Wiltshire Senior League

Corsham Print

Wiltshire Senior League

Pewsey return to top in Premier,

KMLC also move top in Vets North

Premier Division

The wet weather played havoc with the midweek fixtures in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with just one of the three scheduled games surviving. The match that went ahead was at Pewsey Vale where Shrewton United were the visitors. Shrewton were looking to bounce back from their shock defeat at Ludgershall on Saturday whilst the home side knew that, with Melksham’s game being one of the two fixtures postponed, they would go back top of the table by avoiding defeat. When the two sides had met at Shrewton earlier in the season a late winner for Pewsey had seen them edge it by the odd goal in a five goal game.

In the latest encounter Shrewton’s cause in what was always going to be a difficult game was not helped when they had Lee Himsworth sent off in the opening five minutes following a mistimed tackle. Despite going down to ten men they responded well and took the game to Pewsey but were unable to penetrate a resolute Pewsey back line. The deadlock was broken on the half hour mark when Shrewton’s keeper picked up a back-pass and Max Etheridge scored on his debut from the resulting free kick to make it 1-0 to Pewsey Vale. Ten minutes later Etheridge scored his second of the game to extend Pewsey’s lead as he clinically finished a move that had seen good build up play involving also Ryan Banks and James Guthrie. It remained 2-0 at the break.

Shrewton came out at the start of the second half looking to get themselves back in the game despite their numerical disadvantage. However, they were unable to make the breakthrough and the game was effectively ended as a contest when Etheridge netted his third of the game to give him a hat-trick on his debut. Shortly afterwards Jake Force-Jones made it 4-0 with a headed goal from a corner. Leading scorer James Guthrie then got in on the act moving into double figures for the season as he made it 5-0 with a shot into the top corner of the following good build up play from youngster Rory England.

It went from bad to worse for Shrewton when following another mistimed tackle an altercation followed which saw Shrewton’s Conor Cutler and Pewsey’s Ryan Banks both dismissed and with Shrewton having another player sent to the sin-bin they went down to eight players. Pewsey added one further goal in the closing minutes, Guthrie putting away a penalty after Ollie England was brought down in the box. That is now 11 for the season for Guthrie as his Pewsey Vale side went three points clear at the top of the table and having played two games less than second placed Melksham Town Reserves, with the two sides set to meet in the first game of the New Year.

Veterans Divisions

The wet weather also resulted in a couple of postponements in the Mid Wiltshire Veterans Division, but the three games played on artificial surfaces at Devizes and New College all went ahead and all three were close encounters. On Monday night a solitary goal from Clifford Sakyi, his third of the season, was enough to give Trowbridge Tigers back-to-back wins in the Mid Wiltshire Division, as they defeated previously unbeaten St Andrews 1-0. The win saw Trowbridge Tigers climb a couple of places in the table to seventh spot.

It was another tight game in the Mid Wiltshire Division the following night when FC Calne edged it by the odd goal as they defeated Amesbury Junior 3-2, substitute Tony Frank with both Amesbury goals.

The one game in the North Division at New College on Tuesday night was the third close encounter of the week in the Veterans Divisions as a solitary goal on 19 minutes from Paul Cooper was enough to give KMLC all three points against Stratton Juniors. The win saw KMLC move level on points with Redhouse at the top of the table, with KMLC having played one more game.

Results

Monday 14th December 2020

Mid Wiltshire Vets Division

Corsham Town v Chippenham YD - Postponed

Melksham Town v Bradford Town - Postponed

Trowbridge Tigers 1 St Andrews 0

Tuesday 15th December 2020

Premier Division

Melksham Town Res v Trowbridge Town - Postponed

Pewsey Vale 6 Shrewton United 0

Mid Wiltshire Vets Division

FC Calne 3 Amesbury Junior 2