Warminster Town Advance To 3rd Round Of The County Cup

20’ Warminster Town go close with a shot the Shrewton keeper half stopped. The ball appeared to cross the line before it was scrambled clear but the officials do not give the goal.
40’  Callum Hotine tips a Shrewton shot over the bar.
43’ Braden Humphreys heads over from a corner.
45’ Ryan Benson turns corner goal wards but Shrewton keeper saves. Corey Gardner responds quickest to put away the loose ball, 0-1.
45’+1’ Myles Woodward fires miles over the bar.

Halftime Shrewton United 0 Warminster Town 1

56’ Ryan Benson turns in right-side corner. This time the keeper doesn’t save his shot, 0-2.
78’ Jack Newman beats last defender and fires past the Shrewton keeper, 0-3.
80’  Corey Gardner again with a wicked swerving shot from outside the box 0-4.
A Callum Hotine pass out is intercepted in the box by Shrewton forward but our stopper makes a great save to redeem himself by pushing the ball round the post.

Full Time Shrewton United 0(0) Warminster Town 4(1)

Warminster Draw To Take First League Point Away From Home

Warminster went behind in the seventh minute when Keynsham’s captain Billy Brock rose highest at the back post to head in from a free kick. The visitors, however, only trailed for seven minutes. Jack Newman’s diving header from a superb Corey Gardner cross levelled the score. Warminster went close again in the eighteenth minute when an in swinging corner from Owen Bartley bounced off the crossbar and behind for a goal kick.

A minute later Corey Gardner was one on one with the home keeper but he lifted his shot over the bar. On twenty-two minutes it was the home sides turn to hit the woodwork when a free kick from just outside the box bounced off the top of the crossbar. 

Keynsham were asking questions of the Warminster defence and, when their left winger got behind his marker, Warminster’s keeper Callum Hotine had to be at his best to save the shot. Then in the twenty-sixth minute Warminster took the lead. The Keynsham keeper, Alex Causen fumbled a long ball under pressure and Seb Hounsell fired into the empty net to put Warminster 2-1 up. This time it was Keynsham’s turn to come from behind.

On thirty minutes Josh Lynden got on the end of a long punt downfield and fired inside Callum’s left hand post, 2-2. The forward had looked offside but the linesman’s flag stayed down. Three minutes later Callum Hotine was tested again pushing a fierce Keynsham free kick over bar. Warminster then suffered a setback when Max Whittaker limped off injured. Jack Duck replaced him playing left wing, Seb Hounsell dropped back to left back and Sam McFarlane moved into the centre of the defence.

On thirty-nine minutes Warminster had a big shout for a penalty. A scrambled in the box led to the home keeper wrestling Henry McFerran down. The referee consulted his linesman and gave a goal kick.

Halftime Keynsham Town 2 Warminster Town 2

After the break both sides tried to regain the ascendancy but the two defences came out on top. On seventy-five minutes Warminster went close. The ball broke to Reece Collyer in the box but the Keynsham keeper saved well and then his attempted clearance rebounded off Reece but passed just the wrong side of the post. Then a controversial decision in the seventy-eighth minute reduced Warminster to ten men. The referee played the advantage when Reece Collyer was fouled but then sent Corey Gardner to the sin bin for ten minutes for a comment he made. With the one man advantage the home team dominated the last minutes.

On ninety minutes a two on one break spelt danger for Warminster but a great tackle by Sam McFarlane denied a Keynsham forward almost through on goal. That was the last significant action as the final whistle followed shortly. Warminster deservedly took their first away point in the league this season.

Hopefully the elusive first away win will follow shortly.

Full Time Keynsham Town 2(2) Warminster Town (2)
Attendance 68

Warminster Town Draw Against High Flying Calne Town

Ahead of this game visitors Calne were in 4th place in the Western League Division 1 table, Warminster were 16th. Warminster were missing the suspended Jake Wright and Toby Worts. Seb Hounsell replaced Worts.

Warminster were first to threaten when in the 12th minute Jack Newman beat a Calne defender to a long ball but the visitors’ keeper, Gigia Gorazd bravely came out to save at his feet. Three minutes later a Reece Collyer free kick from wide right was headed just over the bar. On 23 minutes a dangerous Calne break down the left led to a shot from just inside the box that Callum Hotine saved well. Two minutes later Calne centre forward, Akeem Stewart was sent clear but again Hotine made a fine diving save.

