Bishop Sutton 0 Warminster Town 1

Looking for back-to-back wins, Warminster Town made the Tuesday evening trip to Lakeview, the home of Bishop Sutton AFC. 

From the outset, this was going to be a tight game, but the better chances in the first half fell to the home side. Warminster’s goalkeeper, Sam Thomson, had to make several saves, one of which was outstanding by using his right leg to prevent the ball from squeezing inside his right post. Warminster also pressed, and the match’s only goal came in the 35th minute. Chevelleau’s corner from the left, directed to near post towards Vincent, was deflected by The Bishops number 8, Sam Hill, into his own goal. It was difficult as a spectator to tell who got the final touch, but at halftime, the referee confirmed the own goal.

The second half continued to be a battle between two sides striving for a win, and with a heavy downpour in the first half, the surface of the pitch was tricky to play, causing a few hairy moments when players slipped. 

Thomson had to pull off another fine save to keep the clean sheet, the fourth in a row. At the other end of the pitch, a free kick from Mortimer-Taylor found the head of Graham at the far post and his downward header was saved by Oakes in goal for the home side. 

The game’s final moments were marred when Royal, wearing number 7 for The Bishops, slid two-footed into substitute Cassidy. The referee issued a  straight red card for the offence. After the final whistle, the home side was unhappy and surrounded the referee, making comments, resulting in another red card for substitute number 15, Billy Taylor. 

Overall, a decent away win for Warminster Town, and another confidence booster as the new players fit into the squad. 

Team: Thomson, Dymond-Hall, Graham, Bazley, Rodgers, Mudrak, Mortimer-Taylor, Vincent(c), Chevelleau(s), Wyatt(s)

Subs (used) Cassidy, Gardner

(unused) Chandler, De Silva, Jeffery

Reporter: Roland Millward

Warminster Town 2 Hengrove Athletic 0

In their previous encounter at Weymouth Street in September last year, these two teams scored 13 goals between them. An incredible match saw Warminster win 7-6! No one would expect a game with that scoreline again, and this time the home produced a 2-0 win. 

The crowd of 95 did see more goals in the opening forty-five minutes, Warminster scoring first and ruled offside, and repeated by Hengrove with another offside decision keeping the score at 0-0 at the halftime whistle. Neither side, apart from those ruled-out goals, looked like scoring. 

The second half proved to be more decisive for the Red & Black’s, as Chevelleau fired home ten minutes in. The move started with a throw-in taken by Dymond-Hall inside Warminster’s half; Vincent collected and put through a perfect pass for Chevelleau just inside the box to shoot past the keeper.  

The lead was doubled in the 67th minute when a corner taken by Chevelleau from the left was met by Vincent a the near post, Hengrove’s keeper appeared to punch the ball into the striker, and it finished up going into the back of the net. How they go in doesn’t matter – it’s a goal! 

Dymond-Hall went close in the 90th minute seeing his shot from the left flash just past the right-hand post. The referee added ten minutes of additional time. 

The Warminster defence has now had three clean sheets, and the back four looked solid all afternoon. The man of the match was central defender Jon Bazley, and it was a close call as there were so many good performances by the home team. This was the first win of the season and a real confidence booster for the team, which has lost many regular players to other clubs. The new players are settling in and bonding as a team. Each match shows that despite the early setback, the season is long, and it is all to play for.

Team: Thomson, Humphrey, Dymond-Hall, Graham, Bazley, Rogers, Seviour(s), Mortimer-Taylor, Vincent(s), Chevelleau, Wyatt(s)

Subs all used: Cassidy, Chandler, McFerran

Warminster Town 0 Newport (IOW) 0 (2-4 pens)

Warminster welcomed Newport over from the Isle of Wight for this FA Vase game. Originally the visitors were meant to be hosting the match, but due to ground problems, the tie switched to Weymouth Street.

Warminster made a fast start and, after 10 minutes, won a corner that floated across, and Lewis Graham crashed his header off the crossbar and went out for a goal kick.

Newport had a chance 6 mins later when Josh Younie was clean through, but Sam Thomson in the Warminster goal made a cracking one-on-one save.

On 28 minutes, a seemingly innocuous tackle sparked a brawl on the far side, which saw Newport’s Jacob Reynolds sent off and Warminster’s Spencer Dymond-Hall booked.

Half-time was goalless, and it was a fairly open game with both sides having chances. On 59 minutes, Corey Gardner looked to have been bundled over, but the shouts fell on deaf ears, and the referee waved play-on.

Newport then had their manager and assistant manager booked for dissent, and 10 minutes later, the assistant manager received his second yellow card, and he was dismissed from the technical area.

The game finished goalless, so it went to penalties, which saw Newport advance 4-2.
Another positive performance from Warminster against good opposition, and a game in which Warminster were essentially the better team.

