Premier Division Round Up – Match Week 31 – Sunday 23rd April
AFCM & KINGSMEAD draw eliminates Kingsmead from title race leaving Scoop ,FC devizes & AFCM to battle it out.
AFC Melksham 2 Kingsmead FC 2
On a pitch at Bowerhill that looked remarkably good after the recent weather, both teams were missing key players from their strongest sides.
Kingsmead having won the Somerset Sunday Cup last Thursday night certainly lacked energy at the start with Melksham beginning to dominate play.
Melksham took the lead in the 18th minute with a Joe Lamb goal. Despite their domination Melksham could not add to this goal even when Kingsmead were reduced to ten men after a red card to Jaiden Savery. At half time the game clearly seemed Melksham’s to lose win a 1-0 lead and their opponents down to ten men.
Kingsmead however are not the type of team that gives up easily. They surprised Melksham with two early goals from Jed Benjamin and Ryan Rutland to take a 2-1 lead and for a short period of time looked as though they could score more. However, Melksham gradually began to take back control with Jordan Kirk and Zac Hillier pushing them forward, in the 80th minute they finally equalised from a clinical Rhys Talmarsh strike.
Both teams then fought game ended with both teams level at 2-2.
Although unable to catch leaders Scoop on points, Kingsmead may well influence the outcome having home games against both the other two contenders -Melksham and FC Devizes,
Melksham’s immediate thoughts however will undoubtedly be on next Sunday’s Knockout Cup Final with Division One undefeated champions FC Box at Chippenham Town ground. A re-run of last year’s final when the then second division champions beat Melksham who had won the premier title, 3-2. This final is not one to be missed.
REPORT COURTESY OF MIKE ROGERS
PF Loco FC v Team Nathan AFC H/W
For what should have been t heir final match, Team Nathan AFC were unable to raise a team, with the points being awarded to opponents PF Loco FC.