DARREN Perrin is ready to get his teeth into a delectable Wiltshire Senior Cup final after his Melksham Town side booked their place alongside one of the most high-profile non-league outfits in the South West.
On Wednesday night, Melksham blitzed Bemerton Heath Harlequins 5-1 in the semi-finals of the county cup, sealing a third final in the space of four years against Sydenhams League leaders Salisbury, the phoenix club created after the downfall of National League outfit Salisbury City.
Melksham are set to lock horns with the Whites, who are managed by former Leicester City striker Steve Claridge and have reached the semi-finals of the FA Vase this season, in April and Perrin is anticipating an occasion to savour on the palate.
“I think it’s the final that everybody wanted to see,” said the Conigre chief.
“The Melksham people always get behind us, so I imagine there’ll be a big crowd and the Wilts FA will be rubbing their hands.
“We’re going to be massive underdogs and it really is rags v riches. They’ve got a huge budget and have had a magnificent season, and by the time we play them, I imagine they’ll be in an FA Vase final at Wembley because I think they’ll beat Hereford.
“They’ve got a manager with a big profile in Steve Claridge but we’ve got a few players with Southern League experience too.”
Melksham, who won the competition in 2013 and 2014, raced into a two-goal lead against Bemerton at Westbury United’s Meadow Lane ground, with Joe Stradling and Ricky Hulbert finding the net.
Harlequins did manage to sneak a goal back before the break but in the second period, it was all one-way traffic as Perrin’s men pressed the issue home.
Ben Thomson helped himself to two further goals whilst Hulbert also ended the evening with a brace as Melksham waltzed into the county cup final.
On Saturday, Perrin’s side also enjoyed a major success in the Toolstation League Premier Division as they hammered league leaders Odd Down 4-0 away from home.
After a goalless first half, Thomson put the reigning champions ahead before Jack Hiscocks and Stradling added to the visitors' total.
Gary Higdon came off the bench and notched number four in the 90th minute.
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