Town play-off hopes get stuck in the mud

Sat. 25th Mar. Southern League Div. One Willand Rovers 1  Melksham Town 0

TOWN’S play-off hopes were dealt a blow after going down 1-0 away at Willand on a mud-bath of a pitch.

“Town travelled to Willand Rovers on Saturday 25th March after originally being told there was no chance of the game being played on Friday night due to a waterlogged pitch,” reports club chairman Darren Perrin.

“With Willand playing on the Wednesday evening in torrential rain, the pitch was a total mud bath from the start. Town actually started the game quite well, but it was obvious that they would not be able to play their fast-flowing football. It certainly did not help that on 35 minutes Ralph Graham was sent off for two bookable offences leaving Town a mountain to climb. With neither keeper rarely troubled the half time score was 0 – 0.

“Willand came out stronger in the second half and took the lead after 48 minutes, and to be fair, although Town huffed and puffed, they never ever looked like scoring and, in the end, Willand could have won more comfortably.

“A disappointing performance; which means that Wednesday night’s home game against Hamworthy; Saturday’s home game against Bishop Cleeve, and Good Friday’s home game against Bristol Manor Farm (2pm kick off) are all very, very important in our quest for a play-off position.

“With your continued backing and support, we are confident that we could be very close to the play off positions by the time we travel to Frome Town on Easter Monday to play at 3pm.

“The Reserves are fighting hard to stay in the Wiltshire Senior League after a fantastic 7 – 3 win against Marlborough, and many congratulations to the Melksham Town Vets team who won the County Cup on Friday night against Royal Wootton Bassett 4 – 0, thanks to goals from Simon Charity x 2, Ian Dowell and a Rob Cousins free kick. This kept the Vets’ chances of a treble very much alive.

“Town will be able to announce their pre-season schedule within the month, but we can guarantee the people of Melksham, it’s another special one.”