Report by Liam Spurrier

Team: Thomson, Humphreys, Dymond-Hall, Graham, Bazley*, Mudrak, Rogers, Mortimer-Taylor, Vincent, Seviour, Wyatt*

Subs: (used) Cassidy, Gardner
(unused) De Silva, McFerran
*Substituted

Match report by Liam Spurrier

Warminster Town 0 Wells City 0

Four days after the home defeat to Almondsbury, Warminster Town welcomed Wells City to Weymouth Street. Though Wells are high flyers, this season sitting in fourth, Warminster were determined to pick up points from this game. The first half started lively with a Wells City ball being fizzed across the goal inches away from the on-rushing striker’s head. Warminster would grow into the first half, becoming the dominant side in the latter stages. Wells would carve out a few chances, Thomson being called into action to try and gather a troublesome free kick, eventually cleared for a corner. The corner bounced out of the box, falling to Wells’ number 8, who missed over the bar by only a fraction. Warminster’s best chance would fall to Captain James Vincent, whose header couldn’t find the back of the net. Warminster showed positive signs, particularly when in possession.

The 2nd half would start with Wells as the better side, with Thomson being called into action on a number of occasions, making some spectacular saves. James Vincent would pick up a yellow as tempers flair between the two sides, both wanting a win. Wells would score midway through the half, but a late ball meant the striker was caught offside. Logan Cassidy, Cory Gardner and Max Wyatt would all come off the bench for the attaching trio of James Vincent, Jakob Seviour and Jamal Chevelleau. With the captain’s armband being handed to Eben Mortimer-Taylor in James Vincent’s absence. Warminster would then take control back from Wells, with Max Wyatt, in particular, looking deadly with some wide balls into the box, which unfortunately amounted to little. The game would finish 0-0 between Wells City and Warminster Town. Overall a good performance showed Warminster moving in the right direction going into the FA Vase game against Newport IOW FC on Saturday.

Team: Thomson, Humphries, Dimond-Hall, Graham, Bazley, Mudrak, Rogers, Mortimer-Taylor, Chevelleau*, Vincent*, Seviour*
*substituted
Subs: (used) Wyatt, Gardner, Cassidy
Subs: (unused) De Silva, Sinclair

Warminster Town 2 Almondsbury FC 4

On Saturday 20th August, Warminster Town welcomed Almondsbury FC to Weymouth street. With Almondsbury similarly struggling for form in the league with only four points and one win and Warminster getting their first point of the season midweek to Cheddar, there was an element of optimism around the ground. However, it would only take 13 minutes for the visitors to break the deadlock, with Joe White’s effort from outside the box being parried by Thommo, in goal, only for it to be turned in by Almondsbury’s number 11, Burman. It didn’t take Almondsbury long to find a second, with Joe White grabbing the goal with a cool finish into the right of the net. Things only got worse for the Red and Blacks as a corner in the 41st minute was turned into the net by Almondsbury defender Hedges with a thumping strike, 3-0. There would be a glimmer of hope before half-time with Warminster winning a penalty, only to be cruelly denied by a spectacular Langdon save, keeping the three-goal lead going into the second half.  

The second half started with a positive response from Warminster, a few subs bringing much-needed intensity to the game. Two minutes after the restart, Warminster were rewarded; Jamal Chevelleau raced through on goal, calmly slotting it past the keeper to the delight of the Warminster fans! In a similar fashion, only three minutes later, Jamal Chevelleau grabbed his brace on his debut, all in some style. With a spring in their step, the Warminster eleven fought bravely, pushing for an equaliser. With both sides having chances, it seemed only natural that another goal was coming. With Warminster pressing, Almondsbury continued to defend stoically. Warminster were, sadly, punished in the 80th minute when Almondsbury’s Cox would put an enticing ball across the box for Burman to grab his second of the game, with very little goalkeeper Thomson could do to stop the ball from ending up in the net. 4-2. Despite a chance in the 86th minute, Warminster couldn’t find the goal they desperately needed, with Almondsbury claiming their second win of the season. A six-goal thriller at Weymouth Street, with signs of improvement in front of goal.

Team: Thomson, Bartley, Dymond-Hall, Chandler*, De-Silva*, Mudrak, Seviour, Mortimer-Taylor, Graham, Vincent, Bazley*

Subs: (used) Cassidy, Chevelleau, Wyatt

(unused) Sinclair, Humphries

Match report by Ben Cooke

Cheddar FC 0 Warminster Town 0

Warminster travelled to Cheddar, looking for their first points of the season. Cheddar has endured a bad start to the season after finishing just outside the playoffs last season. The game ended goalless in what proved to be a frustrating night for Warminster.

