Wiltshire Youth 1, Gloucestershire Youth 2 (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Wiltshire Youth 1, Gloucestershire Youth 2

MEL Gingell has promised more fire power for tomorrow's national county cup second round tie at Huntingdon after watching his side start their defence of the South West Counties title in defeat.

Trowbridge Town's Matt Cooper and former Swindon Town striker Tom Valentine will return to the front line after missing Tuesday's game.

Wiltshire boss Gingell admitted his side were too weak at the Southbank but insisted there is plenty more to come once his star players return.

Melksham Town's Nick Ridout equalised Troy Simpson's early striker with an individual effort midway through the second half but some more hesitant defending allowed James Bailiff to sneak in for the winner.

Gingell said: "We had too many players out to compete. We have won the league for the past two years but we have got a very hard job to win it this time.

"Having lost the first game, we can't afford to have one more slip up and I am just not sure whether we have the strength in depth to cope with a league campaign.

"I think we are perhaps more of a cup side this season. We have Cooper, Valentine, Scanlon and others to come back into this side and I am far more confident about Saturday's game than I was about tonight.

"I had some angry words to say to them at half time because I questioned whether they wanted to play for the county. They responded well in the second half but I am afraid some of them just lack the quality."

Westbury United's Aaron Billet headed wide from Bradley Gill's first half cross while Melksham's Mike Perrott missed the hosts' best chance of the half, prodding wide after being put through on goal by Lee Salter.

Simpson's fierce 25-yard strike gave the visitors the deserved lead at the break after a mix up between Perrott and Adam Shackell had gifted them the ball.

After the break Wiltshire came out with a renewed vigour and after heavy pressure levelled matters when Ridout, up from his defensive position, turned smartly and bent a shot into the far right hand corner.

The game was evenly matched for the remaining 20 minutes but the game was won by substitute Bailiff's driving run and chip with five minutes remaining.

The winner of tomorrow's match will meet either Middlesex or Hampshire in the third round.