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 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.”

Third-placed Melksham thrashed Southbrook 6-1 in the league on Tuesday evening whilst title-winners Malmesbury Victoria finished on a high, beating Westbury United Reserves 5-2.

Bottom-of-the-table Vale of Pewsey were beaten 5-2 by Wroughton whilst fellow strugglers Wootton Bassett Town were on the end of a 5-1 thumping at the hands of Trowbridge Town.