It is congratulations to Amesbury Town for their outstanding win in the quarter final of the prestigious Wiltshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night against Uhlsport Hellenic League side Calne Town. Few would have predicted the 6-2 away win ahead of the game. Amesbury went at their higher-level opponents right from the off and were in front within three minutes, a Josh Moore cross to the far post finding the head of Robbie Owen to give Amesbury an early lead. They doubled their lead on nine minutes, Ally McCracken firing in from the edge of the box for 2-0. There was no letting up from Robbie Skeates side as Josh Moore added a third with just 15 minutes on the clock, Moore chipping the keeper from 25 yards out. Amesbury continued to push forward and were 4-0 up on 20 minutes, McCracken going from scorer to provider as his through ball found Ben Morris who from a tight angle volleyed home into the far corner. The half time break could not come quick enough for a shell shocked Calne side.  Whatever was said at half-time in the Calne dressing room certainly provoked a reaction as Calne came out second half and scored two quick goals. Substitute Jack Smith scored the first within a minute of the restart and Josh Bright then added a second on 54 minutes as Calne looked to make a game of it. However, there was to be no comeback from the Step 6 side, as centre-back Jack Vallis restored Amesbury’s three goal advantage heading home from a Matt Scott corner to make it 5-2. On a night of quality goals from Amesbury they saved the best until last when a header into the box was met by Josh Moore with an overhead bicycle kick that saw the ball scream into the top corner of the net giving the Calne keeper absolutely no chance. A convincing 6-2 win for Amesbury who remain on track for a possible treble this season and an immediate bounce-back to Step 6.

The other semi-final on Tuesday night involving Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League sides was at the Oakfield Stadium Melksham where Melksham Town Reserves entertained fellow Wiltshire League side Trowbridge Town. Melksham took an early lead from the penalty spot, Harvey Woods putting the spot kick away, but Trowbridge were back on level terms just five minutes later. A ball into the box from Liam Milburn ricocheting off a Melksham defender into his own net for 1-1. Both sides created further chances in the half but there were to be no more goals before the break. Having scored early in the first half Melksham repeated the feat in the second half, Jake Dodge firing in from close range within a couple of minutes of the restart to put his side 2-1 up. They extended their lead on 54 minutes, Jaiden Pearce with the goal to make it 3-1 to Melksham. Two minutes later the game was effectively over as a contest, Harvey Woods with his second of the game to make it 4-1 the ball going in off a post. It remained that way until six minutes from time, George Bendle firing in a second for Trowbridge. There was still time for two more good chances for Trowbridge but neither were taken as it finished 4-2 to Melksham Town Reserves.

Joining Amesbury Town and Melksham Town Reserves in the semi-final are Western League side Bradford Town who defeated Malmesbury Vics from the Hellenic League following a penalty shoot-out, again on Tuesday night,  and the current cup holders Downton from the Wessex League, who were big 6-1 winners over another Hellenic side Devizes Town last week in their quarter final.

24 November 2023