Melksham Town 2 Tring Athletic 1
Early goals from Mike Perrott and Robert Hobbs gave hosts Melksham Town victory over Tring Athletic at Oakfield’s and saw them reach the Last Eight of the Buildbase FA Vase as a result.
Both sides had reached the Last 16 for the very first times in their history so it was unknown territory for both so neither could gain any advantage through those stakes, however with Melksham having home advantage at the wonderful Oakfield Stadium, they probably went into this tie as slight favourites.
A dank and dreary February afternoon awaited both teams, but with a record crowd of 1,236 inside the ground for this one, the spirits of all involved were certainly not dampened in any way. It’s a year since the hosts moved into their new home and it’s certainly impressive that’s for sure.
The game also started brightly, in total contrast to the conditions, and in the fifth minute only two decent blocks from the visitors defence prevented an effort on goal from the hosts, however just two minutes later the Wiltshire side did find an early breakthrough when Perrott sent a header at goal, saw Jack Hopwood in the Tring goal parry upwards, but instead of getting it over the bar the ball dropped into the net, and the hosts had the start they wanted.
Tring were struggling to contain the hosts early on and in the 13th minute saw a free kick pumped into the area flicked on and just over the bar by a defender, and from the resultant corner the hosts doubled their lead when the corner to the far post was headed back across goal and Hobbs was there to apply the finishing touch and Melksham were in dreamland, two goals up inside fifteen minutes.
The visitors knew they could not concede again otherwise this tie may well have already been over but in the 19th minute saw keeper Hopwood let the ball slip from his grasp inside the six yard box, but luckily a defender was on hand to clear the danger, whilst down the other end the visitors had their first effort, although it was blocked on the edge of the box.
In the 21st minute another ball into the Tring area caused an almighty scramble before the visitors did eventually clear, and in the 28th minute Tring had their first real clear opening when a ball half volleyed into the box saw it headed about a foot over the hosts goal.
The hosts though continued to look dangerous and from a lovely cross into the area on the half hour, the hosts glanced a header off the post, however it was flagged offside, but it was another warning to Tring that a third goal, which was looking likely, would possibly end the contest.
However as the game entered it’s final ten or so minutes of the half, the visitors began to finally grab a foothold in the contest, and after a good few minutes of possession, they struck with six minutes of the half remaining when Luke Dunstan drove towards the Melksham box, and when he reached it struck a brilliant left footed effort beyond keeper Rob Brown and into the corner of the net, and suddenly it was very much game on.
Three minutes before half time Tring saw another effort on target saved by Brown, although it was a fairly routine save, whilst down the other end only a superb last-ditch block denied the hosts possibly restoring their two-goal cushion at a crucial time, and it meant the hosts went into the half still ahead, but with the tie now very much in the balance.
Half Time Melksham Town 2 Tring Athletic 1
Both sides knew the next goal would be crucial in this competitive cup tie, and three minutes into the second period the hosts almost grabbed it when after a poor defensive header found an attacking player, his effort dipped inches wide of the far post with keeper Hopwood well beaten.
However two minutes later the visitors came even closer to finding a leveller, when a cross into the six yard box saw a point blank header rattle the post with keeper Brown a spectator, and the loose ball fell in favour of the home side, it was oh so close to seeing this tie being all square, unthinkable after twenty minutes or so of this contest.
The following twenty minutes of play saw a rather scrappy period with the heavy conditions taking their toll on some of the players, and both physios spent some time out there trying to keep some of the players going, it was a tough battle out there that was for sure.
In the 71st minute the hosts headed a corner wide when they really should have hit the target, but there was not a lot between the sides as the game entered its final quarter.
With fifteen minutes remaining a host’s free kick found the target, however it lacked pace and power and keeper Hopwood easily fielded the effort, however moments later Hopwood had to make a marvellous save, tipping a decent effort onto the top of the bar and over, to keep Tring in the contest.
And five minutes later and with the hosts now apparently deciding this was the time to grab a killer third, got in thanks to a flick on, however the effort was thwarted once again by Hopwood, with the keeper saving with his legs this time, as Tring stayed in the tie just.
But after this the home side, probably knowing how close they were getting to a history making Quarter Final spot, began to look nervous and were beginning to change into ‘hold onto what we have mode and hit them on the break maybe’ method.
This meant Tring began to see more of the ball again and were the ones now looking to level it up rather than the hosts looking to end it, however Tring were in danger of been counter attacked as I said, and with two minutes remaining saw the hosts break down the left, although it ended with their winger being booked for simulation after trying to win a penalty.
Moments later a poor clearance by Tring keeper Hopwood saw an effort from the half way line drift just wide with Hopwood scrambling, and in the third minute of stoppage time the visitors, who were really making the Melksham backline work, saw an effort from the edge of the box almost creep in at the near post, but Brown got down to save and hold onto the ball, much to the relief of the majority of the large crowd.
Two more nervy minutes went by before the referee brought this tie to a conclusion, and it is the Wiltshire side who progress into the Last Eight of the Vase, whilst for Tring the dream comes to a disappointing end. They have also made history though, with this their first ever appearance at this stage, so well done to them for that. For Melksham Town the dream continues though, with Wembley edging ever closer.
Full Time Melksham Town 2 Tring Athletic 1
Here are some photos of the day:-
So the Wiltshire side are through to the last eight of the competition, and they will take on Thatcham Town from the Hellenic League. The sides are only about 40 miles apart too so local pride is a stake in this Quarter Final. Proves to be another tight and tense affair at Oakfields in front of another large crowd.
Right here are the results in full for the Fifth Round Proper:-
Saturday 3rd February
Thatcham Town 2 Bromsgrove Sporting 1
Marske United 2 Bradford Town 0
Coleshill Town 2 Bracknell Town 4 (AET)
1874 Northwich 1 Chichester City 0
Stockton Town 3 Stourport Swifts 0
Windsor 2 Hamble Club 0
Melksham Town 2 Tring Athletic 1
Saturday 10th February
Wolverhampton SC 3 Leighton Town 4
Last years losing semi finalists Bromsgrove Sporting and Coleshill Town were both knocked out of the competition after defeats to Thatcham Town and Bracknell Town respectively. Only two Northern League sides remain, Marske United and Stockton Town, after they both had home wins against Bradford Town and Stourport Swifts respectively. Many people see Marske United as the favourites now as they are flying in the league and the winners normally come from this division too. But the seven other sides who remain will no doubt have something to say about that!!! And Hamble Club's first ever Vase campaign finally ended at the Last 16 stage, as they went down to Windsor. However it's been a memorable first jaunt into the competition for them so well done for getting so far.
Here are the Quarter Final ties in full:-
Saturday 24th February
Bracknell Town VS Marske United
Melksham Town VS Thatcham Town
Stockton Town VS Windsor
Leighton Town VS 1874 Northwich
Three of the eight sides left in the Vase come from the Hellenic Premier, second placed Thatcham Town travel 40 odd miles west to take on Toolstation Western League side Melksham Town at Oakfield's, whilst fifth placed Bracknell Town take on Northern League high flyers Marske United at Larges Lane. And ninth placed Windsor travel to Stockton-on-Tees to take on mid table Northern League side Stockton Town. The final Quarter Final tie takes place in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, as Leighton Town host 1874 Northwich from Cheshire.
My featured game comes from Oakfield's in Melksham as their side host Thatcham Town. Both are riding high in their respective division's and with the 40 mile gap plus the enormity of the tie, this proves to be one hell of a game. Am expecting the 1,236 crowd they got in the last round to be smashed, 2,000 are expected apparently, should be awesome!!! GAME ON
