Part two of quarter final cup weekend. This time a home, well second home at Nalgo, fixture against Melksham, whose previous scalps include Liden Community.
Very windy conditions greeted both teams, and a very scrappy start to the match, but Purton started to get their passing game together and kept the ball on the deck. Matty put a ball across the Melksham goal, with Charlie in prime position to slot the ball in the net 1 nil (15mins). The game still a bit scrappy, with Purton having a few long range attempts on goal, a free kick from Charlie, nearly drifted into the top right corner. Thirty minutes into the half, Ryan made it 2 nil from a signature shot from outside the box. Purton were keeping the pressure on, winning midfield battles, and Tom didn’t have to make any saves of substance. Five minutes later Ryan set up Charlie for his second goal and Purtons’ third. Another attack and Charlie grabs his hat trick, after a goalmouth scramble 4-0 to Purton. That’s how it stayed at half time.
The second half started more or less the same as the first, with the still very strong wind swirling the ball around as soon as it went into the air. Melksham appeared to get more of the ball, but still no major threat on the Purton goal, even though Declan Harris, on for Tom, appeared to be busier in the first ten minutes, than Tom was for whole of the first half. However ten minutes into the half, Charlie turned provider and set up Ryan, for his second goal and Purton’s fifth. Fraser was having a solid match, and used the wind to his advantage; he put a lovely cross in with James Denton hoping to get on the end of it, only for the ball to drift into the top corner. 6-0. It looked as if the Purton lads had taken their foot off the pedal, with the score at 6-nil, who could blame them. Melksham kept plugging away, and after a mix up in the Purton defence, Melksham nicked a goal to make it 6-1. However just to make sure they knew who the bosses were, Charlie turned provider again, this time setting up Matty to make it 7-1, (70mins).
That’s how it ended, 7-1. The Purton lads played a solid match, dominated first half but stepped back a bit in the second. They were not phased by the wind, kept the ball on the deck, and passed the ball well.
Another quarter final, another win and another semi final on the horizon, with Supermarine or Salisbury City the next opponents.
