A BATTLING all-round team performance handed second division Melksham Town A the Chantry Digital Ltd-sponsored Knockout Cup as they defeated top-flight Warminster Town Reserves 1-0 at Westbury United's Meadow Lane ground last night.

A low-key encounter was settled by a first-half goal from Melksham’s inform youngster Rhys Talmash.

Melksham had the better of the opening exchanges and were almost rewarded for their early pressure on 10 minutes, but Tom Mack’s effort from 12 yards sailed over the bar.

With Warminster’s first real chance they should have taken the lead in the 13th minute, Luke McGucken pouncing on a mistake in the Melksham defence. But with time and space he shot tamely into the hands of grateful Melksham keeper Nick Evans.

Warminster were slowly coming into the game and were gifted another chance in the 18th minute.

After beating two defenders, Matt Dyer lost his footing just as he was about to test keeper Evans. Melksham went straight up the other end and the ball was played to 17-year-old Talmash who calmly placed the ball beyond the oncoming keeper Graham Kitley to give Melksham a deserved lead.

Melksham’s Dave Macey had a 20-yard effort pushed around the post by keeper Kitley and only an excellent last-ditch challenge from Liam Flowers denied Talmash a second of the game.

With Melksham in the ascendancy they were almost undone on the stroke of half time. Keeper Evans could only stand and watch as Tom Foord’s 20-yard rocket flew past him and the post.

Warminster made a bright start to the second half and only a smart stop from keeper Evans denied Matt Dyer from squaring things up.

At the other end Talmash saw his effort saved by Kitley.

Chances were then few and far between until the 79th minute when Melksham’s Talmash chased down a long ball and toe-poked it beyond the keeper, but his effort rolled just the wrong side of the upright.

Warminster threw everything into getting an equaliser and both Matt Dyer and Craig Sheppard went close, but it was Melksham who should have found the net in the closing moments.

Substitute Jordan Kirk had a shot brilliant saved by Kitley but the ball fell to Jake Sainsbury who fluffed his chance by rolling it back to the keeper, luckily for Sainsbury his blushes were spared as the assistant referee had his flag raised for offside.

Craig Sheppard was sent off late on for Warminster but by then it made little difference as moments later referee Malcom Carter sounded the final whistle to bring what was a fiercely contested but uneventful final to an end.

Melksham’s Jake Sainsbury won the John Ford Memorial Player of the Final Trophy which was presented to him by Neil Hawker, on behalf of sponsors Chantry Digital.

He also presented Melksham’s winning captain Bradley Butcher with the Knockout Cup.