The visitors were dominating at this stage of the game and from another attack down the left a Josh Pike-Bright shot was pushed outside the goal post by Hotine. From the resulting corner Pike-Bright headed goal wards but Hotine deflected the ball onto the crossbar and away for another corner. From that corner the ball was half cleared but played back into the box where yet another Pike-Bright shot was again saved by the diving Hotine.

On 30 minutes a long range shot from Jack Newman dipped just over the bar. Then in the 38th minute Warminster took the lead. A Newman pass sent Corey Gardner clear. The striker rounded their keeper and fired in left footed, 1-0. Just before halftime an Owen Bartley pass picked out Gardner in space on the right but a last ditch tackle by Calne’s Sam Jones put the ball out for a corner. From the corner Calne broke quickly and Pike-Bright got on the end of the attack to fire past Hotine.

Halftime Warminster Town 1 Calne Town 1

After the break Warminster continued to trouble the visitors and a Corey Gardner shot from outside box flew just over the bar

On 53 minutes Calne went close when Charlie Warren’s left foot shot from just outside the box clipped a post. Then in the 69th minute the dangerous Pike-Bright found space in the box but once again he was denied by Hotine. With time running out Jack Newman broke ahead of the last defender but he was cynically brought down outside the box earning the offender just a yellow card. From the resulting free kick Seb Hounsell fired just over the bar. In the last minute of stoppage time Hotine saved Pike-Bright’s header from a left side corner to ensure Warminster Town earned a hard fought point.

Full Time Warminster Town 1 Calne Town 1
Attendance 116

Report: Geoff Jackson

Warminster Town’s Superb Second Half Comeback Not Quite Enough

Sturminster Newton United 2(2) Warminster Town 1(0)
Attendance 111

Warminster Town trailing by two goals at the break and reduced to ten men, staged a superb second half comeback but just missed out on salvaging a point.

Town started slowly with United dominating the early exchanges. In the 8th minute a United curling shot from outside box was acrobatically tipped over bar by Town keeper, Callum Hotine. On 27 minutes a dangerous United cross into 6 yard box was well saved again by Hotine. Town started to get back into the game and on 30 minutes a corner kick from right was dropped by United’s keeper Theo Crane but he grabbed the ball at the second attempt. In the 32nd minute Jack Newman broke clear into the left hand side of penalty area but his shot was too near to Crane who saved comfortably. 

Just as Town were starting to threaten the hosts broke the deadlock. On 35 minutes Buddy O’Shea beat Town’s offside trap and coolly lobbed the ball over Callum Hotine 0-1. Just three minutes later United doubled their lead. A hopeful punt into penalty area was punched out to the right of the box by Hotine but O’Shea was on hand to fire goal wards from a tight angle. Hotine dived back to attempt to stop the ball crossing the line but after consulting  with his linesman, the referee awarded a goal, 0-2. 

Three minutes before the break Jack Newman got on the end of an Owen Bartley free kick but his shot passed wide of the post. The first half then ended controversially. Town’s Toby Worts and United’s O’Shea had been clashing for the last five minutes of the half. On the stroke of halftime the referee saw something that most of the crowd missed and showed Worts a red card whilst O’Shea escaped unpunished.

Half time Sturminster Newton United 2 Warminster Town 0. 

With Town having been less than convincing before the break, their faithful followers feared the worst in the second half. What they witnessed however, was a much improved battling performance from Town’s ten men. On 52 minutes United’s keeper dived to his right to push a long range Reece Collyer shot around the post. In the 56th minute United sub Aaron Lane-Leney slid into Callum Hotine  with his studs showing. The forward was lucky to get away with just a yellow card as Hotine needed lengthy treatment. 

Three minutes later Town pulled a goal back.Jack Newman broke down the right crossed into the box and Corey Gardner met it first time firing into the top corner, 1-2. On 66 minutes a great turn set Jack Newman clear on the left but Crane saved his shot. In the 77th minute a long range shot from Sam McFarlane flew just over the bar. Then a repeat of the build up that led to Town’s goal saw Corey Gardner get on the end of another right side cross but this time keeper Crane saved at the second attempt. In the 84th minute a United player completely unmarked in box headed wide. 

