On Saturday, January 25th., Warminster Town made the short trip down the A303 to Wincanton, to face “The Wasps”. The match took place on a sticky pitch and despite taking the lead lost the game 2-1.

The first half kicked off, and for much of it, Warminster looked the better side. The opening goal scored by the visitors was a superb volley from Eben Mortimer-Taylor on 23 minutes finding the top right corner. Moments before this goal, Allen almost connected with a superb cross on the 6-yard line from Miluk, which would have been a certain goal.

In the 28th minute, a penalty was given to The Wasps. The reason why was not seen by the referee as he went to consult with the linesman before deciding there was an infringement. One of Warminster’s subs, Nathan Ball was not best pleased and earned a yellow card for expressing his displeasure to the officials. The penalty was dispatched into the back of Carl Crabtree’s net by Dan Wise sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Unfortunately for the visitors, the goalscorer Mortimer-Taylor was substituted due to injury towards the end of the half. Just before this, Miluk went close with a shot that went over the home side’s crossbar.

Wincanton scored the winning goal in the 67th minute. A long ball from The Wasps defence was knocked on to Louis Irwin, who on the edge of the box, left-footed a shot into Town’s goal which went in off the left-hand post. In the 76th minute, Crabtree pulled off an excellent save diving high to his left to keep the ball out of his net. Minutes later Crabtree had to come charging out to the right-hand edge of his area to cut out a dangerous move from Wincanton.

With 11 minutes of the 90 remaining Miluk intercepted a back pass to The Wasps keeper. MIluk fired the ball on target, but the keeper managed to get a strong arm to prevent the goal.

With a few minutes remaining, it could be said that Warminster had two goalkeepers on the pitch as Allen was replaced by Nathan Ball, this time playing in a forward role. It would have a made a great story if Ball could have scored when playing at the opposite end of the pitch.

Warminster probably deserved a draw with everything taken into account but sadly have come away from Moor Lane without a point.

Next up, high-flying Wells City at Weymouth Street, Warminster on Saturday, February 1st. Kickoff at 3.00 pm.

Team: Crabtree, McFerran, Barnes, Graham, Jeffery, Lisowski, Miluk, Mortimer-Taylor, Pawley, Allen, Shanley,

Subs (used) Ball, Chenery-Bowden*, De Silva