Ekow Elliott netted a late winner for Thatcham Town as they
edged their Buildbase FA Vase Quarter Final derby against Melksham Town at
Oakfields to progress into the Last Four of the competition.
The hosts came into this one maybe slightly undercooked
after only playing one match since the end of January, however the one game
they did play this month was a 4-1 win over Longwell Green Sports at
Oakfields.
The visitors on the other hand were on a twenty game winning
streak until they drew with fellow Vase Quarter Finalists Windsor last weekend,
however they did win in midweek to maybe start another winning run. I’m sure Melksham had other ideas mind.
And if the enormity of a two legged semi final tie for the
winner wasn’t enough, the fact these sides are only around 40 miles apart
certainly added up to create the ingredients for a classic cup tie. And with a record Oakfields crowd of 2,208
crammed into the ground, it certainly got the juices flowing.
The opening ten minutes saw a couple of sighters for the
home side, firstly when the visiting keeper decided to come for a ball, make a
mess of it, but thankfully for his sake see the ball fired miles off target,
and then secondly a free kick that was straight at the keeper and caused no
issues at all.
And just before the quarter hour mark the visitors had their
first effort at goal, although it was well wide from range, as the opening
exchanges of this massive cup tie were cagey to say the least. Not really a surprise given the enormity of
it all.
The first real opening didn’t arrive until the 21st
minute, and it fell to the visitors, as they were laid in on goal however the
keeper managed to save the effort and keep the scoreline at 0-0, before three
minutes later up the other end the home side fizzed in a low cross from the
right, however the keeper was equal to it and held onto the cross.
Just before the half hour mark a good drive forward from
Melksham saw a cross result in a looping header saved under his bar by the
keeper, who was under pressure from an opponent, and then three minutes later a
decent free kick into the box by Thatcham saw a glancing header go well wide of
the target.
And then in the 33rd minute came a great chance
for the hosts to edge ahead when they were thwarted by a double save/block by
the visitors, and then three minutes later another decent chance for the hosts
saw a great ball into the area diverted just wide from inside the six yard box.
Two minutes before the break another brilliant cross from
the home side to the back post was headed off target, meaning this tight derby
remained goalless at the break, although the hosts had definitely had the
better of the openings so far.
Half Time Melksham Town 0 Thatcham Town 0
Two minutes into the second period the hosts won a free kick
in a dangerous position, but the effort was straight down the keepers throat,
and then four minutes later Melksham almost went in front but saw the keeper
save an effort at full stretch down to his left to keep the ball from going in.
On the hour mark the visitors whipped in good cross which
the defender left, almost allowing the visitors in, however they couldn’t
convert and the ball was eventually cleared from danger, before down the other
end the hosts struck wide, bringing ooos and ahhhhs from the locals.
In the 62nd minute the visitors attacked again,
and were screaming for a handball after a header had been blocked, and in the
73rd minute Thatcham won a free kick in a decent position, but the
effort was deflected a few inches over the bar.
In the 82nd minute the hosts caused concern in
the visitors area when the ball bounced around before it looped out but was then
volleyed way way off target, before the visitors had a moment of their own in
the final third of their opponents, however this came to nothing to, before an
effort was whistled over the bar.
You did start to wonder if either side was going to find a
winner as extra time looked likely, however just as the clock ticked onto 90
minutes Elliott drove into the box and fired a great effort across the keeper
and into the far corner, sparking wild jubilant scenes amongst the Thatcham
players/staff and fans who were in attendance.
It certainly looked like being the deciding moment in this tie.
And moments later Thatcham could and should of sealed it
when they got through on goal however the keeper came to thwart with his legs
and Melksham still had a chance to salvage something from what stoppage time
remained.
But after several tense minutes of stoppage time, the
visitors held firm and saw it through to book their place in the Semi Finals of
the FA Vase. Gutted for Melksham who gave
their all in this tie, a highly competitive derby, however that moment of
brilliance from Elliott settled this one.
Congratulations to Thatcham Town, who join Marske United, Stockton Town
and 1874 Northwich in the Last Four.
Full Time Melksham Town 0 Thatcham Town 1
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