Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Wroughton Drop First Points & Pewsey Win for First Time
Action from the big game of the day that saw Shrewton win 2-0 away at Purton (Picture courtesy of Mike Wray)
League leaders Wroughton dropped points for the first time this season as they were held at home by visitors Stratton Juniors, the two sides meetingt for the third time this season. On the opening day of the season Wroughton had edged it by the odd goal in three and they then won another tight contest in the Wiltshire Senior Cup, eventually winning 2-0. In this latest meeting the league leaders went in front in the first half through Louis O’Shea, a player who is currently in fine goal scoring form, netting for the third consecutive game. However, visitors Stratton were back on level terms on the hour mark, Ashton Gleed netting for the first time this season. With Wroughton looking for a second to maintain their 100% winning start they suffered a setback when Aaron Maximen was sent-off following what both sides described as a harsh decision. Down to ten men,  in the end Wroughton had to settle for a point which maintained their unbeaten start but finally ended that winning run. Certainly, an impressive result for Stratton Juniors to start the New Year in their first season in the league.

Whilst Wroughton were dropping their first points of the season the other headline makers on the day were Pewsey Vale who picked up their first win of the season at the twelfth attempt. Goals from James Guthrie and Connor Marsden secured that first victory of the season, as they pulled off a surprise 2-0 win over Melksham Town Reserves who had gone into the game on the back of a six game unbeaten run. Whilst Pewsey remain bottom of the table, the win lifted them to within two points of Ludgershall Sports who were without a game this weekend.

The big game of the day to kick off the New Year in the Premier Division was at the Red House where third in the table Purton entertained second placed Shrewton United. In an entertaining game between two of the league’s leading sides, Lee Himsworth put visitors Shrewton in front with a well taken goal after a fine passing move which started in the Shrewton defence, with Himsworth initiating and finishing the move in style. A couple of minutes later Dean Smith then extended the visitors lead, getting on the end of a Craig Lewis corner to head past the Purton keeper to make it 2-0. The win for Shrewton made it five wins on the bounce in the league for Joe Sheldrake’s side. As a result of the win and Wroughton dropping points Shrewton moved level on points with the leaders but having played four more games. Purton dropped to fifth in the table due to results elsewhere and will look to bounce back next week when they entertain league leaders Wroughton in the Fountain Trophies Cup First Round.

Kintbury Rangers moved up into third spot following a 3-1 home win over Cricklade Town. Games between the two sides are traditionally tight affairs with three of the previous five meetings ending in draws and the other two games seeing one win for each side by a one goal difference on both occasions. This time around an impressive first half performance saw Kintbury lead 2-0 at the break courtesy of goals from Tom Mahoney, with his eighth of the season, and Fabio Pinto. Jonathan Peachey-Score pulled one back for Cricklade but Charlie Allsop ensured it would be Kintbury who took all three points with a late third goal for the home side.

Corsham Town Reserves remain in fourth spot but dropped two points as they were held to a 2-2 draw at the Southbank Ground by visitors Marlborough Town who have a habit of picking up results against Corsham. The visitors Marlborough went in front against the run of play when Jake Farrell scored his seventh of the season but Corsham were back on level terms by the break, Daniel King with the equalising goal which also took him to seven for the season.  Corsham went in front after the restart thanks to an own goal but Marlborough pushed hard for an equaliser. Corsham’s keeper Joe King pulled off a fine save to keep his side in front but the visitors were not to be denied as in the dying moments of the match Aaron Presley netted his sixth of the season following a defensive slip up to ensure the points were shared as Marlborough came away from the Southbank Ground with their third draw in the last three seasons and are now unbeaten in their last six visits to Corsham in the league.

Frome Collegians made their first visit to the Gerard Buxton Ground and started well against their hosts Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Having hit the bar on fourteen minutes they went close again with twenty minutes when Max Pollock was played in, but he fired straight at the Bassett keeper Ellis Parker. They finally did break the deadlock on the half-hour mark, Ben Griffths shooting from wide on the left hand side, his shot just making it over the line to give the visitors the lead which they deserved on the balance of play up to that point. The hosts had the chance to get back on level terms six minutes from the break with a free kick on the edge of the box. However, the free kick from Bailey Gallagher was fired into the wall and when the ball rebounded to Gallagher his header from the edge of the box was held confidently by visiting keeper Josh Bond. Gallagher was not to be denied for long though. The home side were awarded another free kick, this time Tyrhys Mifsud saw his shot saved by Bond but the ball fell to Gallagher who fired in to make it 1-1 two minutes before the interval. There was still time for the same player to hit the cross bar as it remained level at the break. It was a different story in the second half as the interval seemed to knock the visitors out of their stride and it was the home side who dominated proceedings. Charlie McCuish put them in front for the first time on the hour mark when he fired in from the edge of the box after claims for a penalty were waived aside after Bailey Gallagher went down in the box, the ball falling to McCuish who fired in to the top corner of the net for his eighth of the season. Three minutes later his tally for the season rose to nine as he got on the end of an excellent cross from Gallagher to make it 3-1 to the home side. The game was made safe twenty minutes from time when substitute Kabin Rai scored with a looping header from the edge of the box to make the final score 4-1 to Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development.
Action from today's game between Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev and Frome Collegians
The last side from the league to win the Wiltshire Senior Cup were Trowbridge Town and they were in Quarter Final action this weekend with Toolstation Western League side Calne Town the visitors to Woodmarsh. Trowbridge were looking to cause a cup upset against a side who are going extremely well at the top end of their Step 6 division. Unfortunately, there was no upset on the day but it was mighty close as Trowbridge pushed their visitors all the way. Calne took the lead from the penalty spot through Jamal Chevolleau and it remained 1-0 at the break. Nick Taylor pulled Trowbridge level on 67 minutes with his second goal of the season. It remained 1-1 at the end of normal time and with no goals in extra-time the match was decided on penalty kicks. Calne edged the penalty shoot-out 4-2 to join Bemerton Heath Harlequins and Corsham Town in the semi-finals. The Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League’s sole representatives are now Wroughton who play their twice postponed game against Laverstock & Ford at New College's ground at Supermarine this coming Tuesday night, the tie switching to Wroughton’s home fixture after the double postponement at Laverstock & Ford’s ground.
Results, Saturday 4th January 2020
Premier Division
Corsham Town Res 2 Marlborough Town 2
Kintbury Rangers 3 Cricklade Town 1
Pewsey Vale 2 Melksham Town Res 0
Purton 0 Shrewton United 2
Royal W. Bassett T D 4 Frome Collegians 1
Wroughton 1 Stratton Juniors 1

Wiltshire Senior Cup
Trowbridge Town 1 Calne Town 1 (AET) (Calne won 4-2 on pens)
Saturday 4 January 2020
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