Warminster Town got the new year off to a good start with a 2 – 0 home win over Wells City. In their last encounter, back in early November, the result was honours even in a 1 – 1 draw. 

Following much rainfall, the pitch was sticky and slippery for the players. A good crowd of 214 watched the match, not one for the purists due to the conditions; however, there were moments of excitement for the nonleague fans to enjoy.

For most of the match, Warminster had control and looked the most likely to score. In the opening minutes, Cockerill blasted a shot over the bar, and although not on target, showed that Warminster could open up the City defence. In the 29th minute, Lewis Graham saw his curling shot saved by City’s keeper, Josh Nicol. Shortly afterwards, Seviour fired over the bar. With 5 minutes of the half left, he tried again; this time, his shot was lower but went just wide of the left post. The halftime whistle blew with no goals for either team.

The visitors came close to scoring for the first time four minutes from the restart when a free-kick was sent just over Thomson’s crossbar. Warminster thought they had scored on 55 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside. The goal came a minute later, courtesy of Corey Gardner. Firstly from the left of the penalty area, Miluk shot and the keeper parried the ball just wide of the left post. Johnson kept the ball in play sending it back across the goal for Gardner to tap home.

In the 75th minute, both teams were down to 10 men. A crunching tackle on Warminster’s Humphreys got a reaction from teammate Churchyard who had already received a yellow card earlier in this half. Off went City’s number eleven, Herrod and Churchyard got his second yellow. 

The second goal came in additional time; deep in his half, Cockerill played the ball forward along the left to Miluk on the halfway line. Miluk scampered into the middle of the pitch, pursued by two City defenders. Upon getting to the edge of the area, he released his shot leaving the diving keeper to look back and see the ball in the back of the net. 

This match is Warminster’s 11th unbeaten game in a row and another clean sheet to add to Thomson’s stats. 

Team: Thomson, Pollock(s), Cockerill, Jeffery, Graham, Churchyard (sent off 75′), Miluk, Bartley, Johnson(s), Gardiner, Seviour(s) 

Subs (used): Sheppard, Humphreys, Wain

Subs (unused): Butler, McFerran

On a cold and still night, Warminster Town travelled to the City of Wells. With both teams on a good run of form, it promised to be a good match. Indeed, it proved to be a highly entertaining close-fought contest with a 1 -1 draw, a fair result.

The visitors started quickly out of the blocks forcing an early save by the Wells City keeper. As the first half progressed, Wells evened up play, and in the 30th minute when Herrod was brought down and a penalty awarded. Up stepped City’s number 9 Wright and blasted it into the top-left corner.

Warminster responded as though stung by a bee. Within a minute of the restart, Miluk received a through ball, ran to the byline. His low cross, met by Martin Johnson, forced the keeper into an excellent save to preserve City’s lead.

Not to be outdone for fine saves in the first minutes of the second half, Warminster’s Sam Thomson was called into action to prevent the home side from doubling their lead in a crowded goalmouth attempt on goal.

Warminster levelled the score in the 82nd minute. Substitute Lewis Graham came down the right, crossed to Miluk in the box. Jack Miluk’s shot came off the keeper’s left leg back into Miluk and on into the goal. An unusual one but a good goal.

The game finished level despite efforts from both sides to change the score-line in the remaining minutes. Chairman of Warminster Town FC, David Parry, said, “the game was a credit to Western League football. I think all watching would agree.

Team: Thomson, Pollock(s), Cockerill, Jeffery, Lisowski, Bartley, Miluk, Mortimer-Taylor, Johnson M(s), Gardner(s), Seviour.

Subs: (used) Graham, De-Silva, Humphrey
(unused) Johnson L

Title: A Hard Fought Win

Monday is an unusual day for Western League football but a good crowd of away fans travelled with Warminster Town to Wells. Their efforts did not go unrewarded as the visitors produced a strong performance against Wells City, and won the match 1-3.

Wells started at a high tempo and Warminster had to defend from a number of free kicks which Wells won close to Warminster’s 18 yard box. The home side looked dangerous and it took great effort from the Red and Blacks to keep them from scoring.