The first half was all Warminster. Inside the first 10 minutes, they had several half chances and crosses into the box, which no one could get on the end of. The clear opening came on 10 minutes; a great ball from the left found the head of Logan Cassidy, who beat the keeper but not the defender on the line.

Immediately after that, Cheddar had their own half chance. Sam Thomson comfortably saved a shot from just inside the left-hand side of the box in the Warminster goal. The next half chance fell to stand in Warminster captain James Vincent whose deflected shot was saved.

Warminster were still knocking on the door and were still having many crosses going into the box, but the finishing touch wasn’t there. Ten minutes before halftime, a ball into the cheddar box found both Logan Cassidy and Corey Gardner but were denied by a combination of defender and goalkeeper. 0-0 was the score at halftime.

The second half was more even, with Cheddar having a shot on 52 mins but went narrowly wide of the post. Warminster had another opportunity which went over, and then Cheddar were given an indirect free kick, which was wonderfully blocked on the line and cleared.

For the rest of the game, Warminster had chance after chance but couldn’t force their way through a stubborn Cheddar defence. The final chance of the match, though, fell to the cheesemen, who hit the post with virtually the last kick of the game.

A frustrating night for Warminster, who on another day maybe should have scored 3-4. A positive, though, is a clean sheet, with the defence doing a superb job keeping Cheddar at bay.

Thomson, Humphreys, Dymond-Hall, Chandler, De Silva, Rogers, Mudrak, Mortimer-Taylor*, Cassidy*, Vincent (Captain), Gardner (*substituted)

Subs (used) Seviour, Bartley

Subs (unused) Sinclair, Kovacs

Match Report Written by Liam Spurrier

Warminster Town 1 Odd Down 2

On a scorching afternoon, Warminster, looking to secure their first win of the season (and goal), welcomed Odd Down. In 33-degree heat and a very dry pitch, Odd Down ran out 2-1 victors.

The home side started well and 5 minutes in won a free kick which was blasted wide. And 2 minutes later, Corey Gardner had a shot saved well by Odd Down keeper Ashley Bryan. On 13 minutes, Odd Down drew first blood, Luke Bryan slotting calmly past Sam Thomson.

On 31 minutes, it was 2-0; an almighty scramble and various shouts of offside were to no avail, as Jake Thomas smashed the loose ball past Thomson with no defenders around him whatsoever!

The second half was a bit more scrappy with some good saves made by both keepers, and in the 85th minute, Warminster win a penalty. A handball called by the linesman, and after a discussion with the referee a penalty was given, although this looked dubious, Ian Jeffery was on hand to dispatch the penalty, and for the first time in 5 games, the Warminster fans had a chance to celebrate a goal!

Overall not much to write about on a poor pitch in hot conditions, but the Town are now off the mark in terms of goals, but still looking for their first points of the season!

Team: Thomson, Bartley*, Robbins, Jeffery, Chandler, Rodgers, Miluk, Mortimer-Taylor, Cassidy, Humphreys, Gardner*

Subs: (used) Vincent, Burden (went off injured), Sinclair, Seviour

Subs (not used) De Silva,

By Liam Spurrier

Warminster Town 0 Andover New Street 2

Twelve years since their last appearance in the competition, FA Cup fever was back at Weymouth Street. Warminster welcomed an Andover New Street team who finished 2nd in their league last season and, like Warminster, suffered play-off heartbreak.

New Street ply their trade in the Wessex league division 1, and indeed this was once a league fixture before Warminster moved to the toolstation western league. The hosts had the better of the first half, and on 10 minutes, a free kick was awarded, which was struck into the wall, with summer recruit Leigh Rogers miscuing the rebound.

Warminster continued to play some good football, and 15 minutes later, Spencer Dymond-Hall struck goal bound from about 20-25 yards, and a scrambling George Baxter prevented the hosts from going ahead with a superb save. Eben Mortimer-Taylor had a chance on 34 minutes but couldn’t weave his way through the New Street defence.

The second half started much like the first, with Warminster the better side, but it was the visitors who so very nearly took the lead; a mix-up in defence allowed Cameron Thatcher to loop a header goal bound, but the Warminster defence was pleased to see the ball bounce off the crossbar and for a goal kick.

Against the run of play, New Street, we’re awarded a penalty on 57 minutes, with Owen Bartley adjudged to have fouled Shane Lock. However, this was very controversial as the New Street player looked to have gone over theatrically. Substitute Ross Cook dispatched the penalty with ease. From here, the visitors took control and made sure of the win with 14 minutes left, the referee missed a possible foul, and the ball was crossed into an unmarked Ross Cook, who rifled the ball past home keeper Sam Thomson with a fingertip on the shot.

Another improved performance from Warminster, who controlled large parts of the game, with no goals in the last four games, needs to be more clinical.

