KNOCKOUT CUP Semi Final Round Up – 20th March
Melksham keep Cup hopes alive
Chippenham Icons 3 AFC Melksham 4
A 4-3 semi-final triumph for AFC Melksham over fellow top flight stable mates Chippenham Icons has earned the AM Print & Copy sponsored Knockout Cup holders the chance to become the first team since Corsham Centre Youth back in 2014 and 2015 to lift the cup in successive seasons.
Standing in Melksham’s way of back-to-back cup wins are second division FC Box who will be looking to cause another cup upset in the April 24th showdown at Chippenham Town’s, Hardenhuish Park, as they by beating FC Devizes United a week ago.
AFC Melksham were given the perfect start with top scorer Rhys Talmash scoring in the opening 5 minutes. Richard Hudson got the Icons back on level terms in the 16th minutes, but with Melksham in the ascendency, it didn’t take long for them to regain the lead, Jack Woolsgrove making it 2-1 in the 29th minute when he headed home a Jack Baker cross.
Less than 5 minutes later, Melksham added a third, Rhys Talmash scoring from the penalty spot to put Mike Rogers double chasing side 3-1 ahead. There was still time for more goal mouth action and when Tom Rooney headed home on of the morning on the stroke of half time, it was game on.
The second half saw chances come and go at both ends in what was becoming a fiery encounter before Paul Gittins bundled home from 3 yards out to give the holders a 4-2 advantage and some breathing space. Chippenham Icons were down, but not out and when Tom Rooney bagged his second of the game to reduce the deficit to the odd goal, it made things a little more interesting. Icons were reduced to 10 men in the final 10 minutes when they had Ryan Nicholls sent off, and although they gave their all trying to conjure up an equaliser, Melksham battened the hatches at the back, and even had chances of their own to add some icing to the cake, but were more than happy to settle for a 4-3 success to keep their cup dreams on track.