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 

Warminster Town 0 Melksham Town 5

Warminster welcomed a Melksham team who are coming into this season off the back of their highest ever finish in the Southern League Division One South.  Warminster themselves are looking to gain promotion this season following the play off final defeat to Welton Rovers last time out.

In their last pre-season game before the league season starts next week with a trip to new boys Nailsea and Tickenham, Warminster started poorly and this was demonstrated when Sam Hendy put the visitors ahead after 9 minutes, all be it with a potential offside call. After this Melksham never looked back and in the 23rd minute the lead was doubled, a great cross from the Melksham left was headed in by skipper Luke Ballinger. 5 minutes later, Albie Hopkins danced through the Warminster defence only to see his shot which was bound for the bottom corner was brilliantly tipped round the post by Sam Thomson in the Warminster goal. This wasn’t the end of the first half entertainment as with the last kick of the first half, a brilliant cross from Ballinger was met by the unmarked Aaron Parsons who headed in goal number 3. Warminster’s best chance this half was a cross from the right which was deflected just wide!

The second half started much the same, with Thomson making a few good saves before inevitably, Sam Hendy grabbed his second and the visitors’ 4th goal. Barely 60 seconds later it was 5-0, this time it was Jay Malshandkyj. With 10 minutes remaining, the Melksham Keeper went off injured, so who went in goal? Captain and goalscorer Ballinger donned the gloves!

Warminster had a few chances towards the end of the game but ultimately, the two division difference between the sides told!  However, there were some positives from the game, with some of our new signings blending in well with the squad

Final Score Warminster 0 Melksham 5 – Attendance 137

Playoff Final: Warminster Town 0 Welton Rovers 1

After an exciting climax to the end of the season in which Sherborne Town was promoted as champions, Warminster Town came second with 89 points. Following them in third, Wincanton Town on 88 points and Welton Rovers in fourth on 88 points. In fifth place and with 63 points came Radstock Town. These four teams now had to enter the playoffs, and with Warminster triumphing over Radstock, the final was between Warminster and Welton.

Not much separated the two teams; in the first tie of the season, Welton came to Weymouth Street and, from 1-0 down, managed two late goals to win 1-2. In the away fixture, Warminster were the victors, scoring the match’s only goal. Therefore, the Playoff Final was expected to be a tight affair, and so it proved to be.

In front of a large crowd of 652, the two teams went head to head. Throughout much of the game, both teams were cancelling each other out, and chances of a clear sight at goal were limited. Welton sealed the win with the game’s only goal in the second half. 

Welton had an excellent opportunity to go ahead in the 20th minute; there was some uncertainty by the Warminster defence to get the ball away. Welton pounced on this, and fortunately, the shot went well over the bar.

Cameron Allen in the 34th minute was sin-binned, leaving Welton with ten men for the compulsory 10 minutes off the field of play. The home side tried to capitalise on having the extra man. Welton, however, stood firm. Warminster’s number 11, McKay, in the 44th minute, saw his shot blocked before it could go between the sticks. Welton had a late chance (46’), but the shot was too weak to trouble Thomson, and the first half finished goalless.

Eleven minutes into the second half, Thomson made a superb save to tip Toby Cole’s shot over his crossbar. A close call and for not an excellent save, Welton would have scored. The Red & Blacks were pressing and getting closer in those opening minutes. McKay got the ball into the back of the net (58’),  only to see the goal disallowed and receive a yellow card. But it was Welton Rovers who scored in the 65th minute courtesy of defender Joe Garland. A free-kick was floated into the area, knocked down, and Garland ran a few yards across the area, shooting low in the left. Thomson was probably unsighted by players ahead of him and didn’t quite reach the ball to prevent the goal.

Andy Crabtree, Warminster’s manager, made substitutions to bring on fresh legs to put more pressure on Welton’s defenders. Despite working hard to level up the score and five additional minutes of added time, the goal never came. Sadly, as with any final, only one team can win. Warminster Town can be proud of the best season in their history and look forward to next season and building on the progress made, both on and off the pitch. 

Team: Thomson, Graham, Cockerill, Jeffery, De Silva, Humphreys, Wain(s), Mortimer-Taylor, Johnson(s), Bartley, McKay(s), 

Subs: (used) Miluk, Morris, Gardiner

(unused) Seviour, McFerran 

Warminster Town 2 Radstock Town 0

Warminster Through to The Final

Over 300 watched Warminster Town v Radstock Town in the Western League playoff semi-final on Tuesday, May 3rd. The game was played with a great atmosphere created by the crowd. 

Warminster’s two first-half goals sealed a 2-0 victory over The Miners.

Conner McKay struck the first blow. Running down the left onto a long goal kick from Thomson, McKay cut into the edge of the area and fired home into the keeper’s far side. The second came from Martin Johnson in the 39th minute. He also shot from the left, which, with the aid of a deflection, was carried past Radstock’s keeper.

