FOOTBALL: Malmesbury bow out of Fountain Trophies Cup (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Under-strength Vics fail to cope with Nalgo

12:18pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Sport

Fountain Trophies Junior Cup Semifinal.

Malmesbury Vics Res 2 Nalgo Wanderers 3.

WITH a few players missing, an under-strength Malmesbury were beaten by a physical Nalgo side, and denied a place in the Fountain Trophies Junior Cup final.

The game started evenly but the first real chance fell to the away side with stand-in keeper George Harding keeping out a strong shot.

Vics began to pepper the away goal without testing the keeper, the tricky feet of 18-year-old Will Picter causing problems for Nalgo all afternoon.

On the opposing side, former Malmesbury striker Dennis King was a constant threat, leading the line extremely well.

He opened the scoring with a good finish to give Nalgo a 1-0 lead at the break.

It was 2-0 shortly after the interval when full back Sean Ashbery failed to clear, and a decent half volley found the corner of the net.

Malmesbury began to play some decent football and were rewarded when Danny Cook was left unmarked at the back post for a tap-in from six yards.

That goal gave the Vics a massive lift and they began to bombard the Co-op End, only to be left stunned when a soft back header from Jake Fortune was punished by the opposing centre forward, giving Nalgo a 3-1 lead.

Ed Wilkins did pull another goal back for the home side, with an excellent finish over the advancing keeper, but it didn't leave enough time to complete the comeback.

A disappointing result, but a fantastic performance from the lads, who return to fight for promotion in the league.