Town pressed for the equaliser and an 89th minute a Town looping header dropped just over the bar. Then two minutes into stoppage time they won a corner and keeper Hotine went up for the corner. The ball was half cleared but Hotine headed it back into the danger area.  An attempted overhead kick didn’t connect and the referee blew for an infringement. In the fifth minute of stoppage time another ball into the box almost led to an equaliser. Crane saved twice before the linesman’s flag rescued the under pressure home defence.

That was to prove to be Town’s last chance and it was a frustrated visiting team that were ultimately denied. Had they played in the first half like they did after they were reduced to ten men the outcome might have been a much more positive result.

Report by Geoff Jackson

Warminster Town Win Entertaining Encounter

Warminster Town 3 Cribbs Reserves 2
Attendance 118

On a glorious late summer afternoon Town returned to Weymouth Street and back to winning ways. Manager Rob Nash made three changes from Tuesday’s starting lineup. In came Myles Woodward, Owen Bartley and Martin Johnson replacing Seb Hounsell, Max Biddescome and Reece Collyer. 

Town dominated the early exchanges. In the 14th minute a corner from right was half cleared and Braden Humphreys tried a spectacular overhead kick that flew just over the bar. Two minutes later another  corner from the right was headed goalwards by Martin Johnson but the Cribbs keeper, Harry Bridgeman saved well. On 21 minutes Jake Wright was fouled just outside the left-hand side of the penalty area. Martin Johnson got on the end of the free kick but his header passed just outside the far post. The pressure finally led to a Town goal on 25 minutes. Town won another free kick just outside the penalty area. Toby Worts took the free kick curling his shot over the wall beating Bridgeman but unfortunately not the post. The ball rolled along the goal line and Jack Newman applied the finishing touch, 1-0. Cribbs then started to get back into the game. On 32 minutes Town’s keeper Callum Hotine was called upon to save a Cribbs shot from just outside the box. A minute later a smart turn on the edge of the box created another chance for the visitors and again Callum saved well.

Town continued to look dangerous after the break and they doubled their lead on 60 minutes. A right side corner was played to the back post where Sam McFarlane rose to head home, 2-0. In the 65th minute Jack Newman had a great chance to extend Town’s lead. He broke clear of the last defender and seeing Bridgeman off his line attempted to lift the ball over the keeper but his shot went wide. That miss looked costly a minute later when the visitors were awarded a penalty for a Town hand ball. Up stepped Liam Clayton who made no mistake, 2-1. On 75 minutes Jack Newman again beat the last defender. The young striker’s shot was parried by Bridgeman but Jack reacted quickest to put away the loose ball, 3-1. Back came Cribbs and in the 81st minute a cross from left was swept in by Aaron Coleman, 3-2. Town had to withstand a late onslaught from the visitors but they held out for a deserved win and all three points.

Man of the Match – Owen Bartley – photo below.
Report: Geoff Jackson

Warminster Town’s Frustrating Evening At Gillingham

Town travelled to bottom of the table Gillingham hoping to get back to winning ways. The last week has seen the return of a number of familiar faces with Braden Humphreys in the starting eleven and Owen Bartley and Martin Johnson substitutes on the bench. 

On another wet evening, the hosts looking for their first win of the season, started brightly. In the 8th minute they came close to opening the scoring when a cross from the left led to a close range header that Warminster’s keeper Callum Hotine did well to save. Three minutes later Reece Collyer went close for Warminster when his shot from outside the box flew just over  the bar. On 21 minutes Gillingham took the lead controversially. Ryan Riglar received the ball wide right but appeared to handle the ball. The nearby linesman’s flag stayed down and Riglar cut into the penalty area and shot past Callum Hotine. Warminster’s defenders appealed to the officials but after consulting his linesman the referee awarded the goal. To make matters worse Warminster’s keeper Callum Hotine was sent to the sin bin, presumably for comments he made to the officials. Reece Collyer took over in goal for the next ten minutes. On 41 minutes Seb Hounsell was brought down in the Gillingham box but the referee waved play on. When he finally returned to see if Hounsell needed treatment another comment led to the Warminster defender being the second Warminster player to head to the sin bin!

In first half stoppage time Jake Wright tested Gillingham’s keeper Dale Hinds who parried his shot but unfortunately no Warminster forward was close enough to put away the rebound.

