Melksham Town 0 Thatcham Town 1
Ekow Elliott netted a late winner for Thatcham Town as they edged their Buildbase FA Vase Quarter Final derby against Melksham Town at Oakfields to progress into the Last Four of the competition.
The hosts came into this one maybe slightly undercooked after only playing one match since the end of January, however the one game they did play this month was a 4-1 win over Longwell Green Sports at Oakfields.
The visitors on the other hand were on a twenty game winning streak until they drew with fellow Vase Quarter Finalists Windsor last weekend, however they did win in midweek to maybe start another winning run. I’m sure Melksham had other ideas mind.
And if the enormity of a two legged semi final tie for the winner wasn’t enough, the fact these sides are only around 40 miles apart certainly added up to create the ingredients for a classic cup tie. And with a record Oakfields crowd of 2,208 crammed into the ground, it certainly got the juices flowing.
The opening ten minutes saw a couple of sighters for the home side, firstly when the visiting keeper decided to come for a ball, make a mess of it, but thankfully for his sake see the ball fired miles off target, and then secondly a free kick that was straight at the keeper and caused no issues at all.
And just before the quarter hour mark the visitors had their first effort at goal, although it was well wide from range, as the opening exchanges of this massive cup tie were cagey to say the least. Not really a surprise given the enormity of it all.
The first real opening didn’t arrive until the 21st minute, and it fell to the visitors, as they were laid in on goal however the keeper managed to save the effort and keep the scoreline at 0-0, before three minutes later up the other end the home side fizzed in a low cross from the right, however the keeper was equal to it and held onto the cross.
Just before the half hour mark a good drive forward from Melksham saw a cross result in a looping header saved under his bar by the keeper, who was under pressure from an opponent, and then three minutes later a decent free kick into the box by Thatcham saw a glancing header go well wide of the target.
And then in the 33rd minute came a great chance for the hosts to edge ahead when they were thwarted by a double save/block by the visitors, and then three minutes later another decent chance for the hosts saw a great ball into the area diverted just wide from inside the six yard box.
Two minutes before the break another brilliant cross from the home side to the back post was headed off target, meaning this tight derby remained goalless at the break, although the hosts had definitely had the better of the openings so far.
Half Time Melksham Town 0 Thatcham Town 0
Two minutes into the second period the hosts won a free kick in a dangerous position, but the effort was straight down the keepers throat, and then four minutes later Melksham almost went in front but saw the keeper save an effort at full stretch down to his left to keep the ball from going in.
On the hour mark the visitors whipped in good cross which the defender left, almost allowing the visitors in, however they couldn’t convert and the ball was eventually cleared from danger, before down the other end the hosts struck wide, bringing ooos and ahhhhs from the locals.
In the 62nd minute the visitors attacked again, and were screaming for a handball after a header had been blocked, and in the 73rd minute Thatcham won a free kick in a decent position, but the effort was deflected a few inches over the bar.
In the 82nd minute the hosts caused concern in the visitors area when the ball bounced around before it looped out but was then volleyed way way off target, before the visitors had a moment of their own in the final third of their opponents, however this came to nothing to, before an effort was whistled over the bar.
You did start to wonder if either side was going to find a winner as extra time looked likely, however just as the clock ticked onto 90 minutes Elliott drove into the box and fired a great effort across the keeper and into the far corner, sparking wild jubilant scenes amongst the Thatcham players/staff and fans who were in attendance. It certainly looked like being the deciding moment in this tie.
And moments later Thatcham could and should of sealed it when they got through on goal however the keeper came to thwart with his legs and Melksham still had a chance to salvage something from what stoppage time remained.
But after several tense minutes of stoppage time, the visitors held firm and saw it through to book their place in the Semi Finals of the FA Vase. Gutted for Melksham who gave their all in this tie, a highly competitive derby, however that moment of brilliance from Elliott settled this one. Congratulations to Thatcham Town, who join Marske United, Stockton Town and 1874 Northwich in the Last Four.
Full Time Melksham Town 0 Thatcham Town 1
Here are some photos from the day:-
Right here is how the other three Quarter Finals panned out:-
Bracknell Town 0 Marske United 3
Northern League side Marske United saw off Bracknell Town at Larges Lane to set up a semi final tie with fellow Northern League side Stockton Town. The breakthrough came right on half time when Round teed up Butterworth on the edge of the box and the latter drove the ball into the bottom corner, and with twenty minutes remaining the visitors doubled their lead when a great ball by Gott found Round who finished beyond the keeper. And with two minutes left the visitors sealed their passage into the Final Four when a long ball downfield saw a touch by Round find Earl who skipped past a defender and finished well to cap a marvellous day for the North East side.
Stockton Town 2 Windsor 0
Hosts Stockton Town set up an all Northern League Semi Final tie against Marske United after they saw off Windsor in their Quarter Final tie at Bishopton Road West. Tom Coulthard broke the deadlock after 28 minutes before a Jamie Owens header four minutes before the break doubled the North East sides lead. The hosts then saw out the second half without alarm to book their place in the last four of the competition.
Leighton Town 0 1874 Northwich 1
Cheshire side 1874 Northwich booked their place in the Semi Finals after seeing off Leighton Town in Bedfordshire. The winning moment came in the 25th minute through McGowan and it means they set up a semi final tie against Thatcham Town.
So all four ties were settled at the first time of asking, which certainly helps!!! Here now is the Semi Final line ups:-
Saturday 17th March
First Legs
Marske United VS Stockton Town (at Stockton Town FC)
Thatcham Town VS 1874 Northwich_
Saturday 24th March
Second Legs
Stockton Town VS Marske United
1874 Northwich_ VS Thatcham Town
Now as you can see the first leg of the Marske United vs Stockton Town tie will be played at Stockton Town's Bishopton Road West ground. It means both legs will be played their, here is a statement from Marske United as to why:-
"Following heavy rain over the last week and the huge number of postponements across the EBAC Northern League, Marske United FC are still having issues with the pitch condition and drainage at our ground.
To protect the integrity of the BUILDBASE FA Vase and the EBAC Northern League competitions , and with the full realisation of our current fixture position, we took the decision to get the first leg of our BUILDBASE FA Vase semi-final versus Stockton Town played on a neutral ground . Having tried grounds in the National League, Northern League and the NRCFA ground this has proved unsuccessful due to a combination of ground conditions, pitch unavailability and prior bookings at stadiums in the locality.
We have therefore decided , with the approval of the FA Competitions Manager , the FA Competitions Chairman and the goodwill of Stockton Town , to play both legs of the semi-final on the 3G pitch at Stockton Town with the intended end result of getting the games played on their scheduled dates so as not to disrupt further the BUILDBASE FA Vase competition or the EBAC Northern League fixture list."
Whether this hands the advantage to Stockton Town as another question although Marske United will still be favourites to progress through to the final I believe. No doubt it is a disapointment that they cannot host their home leg, however needs must sometimes and well played both clubs for coming to such a quick agreement.
The other semi final, my featured tie, sees Thatcham Town of the Hellenic League, take on 1874 Northwich from the North West Counties League. Both teams are going well in their respective leagues and will both fancy their chances of a shot of getting to the Wembley finale in May. I fancy Thatcham to get the job done over the two legs although I reckon it will be tight. Should be two cracking semi final ties!!!
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