Manager Rob Nash made two changes from the previous Saturday’s starting 11 for this Les Phillips Cup tie in Dorset.
In came James Bowden and Max Whittaker for Jordan Pinder and Charlie Walton. James started at left back with Toby Worts moving to centre back. Max replaced Charlie in midfield.
Warminster didn’t make the best of starts and in just the second minute United took the lead. A free-kick from midway in Town’s half was launched into the penalty area and bounced off the crossbar. The rebound was headed goal wards but keeper Jack Amor parried the ball, only for the host’s Ben Reed to react quickest and fire in the loose ball from close range.
United continued to dominate the early exchanges but against the run of play in the 15th minute Town’s centre forward Jack Newman charged down the United keeper’s attempted clearance and showed great composure cutting back inside and firing past the keeper, 1–1.
Warminster now had the upper hand and on 20 minutes Jack Newman, broke clear, rounded the Sturminster keeper but was forced wide. He cut back onto his right foot but shot straight at the keeper.
In the 35th minute Warminster took the lead. They won a free kick in the opposition half. Reece Collyer took the free kick and from fully 30 yards, lifted the ball up and over the wall with dip to give the keeper no chance. A superb goal to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
On 39 minutes Jack Newman squared the ball to Corey Gardner at the back post but the Town winger scuffed his shot and it hit the upright before the keeper dropped on it. Just four minutes later the dangerous Jack Newman, clear again on the left of the penalty area, lobbed the home keeper but a covering defender hooked the ball clear off the goal line. At the break Town led 2-1.
At the start of the second half manager Rob Nash was forced to make a change after James Bowden sustained an injury just before the break. Jordan Pinder replaced James going to centre back with Toby Worts switching to left back.
Five minutes after the restart a cross from right picked out Corey Gardner in the penalty area. His powerful header struck the underside of the bar but rebounded clear. The ball was recycled into the penalty area and Jack Newman’s diving header flew just wide of the keeper’s right-hand post.
Town continued applying the pressure and on 56 minutes they won another free kick outside the penalty area. Reece Collyer stepped up once more and fired past the wall and in off the post to give Warminster a 3-1 lead.
United upped their game to try to get back in the cup tie but Town were defending superbly not allowing the home team to dominate. Bradley Bush replaced Reece Collyer in the 77th minute and on 85 minutes Sam Allman, one of Town’s recently formed U18 team, came on for Seb Hounsell to make his first team debut.
With time running out the hosts thought they had pulled a goal back in the 86th minute but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside. Then in the fourth minute of stoppage time Town’s keeper Jack Amor pushed the ball wide at his left-hand post to prevent the ball being bundled in by a United forward. Warminster saw out the rest of stoppage time to win the tie and now progress to the next round of the Les Phillips Cup.