Halftime Gillingham Town 1 Warminster Town 0

The visitors upped their game after the break and on 53 minutes a Seb Hounsell shot was well saved by Hinds. Jack Newman followed up to try to put away the loose ball but the angle was too tight and Gillingham scrambled the ball clear. A minute later Warminster centre back Sam McFarlane headed firmly goal wards from a corner but Hinds made another great save tipping the ball over the bar. On 56 minutes Jack Newman shot from left side of the penalty area  but his shot passed just inches wide of the post. Then two minutes later Newman was sent clear into the penalty area but was denied by a last ditch tackle by a backtracking Gillingham defender. In the 74th minute another controversial decision went against Warminster. A fifty-fifty challenge near the halfway line resulted in a Gillingham player writhing in agony. The referee decided it wasn’t just a coming together and Jake Wright was shown a red card. Despite being a man short Town deservedly levelled a minute after Wright’s dismissal. Substitute Martin Johnson played a one-two in the box and coolly slipped the ball past Gillingham’s keeper. With Warminster pressing for a winner, they were caught out in the 80th minute. A pass from the left found Gillingham striker Ryan Riglar unmarked in the box and for the second time in the game he beat Callum Hotine to edge the home side ahead again. In the 87th minute Martin Johnson went close to equalising with a header from a right-side corner but once again Hinds saved well.

The ten men continued to press until the final whistle but it wasn’t to be Warminster’s night. Key decisions went against them and Dale Hinds in the Gillingham goal was in inspired form. On the evidence of their second half performance it can only be a matter of time before Warminster’s results start to improve.

Full time Gillingham 2(1) Warminster Town 1(0)

Report: Geoff Jackson

Warminster Town Defeated On A Soggy Evening At Odd Down

Town went into this fixture confident after a convincing performance against Radstock last weekend. They were missing their joint top scorer Jake Wright who was suspended for one game, but welcomed back old favourites Owen Bartley and Corey Gardner who both started on the bench.

The first half played in torrential rain was fairly even with clear chances few and far between. On 27 minutes Town captain Ryan Benson intercepted a poor pass and shot from edge of the box but it flew just wide of post.  A 35th minute Odd Down free kick from left looked to be dipping under the bar but was well saved by Town’s Callum Hotine. On 40 minutes Odd Down should have scored. A driving run into the box and a super pull back from left set up a great chance but their forward’s shot went high and wide.

Halftime Odd Down 0 Town 0

In the 56th minute the hosts took the lead when a cross from right picked out Nathan Hall who directed his header superbly into the top corner, 1-0. Just a couple of minutes later Odd Down’s left back Rickie Scott played a great one two to break clear and fired past Callum just inside the far post, 0-2. Town tried hard to pull a goal back but Odd Down’s defence were proving hard to break down. On 80 minutes Town went close with a shot from substitute Corey Gardner that went just wide of the Odd Down keeper’s right hand post. Two minutes later a curling shot from Odd Down’s Andrews went just over the bar. In the first minute of stoppage time a Town corner from right was half cleared. The ball was played back into the danger area but Odd Down keeper was able to block the ball and it was scrambled to safety. That proved to be Towns last chance as Odd Down ran out worthy winners.

Full Time Odd Down 2(0) Warminster Town 0(0)
Attendance 90

Report: Geoff Jackson

Warminster Town Return To Winning Ways

Warminster Town 2(2) Radstock Town 0(0)
Attendance 106

An impressive performance from Town ensured they won for just the second time this season. They created a hatful of chances and had they converted just half of them they would have surely scored half a dozen goals.

Town started brightly and came so close to taking a 5th minute lead. Reece Collyer hit one of his long range specials that smashed into the underside of the bar. The ball rebounded down and struck the Radstock keeper Tom Crouch’s back. The ball rebounded towards the goal line but Crouch was able to scramble back to stop it crossing the line! Town didn’t have to wait long, however, to open the scoring. In the 16th minute Sam Roberts met a right-side corner to head firmly past Crouch, 1-0. Twelve minutes later Jake Wright was brought down in the box and Town were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Jack Newman to take the spot kick but Crouch dived to his right to save well. On 34 minutes Radstock came close to equalising. A curling shot from outside box almost deceived Town keeper Callum Hotine who only just managed to push it past the post. From the resulting corner a Radstock attacker was allowed a free header but it was blocked on the line and hacked to safety. Four minutes later Jake Wright sent Jack Newman clear. The Town centre forward lifted the ball over the keeper but it struck the bar again and Jake Wright following up could not put away the rebound. Then on the stroke of halftime Town doubled their lead. Jake Wright broke down the left, beat the full back and fired in across the keeper, 2-0 Town.