Thomson,  Bartley, Dymond-Hall, Graham (c)* Chandler, Rogers, Gardener,

Mortimer-Taylor, Cassidy*, Jakob Seviour*, Humphreys

Subs: Butler, Robbins, Miluk*, Sinclair*, Burden*, Ruck, McFerran H.

Match Report by Liam Spurrier

Warminster Town 0 Wincanton Town 1

A Matt Garner strike 25 minutes from time proved to be the difference in front of a good midweek crowd of 153 at Weymouth street

The first half was very scrappy, with very few chances. On 15 minutes, Warminster won a corner which was dealt with by Wincanton, who then broke down the other end. The ball was crossed in from the left but the header was tipped over by Sam Thomson in the Warminster goal. Thomson would be a very busy man for the remainder of the game.

The next half chance was on 38 minutes, a corner came in for Wincanton, and the ball was headed back across into a dangerous area but was cleared. 5 minutes later, a stinging shot was excellently tipped onto the bar by Thomson, this be as to be the last action of the half.

The second half was much more frantic, and it was Warminster who asked the first question, forcing 2 corners in quick succession. The second corner was headed goal bound by Jakob seviour, but was comfortably saved by former Warminster keeper Nathan Ball.

3 minutes later, Wincanton had a shot after a cross wasn’t cleared, but Eben Mortimer-Taylor cleared off the line. For the rest of the game, Wincanton gradually took control, forcing 3 more wonderful saves from Thomson before eventually, the Warminster resistance was broken, Matt Garner firing into the near corner with too much power for the Warminster goalkeeper. This was followed by a little bit of a scuffle afterwards.

Overall it was a vastly improved performance from Warminster, who were missing skipper Ian Jeffery after injuring himself in the game on Saturday. Next up for town is Andover New Street, as FA Cup action returns to Weymouth Street for the first time in 12 years!

1. Sam Thomson

2. Braden Humphries

3. Spencer Dymond-Hall

4. Lewis Graham (C)

5. Jordan De Silva

6. Leigh Rodgers

7. Jack Miluk

8. Eben Mortimer-Taylor

9. Jakob Seviour

10. Dan Kovacs

11. Corey Gardner

Subs

12. Lennon Burden

13.

14. James Vincent

15. Owen Bartley

16.

17. Nick Chandler

18. Logan Cassidy

Nailsea & Tickenham 3 Warminster Town 0

Warminster’s league Campaign started with a trip to Nailsea to take on a Nailsea and Tickenham side who were looking to show the league why they had been promoted last season. This was never going to be an easy game, and so it proved, resulting in a 3-0 opening day defeat.

The visitors arrived at Fryth Way looking to build on last seasons play off final defeat, and with 4 promotion spots available this season, Warminster would be expecting to be challenging for one of those places. Warminster started the brighter and in the 8th minute Owen Bartley won a free kick on the right, which captain Ian Jeffery whipped in and was headed for a corner. The corner was fizzed in but couldn’t find a Warminster head.

The first goal came in the 20th minute, a free kick on the Nailsea right was put into the box, the Town keeper Zak Beard looked to have been bundled over but the referee pointed for a corner. This found its way to the edge of the box, where Callum Dunn shot and it squirmed in at the near post via a couple of deflections en route.

The next chance fell to Spencer Dymond-Hall, a ball from the right found its way to the edge of the box but was sliced wide. Neither side mustered anything else and half time remained 1-0.

The second half started in the worst way possible, Joe Berry made it 2-0 to the hosts, with a shot which took a cruel deflection off of captain Ian Jeffery, and spun into the far corner of the net. A minute later, Jeffery was forced off with a groin injury, and was replaced by youngster Toby Ruck.

Warminster had the next opportunity, a free kick was won by Jack Miluk which was put into the box, narrowly missing several Warminster players before going out for a goal kick.

The third and final nail in the coffin for town was a goal worthy of winning any game. 6 minutes from time, Warminster failed to clear the ball, and Jacob O’Donnell let fly from 25 yards, taking a slight deflection before flying past the helpless Zak Beard into the top corner.

On a positive note however, great to see 4-5 U18’s getting game time for the first team!

A tough start for Town, who face arguably the hardest game of the season on Wednesday night as they host fellow promotion hopefuls Wincanton Town at Weymouth Street.

Warminster team:

1. Zak Beard

2. Lewis Graham

3. Spencer Dymond-Hall

4. Ian Jeffery (captain)

5. Jordan De Silva

6. Nick Chandler

7. Jack Miluk

8. Owen Bartley

9. Dan Kovacs

10. Jakob Seviour

11. Corey Gardner

Subs

Subs used 

Toby Ruck

Lennon Burden

Matt Robbins

For 

Ian Jeffrey 

Nick Chandler

Owen Bartley