WARMINSTER joint-boss Derek Graham was disappointed after his side twice paid the penalty, costing them four points over Easter, writes CARL FIELD.

Town were pegged back late on by a Luke Murden penalty against Chippenham Park on Monday having earlier taken the lead through Sam Clift’s overhead kick.

That came after they also conceded a penalty in the dying moments at Westbury on Friday, as it finished 1-1.

Kurt Hammonds headed Town in front on 23 minutes before the referee awarded the hosts a spot kick when Steve Perkins was adjudged to have fouled Simon Millard.

Carl Crabtree saved Alex Shaftoe’s penalty, but Mark Young followed up to equalise.

Graham said: “It was disappointing – particularly the Westbury one – as we could have been talking about six points over Easter instead of two and gone above them – but at least we’re unbeaten.

“I don’t think anyone else in the ground – other than the officials – at Westbury thought it was a penalty.

“We’d certainly done enough to win the game and the penalty was the only shot on target they had in the whole game.’’

Westbury United boss Matt Bown gave his depleted side a pat on the back despite a 2-0 reverse at the hands of Wells City on Monday.

Bown had nine first team players unavailable for the match which they lost thanks to goals in each half from Tom Hurley and Darren Maynard.

“I had seven U18s in my team on Monday and they did tremendously well,” said Bown. “We had a go and I felt we could have got something out of the game had we taken our chances.”

That followed a 1-1 home draw against Warminster on Friday. Mark Young earned his side a point late on when he netted after Alex Shaftoe’s penalty was saved.

Bown said: “I’d have taken a point beforehand, what with the injuries we’ve got and players not available.

“But I thought we dominated the game second half after we gave away a sloppy goal before half time.

“In all fairness, we were fortunate to be awarded the penalty, but sometimes you need that little bit of luck.”

Corsham Town picked up a battling point at Wells City on Wednesday night

Keiran Gleed went close for the visitors early on, but Jamie Howson and Darren Maynard also had good chances for City.

Gleed was denied again just before the interval, but Corsham seized the lead on 56 minutes as Jack Morris fired home after a corner hadn’t been fully cleared.

Wells levelled as Mark Randall’s free-kick was met by Ross McErlain, who headed home, and the same player also crashed a later shot against the bar.

Corsham boss Trevor Rawlings admitted the draw was a fair result after his side were held 2-2 at home by Devizes on Monday.

Booker Woodford put the home side ahead before half time, although Devizes hit back twice in quick succession after the interval though Mark Barnes – before Ant Brown levelled for Corsham.

That result for Rawlings’ side followed on from a 3-0 reverse at Chippenham Park on Friday.

Rawlings said: “We didn’t play very well and looked very tired in the first half. But we scored a great team goal and were looking comfortable in the first 45 minutes and I couldn’t see them threatening us.

“Two bits of magic from (Mark) Barnes, in the space of five minutes, put us 2-1 behind but, to our credit, we stuck at it and got a deserved equaliser.”

The result for Corsham followed on from a 3-0 defeat at Chippenham Park on Friday, which saw the hosts avenge their loss by the same scoreline when the sides met at the Southbank last month.

“I was a bit disappointed with how we gave up really towards the end,” said Rawlings.

“There wasn’t a lot in the game really and it looked like it was going to drag out for a goalless draw.

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