In the second half, Radstock went down to 10 men. Both sides had more opportunities to score, and both goalkeepers had saves to make during the match. 

Warminster Town now looks forward to a home final this Saturday against Welton Rovers. Kick-off 3 pm Weymouth Street, Warminster. Everyone is invited to what is going to be an exciting and important game for both teams. One of them will be promoted! In the event of a draw, there will be extra time and penalties. 

Team: Thomson, Graham, Cockerill, Jeffery, De Silva, Humphreys, Wain, Mortimer-Taylor(s), Johnson(s), Butler(s), McKay

Subs (used) Vincent, Miluk, Bartley

(unused) Jordan, McFerran

WARMINSTER TOWN LADIES ARE CROWNED LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!

It was a huge weekend of football for both the first team and the Ladies sides” With the lads securing their second place finish and playoff qualification on Saturday, it was up to the Ladies to make it a truly memorable weekend for the club!

Swindon Town Development were the visitors to Weymouth Street for the 3rd and final encounter between the two sides and most importantly, the title decider! Swindon were just a point ahead with Warminster having a game in hand. A win would secure the title there and then, a draw would’ve taken it down the last game against Frome.

There were no such worries though as Warminster ran out winners! A single worldie goal into the top bins from Maddy Brown in just the 4th minute was enough to secure the win in what was a cagey and scrappy game with neither side willing to take too many chances.

That early pressure from Warminster paid off though and they defended solidly through the rest of the game, limiting Swindon to very few chances of their own. Warminster could’ve had a couple more if not for some impressive saves from Dani Hull in the Swindon goal.

Warminster Town Ladies are South West Regional Women’s league Eastern Division CHAMPIONS!

A fantastic weekend for the club and history made!

Final score WTLFC 1 – 0 STDFC

Starting XI: Summers, Kirk, Weir, Spratt M ©, Shibley, Spratt P, Fry, Godden, Redhouse, Brown, Blazey

Subs: Billet, Guy, Trim

Contributed by Jamie House – JH Sports Photography

Warminster Town Ladies – League Champions

Congratulations to Warminster Town Ladies who on the first day of May sealed the league title.

The Ladies Team has been a credit to Warminster and have won promotion at the first attempt from the South West Regional Football League.

Warminster Town 2 Gillingham Town 1

History was in the making as Warminster Town gained all three points in the season’s final match. A 2-1 win over Gillingham Town sealed them as Western League Division 1 runner-up, the best finish in their history and a place in the playoffs for promotion. 

Two hundred thirty-seven turned up to watch the match and were entertained by a good football game. At times it seemed that the ball would not go into the back of the net for the home side, and that second place might elude them. 

On several occasions, the home side threatened to score; perhaps the best was when Martin Johnson intercepted a back pass and shot just wide of the far post. It was Conner McKay who opened the score in the 19th minute. Running down the left, McKay switched on the turbocharger to beat the right-back, cut in and slotted the ball into the far corner of the net.

Lewis Graham forced the Gillingham keeper into making a first-class save. Graham’s free-kick was surely going to be a goal but for the keeper’s athletic dive to his left and pushed the ball out for a corner.  

Towards the end of the first half, Gardner had to be substituted due to injury and on came Wain in his place. Gardner had collided with the Gillingham keeper earlier in the match and couldn’t shake off the effects.

Warminster this season seems to score more goals in the second half. This looked very likely in the opening two minutes, and Wain saw his shot go over the crossbar. Not long later, he slid in for a cross from the left only to see the ball flash by his feet, so agonisingly close.

However, it was Gillingham against the run of play that equalised. Uncharacteristically, the Warminster defence allowed Gillingham an easy chance to score. The keeper took a free-kick from halfway inside their half. The ball reached the left edge of the penalty area, De-Silva fell over the attacker, leaving Gillingham’s number 3 to run onto the ball, Graham covering slipped, and keeping Jeffery at bay, the player fired home into Thomson’s far post.

In the 64th minute, surely Warminster would regain the lead after McKay was brought down in the box. Warminster’s captain and top goal-scorer, Ian Jeffery, stepped up to take the penalty. The keeper went the correct way to his left and safely gathered the ball.

McKay was ten-minute sin-binned in the 75th minute leaving Warminster with ten men. As is often the case in football, ten men on the pitch can rise to the situation. In the 80th minute, Graham (voted man of the match) forced his way down the left, cut inside, and slid the ball out to the right to find Wain on the edge of the box. Wain fired low, and a defender deflected the ball into his own goal. 

And that was the final score 2-1 to Warminster. At the end of the match, the team were awarded the runners-up cup by the Western League representatives, and the players each received a medal. 

