Melksham Town 0 v 0 Swindon Town
In a game that threatened to be overshadowed by off-field events involving Swindon Town, against the odds they managed to arrive at the InfiLED with a mixed squad of tralists’, youth players and a handful of first-team players, as well as a strong following from the Swindon Town faithful.
The game kicked off at the InfiLED with Melksham looking to start on the front foot, creating a couple of good early chances, firstly a cross from the right rebounded off the post and Town couldn’t get the vital touch to prod it home, then a few moments later Hopkins was found through on goal, but his strike could only find the side netting.
After a quiet spell, Swindon had their first chance of the game as a trialist was bearing down on goal but could only produce a tame effort which Town ‘keeper Connor Johns dealt with comfortably.
The game livened up around the forty-minute mark, where tempers flared on the touchline twice, both involving Melksham’s Jake Mawford and Swindon’s Rob Hunt who both received bookings for their involvement in the pushing and shoving that prevailed.
The second half kicked off with the scores goalless, however an early chance for Swindon forced Johns to make a smart stop, before Melksham went up the other end with chances of their own. An Ormrod header was brilliantly saved by the trialist keeper for Swindon, and he was on scene again to stop the follow-up effort before the ball was scrambled behind for a corner.
The next real chance of the game came in the eighty-third minute as Melksham win the ball high up the pitch after some good pressure, before Hopkins fired narrowly wide with his effort across goal.
The full-time whistle sounded as the game ended as a goalless draw, however Melksham can be pleased with the night in terms of performance and getting more minutes in the tank for the squad. It was also another solid defensive display, limiting a youthful and energetic Swindon side to minimal chances throughout both halves.
The attention for Melksham is now turned to Tuesday night, as they face another football league side in Forest Green Rovers, with a 7:45 kick-off at the InfiLED.
Match report by Lewie Simmons.
