Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Lardner fires Corsham to within a point of the leaders &
Trowbridge Town cause cup upset
The wet weather finally abated, and an almost full programme of scheduled matches were played. With a number of sides in Wiltshire Senior Cup action the league match that most impacted the top of the table was at the Gerard Buxton Ground where second placed Corsham Town Reserves were Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development’s visitors. Just like the first game between the sides, that had seen Royal Wootton Bassett win by a solitary goal, it was another tight encounter between two well organised sides. The visitors Corsham went close to breaking the deadlock on 16 minutes when leading scorer Dan Lardner almost got on the end of a cross at the far post. At the other end Brad Pagliaroli had the home sides first real chance just before the half hour mark when a chip from the left-hand side of the box went just wide. The deadlock was finally broken on 35 minutes when the ball was slipped into Dan Lardner on the edge of the Royal Wootton Bassett box and he coolly slotted his shot into the far corner of the net to make it 1-0 to the visitors. Moments later Bassett nearly got a quick reply when Danny Langford was put in by Brad Pagliaroli but, unlike the assured finish from Lardner, he fired straight at Corsham keeper Dave Cardus. Just before the half time whistle Corsham went close to extending their lead but Adam House in the Bassett goal saved well from a free kick from the edge of the box. In the second half, shortly after Kai Robinson had gone close to equalising for the home side, they wasted another great chance when Langford was put clean through but slipped just as he was about to get his shot away and Corsham cleared. Both sides pushed for goals and the keepers at both ends of the pitch were called into action. Corsham’s Ryan Withers, returning to his former club, went close when he got on the end of a corner, but his header was well saved by Adam House in the Bassett goal. At the other end a couple of minutes later it was the turn of Corsham’s Dave Cardus to deny a goal when he saved brilliantly from a Nick Mason header. Ten minutes from time Cardus was at it again when this time he denied Danny Langford with another great save. Corsham’s well organised back four comfortably saw out the final ten minutes to secure the vital three points that took them to within a point of league leaders Wroughton at the top of the table. They now remain unbeaten on the road so far this season after nine away league games.
Action from Corsham Town Res 1-0 win at R. Wootton Bassett including the moment before Dan Lardner settled the match for the visitors
Elsewhere in the league, fourth placed Purton missed the opportunity to move up into third spot when they were beaten 3-2 at home by Malmesbury Victoria Development. First half goals from Elliott Drage and Gareth Jones gave the visitors Malmesbury a two-goal lead at the break. It got better for the visitors ten minutes into the second half when Drage scored his second of the game to make it 3-0 to Malmesbury. Purton then came back into it scoring twice through Joe English and Chris Avery but Malmesbury held on for the three points, winning away at the Red House for the second consecutive season. The win saw Malmesbury climb one place in the table to 9th.
In the other league match played, Ludgershall Sports bounced back well from their heavy midweek defeat in the Wiltshire Senior Cup but unfortunately for them are still searching for that first point of the season as they went down by a solitary goal at home to Frome Collegians. The winning goal for Frome came courtesy of substitute Tom Brown with his first goal of the season. Ludgershall made the visitors work hard for the three points but Frome held on to take the win and move up a couple of places in the table to 11th place.
In the other league match played, Ludgershall Sports bounced back well from their heavy midweek defeat in the Wiltshire Senior Cup but unfortunately for them are still searching for that first point of the season as they went down by a solitary goal at home to Frome Collegians. The winning goal for Frome came courtesy of substitute Tom Brown with his first goal of the season. Ludgershall made the visitors work hard for the three points but Frome held on to take the win and move up a couple of places in the table to 11th place.
The league game between Marlborough Town and Pewsey Vale was postponed.
As well as the Wiltshire Senior Cup action, more on this in a moment, there was also action in the First Round of the Fountain Trophies Cup where Kintbury Rangers were looking to defend the cup they won last May. The visitors were Holt who came into the game in reasonable form and looking to improve on their last visit when they had lost 3-0 in the league back in September. The teams turned around at the break with the game not having seen a goal but three unanswered second half goals from Jake Rowe, Tom Mahoney and leading scorer Shaun Thorp, who moved onto 17 for the season, saw Kintbury safely through to the Second Round as they ran out 3-0 winners for the second time this season against Holt.
As well as the Wiltshire Senior Cup action, more on this in a moment, there was also action in the First Round of the Fountain Trophies Cup where Kintbury Rangers were looking to defend the cup they won last May. The visitors were Holt who came into the game in reasonable form and looking to improve on their last visit when they had lost 3-0 in the league back in September. The teams turned around at the break with the game not having seen a goal but three unanswered second half goals from Jake Rowe, Tom Mahoney and leading scorer Shaun Thorp, who moved onto 17 for the season, saw Kintbury safely through to the Second Round as they ran out 3-0 winners for the second time this season against Holt.
