Two evening games have been played in the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup this week, one in the South Group and one in the North Group.

Tuesday night saw Corsham Town Reserves look to maintain their 100% winning start to their cup campaign when they entertained Ludgershall Sports at the Southbank Ground. Saturday had seen Corsham edge a close encounter with Melksham Town Reserves thanks to two late Adam Shipman goals in a game played in difficult conditions. Whilst the weather was much better on Tuesday night it certainly rained goals at the Southbank and it was another good night for Shipman. Corsham took the lead on 15 minutes when a ball over the top saw Jake Dodge race clear of the defence and score with a cool finish past the Ludgershall keeper Alex Topham. Three minutes later Dodge went from scorer to provider as he was put through with a defence splitting pass from Ben Wickens and then cut a ball back across the six-yard box for a simple tap in for Shipman to make it 2-0 to the home side. Ludgershall had a chance at the other end thanks to a defensive error but they could not make it pay as the shot was well saved by Alex Croker in the Corsham goal. Corsham thought they had scored again on 37 minutes when the ball was headed in from a free-kick but the referee blew his whistle for the kick to be retaken before the ball entered the net. From the retake Topham this time saved from another goal bound header. Corsham continued to pressurise the Ludgershall goal and extended their lead four minutes before the break. A great turn from Adam Shipman down the left flank saw him feed in Jake Dodge whose pace saw him race past the Ludgershall back line before slipping the ball through the legs of the Ludgershall keeper to make it 3-0 at the interval.

Corsham extended their lead a minute after the restart through Ben Wickens with another clinical finish and went further ahead on the hour mark, when Wickens crossed for Shipman to finish for his second of the game to make it 5-0. Five became six soon after when great work down the left from Emilio Mudrak saw the Corsham player upended in the box and the award of a penalty to the home side. Jake Dodge put the penalty away for his second of the game.  Whilst Corsham were certainly finding the net it could have been a lot more but for the Ludgershall keeper Topham who denied them on a number of occasions. There was no stopping Corsham though. They scored their seventh of the night on 72 minutes, Shipman beating the offside trap and crossing for substitute Ed McCormack to score. Shortly afterwards McCormack returned the compliment slipping the ball across to Shipman to complete his hat-trick and make it 8-0 on the night. Credit to Ludgershall who kept going and created three or four chances of their own. Firstly Corsham keeper Croker pulled off a good save and the resulting corner saw the ball go just wide of the post. Croker then pulled off another save from a header as the keeper ensured he maintained a clean sheet. Two minutes from time youngster Tom Tanner was set up by Shipman to make it 9-0. The Ludgershall keeper was then forced to leave the field due to an injury and there was to be one more goal when substitute Ed McCormack scoring a tenth for Corsham firing into the far corner to round off a good night for Jamie Moss and his side. Superb highlights coverage of this game filmed by Corsham Town’s Jacob Price can be viewed on Corsham's Youtube channel using the link below:

Corsham Town Reserves FC v Ludgershall Sports FC - Official Match Highlights

That is now three wins from three for Corsham and they are back in action this weekend when they entertain Shrewton United. The other games in the South group this weekend see Frome Collegians and Odd Down Reserves look to maintain their cup final prospects with home games against Melksham Town Reserves and Trowbridge Town respectively.

Friday night saw North Group action as the Hellenic League’s cup competition, which has Malmesbury Vics first team at home this Saturday, forced the game against Stratton Juniors to be brought forward a day. An early penalty on the night put visitors Stratton Juniors ahead, Devon Brown firing in the spot kick. However, two goals for Malmesbury from Joe Tranter and James Archer gave Malmesbury the lead at the interval in an entertaining half of football. Shortly after the interval Malmesbury extended their lead, James Archer getting his second of the game to make it 3-1. It continued to be a good entertaining encounter, but Aaron Sanghera ended any hopes of Stratton getting anything out of the game when he fired in a penalty to make it 4-1 to the Vics. With one game to go Malmesbury Vics Development still have the chance of making the final with a win in their final game against Pewsey Vale.

14 May 2021