Corsham Tn 3, Melksham Tn 3

(after extra-time, Corsham won 4-2 on penalties)

MELKSHAM manager Robbie Lardner refused to blame the Messenger for the bad news of this shock Les Phillips Cup defeat.

Young striker Matty Messenger scored twice in normal time and was on target again in the penalty shoot-out, but also missed a series of other good chances to put the game out of the reach of the First Division underdogs.

In the space of only a few seconds in injury time at the end of normal time, Messenger was twice through with only Corsham goalkeeper Craig Chaplin to beat. The first time he blasted the ball over the bar; the second time he shot wide.

But Lardner, although bitterly disappointed with the defeat, stood by Messenger at the final whistle.

"I'll back Matty to the hilt and people must realise he is still learning his trade at this level," said Lardner.

"What I like about him is that he always gets himself into good positions and the goals will come.

"Scoring three goals away from home should be enough to win any game, but we let ourselves down in all areas of the pitch.

"It was individual errors at both ends that cost us the match. Some of the mistakes we made at the back were schoolboy errors."

Corsham assistant-manager Mark Godley admitted that Melksham had shaded the game on scoring chances created, but reckoned his side deserved to win for their "sheer endeavour."

He added: "I know it was only a one-off, but the gap between the First Division and the Premier Division was not as great as I had anticipated.

It was a fantastic result for us and to go 2-0 up after 15 minutes was fairy tale stuff.

"Melksham then came back to lead 3-2 just after half-time, but we kept battling away and I think just about deserved it at the end."

Corsham were ahead in under two minutes, with Simon Bray scoring direct from an inswinging right wing corner.

And when Luke Chapman headed in a second after 15 minutes an upset looked on the cards.

But Melksham battled back, with Messenger scoring in the 27th and 40th minutes to bring the scores level, and former Corsham assistant-manager Frankie Coleman putting the visitors ahead seconds into the second half, after Messenger's shot had been blocked by Corsham's giant goalkeeper Craig Chaplin.

Corsham refused to give in and in the 56th minute gained their reward when Melksham substitute Adie Stagg turned the ball into his own net from a cross by John Scott.

It was Corsham who kept their nerve in the penalty shoot-out, with Bray, Wayne Munday, James Griffen and Gerald Heywood giving them a 100 per cent success rate, but Melksham's Russell Fishlock and James Lye seeing their spot kicks saved by Chaplin.

Corsham: Chaplin, Humphreys (sub Wileman 63 minutes), Munday, Ford, Heywood, Weeks, Scott, Griffen, Chapman, Kilmurray (sub Pocock 65 minutes), Bray.

Melksham: Chitty, Thompson, Christopher (sub J Messenger 84 minutes), Bush (sub Stagg 30 minutes), Lunt (substitute Macey 107 minutes), Ranger, Coleman, Lardner, M Messenger, Bown, Lye. Sub (not used)

Man of the match: Craig Chaplin (Corsham Town).

Corsham's victory also wins them this week's Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News performance of the week award.

Our award is open to all local sportsmen and women, individuals and teams, and is designed to recognise achievement in any sport.

l See coupon, right, for details.