KNOCKOUT CUP SEMI-FINAL REPORT – 19th March

CLINICAL BOX BOOK CUP FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH MELKSHAM

The British Lion FC 0 FC Box 5

A fantastic first half performance by First Division leaders FC Box away at Second Division high flyers The British Lion FC laid the foundations for them to set up a repeat meeting of last seasons epic Cinch Self Storage sponsored Knockout Cup Final that saw Box beat the Premier division winners AFC Melksham 3-2 in one of the best Cup finals for many years.

The match only went ahead thanks to the efforts of both teams and Lavis FC manager Aaron Latchem who worked behind the scenes to get the match played as The Lye, Seend once the Lion’s home pitch at Green Lane, Devizes was deemed unplayable.

Cup holders, FC Box side rightly went into the tie as favourites and they gave a performance that many people thought was outstanding especially in a first half where they tore Lion apart as the took a 4-0 lead.

Adrian Webb opened the scoring for Box and his second of the morning put the holders 2-0 ahead. The pacey Spencer Dymond-Hall made it 3-0 before he completed the first half scoring with his second of the game and Box’s fourth.

With the tie already won, Box either took their foot of the gas in the second half or a reshuffle of his pack by the Lion’s Steve Barnes led to a much more competitive second half where the only goal came form Ben Wickens, whose 15th goal of the season completed a 5-star display from the holders who on this showing will fancy their chances of beating AFC Melksham for a second successive season.

Hardenhuish Park, home of Chippenham Town FC will be the stage for what should be another gladiatorial showdown between AFC Melksham and FC Box with the final scheduled for Sunday 30th April with a 2.00pm kick-off.