On Tuesday, March 15th Warminster made the trip to Almondsbury FC for the second round of the Les Phillips Cup. Playing alongside the busy M5 junction, the cup run came to a premature end, with the home side winning 5-2.

Warminster went ahead in the 23rd minute with a goal from Martin Johnson. A long ball from Pinder, inside Warminster’s half, was run onto by Johnson and slotted home past the onrushing keeper. 

The lead was cut in the 35th minute when Almondsbury’s Andy Williams received a ball on their right. and he cut into the edge of the area and struck the ball well. His thunderous shot hit the far post and ricocheted into the net. Warminster must have been disappointed to give him the room to score. It was only two more minutes before The Almonds took the lead; Isaac Flynn collected the ball on the edge of the area, fought off the challenge of defender Graham, and shot low into the right of Thomson’s goal.

Warminster did have chances in the half but, combined with some good defending and goal-keeping, couldn’t increase their tally. However, a blow was struck in the 42nd minute. A cross from the left found Sebastian Scott close to the penalty spot, and he left-footed it high into the left corner of the goal.

Hopes of a recovery were dashed 8 mins after the halftime break. Williams made it a brace. Under pressure from De Silva in the penalty area, Williams slipped but still managed to lift the ball with his right foot over Thomson at his feet. At 4-1, this would be a long second half for the Warminster travelling fans who made up most of the attendees. 

Johnson got his brace in the 57th minute, picking up the ball from Cockerell’s pass well inside the penalty area and, despite a desperate challenge, struck home to make it 4-2. The final goal was a penalty taken by Greg Parr one minute into additional time (91’), and he struck the ball well into the left of Thomson’s goal, who dived the right way but couldn’t reach the ball.

A disappointing result for the Red & Blacks, who, as the saying goes, ‘can now concentrate on the league.

Team: Thomson, Pollock, Cockerill, Graham, De Silva(s), Pinder, Gardner, Mortimer-Taylor, Johnson, Seviour(s), McKay(s).

Subs (used) Butler, Bartley, Humphreys
(unused) Wain