Corsham Town Reserves went into the replayed game against Frome Collegians on Tuesday night knowing that a repeat of the victory in the earlier game would secure their place in the final of the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup on Saturday 29^th May. However, a win for Frome Collegians could open the door for Odd Down Reserves, and would certainly have gone down well at Frome's fellow Somerset based club, who were the only side capable of catching Corsham after the weekend results.

It was Frome who went in front on 16 minutes when Corsham’s left back Dominic Kilbane jumped into a tackle that saw Frome’s Sam Wright go down in the box. After referee Ella Broad consulted her assistant referee a spot kick was awarded. Frome captain James Hounsell stepped up to take the spot kick but saw his initial kick well saved by Corsham keeper Alex Croker, but the ball spun up into the air and Hounsell who had followed in the kick was able to head it into the empty net to make it 1-0 to the visitors. Corsham Town Reserves got themselves back on level terms just before the half hour mark and goal scorer Hounsell went from hero to villain as his intended pass back to a fellow defender went straight to Adam Shipman who fed in Jake Dodge who ran on into the box and fired a shot into the corner of the net past Liam Ashman in the Frome goal. Shortly after Adam Shipman, who has impressed for Corsham in their cup campaign, went close with a header that just went past the post and it remained all square at the break.

There were chances at both ends after the interval with Frome generally having the better scoring opportunities as they sought a winner. Twice captain Jamie Cunning came to Corsham’s rescue with a couple of well-timed interventions, firstly heading off the line then helping goalie Croker in keeping out another attempt at goal. Whilst the better chances in the second hour had generally gone Frome’s way they went close to falling behind in the 90^th minute when a glorious cross from the right wing flew across their six-yard box and captain Hounsell did enough to ball deflect the ball wide of the post for a corner, just as it looked it would fall to a Corsham player at the far post. That was not the end of the action though, deep into injury time Frome’s Barry Sandquest went close with a clever chip that went just over the Corsham bar. It ended one goal apiece with Frome becoming the only side so far to take points off Corsham Town Reserves in their five games to date. Once again, excellent 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 Frome Collegians FC - Official Match Highlights

It means that both groups in the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup will now go to the final Saturday of group matches to decide who will make the final. Corsham are still the favourites to progress from the South Group but Odd Down Reserves can still pip them if they win by five or more clear goals on Saturday when the two meet up at the Southbank Ground.

The one other game in the South Group on Saturday sees Trowbridge Town manager Ant Ottaviano take charge of his final game with Melksham Town Reserves the visitors to Woodmarsh. The other game between Ludgershall and Shrewton United, which can no longer have an impact on the competition finalists, has been pushed back to next Wednesday with both sides still involved in the latter stages of the Cricklade Supreme Cup competitions.

In the North Group the final game between Pewsey Vale and Malmesbury Victoria Development will decide the finalists from that group. With Pewsey currently three points ahead of Malmesbury and having scored four more goals than their closest rivals it will need a Malmesbury win by four or more clear goals to swing the goal difference in Malmesbury’s favour. A win for Pewsey or a draw or a defeat by 3 or less would see Pewsey make the final. With all the wet weather this week the two clubs have agreed to switch the game from Malmesbury to Pewsey Vale.

21 May 2021