For what has been a difficult couple of seasons for teams from the Trowbridge Windows sponsored Trowbridge & District Football League following the loss of football due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the 2021/2022 campaign which is drawing to a close over the next three weeks will hopefully be viewed as a success by all those involved with the league.

With the league fixtures now complete, attention is now focused of the three remaining cup finals, all of which are being played at the Gooding Accounts Stadium, Meadow Lane, Westbury.

In the first of those Seend United will be looking to win their second trophy of the season when they face Heytesbury, in the A M Print & Copy sponsored A&B Cup final on Tuesday evening.

Seend lifted the Division two title earlier this season and should they beat Heytesbury, they will return to Meadow Lane next Tuesday in search on a third trophy of the campaign when they line up against Potterne in the final of the Knockout Cup.

Meanwhile, Heytesbury are aiming to win their first piece of silverware since 2019 when they thumped Calne Eagles 7-2 to lift the Spring Cup, that same season they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Freshford United in the final of the Knockout Cup.

It may be almost 4 years to the day that Heytesbury suffered a 3-1 A&B Cup Final loss to Melksham Town ‘A’ but they return to Meadow Lane under the leadership of Charlie Heydon andare looking to beat Seend for a second time this season, having beaten them 4-2 in the Wiltshire Junior Cup back in November.

With Adam Potter now in charge at Seend their route to the final began with a 5-1 victory over near neighbours Melksham Town Development who had former Seend boss Lewis McMullen at the helm, Ryan Nicholls, Mark Reynolds, Charlie Waylen and Tom Rooney with 2, scoring the goals that set a second round meeting with Aces FC who they beat 13-0.  

Matt Purdy bagged 4, Nick Mead added a couple and Ryan Nicholls, Tom Rooney and Jake Sainsbury added a goal apiece as did Derek Wheeler who came off the bench to score his goal, Ben Ryder another substitute completed the unlucky 13 for Aces with a hat trick.

In the quarter-finals, Ryan Nicholls scored the goal that put them 1-0 up against Shrewton United Development before the match was abandoned on 17 minutes.  With the tie eventually being awarded to Seend that set up a semi-final showdown with second division stable mates Potterne and goals from Jack Booth, Paul Gittins and Matt Purdy earned them a 3-0 triumph and a place in the final.

Heytesbury who received a first round bye, kicked off their cup campaign with a stunning 4-0 victory away at Division champions The Duke, 1-0 up in the opening minute through an own goal, a Adrian Vintileanu treble disposed of the cup favourites at the first hurdle.

Second division, Dilton Marsh Wanderers put up a brave fight in the quarter-final tie, however in the end Heytesbury proved too strong as a Sam Wright double and singles for Reece Collyer from the penalty spot, Adam Welch and Jake Wright who will miss the final through suspension steered the Villagers to the last four.

Standing in the way of another cup final appearance were Division one stable mates Hilperton United who played their part in a thriller, which in controversial circumstances Heytesbury eventually won 4-2 after extra time, from being 1-0 down goals from Adrian Vintileanu and Reece Collyer turned things around.  Hilperton levelled to take the game to added time where a penalty from Collyer and a late Myles Woodward goal sealed victory to set up a meeting with Seend.

Should both teams bring their A game to the final which kicks-off at 7.45pm, it has all the makings of being a classic, with the result being hard to call, however by virtue of their earlier success over Seend, Heytesbury may just have the edge on their opponents, but with Seend wanting to avenge that loss it should give an extra edge to what should be an entertaining contest.