Warminster Town 0(0) Shirehampton 2(1)

Attendance 89

It is the season of goodwill so Town came to the visitors rescue when they arrived without their kit! Unfortunately they didn’t reciprocate by rolling over and giving their opponents all three points. Town made two changes from their last game at Mendip Broadwalk. Callum Hotine replaced Matt Green in goal and new signing Saracen Yates replaced the absent captain, Ryan Benson.

Shirehampton started strongly and in the 
13th minute Town keeper Callum Hotine was beaten by a header from a left-side cross but fortunately saw it skim off the crossbar. Just three minute later it was Callum to the rescue when he saved from close range. The pressure was building and on 26 minutes Shirehampton took the lead with an Alfie Marchant  header from a right-side cross, 0-1. Six minutes later things got worse for Town when Joe Stockley brought down a Shirehampton forward who had broken clear. As the last defender there was only one outcome and referee Kulwant Mann showed the red card. Town’s nightmare first half ended with debutant Saracen Yates limping off injured having been on the receiving end of no fewer than four heavy tackles.

After the restart Town’s ten men remained under pressure but defended well. On 71 minutes a Reece Collyer free kick caught the keeper off his line but the ball flew just over the bar. Then in the 78th minute Archie Marchant struck again for the visitors. His shot from left of box into the far bottom corner gave Callum no chance, 0-2. Town never gave up and five minutes later had their best chance of the game. Centre forward Corey Gardner received the ball in space in the box but could not get his shot off first time and when he did shoot two Shirehampton defenders blocked it at the goalpost. The visitors saw out the closing minutes for a deserved win and all three points. 

Town return to action next Saturday away at high flying Calne Town.

Report: Geoff Jackson