Any fears that Town would sit back after the break and preserve their lead we soon allayed as they carried on where they had left off. On 56 minutes Jake Wright beat Radstock’s full back for the umpteenth time, and cut in from left but his shot flashed across the face of the goal. Next in the 62nd minute Myles Woodward was sent clear of the last defender but he scuffed his shot allowing Crouch to save. Just seven minutes later it was Groundhog Day as Woodward was clear again down the centre. This time he lifted his shot over the bar! On 72 minutes Jake Wright beat three defenders before he was cynically hacked down just outside the box. Reece Collyer took the free kick but it hit the wall. The ball broke to Jack Newman but Crouch made a great save to deny him. Radstock threatened to pull a goal back but Town’s defence were holding firm. On 90 minutes Town had one last chance to extend their lead. Jake Wright broke clear again and cut into the box from the left. With just the keeper to beat he lifted his  shot over the bar.

An encouraging performance from Town. Callum and his defence kept a clean sheet and there were chances aplenty created at the other end. Town just need to start converting a few more of those chances to ensure they continue to move up the table. 

Report: Geoff Jackson

Warminster Town’s Unbeaten Home Run Ended By Mendip Broadwalk 

Town lost at Weymouth Street for the first time this season losing to league newcomers, Mendip Broadwalk. The early exchanges were fairly even. In the 14th minute Callum Hotine made a fine double save following a Broadwalk free kick into Town penalty area. Just a minute later Myles Woodward’s shot from the right side of the box was well saved by Broadwalk keeper, Lewis Coombes. The visitors, however, started to dominate and they took the lead in the 23rd minute.  A right side corner was headed in by Mason Dagger, 0-1. In the 35th minute they doubled their lead when a cross from the left into the danger area was fired in by Dylan Whittle, 0-2. Back came Town and in the 37th minute a Jake Wright shot from left of box had Coombes beaten but unfortunately passed just outside there far post. 

Halftime Town 0 Broadwalk 2

Seven minutes into the second half Broadwalk’s centre forward Rhys Hickery was allowed far too much space on right of box.  Callum Hotine’s diving save pushed the ball onto the post but deflected into the net, 0-3. Town’s cause wasn’t helped by the 61st minute dismissal of Jake Wright for a second yellow card. Town kept fighting and were rewarded for their efforts when in the 87th minute Jack Newman lifted a shot over Coombes from left of box for a late consolation goal, 1-3. At the full time whistle there could be no argument that the visitors deserved all three points

Full Time Town 1 Mendip Broadwalk 3 Attendance 167

Report by: Geoff Jackson

Town’s Wembley Dreams Over For Another Season

Warminster Town travelled to the Dorset coast to take on Hamworthy United of the Wessex League Division One in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Vase. 

Town started brightly but were dealt a blow when United were awarded a 9th minute penalty. Up stepped Bailey Rowe who beat Town’s keeper Callum Hotine, 1-0. Just four minutes later Town were gifted an equaliser when a slip from United’s keeper, Sam Moggeridge allowed Jack Newman a tap in, 1–1. On 35 minutes United retook the lead. They played their way out from their own penalty area and sent Josh Malpas clear down the right wing. The winger squared the ball into the near post where Bailey Rowe was on hand to fire in, 2-1. Two minutes before the break Town keeper Callum Hotine made a great diving save to deny a United attacker. Then on the stroke of halftime that man Hotine came to Town’s rescue again when he tipped a goal bound header over the bar.

Halftime United 2 Town 1

Just two minutes after the break United scored again. A Josh Malpas effort was pushed wide by Hotine but Neemo Nixon, following up, put away the loose ball from a tight angle, 3–1. Town then had their best spell of the game as the hosts sat back but the visitors struggled to create clear chances. On 79 minutes they came closest to reducing the arrears. A Jack Newman shot from the edge of the penalty area had the home keeper beaten but his shot flew just the wrong side of the post. United defended their lead well and it was a frustrated Town side that could not find the breakthrough to make a late challenge to win the Vase tie.

Report by: Geoff Jackson