On a day that two leading contenders in division one faced each other meant there was a possibility that Warminster Town, with a win, could go top of the table. Warminster travelled to Bristol Telephones, whilst Welton Rovers entertained Sherborne Town. A draw at Welton would have made a winning Warminster go to the top. Warminster played their part, winning 0-3 at The Phones. In a close game at Welton, Sherborne scored a late goal to give them a 1-2 win and place them at the top of the table, and Warminster moved second place a point behind.
Over at Bristol Telephones, the wind made playing conditions difficult, but the two teams produced an entertaining football match. Most of the early opportunities fell to the visitors, and throughout the game, The Phones failed to get many shots on the Town’s goal.
Miluk and Seviour had strikes that went just wide of the post in the game’s opening minutes. In the 10th minute, the keeper saved Mortimer-Taylor’s shot, fumbled but managed to hold on at the second attempt before he pounced again. There was good work in this match between Martin Johnson and Jack Miluk. On 28 minutes, Johnson’s cross from the left only just avoided Miluk’s rising head in the 6-yard box, and somehow it remained goalless.
Both teams pressed, and with 5 minutes of the half to go, Seviour shot just wide with a long-range shot. Would the ball go into the net? A minute later, Jeffery’s long pass found Miluk on the right, who burst into the box. Miluk passed to Johnson, who, positioned in the 6-yard box, was able to fire home the opening goal.
Two minutes later, Ian Jeffrey took a corner from The Phones left. His in-swinger beat everyone and found its way into the top-left of the home team’s goal. A devastating blow for Bristol Telephones at the end of this first half.
Within seconds of the start of the second half, Bristol Telephones had an opportunity to score; however, the ever-alert keeper, Thomson, caught the ball without much trouble.
Eben Mortimer-Taylor, ten minutes in, forced the keeper into a save by his right post to cut out the powerful low drive. Mortimer-Taylor had several more opportunities to score, and the keeper did well to prevent the goals. The third goal came in the 72nd minute. Johnson got his brace by shooting low from 12-yards out, courtesy of Miluk’s cross from the edge of the 18-yard box having run along the byline.
The Phones came closest to scoring in the 85th minute and forced Thomson to produce another one of his fine saves.
In summary, another good performance under challenging conditions for Warminster Town and a solid defence stood their ground, restricting the opposition to very few chances.
Team: Thomson, Pollock, Cockerell(s), Jeffery, De-Silva, Humphrey, Miluk, Mortimer-Taylor, Johnson(s) M, Bartley(s), Seviour
Subs: (used) Churchyard, Wain, Vincent
Subs: (unused) McKay, Gardner