went to penalties.

“Luckily we have worked on our penalties because the cup games no longer have extra time and managed to go through, setting us up nicely to bring in some revenue for the club,

“Now we travel to Wimborne, who are in the league above, on Saturday 3rd October. The win shows that we are doing everything right and to get this far in 24 years is another record we can tick off. It’s nice to break records and hopefully we can get a positive result this Saturday and go even further.

“It’s the biggest day in  the club’s history in 24 years, it’s a big day for the club! Hopefully the supporters will follow us down there and get behind the lads – as we’ll need it as they are a big club in the league above.”

After their FA Cup heroics, Town next faced North Leigh in the FA Trophy. Town fought back from 3-1 down to clinch a 3-3 draw with goals from Jack Ball, Phil Ormrod and Luke Ballinger. But this time Town weren’t so lucky in the penalty shootout, bowing out of the Trophy 4-5.

Richard said, “We are playing games on Saturdays and Tuesdays eight weeks on the bounce, so I took the opportunity to change things around and use the squad –  we have a long journey on Tuesday (29th September) down to Portsmouth, and some lads have had to take a half day’s holiday to go.

“In the first half we were still ‘leggy’ from Wednesday night’s cup heroics and found ourselves 2-1 at half time. But in the second half I thought we were outstanding, we created 14 good chances. Watching back the highlights, it’s such a shame we couldn’t put those chances to bed.

“The character of the lads to come back in the second half and to equalise is outstanding. But to score three at home – you should be winning the game really, but all three goals were ‘mistakes’ and something we need to work on if we want to be successful this season .

“Unfortunately Ollie Webb and Ryan Bole missed their penalties, taking us out of this competition. But I can’t knock the lads’ effort in the second half and their desire – we were excellent and the supporters were brilliant – the way they got behind us in the second half.”