There were three ties in the prestigious Wiltshire Senior Cup involving sides from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. Shrewton United went into their tie against Western League side Corsham Town having already knocked one higher level opponent out of the competition in the First Round. In front of a healthy crowd at the Recreation Ground, unfortunately there was to be no giant killing repeat. Despite staying in the game for a long period, Shrewton eventually went down to a 3-0 defeat against their Western League opponents. Leigh Rogers put Corsham in front on six minutes after Josh Bright’s initial shot came back off the Shrewton post. Both sides created chances but Corsham were to have a big slice of luck four minutes from the break when a cross from Leigh Rogers was deflected off a Shrewton defender into the net to make it 2-0 at half time. It was Rogers again who finally put the match beyond Shrewton with the best goal of the game ten minutes from time. Ben Pring played the ball into Joshua Hard who played in Rogers with a clever back-heel and the striker fired home to end Shrewton’s cup run.
The Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League was always guaranteed at least one representative in the last eight with league leaders Wroughton making the short journey across town to take on Stratton Juniors. When the two sides had met in the league back in August it had been a real tight affair which Wroughton edged 2-1. Wroughton came into Saturday’s cup game on the back of ten straight wins in the league and they extended that record to eleven wins in all competitions after a 2-0 victory. It was not all plain sailing though. Aaron Maximen put then in front when he headed in a Riegan Cook corner. Wroughton then had influential midfield player Tom Price dismissed offering Stratton a big advantage in their efforts to get back on level terms in the tie. However, they were unable to find the back of the Wroughton net and some of the pressure was taken off the league leaders when a solo effort from leading scorer Shane Hibbert put Wroughton two nil in front. The ten men continued to defend well and saw out the game without conceding to make it through to the last eight and a potential encounter with some of the top sides at Step 6 in the county.
Whilst Wroughton progressed to the last eight, the honour of team of the day rests with Trowbridge Town (pictured below) for their performance in the Second Round. Trowbridge are the last side from the league to have made the final of this cup, winning the competition back in Season 2003-4 when they defeated Corsham Town on penalties after the final had finished 2-2. They looked to embark on another successful Wiltshire Senior Cup campaign with a visit from Western League side Devizes Town, the club who have won the cup more times than any other in the county. After an excellent 2-1-win Trowbridge now join Shrewton United in having knocked out higher league opposition in this season’s competition. Goals from Matt Dixon, with his second of the season, and Jacob Sainsbury, with his fifth of the season did the damage for Trowbridge, Matt Russell with the consolation for Devizes Town. Trowbridge and Wroughton now join Step 6 sides Bemerton Heath Harlequins, Corsham Town, Downton, Laverstock & Ford and Malmesbury Victoria in the draw for the quarter finals. The two Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League sides could be joined by a third from the league if Cricklade Town can win their game at high-flying Western League side Calne Town on Monday night. A tough task with Calne going so well but on their day Cricklade can be a match for any side if they are at the top of their game.
The Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League was always guaranteed at least one representative in the last eight with league leaders Wroughton making the short journey across town to take on Stratton Juniors. When the two sides had met in the league back in August it had been a real tight affair which Wroughton edged 2-1. Wroughton came into Saturday’s cup game on the back of ten straight wins in the league and they extended that record to eleven wins in all competitions after a 2-0 victory. It was not all plain sailing though. Aaron Maximen put then in front when he headed in a Riegan Cook corner. Wroughton then had influential midfield player Tom Price dismissed offering Stratton a big advantage in their efforts to get back on level terms in the tie. However, they were unable to find the back of the Wroughton net and some of the pressure was taken off the league leaders when a solo effort from leading scorer Shane Hibbert put Wroughton two nil in front. The ten men continued to defend well and saw out the game without conceding to make it through to the last eight and a potential encounter with some of the top sides at Step 6 in the county.
Whilst Wroughton progressed to the last eight, the honour of team of the day rests with Trowbridge Town (pictured below) for their performance in the Second Round. Trowbridge are the last side from the league to have made the final of this cup, winning the competition back in Season 2003-4 when they defeated Corsham Town on penalties after the final had finished 2-2. They looked to embark on another successful Wiltshire Senior Cup campaign with a visit from Western League side Devizes Town, the club who have won the cup more times than any other in the county. After an excellent 2-1-win Trowbridge now join Shrewton United in having knocked out higher league opposition in this season’s competition. Goals from Matt Dixon, with his second of the season, and Jacob Sainsbury, with his fifth of the season did the damage for Trowbridge, Matt Russell with the consolation for Devizes Town. Trowbridge and Wroughton now join Step 6 sides Bemerton Heath Harlequins, Corsham Town, Downton, Laverstock & Ford and Malmesbury Victoria in the draw for the quarter finals. The two Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League sides could be joined by a third from the league if Cricklade Town can win their game at high-flying Western League side Calne Town on Monday night. A tough task with Calne going so well but on their day Cricklade can be a match for any side if they are at the top of their game.
Picture courtesy of Gary Caldicott
Results, Saturday 16th November 2019
Premier Division
Ludgershall Sports 0 Frome Collegians 1
Marlborough Town v Pewsey Vale - postponed
Purton 2 Malmesbury Vics Dev 3
Royal W. Bassett T Dev 0 Corsham T Res 1
Fountain Trophies Cup
Kintbury Rangers 3 Holt FC 0
Wiltshire Senior Cup
Shrewton United 0 Corsham Town 3
Stratton Juniors 0 Wroughton 2
Trowbridge Town 2 Devizes Town 1
Saturday 16 November 2019
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