Tues 7th March. Wiltshire Shield semi-final Melksham Town 2 Westbury United 3
AN incredible evening for Westbury United as a great all round team performance led them to a thrilling victory against their Southern League rivals and end a 30-year wait for a cup final appearance.
The semi-final match against Melksham was meant to be played at a neutral venue; however Westbury opted to effectively be the away team in order to make travel easier and utilise Melksham’s superb Oaklands facility.
Led by captain Dan Price, with the excellent Jake Hutchings alongside him in defence, both players set the tone for the win. United had an early corner scrambled away however they took the lead in the third minute as Ryan Bole’s deep free kick found Charlie Walton who cut inside onto his left foot and finished powerfully.
Town had a few half chances to draw level with Alex Henshall, Joe Romanski and Sam Hendy having efforts blocked or off target. Bole was prominent on the left wing with a set piece being headed over by Gary Higdon then a skiddy cross spilt by keeper Mac Boyd with neither Higdon nor Joe Stradling able to apply a touch.
Boyd then saved well from Higdon after which Melksham launched a counterattack and Jay Malshanskyj’s drive was deflected wide. Aaron Cockerill raced forward and sent in a cross that led to Higdon having a few stabs at goal denied by his marker.
Tackles began to fly in, making the encounter feel like a proper derby, then Steve Hulbert launched a long ball which was strongly held up by Harvey Flippance who played in Walton, and he came within a whisker of doubling Westbury’s lead with another left footed strike that cannoned off a post.
Melksham countered immediately and Jonny Hill made his first save of the game to deny the lively Malshanskyj. Play calmed down for ten minutes before the hosts almost got themselves level as half time approached; Albie Hopkins showed good skill and sent in a cross that flew through a crowded box then Hill held onto Phil Ormrod’s shot.
Time to draw breath before what turned into a breathless second half!
Town started quickly after the break with Hopkins being denied by a joint block from Hill and Price. Ralph Graham working an opening for himself but shooting waywardly then Hopkins with more skill but no end product!
Westbury were forced into a change with the hard-working Cockerill going off injured, Bole dropping to full back and Toby Dolton-Cole coming on. If anything, this helped give United fresh impetus in attack.
Flippance held off his marker and had a shot deflected wide and from Ashton Shanley’s corner Higdon headed wide. Melksham got on top again and Hopkins twice made Hill deny him then Bole produced the tackle of the night to ward off Jack Carter!
The game then went into overdrive! Cole, Stradling and Higdon all had shots blocked then Higdon switched the ball to Steve Hulbert who advanced and had his effort blocked; this time Bole took the free kick and somehow Boyd kept it out in a scramble!
Town drew level on 70 as Hendy’s free kick was well saved by Hill but Tom Dowell bundled the ball over the line!
Parity couldn’t have been shorter lived though as Westbury went straight up the other end and, after fine play by Cole, Walton looked certain to score only to be denied by a ridiculous block as Shanley sent in a pinpoint corner which was headed in by a delirious Price to make it 1-2!
Hopkins almost set up another leveller, but his set piece was headed inches wide and this proved vital as United went on the attack and Cole unleashed a superb low finish to open up a 1-3 lead!
Westbury really should have put the game to bed as further chances went begging along with Boyd making superb saves from Flippance’s shot and Shanley’s top corner bound free kick. Then Cole had another fine shot that rebounded off the post!
Having survived at their defensive end, Melksham grabbed a lifeline when Malshanskyj scored to reduce their deficit to 2-3 and this set up a grandstand finish where every player was in the United penalty area for corners and free kicks with several shots blocked!
Then in the sixth minute of added time Hopkins had the chance to shoot from a free kick which was hit into the wall!
Star team: Westbury United
Team: Jonny Hill, Steve Hulbert, Ryan Bole, Aaron Cockerill, Dan Price, Jake Hutchings, Ashton Shanley, Joe Stradling, Harvey Flippance, Charlie Walton, Gary Higdon.
Subs: Toby Dolton-Cole, Sam Jordan, Emmanuel Adepitan (used) Ben Griffiths, Ricky Hulbert (unused).
Match report by Andy Bown.