The first goal came in the 25th minute and it was Warminster’s Martin Johnson who tucked the ball home. A shot from Sisson was blocked and the rebound fell for Johnson to give the visitors the lead. Barnes went close a few minutes later, his free kick hit the wall then the rebound back into the wall and the third attempt hit the post.

This was a good period for The Town and on 33 minutes Johnson produced a superb cross from the left which was met by the head of Joel Sisson to double the lead. In the final minute of normal time, Wells were awarded a free kick inside Warminster’s half. Hotine saved it, but the rebound and scramble inside the goal mouth saw the ball popped into the back of the net. Halftime: Wells City 1  Warminster Town 2.

Warminster battled hard and from the kickoff in the second half saw them start to assert more pressure on the home side. Several early chances were created but the scoreline remained the same. Wells brought on all 3 substitutes to try to get back level but this probably opened them up to Warminster’s attacks. A terrific move from Sisson saw him breaking through the middle of City’s defence. Sisson passed the ball to Allen, who calmly slotted the ball home, and making it 3 goals (66).

Less than 10 minutes later saw Allen sin-binned for 10 minutes, however not long afterwards, Wells lost a player through injury and they too were down to 10 men. Allen came back on with 5 minutes of normal time remaining and should have made it a brace. Right at the end Warminster had another opportunity, which somehow flashed wide of the City goal.

A very hard fought game of football and a good test for Warminster as they climb the table to 4th place.

Team: Hotine, Sisson, Barnes, Jeffery, De Silva, Churchyard*, Mortimer-Taylor*, Bartley, Allen, Johnson*, Butler

Subs (*used) Lisowski*, Wain*, Seviour*, Graham

High-flying Wells City came to Warminster Town on the first day of February. The club made this a special day to raise funds for Cancer Research UK as part of World Cancer Day on February 4th. There was a raffle, and the takings from the refreshment cabin being donated to the cause.

The 107 in attendance watched a 6-goal thriller and honours were even at the end of this game at 3 – 3. This is how the game unfolded.

Warminster got off to a very bright start and almost scored in the opening seconds when Miluk on the right crossed into the box. Allen flicked the ball into the centre of the area, and Pawley shot over the bar. In the 4th minute, more pressure from the home side saw Shanley’s header saved by Wilkinson in City’s goal.

City scored first against the run of the opening play in the 7th minute. Foster, City’s number 10, practically unmarked, made sure by firing into the right-hand corner of Crabtree’s net. From the encounter earlier in the season, Warminster should have been aware of the goal-scoring ability of Wells and the ability to get balls into the box and finish them.

Wells continued to pump long balls forward throughout the match and make use of their taller players. Warminster had to be on guard against this tactic for the whole 90 minutes. The home side though did not let their heads drop after the opener and equalised in the 13th minute. Shanley found Allen on the edge of the box, whose shot went in off the left-hand post.

Allen doubled his tally in the 23rd minute, with a super shot from a parried save from a Shanley strike and buried the ball into the left corner of the goal. Crabtree pulled off a good save 5 minutes later to keep Town’s lead intact. Two minutes later, at the opposite end, Allen went close to a hat trick forcing the keeper into a fine save. Crabtree right at the death of the first half pulled off another good save contributing to him being the players’ Man of the Match.

With a 2 – 1 lead Warminster started the second-half as brightly as the first, and on 50 seconds Miluk going down the entire right of City’s half took on both defence and keeper to force the ball low into the back of the net to make it 3 – 1. Wells responded in the 52nd minute with Foster getting his second. Moments later Crabtree produced another fine save, but the lead was to vanish in the 68th minute when City equalised with a goal into the middle of the net by Hunt.

Warminster made a double substitution when Fletcher and Johnson replaced Barnes and Shanley. The fresh legs seemed to turn things in Warminster’s favour and the home side in the final quarter of an hour or so created several chances where Allen could have scored again.

Overall, Warminster should be pleased with their performance, and the fans of both teams were treated to an entertaining football match. There were opportunities for the home side to win and no doubt this will give them the confidence to perform well in their next game, which is on Saturday, February 8th away at Oldland Abbotonians.

Team: Crabtree, McFerran, Jeffery(c), Graham, De Silva, Lisowski, Miluk, Pawley, Allen, Shanley*, Barnes*,
Subs: (used) Fletcher*, Johnson*, Ball, Tylek