Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Opening day wins for Wroughton & Pewsey  but
heatbreak for Odd Down in dramatic finish

Brad Evans heading in a first half equaliser for Odd Down at Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development

The 45th season of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League finally got under way on a sunny September afternoon, the latest the season has ever started due to Covid-19, but at least football is finally back.

Wroughton were unbeaten in the league last season but due to their extended run in the County Cup had been behind with their fixtures and had been back in fourth place when the season was brought to a premature end.  They were most peoples favourites to have gone on and defended the title they won in Season 2018-19 but Corsham Town Reserves and Shewton United had also been going well. Wroughton certainly carried on where they left off last season with a convincing opening day win over Ludgershall Sports. An quick goal four minutes in from the joint top scorer in the division last season, Shane Hibbert, set Wroughton on their way.  His new strike partner Devan Bryan then opened his account for his new club with Wroughton’s second and then made it 3-0 with his second of the game. Matty Bennett, who joined Wroughton at the back end of last season, then made it 4-0 before Bryan completed a first half hat-trick to make it 5-0 at the break. There was no let up after the interval, as Bennett notched his second of the game and Bryan then made it 7-0 with his fourth goal. Further goals from veteran Tom Dingle and Tyler Wilkinson made it 9-0 before Louis O’Shea got in on the act scoring a tenth after fine work from Dingle. A big win for Wroughton and for Ludgershall it is a case of dusting themselves down and going again on Tuesday night but the fixture scheduling has not been kind as next up it is Shrewton United, another of the sides expected to do well again this season.

Devan Bryan who scored 4 on his Wroughton debut and Matty Bennett who scored twice

Pewsey Vale have had an impressive pre-season campaign and brought that form into the new season. Last season they had lost twice to opponents Stratton Juniors but there was to be no third win on the bounce for Stratton as they fell to a 5-0 defeat. Two goals for James Guthrie and one apiece for Liam Edmondson, Ryan Thomas and Harry Hoareau did the damage for Pewsey who are expected by many to challenge for honours this season.

Liam Edmondson and Ryan Thomas who both scored in Pewsey's 5-0 win at Stratton Juniors

Cricklade Town made the journey to Trowbridge Town just a week short of the anniversary of their last visit to Woodmarsh. Last season a solitary goal from Max Scholefield had been the difference between the sides but on their return for the 2020-21 Season Scholefield had reverted to his old position in goal and was to play a big part again in securing the three points for his side. It was another tight affair between two sides who are both expected to do well this season. A goal from Adam Mitchell for Trowbridge was all that separated the sides at the break with both keepers pulling off some good saves to deny their opponents. Cricklade stepped it up second half and goals from two of the players who started at Purton last season, Will Backhouse and Joe Dorey, secured all three points. Cricklade manager Craig Kent commenting after the game said,

“It was a tough test, but I knew at half time we had goals in us second half and we thoroughly deserved the win in the end. It was a good game of football; I am happy with the result against a side who will win more than they lose this season.”

Recent signings Will Backhouse (from Purton) and Joe Dorey (from RWBT) both scored for Cricklade in their 2-1 win at Trowbridge

Malmesbury Victoria Development’s trips to Melksham Town Reserves rarely have happy endings with the young Vics side having suffered defeat on their last six visits to Meksham, with their last four visits seeing them concede 30 goals in total. Joint manager Troy Prentice must have felt it was groundhog day as his side found themselves 1-0 down after just a minute to a George Bendle goal. However, Connor Laidlaw got them back into the game with an equaliser just after the half hour mark. Malmesbury worked hard throughout and were duly rewarding for their endeavours when Dan Scull put them in front with a lob over the keeper from outside the area. Malmesbury continued to apply the same work rate and finally put the game beyond their hosts when Aaron Sanghera scored in the 90th minute to make the final score 3-1 to Malmesbury. Joint manager Troy Prentice was delighted with the result given Malmesbury’s previous poor record at Melksham, he commented, 

 “We played really well. When we went one down after a minute I thought here we go again but we worked really hard, chiselled away and it was a really pleasing performance. To a man the whole team played their part and it was a great team performance.”
There was a high scoring contest at the Gerard Buxton Ground where Odd Down Reserves were playing their first game in the league against Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. They fell behind on eight minutes when Sam Ockwell headed in powerfully from a corner. Odd Down got themselves back into the game on 21 minutes when Brad Evans got on the end of a free kick to head past Adam House in the Royal Wootton Bassett goal. In an even contest, with both sides playing some good football, it was the home side who went in front when Dale Richards stretched to get on the end of an Ockwell free kick to slide the ball past Seb McKie in the Odd Down goal. Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development just about deserved the lead at the break having had the best chances, with McKie pulling off a couple of good saves to deny them more goals. Second half it was a different story as the visitors came more into the game. Two goals in a minute through Jacob Bird and Brad Evans, the latter with his second of the game, put them in the ascendancy. However, they did not help themselves when their left back was sent off for a second yellow after kicking the ball away when a free kick was given against him. They then had a player sin-binned for dissent and went temporarily down to eight men when goal scorer Bird was sent off for what appeared to be something that was said to the referee. Despite the numerical advantage Royal Wootton Bassett could not make it count, on three or four occasions they were through only to be denied by some excellent saves from McKie.  With their number increased back up to nine and with the game deep into injury time it looked like it would be a winning start for Odd Down Reserves in the Wiltshire League. However, an equaliser from Dale Richards made it 3-3 and it looked like the points would be shared. Frustrated by the late equaliser Odd Down captain Dan Taylor then took an audacious shot straight from the kick-off and only an acrobatic save from Adam House denied Odd Down from regaining the lead. There was still time for more drama as the home side when, even deeper into added time, Bailey Gallagher got behind the Odd Down defence from a ball over the top, for once keeper McKie was slow to react and Gallagher bundled the ball over the line to give the home side all three points. Very tough on the young Odd Down side who had played so well in the second half. Commenting after the game, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development manager Stephen Yeardley knew his side had got out of jail after falling behind,

“We were lucky today. Second half they were the better side, more organised, fitter and caused us all kinds of problems. In the end it was ill discipline that cost them. They will do well in this league and will take points off a lot of sides.”

Your Sport Swindon's excellent coverage of our league continues with highlights from the game being accesible using the link below or the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the website.

Odd Down Reserves ahead of their first ever game in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League

The scheduled games between Corsham Town Reserves and Devizes Town Reserves and Marlborough Town and Frome Collegians were postponed due to concerns regarding Covid-19 in the Devizes camp with Marlborough having recently played Devizes in a friendly. However, some good news tonight in that Public Health England have now advised, after further information provided by Devizes Town, that Marlborough Town are now clear to resume playing their fixtures. All from the league wish the players at Devizes who have tested positive for the virus a speedy recovery and look forward to also seeing Devizes resuming their fixtures in a couple of weeks.

Premier Division Results

Saturday 5 September

Ludgershall Sports 0 Wroughton 10

Melksham T Res 1 Malmesbury Vics Dev 3

Royal W. Bassett T Dev 4 Odd Down Res 3

Stratton Juniors 0 Pewsey Vale 5

Trowbridge Town 1 Cricklade Town 2

5 September 2020
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