Seend United FC 1 Warminster Town Reserves 2 AET
MEAD NETS WARMINSTER’S CUP FINAL WINNER
Seend United arrived at Melksham Town’s Oakfield stadium on Wednesday evening looking to add the Chantry Digital Ltd sponsored Knockout Cup to their Trowbridge & District League, First division winners trophy, standing in their way were first division stable mates Warminster Town Reserves who they had already met four times this term, winning both recent cup encounters but failing to win any of the league meetings.
In what was an excellent game of football that was decided by a Matt Mead goal in extra time, the game will be remembered for all the wrong reasons as incidents off the pitch spoiled what should have been remembered as a great night for winners Warminster Town Reserves who were unable to properly celebrate their 2-1 success as the league committee decided for the safety of all those involved, not to make any presentations after the final whistle.
With early chances being of a minimum it was Seend who had the first real opportunity which came the way of Joe Clayton, who headed a Charlie Waylen corner just over the bar. Warminster’s first chance of note cam on 10 minutes with Toby Worts going close. Five minutes later it was the turn of Seend to try their luck in front of goal, Charlie Waylen saw his free kick kept out by kept Will Guerri-Brown.
On 26 minutes, Seb Honsell’s strike from 18 yards was straight at Seend keeper Kieran Turner and 3 minutes later, Seend thought they had opened the scoring, Charlie Waylen’s free kick was headed in by Richard Hudson only for the Assistant Referee to rule the effort out for offside.
Warminster took the lead on 36 minutes, after winning a corner when it looked like it should have been a free kick to Seend the resulting Seb Honsell corner was bundled over the line by Oscar Williamson, who in truth knew little about the goal, but was more than happy that it gave his team the advantage that they probably deserved.
Both teams had a couple of half chances towards the end of the first half, but with neither team able to add to the Warminster opener it was Phil Stockley’s side who went in at the break wit ha 1-0 lead.
Seend made a promising start to the second period, Chay Forrester being denied by keeper Guerri-Brown in the first minute, and from the resulting corner Rich Hudson saw his header hooked away to safety.
On 55 minutes, James Cox ambitious 25 yard effort had keeper Guerri-Brown beaten all ends up, but his stunning effort crashed against the crossbar. Seend who had started the better half the better of the two teams deservedly got back on level terms on 59 minutes, a well worked move saw Joe Clayton turn home the equaliser.
Seend thought they had taken the lead in the 62nd minute when they got the ball in the net for a third time, but for a second time, they saw a goal ruled out, James Cox seeing his header from a Charlie Waylen cross wiped out for a foul on the keeper.
15 minutes from time, a Charlie Waylan corner flashed across the face of goal, with Kieran Pearce so close to turning the ball home, 5 minutes later a dominant Seend side saw Joe Lamb’s effort saved by keeper Guerri-Brown before Rich Hudson turned the ball home, only for it to be ruled as as the ball had gone out of play before it arrived to Hudson.
Seend who had bossed the second period were dealt a blow when they had James Cox dismissed for picking up a second booking and shortly after the red card, Warminster were presented with a glorious chance when Oscar Williamson’s ball to Jake Owen fell kindly to him, but despite breaking free of his marker his strike from 20 yards cannoned off the post and across the face of goal to safety.
With almost the last action of the 90 minutes Seend went close to grabbing a winner, but the ball wouldn’t fall kindly for Rich Hudson who saw his effort from close range scrabbled to safety and with that chance gone referee Neil Hawker sounded the final whistle to take the final to extra time.
In the first period of added time Ed Leeson dragged a good chance wide of the target for Seend, and with the last action of the half a hopeful long range effort from Warminster’s Toby Worts failed to trouble the Seend keeper.
Warminster’s winner came in the 3rd minute of the second half of extra time and excellent cross from Josh Drury was turned home by Matt Mead to send both the Warminster players and supporters wild, with a number getting over excited and joining their players on the pitch.
After missing so many chances in normal time and conceding what was preventable goal, the 10 men of Seend were deflated but they never gave up but were unable to conjure up an equaliser to take the match to penalties, leaving Warminster to celebrate winning the Knockout Cup for the first time since 2017 when the defeated Melksham Town ‘A’ 7-6 on penalties.
Though naturally disappointed by this defeat, having won Division One at a canter, Seend still have the opportunity to complete a Trophy double this coming Tuesday. Standing in their way will be Frome Collegians Reserves who will look to upset the odds when the teams meet at Meadow Lane, home of Westbury United. The match kicks-off at 7.45pm.