MELKSHAM Town Reserves recovered from an early scare to lift the Corsham Print Knockout Cup with a 3-0 win over Ludgershall Sports.

Town keeper Tom Drewitt was forced off in the opening exchanges and with no replacement on the bench, Kai Miller had to step up between the sticks at Corsham Town’s Southbank ground.

That setback did not affect Melksham, though, and Emilio Menghini’s goal put them 1-0 up at half-time.

Nick Ridout doubled the advantage in the early stages of the second half and Ash Barnett then struck to put the icing on the cake for Melksham.

Boss Steve Burns was overjoyed at his team’s triumph as they followed the lead of the first team, who clinched the Toolstation League Premier Division title the same afternoon.

“Everyone played really well, we deserved to win,” said Burns.

“We lost our keeper within the first five minutes and didn’t have another on the bench.

“That’s the gamble you take and it could have been a nightmare but they never really tested him.

“We were pretty comfortable all the way through. We scored at good times and once the third went in it was pretty much game over.

“With the first team winning the league it was a great day for the club, and a great evening as well. I’m still struggling to remember bits.”

Melksham are currently fourth in the league table and have a chance of finishing as runners-up behind Malmesbury Victoria if they beat Southbrook and Shrewton United in their final two games this week.

Burns’ men are two points adrift of Ludgershall, although they will also need third-placed Trowbridge Town – who beat Southbrook 3-0 at home on Saturday – to slip up if they are to finish second.

“Even if we finish third it’s still a really good season,” added Burns.

Title winners Malmesbury were held to a 2-2 draw by Corsham Town Reserves, while the best game of the day was at Sarum Youth as Wroughton bagged a 5-4 away win.

Shrewton United triumphed 3-2 away at Marlborough Town, a scoreline matched by Devizes Town Reserves at their Westbury United counterparts.

Finally, Wootton Bassett Town Development were thrashed 3-0 when they hosted FC Chippenham Youth.