Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
U18 Division
Entertaining 0-0 Draw

Lucas Purnell & his Radstock defence deny Tyger Hall the best chance of the game against Shrivenham  (picture courtesy of Your Sport Swindon)

The Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League restarted after lockdown on Thursday evening, although in the end just two of the scheduled four games were played, one involving sides at the top end of the table and the other involving the two sides at the bottom. Whilst most teams were inactive during lockdown, one game did go ahead, and it saw Chippenham Town’s excellent run in the FA Youth Cup finally come to an end. In the Second Round Proper played on Wednesday 18th November they were well beaten by a very strong Woking side at Hardenhuish, 7-0 the final score. A disappointing end but credit to Chippenham for their historic run which had taken them the furthest they have ever been in this prestigious competition.

On Thursday night in the league the game involving the sides at the top end of the table saw Shrivenham entertain a young Radstock Town side whose starting eleven will all still be able to play in the Under 18 Division next season. The result at the end of the evening was a rare 0-0 draw at this level, although the game was certainly not a dull affair with numerous chances at both ends, particularly in the first half with both goalkeepers, Lucas Purnell and Matthew Goldfinch, having plenty to do.  Lucas Purnell in the Radstock Town goal was the busier of the two keepers on the night and his performance ensured his side left Barrington Park with a point. That said, it was Radstock who had the better early chances, and it was they who should have gone ahead when a ball cut back from the right from Tom Ricketts found Ben Smith in the six-yard box, but a slight hesitation on his part allowed Shrivenham defender Joe Langdon to make a superb tackle and then head the ball clear after the initial shot ricocheted towards the goal. Radstock’s Freddie Blacker then fired just over after Shrivenham failed to clear their lines. At the other end Purnell pulled off the first of a number of impressive saves when he palmed away a shot from the right-hand side of the 18-yard box from Kieran Sutton. Sutton did then manage to beat Purnell with a shot from a similar position, this time the shot was hit hard and low, but fortunately for Radstock the ball rebounded back off the post and was cleared. Purnell then twice saved well to deny Shrivenham that opening goal. The best chance of an entertaining half fell to the U18 Division’s leading scorer Tyger Hall when a ball from the right from Sutton found the Shrivenham striker with what looked like a simple tap in to break the deadlock but, as happened earlier at the other end, a slight hesitation and mis-control allowed the combination of keeper Purnell and a covering defender Alfie Williams to clear and it remained 0-0.The Radstock keeper was at it again shortly after with what was his best save of the game when a powerful shot from Sutton was superbly turned over the bar to maintain parity. At the other end it was then Radstock’s turn to hit the goal frame and again the chance fell to Ben Smith. His initial shot was well saved by the Shrivenham keeper Matthew Goldfinch and when the rebound fell to Smith his powerful shot came back off the post and was cleared. 

After the break Shrivenham once gain had the better chances. Tyger Hall should have done better with a header and Taida Tendayi headed just wide from a free kick from the left and Purnell denied substitute Beyazit Durdu when he scrambled and stretched to turn away a low shot that was heading into the far corner of the net. It remained 0-0 at the final whistle and the points were shared. The point saw Shrivenham move level on points with FC Chippenham at the top of the table but having played two games more. Radstock have now lost just one of their opening five games but need to start turning the draws into victories if they are to challenge for the title this season. Despite the lack of goals a thoroughly entertaining game that you can catch on the excellent Your Sport Swindon coverage of the game which can be found using the link below or the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the website.
In the other game Pewsey Vale went in search of their second win of the season when they entertained New College who were without a point following their opening two fixtures. New College finally got off the mark at the third attempt, running out 4-0 winners on the night thanks to goals from Samuel Morse, Oliver Reynolds and two from substitute Samuel Bonsu. The win saw New College move level on points with Pewsey with both sides a point behind Royal Wootton Bassett Town in sixth spot..

Results

Thursday 10 December 2020

Under 18 Floodlight Division

Melksham Town v Chippenham Town - Postponed

Pewsey Vale 0 New College 4

Royal W. Bassett Town v FC Chippenham - Postponed

Shrivenham 0 Radstock Town 0

11 December 2020
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