Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Marlborough Town Bring Winless Run To An End
On a difficult windy afternoon in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League all of the top six sides failed to pick up a win in their respective games. However, before considering the games at the top end of the table the headlines on the day must surely go to Marlborough Town who finally ended a torrid run of results which had seen them go seventeen games without a win ahead of their visit to the Flying Monk Ground, home of Malmesbury Victoria. The previous week they had held one of the top sides Kintbury Rangers to a 0-0 draw and went into their game with Malmesbury Victoria Development looking to build on that excellent result  knowing also that the Malmesbury game was a fixture they traditionally have done well in, having won five of the previous seven meetings between the two sides. Malmesbury themselves were also in poor form having lost five games on the spin. That has now stretched to six as they were well beaten by the visitors who ran out 6-1 winners to pick up their third and best win of the season. Jake Farrell led the way firing a hat-trick as he moved onto eleven for the season, Christopher Deane scored twice with Jamie Conway completing the scoring for the visitors. The consolation goal for Malmesbury was scored by Jack Duckers who scored his first goal for his new club having recently transferred from Purton.

The big match at the top of the table saw league leaders Shrewton United at home to an in-form Melksham Town side who went into the match with just one defeat in their previous ten games. Shrewton themselves were also in a rich vein of form having won six straight games ahead of Melksham’s visit. It was the home side who started the brightest and found themselves one goal to the good early on, captain Steven Holvey firing in from a Conor Cutler corner. Shrewton continued to take the game to Melksham and Charlie Utterson went closest to extending the lead but was denied by a good save from the Melksham keeper and it remained 1-0  at the break to the league leaders. It was a different story after the interval though as Melksham came back into the game strongly. They were awarded a penalty soon after the restart, but unfortunately for them leading scorer Harvey Flippance fired his spot kick past the post and the score remained 1-0 to Shrewton. Despite the let off Shrewton did not respond and continued to allow the visitors to have the better of things and Melksham were duly rewarded when Matty Lever, their recent signing from Devizes Town, put Melksham back on level terms getting on the end of a flick-on from a throw-in. Melksham continued to have the better of things and went in front for the first time in the game when Harvey Flippance made up for his earlier penalty miss with a well taken goal to make it 2-1. Shrewton responded by introducing substitute Craig Lewis, who had scored in each of Shrewton’s last two games. He almost made an immediate impact as he saw a header, his first touch of the game, well saved by the Melksham keeper. He was not to be denied though as good build up play between Tyren Harrington and Lee Weeks saw Weeks play in Lewis down the left-hand side and he cut inside his defender and fired a powerful shot past the Melksham keeper for an equaliser. Shrewton went in search of a winner and a couple of good chances fell to Lee Weeks but he was denied by the visiting keeper and it finished honours even at two each and the points shared. Despite dropping two points Shrewton remained top of the table due to results elsewhere.
Steven Holvey who put Shrewton ahead in their 2-2 draw with Melksham Town Res
Second placed Wroughton were up against Purton in sixth spot. When the two sides had met recently in the cup penalties had been required to settle matters and Purton also went into the game knowing that their recent league record against Wroughton is a good one, having won three of the four league meetings in the last two seasons. Wroughton’s unbeaten record this season remains intact, but they did drop points for only the second time this season as Purton’s good record against their opponents continued. Veteran Tom Dingle put Wroughton ahead, but George Drewitt equalised ten minutes from time for Purton as it finished 1-1 and both sides ended the day in the same positions in the table as they were before kick-off.
Tom Dingle put Wroughton ahead again at home to Purton before George Drewitt equalised for the visitors
Pewsey Vale have strengthened their side in recent weeks with a number of former players from their Hellenic League days returning to the club. Having lost 5-0 to Corsham Town Reserves in the Fountain Trophies Cup back in November they travelled to the Southbank Ground to take on their third placed opponents again looking to return to winning ways after suffering a defeat for the first time in three games the previous week and also to avenge that Cup defeat. It was a really tight affair that was ultimately to be decided in injury time when Cameron MacKenzie scored the only goal of the game to give Pewsey all three points. That is now just one win in the last five for Corsham who have hit a bit of a sticky patch but remain in third place in the table.

Fourth placed Kintbury Rangers failed to take advantage of the others above them dropping points as they went down to a Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development side who won their third straight game. Kintbury led 1-0 at the break courtesy of a Robbie Sadler penalty but the home side came back strongly in the second half to score three unanswered goals to win 3-1. On target for Royal Wootton Bassett Town were Ben Spackman, Manuel Mesas and Charlie McCuish, the latter moving into double figures for the season with his goal. Kintbury remain in fourth spot, Royal Wootton Bassett Town, who were the highest placed winners on the afternoon, stay in seventh place but closed the gap to Purton in sixth place to just two points.

Cricklade Town are starting to find some form and made it three wins in their last four games with a narrow 3-2 win away at Ludgershall Sports. Jonathan Peachey-Score was again on target for the visitors, as he moved onto fifteen for the season, Alex Baker netted his fourth of the campaign and an own goal completed the scoring for Cricklade. On target for Ludgershall Sports, who had led during the game before going down to ten men, were  Ryan Howard, with his third of the season, and Joe Evans.

The final First Round tie in the Fountain Trophies Cup between Trowbridge Town and Stratton Juniors was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Results, Saturday 1st February 2020
Premier Division
Corsham Town Res 0 Pewsey Vale 1
Ludgershall Sports 2 Cricklade Town 3
Malmesbury Vics Dev 1 Marlborough T 6
Royal W. Bassett T D 3 Kintbury Rangers 1
Shrewton United 2 Melksham Town Res 2
Wroughton 1 Purton 1

Fountain Trophies Cup First Round
Trowbridge Town v Stratton Juniors - Postponed
Saturday 1  February 2020
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