Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development triumphed 4-2 against Melksham Town Reserves in Fountain Trophies Cup tie action at the Sustain Stadium.

When the two sides had met in November in the league, despite their bottom of the table position, Melksham had given the home side a tough game and it was a similar story in this cup encounter.

Bassett went in front somewhat against the run of play on 14 minutes, the experienced Steve Robertson showing how deadly he can be inside the penalty box.

Melksham were back on level terms on the half hour mark in somewhat bizarre circumstances though. Zach Pettifer, who was on the edge of the centre circle just inside his own half, inexplicably sent a powerful back pass to Jack Rae which sailed over the keeper's head and into the net for an own goal.

The home side made three substitutions at half time and there was an almost immediate impact at the start of the second period, two of them combining as they regained the lead, Alan de Paula getting on the end of a low Mani Mesas corner to make it 2-1 within three minutes of the restart.

It was 3-1 shortly after, Pettifer atoning for his earlier own goal by crossing low and hard from the left and seeing his cross turned into his own net by a Melksham defender.

Bassett added a fourth just after the hour mark, Harry Walters with a fine individual goal, firing low into the far corner of the net past Melksham keeper Harry Pickering.

Melksham gave themselves a chance of possibly forcing extra time with a second of the game 20 minutes from time, Jake Dodge eluding a shirt pull, with referee Graham Davis playing a good advantage allowing the Melksham man to get his shot away, which Rae in the home goal failed to keep out to make it 4-2.

Melksham were unable to create any further chances though and it was the home side who went closest to adding to their total. However, there was to be no further goals as the two sides repeated the scoreline from that earlier league encounter.

Bassett will now be home to in-form Frome Collegians in the quarter finals, a side they have lost heavily to twice this season in the league.

Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Tuesday 28th February 2023 at 08:57