Wiltshire Senior League

Corsham Print

Wiltshire Senior League

Kintbury Edge U18 Cup Final

With Late Penalty in Extra Time

Under 18 League Cup Winners Kintbury Rangers

On a mostly dry but blustery evening the fourth staging of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League U18 Floodlight Division League Cup Final took place at Oakfield Stadium, home of Melksham Town FC. The League Directors, Officers and Management Committee would like to thank Melksham Town for once again allowing the final to take place at their ground, a fantastic venue at which to stage a cup final.

The final itself saw Calne Town looking to retain the cup they won last season when they defeated Radstock Town 3-0 in the final. This season’s opponents were Kintbury Rangers who were making their first appearance in a League Cup final. Kintbury, last season’s champions are looking favourites to retain the league crown but went into the final against Calne knowing that their opponents were the only side to beat them this season so far, Calne edging a close game back in September by the odd goal in five at Bremhill View. Another close encounter was anticipated in the cup final, and it proved to be just that.

The first half was a cagey affair of limited clear-cut chances with two well marshalled defences forcing their opponents to shoot from distance when they got anywhere near the goal. Kintbury’s Ben Luckett had the first real shot on goal from just outside the 18-yard box but his effort went well over the bar. A minute later it was Calne’s turn to get a shot away, but Reuban Badman’s shot from distance went well wide of the post. Both sides continued to play some good passing football but failing to break down an opponents organised back line. As the half progressed Kintbury started to take control and looked the more likely of the two sides to score as the half wore on. James Tomlinson broke down the right-hand side for Kintbury, getting behind his marker and crossing from near the corner flag into the area, the ball found Joseph Sheridan who shot tamely, and his effort was easily saved by Rhys Simpkins in the Calne goal. Kintbury were starting to make use of both flanks and overlapping full back Jake Cooper was the next to have a chance just before the half hour mark, a neat turn on the edge of the box saw him get his shot away but once again he fired over without troubling Simpkins. Two minutes later Rhys Atkins had another chance for Kintbury but whilst he hit his shot with power it was straight at Simpkins and easily saved by the Calne keeper.

It was certainly not all one-way traffic and Calne had a half chance when they were awarded a free kick 25-yards out. Harry Hynes took the free kick, but his effort was well over the bar, and it remained 0-0. When one of the sides finally got a shot on target it was to produce a wonder save from the keeper. Once again Kintbury's Jake Cooper broke from defence and ended his run by hitting a powerful strike which looked destined for the net until a stunning save from Simpkins in the Calne goal turned the ball away for a corner. The resulting corner came to nothing as a foul in the box saw the award of a free kick to Calne to alleviate the pressure. Still Kintbury pressed for that elusive opener, a header from Charlie Adams found Tomlinson who was shut down quickly by the resolute Calne defence and his shot ricocheted for a corner. From the resulting corner Kintbury created a golden chance for Kian McNally but he put his shot well over the bar from just yards out. An assistant referee’s flag meant that it would have been disallowed if he had found the net, but the effort was another example of the two sides frustration in front of goal on the night. The half ended with a couple of chances for Kintbury’s Joseph Sheridan, the first saw his great shot blocked by the Calne defence and the second was well held by Simpkins in the Calne goal as the half ended with the match still looking for its first goal.

The second half continued in a similar vein to the opening 45. The first chance of the half fell the way of Calne’s leading scorer Asher Jones who, up until this point had been kept quiet by the well organised Kintbury defence. As with much of the efforts in the first half, Jones was forced to shoot from distance and his shot went well wide of the post. Kintbury’s Joseph Sheridan continued to be involved in a lot of their neat build up play and when a one-two was returned to him he hit a shot goalwards but once again his effort sailed well over the bar as the two sides continued to miss the target. Next up Sheridan put Rhys Atkins in but once again the Kintbury player fired over the bar. Kintbury were looking the more dangerous but the immense work rate of the Calne side was forcing them to continue to shoot from distance and all evening both sides struggled to get their aim right.

The best chance of the half up to this point was to come the way of Calne on the hour mark. A free kick into the box from Jack Fry was met by Euan Ballinger on the volley and his effort went just the wrong side of the box. The two defences continued to have the upper hand as neat build up play by both sides continually broke down once getting close to the opponent’s box. Ten minutes from time Kintbury had half-hearted shouts for a penalty for an alleged handball but these were rightly waved away. Both sides pushed for that elusive winner in the closing stages. A corner from Kintbury’s captain Cameron Squires was met on the volley by Kian McNally but his shot went just wide of the post. Charlie Adams then went close for Kintbury with another shot form the edge of the box, this one just going over the bar. However, whilst Kintbury had produced more efforts on goal, the best chance of the game fell to Calne deep into injury time at the end of normal time. A ball over the top saw Asher Jones beat the offside trap and get the wrong side of the Kintbury defence, it looked like Calne’s leading score might win the game for his side but the Kintbury keeper Harrison Blakemore got a hand to his effort and denied the Calne striker his moment of glory. Moments later referee James Newbon, who was having an excellent game, blew for time meaning extra-time was going to be needed to find a winner.

The first period of extra time saw the two defences continue to nullify the attacking threat of their opponents, the best chance of the opening additional period falling the way of Calne, a free kick into the box finding Sam Jones but his effort was straight at Blakemore and was easily saved.

Early in the second period of extra time, Calne keeper Rhys Simpkins was once again forced into a spectacular save from a diving header that looked destined for the net. At the other end Calne went close on a couple of occasions themselves. Asher Jones seeing an effort pushed round the post by Blakemore in the Kintbury goal and then Samuel Jones headed just over from the resulting corner. As the game entered the final minute of extra time it looked like penalties would be needed to decide matters, but there was to be a pivotal moment in the game. As James Tomlinson ran at the Calne defence and into the box he was brought down, and referee James Newbon had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot. Captain Cameron Squires took responsibility for the resulting penalty and fired into the bottom corner to give Kintbury the lead. There was just about time for Calne to take the kick-off before referee Newbon blew for full-time. A penalty at the end of the game had decided the outcome but, in the end, it was just the one penalty. A disappointing end for Calne Town who played their part in an excellent cup final played in a sporting manner by the two evenly matched teams. In the end the game was decided by the narrowest of margins. Congratulations to Kintbury Rangers on lifting the cup for the first time and commiserations to Calne who went so close to retaining the cup they had won last season. Special mention to the team of officials who were also excellent on the night, referee James Newbon, assistants Konner Heal and Elly-Mai Lacey and fourth official Kevin Hopkins. The cup and individual mementos were presented to the two teams by League Chairman Brian Busson.