WG PARR TROPHY SEMI-FINALS: This season's final of the Westernsport Trophies-sponsored WG Parr Trophy will be contested between first division leaders White Hart Combe and second division AFC Melksham who both claimed comfortable victories over respective opponents Bromham (Sunday) and Rowde to set up April’s final showdown.

White Hart Combe were red-hot favourites to beat third division Bromham and they didn’t disappoint as they booked their place at Corsham Town’s Southbank ground thanks to a 5-3 win.

The fifty plus people who watched the game at Stanley witness a keenly contested game between two fully committed sides who liked to play football.

Combe started the better of the two sides and caused Bromham a few problems, and it wasn't long before they took the lead when Chris Lenard tapped in from close range.

Combe soon added a second after a great move ended with Lenard crossing for James Stone to flick home.

Just as it looked like the floodgates were going to open Bromham pulled a goal back through Jim Sandiford.

This seemed to rejuvenate Bromham and they then had their best spell of the game creating two or three chances one of which Liam Bell did well to save.

With half time approaching a ball over the top caught out the Combe defence allowing Freddie Paget to beat Bell to the ball and roll home into an empty net.

Combe’s manager Trevor Rawlings let his players know that he wasn't happy at half time and his half time talk seemed to do the trick.

Top Goal scorer Aaron Merryweather was replaced five minutes into the second half by super sub Gavin Ferris and within minutes Ferris’s presence was noticed as first of all he was tripped on the edge of the box for a free kick which Lee Fernandez drove home for 3-2 and after that Ferris found space in the box to slide the ball past the advancing keeper to make it 4-2.

Craig Fullam added number five heading home from a corner.

At 5-2 that should have been it but Bromham never gave up and scored a well deserved third near the end when Tom Paget turned home an Ali Bradley cross.

Rowde FC 1, AFC Melksham 6

First division Rowde entertained high flying division two AFC Melksham at Sands Lane and it was Mickey Hawkes Melksham side who took the honours by virtue of what seems a convincing 6-1 success but had Rowde taken a number of their many chances the result could have been different but nothing should be taken away from Melksham who were well deserving of their win.

Mickey Hawke's "invited" his squad to a full English Breakfast as pre match preparation and after this performance may well be getting in extra bacon and eggs for the remainder of the season.

Both sides were packed with quality players both on the pitch and on both bench, Rowde's substitutes included Jonathan Emm and Steve Pegler started the game as one of Melksham’s replacement’s.

The opening exchanges set the pace for the game and after just three minutes both teams had hit the net, Melksham opened the scoring after two minutes when Rowde's keeper dropped a cross under pressure and Darren Whiting pocked home make it 1-0.

Rowde came right back with some great work down the left by Ray King who hit a long ball over keeper Gareth Evans to Rob Mitchell who hit a stunning volley to tie the game. At this stage the crowd of almost 70 people couldn’t turn away for a moment just in case they missed something.

Melksham regained the lead on 10 minutes when Lee Jackson scored a great left footed effort following some neat work by Ashley Groves. Rowde continued to attack Melksham looking for an equaliser but Whiting and Wayne Bailey proved just why Melksham have conceded so few goals this season as they kept Rowde at bay.

Despite both teams playing some excellent passing football it was to be Melksham who made their chances count and on 28 minutes they made it 3-1 when Joe Murray hit a long cross from the left into a crowded Rowde area the pace beat everyone and ended in the back of the net for Melksham’s third.

With Owen Bryan twisting and turning the hard working Rowde defence conceded a penalty which Bryan got up and duly converted to give Melksham a commanding 4-1 half time lead.

Rowde had long spells of the second half attacking the strong Melksham back line but despite hitting an upright and the ball bouncing in to the grateful arms of Evans they failed to add to there first half goal.

On one of Melksham’s many breakaways Bryan was pulled down to allow him to score his second penalty of the game in the 68th minute.

Rowde then had a spell of free kicks just outside the Melksham box but could not break down the organised resistance.

Substitute Chris Dore hit a 40 yard cross field pass to the fresh legs of fellow sub Steve Pegler who then hit a hard 30 yard cross back to Dore who planted a bullet header home in the 88th minute to seal Melksham’s win and book their place in the final.

The large crowd had seen an excellent game between two very good teams, and the match was well controlled with all three officials having a good game.

Melksham can now look forward to a final against White Hart Combe, and perhaps another Mickey Hawke's fry up.