Buildbase FA Vase
Third round
Bridgwater Town 2, Melksham Town 2

BRIDGWATER Town are one of 34 teams in the draw for the Buildbase FA Vase fourth round, after being held at home by Melksham Town on Saturday.

The Robins will found out their prospective opponents tomorrow, at around 1pm, and then battle it out in the replay that evening.

With Bridgwater sixth in the Toolstation Western Premier Division and Melksham third, it was likely to be a competitive encounter - and the first 24 minutes produced four goals.

The hosts found themselves behind inside 60 seconds, as the dangerous Gary Higdon controlled a long ball over the top and cross for Jake Brown to volley in from eight yards out.

The Robins' response was a good one, as Jake Llewellyn and Shaun Copp drew good saves from Melksham keeper Rob Brown, while at the other end Jake Viney made a smart stop to deny Luke Ballinger.

It was 1-1 on 13 minutes, as Ryan Burrows was felled in the penalty area, and Tyne Govier stepped up to convert from the spot, and a second goal for the home side followed just three minutes later.

Harry Horton won the ball in midfield and sought out Burrows, who looked to be too wide to shoot, but the striker found the small gap between the keeper and his near post with a low drive.

Yet they were not ahead for long, as Jake Brown went down under a challenge in the box and Higdon scored the penalty to make it 2-2 in the 24th minute.

The game was rarely short of intensity, but there were few goalscoring chances of note for the rest of the first half and much of the second.

Melksham substitute Ryan Bole missed a golden chance when he headed wide from close range following a long throw, while at the other end Josh White also saw a header drift off target.

The match entered extra time, and the Robins seemed to have more energy, but Horton's 25-yard effort - well held by keeper Brown - was all they really had to show for it.

Bole, meanwhile, could well have won it for the visitors - but he volleyed straight at Viney and then saw a header into the net chalked off for pushing a defender.

It finished level, and both teams are now hoping that their fitness levels will stand the test of the rapid turnaround, with the replay at Oakfields tomorrow (ko 7.30pm).

Bridgwater Town: Viney, Govier, Robinson, Horton, J.White, Begg, Copp (Holland), Jenkins, Burrows (Tandy 116), Pearse (Camper 82), Llewellyn.
Attendance: 247