FC BOX REMAIN IN HUNT FOR MORE CUP SUCCESS
THIRD ROUND – SUNDAY 13 November 2022
With Royal Oak FC being given the Cinch Storage Ltd sponsored Knockout Cup Third Round game by Two Weir Town FC the remaining seven games saw some interesting outcomes.
Beeches FC 2 Whiteway FC 5
With two teams yet to lose in the League, the Cinch Storage sponsored Knockout Cup clash between home team First Division Beeches FC and Third Division Whiteway FC promised to be a good game to watch and did not disappoint. Beeches without their talisman goal scorer Steve Ball were soon put under pressure by the speed of their opponents’ attacks. Indeed, it took Whiteway only 10 minutes to open the scoring when Richard (Quick) Lewis fired home for the visitors. Beeches seemed to be troubled by their fast-running opponents and after 15 minutes Ashton Muir increased their lead with a nice goal. Gradually Beeches began to get back into the game and after 30 minutes Frankie McEntegart pulled a goal back for the home team. The game was now more even with both teams missing chances. The score however remained 2-1 to the visitors at the half.
The start of the second half was clearly more competitive. Unfortunately, as time progressed a little too competitive. After 65 minutes a fracas erupted after a heavy tackle which saw several players involved and resulted in red cards for Beeches goal scorer Frankie McEntegart and Whiteway’s Bill Turner.
Whiteway appeared to respond better to losing a player and after 68 minutes Gary Jones increased their lead as he outpaced the defence before slotting the ball home. After 73 minutes Ashton Muir scored his second of the day to give Whiteway a 4-1 lead. Beeches did not give up and two minutes later reduced the arrears when Aaron Masson scored. Whiteway virtually sealed the game in the 80th minute when the speedy Gary Jones again outran the defence before going past the keeper and scoring his brace to give Whiteway a 5-2 lead. The game ended with a deserved 5-2 win for Whiteway who clearly in their first season want to make their mark.
Spires Athletic FC 3 Scoop FC 3 – Spires Athletic win 4-3 on penalties
High flying Premier Division leaders Scoop FC were surprised by the Division Two promotion candidates Spires Athletic at the latter’s Beversbrook pitch, coming back from a 2-1 half time deficit to level the game at full time 3-3. Two goals from the ever reliable Ed Summers and one from Ryan Collins for Scoop were matched by goals from Zachery Bruce, Aiden Jackson and substitute Jack Brain for Spires. It was however the Division Two team who progressed to the Quarter Final by winning the penalty shootout 4-3.
Lansdown FC 1 Old Road FC 4
Another Premier Division team to be surprised by lower division opponents. Lansdown and Division One Old Road were tied 1-1 at half time but three second half goals from Old Road gave them a 4-1 advantage as they advanced to the next stage. Peter Hutchinson was on target for Lansdown but the two goals from Adam Sullivan and goals from Sam Whittock and substitute Jack Dunn saw Old Road take the victory.
Kingsmead FC 8 Weston Village Team Nathan FC 1
High flying Premier team Kingsmead FC quickly romped into a 6-0 half time lead against their Third division opponents Weston Village – Team Nathan and then added a further two in the second period, with Ritchie Chandler claiming a hat trick, and goals from Jed Benjamin, Johnathan Dolman, Ryan Rudland, Christian Simioni and substitute Andrew Keen. Weston Village’s Tyreece Chevolleau also scored as Kingsmead ran out 8-1 victors.
Gringos FC 0 The British Lion FC 7
Another top flight outfit to be surprised by lower division opponents were Gringos FC who met Division Two British Lion who had not lost in their League games. British Lion who are clearly viewing promotion this season, took a 3-0 half time lead and finished with a 7-0 victory. Robbie Whyte claiming a hat trick along with two from Emilio Menghini and one each from Chris Jenkins and Ashton Schorah sealed an impressive victory for the Division Two team.
AFC Melksham 2 Audley FC 2 – AFC Melksham won 5-4 on penalties
AFC Melksham had to come from 1-0 down at half time to level the game 2-2 against Division Two Audley FC who were reduced to 10 men in the latter stages. Karl Sharratt scored twice for Audley with Owen Pearce and Rhys Talmarsh replying for AFCM. The Premier Team however kept their nerve in the penalty shootout taking victory with a 5-4 margin and survive what would have been a disappointment for last year’s beaten finalists.
Lavis FC 3 FC Box 5
The clash between Division One rivals Lavis FC and FC Box saw last year’s Knockout winners Box progress with a 5-3 victory over last year’s Subsidiary Cup winners Lavis, despite falling behind 2-1 by half time and having a player sent off.
Jack Booth, Jack Duncan Douglas Sterling and Levi Wood scored for Lavis. Corey Harbour-Burgess claimed two goals along with one each from Spencer Dymond-Hall, Adam Mitchell and Ben Wickens for FC Box who maintained their hopes of retaining the trophy.
QUARTER FINALS – 15th JANUARY 2023
Spires Athletic FC 1 FC Box 5
Last year’s winners FC Box remain on course to retain the trophy they won last season when they beat AFC Melksham 3-2 in a thrilling finale at Chippenham Town’s Hardenhuish Park after they beat Spires Athletic FC 5-1 after leading 2-1 at half time.
Adam Mitchell scored twice along with Corey Harbour-Burgess, Daniel King and Ben Wickens. Sam Wallis scoring for the home team.
Whiteway FC 0 Kingsmead FC 6
Division Three promotion hopefuls Whiteway FC, unbeaten in their league games, were unable to repeat their previous round success against higher division opponents. High flying Premier Division Kingsmead showed their class as they raced into a 5-0 half time lead and ran out 6-0 winners. Whiteway were not helped by having a player dismissed.
Ryan Rudland scored twice along with goals from Johnathan Dolman, Simon Gilbert, Charlie Saunders and substitute Andrew Keen for the Premier Team who clearly have ambitions to go all the way to the final.
Sunday 5th February 2023
Old Road FC 0 The British Lion 2
The two remaining Cinch Storage Ltd sponsored Knockout Cup ties were completed on Sunday Morning, Division Two The British Lion, unbeaten in the League beat Division One Old Road 2-0 with two second half goals from Jake Waters to progress to the Semi-Finals. They look to have a strong side this season after winning promotion last year.
Royal Oak FC 1 AFC Melksham 9
An all Premier Division clash between Royal Oak, who have struggled in recent weeks to raise a team, saw them fall to a 9-1 defeat at the hands of last year’s beaten finalists AFC Melksham.
Melksham had lead 4-0 at half time. Zachery Hillier grabbed a hat trick aided by two each from Rhys Talmarsh and Derek Wheeler, Kieron Pearce and Sam Tallis adding one each.
Daryl Nash did get a goal back for Royal Oak in the second half, however it was nothing more than a consolation. Melksham appear to have recovered from a slow start to the season and will be hoping for a third consecutive appearance in the final.
SEMI FINAL DRAW
12th March – AFC Melksham Vs Kingsmead FC – KO 10.45 am
19th March – The British Lion FC Vs FC Box – KO 10.45 am
Reports Courtesy of Geoff Thompson