The first Veterans’ honours this season have gone the way of Melksham Town as they triumphed in the final of the Wiltshire FA’s Veterans’ County Cup on Friday night, defeating Royal Wootton Bassett Town 4-0 on a damp evening at Green Lane, Devizes.  

As to be expected in a cup final both sides started the game at a high tempo and right from the first minute the game had a bit of an edge to it. Royal Wootton Bassett Town, already missing a couple of key players, suffered an early set-back when they lost their record first team appearance maker Steve Yeardley to injury with just six minutes gone. Despite the loss of their influential centre-back it remained a tight and cagey affair until five minutes before half-time when the deadlock was finally broken by a goal from Melksham's  Ian Dowell. The goal came after patient build-up play down the left-hand side. The move broke down on a couple of occasions but Melksham kept probing and the ball was eventually laid back to Dowell just outside the 18-yard box and he hit a powerful right footed shot into the roof of the net giving Royal Wootton Bassett Town keeper Stuart Langer no chance. Having got in front Melksham were gifted a second goal just a minute later, a mix-up in the Royal Wootton Bassett defence between Josh Connolly and keeper Langer saw Connolly head the ball past his own keeper to the feet of Simon Charity, giving Melksham’s leading scorer an open goal, albeit from a tight angle,  which he duly put away for 2-0.

Second half saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town try to get back into the match but a well drilled Melksham defence dealt well with any attacks and restricted their opponents to half-chances that rarely troubled Melksham keeper Gareth Evans. The only real chance he had to deal with was a dangerous cross in from the right from Chris Head that he cleared with his feet. Melksham increased their lead with ten minutes to go. A ball into the box found Kris Beasley but he scuffed his attempted shot which rebounded off a defender to Ian Dowell, whose neat back flick set up Charity for his second of the game, Melksham’s leading marksman firing in for 3-0. Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s night went from bad to worse when Brady Lilley received a second yellow card for an attempted tackle and was dismissed. Melksham rounded off a good evening’s work when Rob Cousins fired in a free kick into the bottom corner of the net after a foul on the edge of the box by Josh Connolly to make the final score 4-0 to Melksham.

Melksham have now won the cup twice having lifted the trophy for the first time back in Season 2020-21. They now turn their minds to the League Cup with a semi-final against fellow Mid Wiltshire Division side Bradford Town this coming Thursday. For Royal Wootton Bassett Town that is now defeat in consecutive County Cup finals and they are now left to concentrate on the league where they are still in the title race in the North Wiltshire Division but have a lot of games still to play as a result of their County Cup exploits.

Your Sport Swindon were at the game on Friday night and subscribers can watch highlights of the game by clicking on the link below or by clicking on the link form the Your Sport Swindon page of the website where a number of other games covered by Your Sport Swindon can also be viewed.

Simon Charity who scored 2 of the goals in Melksham Town's 4-0 win over Royal W. Bassett Town & the RWBT defensive wall prepare to defend a Melksham free kick

JamalJosh Connolly & Kris Beasley who paid close attention to each other all night and Melksham prepare to lift the trophy

Wiltshire FA Veterans' County Cup

Season 2022-23

Wiltshire FA Veterans' County Cup Honours List

& Cup Finals

27 March 2023