Hartpury FC secured their first Southern League Div One South win of the season, beating Melksham Town 3-1 at the KMM Energy Stadium, on Tuesday night.
Clinical strikes from Morgan Ewing, Louis Manning and Billy Osborn made it four games unbeaten in all competitions for the Acorns.
The Acorns started on the front foot with Osborn and Cameron Walters seeing early chances well blocked by Melksham players, inside the opening three minutes.
Manning saw a low driven effort smartly stopped by Melksham goalkeeper, Adam Forster on four minutes.
Sol Kent was next up to try his luck on 12 minutes when his effort from 20-yards rose to high over the bar.
But it was Melksham who would take the lead against the run of play on 16 minutes, when Alex Hallett volleyed home from close range following a half cleared cross.
Nathan Jenkins tried twice to get the Acorns level but saw his first effort fly straight at the goalkeeper on 21 minutes, before flashing a low effort past the far post a minute later.
Jenkins then saw an effort from close range blocked on 31 minutes, following a deep Manning corner.
The Acorns first half pressure finally paid off on 36 minutes, when Ewing broke through on goal before steadying himself to place the ball into far corner sending the game level into the break.
HALF TIME – HARTPURY FC 1-1 MELKSHAM TOWN
Kian Davies had the opening chance of second period, on 52 minutes, when he tried his luck from 18-yards, but his shot lacked enough power to trouble the Melksham goalkeeper.
Four minutes later, Manning put the Acorns ahead when he squeezed an effort past Adam Forster, in the Melksham goal, following a drilled effort from just inside the area.
Two became three on 62 minutes, when Osborn beat the keeper to a long Davies pass before lifting the ball over Forster and into an empty net.
Melksham went close to getting back in the game when Jack Hicks flashed an effort wide on 70 minutes.
Manning could’ve had a second of the evening when he met a low Jenkins cross, but the attacker could only turn his effort over the bar, from close range on 71 minutes.
Jenkins was called upon to head a Melksham effort clear of the goal line, moments before Kent put his head where it hurt to deny Melksham anyway back in on 77 minutes.
The Acorns saw out the game late on sealing their first win of the Southern League season and lifted themselves from 20th to 13th position in the league.
We return to action on Saturday, as we welcome Willand Rovers to the KMM Energy Stadium in the Southern League Div One South.
FULL TIME – HARTPURY FC 3-1 MELKSHAM TOWN
STARTING XI: Locke (GK), Kent, Sanniola, Walters, McGregor, Davies (Coates 74’), Jenkins, Aldridge (Robinson 74’), Ewing, Manning, Osborn © (Silva 84’)
UNUSED SUBS: Callow, Preston
Written by Sam Yapp