Team: Thomson, Graham, Cockerill, Jeffery, De Silva, Humphreys, Gardner, Mortimer-Taylor, Johnson, Butler, McKay

Subs: (used) Vincent, Miluk, Wain

(unused) Bartley, McFerran

Warminster Town 2021/22 Toolstation Western League Division 1 Runners-Up

Oldland Abbotonians 0 Warminster Town 2

It was the season’s penultimate game, and Warminster travelled to Oldland Abbotonians looking to strengthen their position within the league table. With a two-nil win and Wincanton drawing their game, Warminster moved up into second place. A good solid performance from Warminster against an able Abbotonians side made for an entertaining game. 

Both sides played well, and there wasn’t too much to separate them in the first period of the half. However, Warminster started to create better chances. The swirling wind added interest, and a very long ball bouncing around the 18-yard was carried dangerously towards Warminster’s goal and required Thomson to be alert and tip the ball over the bar (12min). In the first 25 minutes, Warminster forced a few saves and saw shots go wide. McKay’s opening goal (29th minute) was beautifully volleyed at close range into the net after receiving the ball from Mortimer-Taylor’s well-aimed free-kick.  

In the 38th minute, Mortimer-Taylor was given another free-kick to take from a similar position on Warminster’s right. This time he went direct for goal, and the ball was on target heading for the top corner. Oldland’s keeper pulled off a great save to prevent a doubling of the score-line. 

With a minute of normal time, Thomson, too, had to pull off a good save from a close-range shot at his near post to keep the clean sheet. When the halftime whistle blew, Warminster would be pleased with the effort and work rate and look to capitalise on that in the second half.

The Red & Blacks were the first out of the dressing room after the break and made a change as Gardner carrying an injury, was replaced by Wain, a player coming back from injury. 

The second goal was not long in coming. It came in the 52nd minute when an Oldland backward pass from just inside Warminster’s half was missed by the intended Oldland player, Warminster’s Martin Johnson, back-heeled the ball to Butler, who then ran on unchallenged into the 18-yard box and calmly slotted the ball past the keeper’s outstretched right leg.

Warminster continued to press and did not sit back on their lead but couldn’t get the third goal on this occasion. The 75 fans in attendance enjoyed the match and the spirit in which it was played and Oldland lie currently in 11th place also with one match remaining. Warminster now looks forward to playing 15th placed Gillingham Town at Weymouth Street on Saturday, April 30th. 

Team: Thomson, Graham, Cockerill, Jeffery(c), De Silva, Humphreys, Gardner(s), Mortimer-Taylor, Johnson, Butler, McKay(s)

Subs (used) Wain, Miluk, Morris

(unused) Seviour, McFerran

Cheddar FC 1 Warminster Town 3

With three games to go, Warminster Town, on Easter Monday, made the journey to Cheddar, a team endeavouring to reach the playoff zone. The importance of the match seemed evident in the tension among the players. Cheddar went down to ten men in the 13th minute for a tackle and being the last man, the defender had to go. Cheddar fought well, and at halftime, it was 1-1, with Warminster running out 1-3 winners.  

Warminster opened the scoring due to good anticipation from Corey Gardner. In the 17th minute, a long ball from Lewis Graham in his own 18-yard line was run onto by Gardner. Cheddar’s keeper watched the ball bouncing but didn’t exit his area; Gardner took the ball after the second bounce, poked it to the left of the keeper, and then left-footed it home into the back of the net.

The lead didn’t last long when two minutes later, Cheddar’s number 7 on the right picked up a long pass. Twisting and turning, he shrugged off Cockerill and, from the right corner of the penalty area, lifted the ball over Thompson into the far side of the goal.

The visitors didn’t capitalise on the sending off, and the game was very much in the balance at halftime. No doubt, Warminster’s manager Andy Crabtree would endeavour to change the way things were. 

It was in the 80th minute when Gardner doubled his tally. The ball came to him by the penalty spot, and using his right foot, he lobbed the ball towards the centre of the goal, going perfectly over the keeper to make it two.

With five minutes of the match to go, James Vincent charged into the penalty area and was brought down by the keeper, earning himself a penalty and a yellow card for the keeper. Team captain Ian Jeffery stepped up (88’) and blasted the ball home leaving the keeper no chance of stopping it. 

Overall, credit must go to Cheddar, who, although having been down to ten men for so long, worked hard to make the deficit unnoticeable. They did create chances and forced Thompson into several saves.  

Warminster now has two league games remaining. The first is on Saturday, April 23rd away at Oldland Abbotonians. The final game of the season is on Saturday, April 30th at home and Gillingham Town will be at Weymouth Street. A good-sized crowd and atmosphere is expected and all are welcomed.

Team: Thomson, Humphreys, Cockerill, Jeffery(c), Graham, Bartley(s), Gardner, Mortimer-Taylor, Vincent, Butler, McKay(s)

Subs: (used) Johnson, De Silva

(unused) Lisowski