Freshford United FC 2 Seend United FC 3
SEEND AVOID FRESHFORD BANANA SKIN
The match of the day in the PAH Accounting sponsored A&B Cup, quarter-finals was the tie at Brown’s Park where Second division leaders Freshford United hosted First division champions Seend United did just enough to claim a 3-2 win and book a semi-final showdown away at Warminster Town Reserves who they have yet to beat this season.
A Richard Hudson penalty for Seend separated the sides at half time, and this was after Mark Maguire had missed from the spot for the hosts.
Reece Mortimer got Freshford back in the game before goals from Tom Blackman and Joe Clayton gave Seend a 3-1 advantage and this could have been a lot more had it not been for the heroics of Freshford keeper Chris Birleson who had an excellent match between the posts.
Matt Bond scored a second for Freshford, however it was little more than a consolation as Seend held on to make the last four.
Dilton Marsh Wanderers FC 0 Melksham Town Development FC 3
MELKSHAM BEAT BOTH DILTON & THE ELEMENTS
First Division, Melksham Town Development had to overcome both the appalling conditions at the Land Warfare Centre and a gutsy Dilton Marsh Wanderers before a 3-0 win sealed their place in the last four of the PAH Accounting sponsored A&B Cup competition.
Having survived two pitch inspections the match was given the green light, but it was clear from the first whistle that the conditions were far from perfect and only got worse as the game went on and to a point where the referee called both managers together as he thought about abandoning the game.
At that point Melksham led 3-0 thanks to goals from Ollie Farrell who scored after 2 minutes, a 15th minute free kick from Farrell and a penalty from Harry James.
As both teams were sensible in the second half they should be congratulated as the match reached a conclusion on a pitch that resembled a cabbage patch.
Frome Collegians Reserves FC 5 Hilperton Greyhound FC 2
COLLEGIANS TEACH GREAYHOUND A LESSON
Unlike last weekend when second division Hilperton Greyhound FC caused an upset by beating First division Heytesbury & Codford in the quarter-finals of the Knockout Cup, they came crashing back down to earth as they were unable to match their exploits away at Frome Collegians Reserves for their quarter-final tie in the PAH Accounting sponsored A&B Cup.
with many of their regulars away and with manager Darren Brewer missing the tie, it was always going to be a uphill task for Greyhound and so it proved as they fell to a 5-2 loss.
In truth the tie was over in the first 45 minutes, Filip Borek, Dean Caslake and Sam Griffiths scoring the goals that gave the hosts a 3-0 half time lead.
Tyler Gane on his debut pulled a goal for Greyhound. Dom Walton restored Collegians three-goal cushion before a second from Tyler Gane made things a little more interesting.
Any thoughts of a Greyhound comeback was ended by Ben Bullus when he added a fifth goal for the hosts to seal their spot in the last four where they will be away Melksham Town Development.
Warminster Town Reserves FC v Bromham FC H/W
WALKOVER FOR WARMINSTER IN A&B CUP
First division Warminster Town Reserves FC were the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2023/24 PAH Accounting sponsored A&B Cup after the received a walkover following the recent resignation of Bromham FC from the League.
Warminster will host Seend United in their Semi-final clash in March.