Jonny Davoille whose penalty kick saw Wroughton through to the Wiltshire Senior Cup Final
It is congratulations to Wroughton from all at the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League on making the final of the prestigious Wiltshire County FA Senior Cup after a penalty shoot-out win over Warminster Town from the Toolstation Western League. On a night of high drama Wroughton held their nerve from the spot to secure a place in the final against the defending cup holders Downton FC.
The first half on Tuesday night was played in difficult conditions, heavy rain adding to an already heavy pitch but, despite the conditions, both sides were able to create chances. On 17 minutes Warminster’s James Vincent perhaps should have done better with a ball in from the left but, despite getting on the end of the cross, he was unable to get a decent touch and the ball went high and wide. Wroughton’s best chance came on 24 minutes, a low corner from the right found Luigi Hernandez at the near post and his deft flick was saved by Warminster keeper Sam Thomson with his feet and the rebound cleared by Chay Forrester. Wroughton went close again shortly after, a high ball from midfield from Max Scholefield found Sam Long clear of the Warminster defence but he hit his shot into the side netting.
With half an hour gone it was Warminster who went close to breaking the deadlock, a corner from the right was headed downwards by Lewis Graham and this time it was Wroughton keeper Eddie Salsbury saving with his feet with Ollie While then clearing the ball to safety before the Warminster striker could get a shot away. Minutes later there was a moment of controversy when Warminster’s Jon Bazley was shown a red card for a heavy tackle on Sam Long. From the resulting free kick leading scorer Jonathan Peachey-Score fired his free kick straight into the wall. At the other end a fantastic sliding tackle from Luigi Hernandez prevented Warminster’s James Vincent from having a clear run at goal as the home side pressed for the opener despite being one man down. Wroughton were unable to take advantage of the extra man in the remaining minutes of the half and the two teams turned round with the game still looking for its first goal.
In the early stages of the second half Warminster had a penalty shout after another tackle from Luigi Hernandez saw Eben Mortimer-Taylor go tumbling in the box but the penalty shouts were waved away by the referee. Warminster continued to push for an opener and went close just before the hour mark, Max Wyatt firing just over the bar from the edge of the 18 yard-box. Wyatt went close again when a ball over the top from Mortimer-Taylor saw him out pace the Wroughton back line but a superb save from Wroughton keeper Salsbury, pushing Wyatt’s shot over the bar kept the scores level. From the resulting corner Lewis Graham fired over the bar. It wasn’t all one way traffic though as at the other end Ollie While fired a shot just over from distance. In the final minute of normal time there was a second controversial moment in the game when Wroughton’s Fraser Little was sent off for a sliding tackle on the edge of the box that saw him clearly connect with the ball before Warminster’s Spencer Dymond-Hall was sent tumbling over. For the second time in the game a red card was shown evening up the playing numbers, albeit with little time still to play. The resulting free kick was fired tamely around the wall and into the arms of Wroughton keeper Salsbury and shortly after the referee blew the final whistle meaning penalties were going to be needed to settle matters.
Wroughton’s Aaron Maximen stepped up to take the first penalty and safely dispatched the spot kick to give Wroughton the early phycological advantage. Warminster missed their first spot kick firing high and wide and when Max Scholefield fired in Wroughton’s second spot kick Wroughton started to dream of that final place. Warminster’s Lewis Graham held his nerve to reduce the deficit but Jonathan Peachey-Score made no mistake with his spot kick to restore Wroughton’s two penalty advantage. Wroughton were almost there when Eben Mortimer-Taylor saw his powerfully hit penalty come crashing back off the crossbar. However, Ollie While’s spot kick was saved by Warminster keeper Thomson as While became the first Wroughton player to fail from the spot. When Spencer Dymond-Hall put the fourth Warminster penalty away to reduce the advantage it put a little bit of pressure back on Wroughton. However, cometh the hour, cometh the man and the experienced Jonny Davoille showed no signs of any pressure as he fired in his penalty to create history as Wroughton made it through to the Senior Cup final for the very first time. They will now meet current cup holders Downton FC in that final which has been scheduled by the Wiltshire FA for Tuesday 28th March at Melksham Town.
Your Sport Swindon were at the game on Tuesday night and subscribers can watch highlights of the game by clicking on the link below or by clicking on the link form the Your Sport Swindon page of the website where a number of other games covered by Your Sport Swindon can also be viewed.
Wiltshire Senior Cup Honours List
& Cup Finals
15 March 2023