Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Plenty of Goals in 
Premier Division Midweek Games

Action from Trowbridge Town's 2-0 win over Calne Town Res (picture courtesy of Gary Caldicott)

After the opening round of games last weekend there was a full programme of midweek fixtures in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with three games on Tuesday night and five more the following evening.

After their opening day 5-1 win over Shrewton United, Calne Town Reserves looked to continue their winning start when they travelled to play much-fancied Trowbridge Town on Tuesday night. Trowbridge were playing their first game of the season after they had been the side without a fixture at the weekend. Trowbridge manager Jamie Jordan has secured some big signings over the summer, which has led a number of his fellow managers to tip his side as potential title challengers. Trowbridge did not disappoint their fans on their opening night, player-manager Jordan himself getting on the score sheet in a hard fought 2-0 win over the side promoted from the Trowbridge & District League at the end of last season. The other Trowbridge scorer was Jordan Gullis who had failed to score in 16 appearances last season but netted in his first outing of the current one. Next up for Trowbridge on Saturday is a visit from Shrewton United whilst Calne Town Reserves will look to bounce back at home to Stratton Juniors.

More action shots from Trowbridge Town v Calne Town Reserves (pictures courtesy of Gary Caldicott)

The fixture scheduling has certainly not been kind to Shrewton United. They opened the season on Saturday with that game against Calne Town Reserves and followed this on Tuesday night with another tough away trip to Pewsey Vale, last season’s leading side. In a much better showing than Saturday, just after the hour mark Shrewton United were holding Pewsey at 1-1. James Guthrie had given Pewsey a first half lead but Charlie Utterson, Shrewton’s leading scorer last season, had equalised on 57 minutes for the visitors. Shrewton who were having a good spell in the game then had the chance to go ahead but were denied by a fine save from Pewsey keeper Louie Latouche. However, all the good work for Shrewton was undone in the final half hour as a series of defensive errors and some excellent finishing saw them concede three goals. James Guthrie put Pewsey ahead with his second of the game and Dan Reynolds then made it 3-1 with a powerful strike from 25 yards, his second goal in consecutive games for Pewsey. Shrewton were now chasing the game and pushing players forward and were caught out by a ball over the top which found James Guthrie who made no mistake for his hat-trick, and his fourth of the season in just two games. A final score of 4-1 in Pewsey’s favour was a little harsh on Shrewton given how they had played on the night, and it does not get any easier on Saturday when they have another tough looking fixture, away to Trowbridge Town. The win for Pewsey saw them move clear at top ahead of Wednesday nights’ games.

James Guthrie scored a hat-trick for Pewsey against Shrewton seen here in action against Wroughton last Saturday

(picture courtesy of Dane Pollard)

After Tuesday night’s action, just behind Pewsey in the table were near neighbours Marlborough Town. After a torrid pre-season Marlborough have made an excellent start to their league campaign. After picking up a hard-fought point away at Odd Down Reserves on Saturday, they remain unbeaten after a 5-1 home success over a Stratton Juniors side who were making their first ever visit to Elcot Lane. Star of the show for Marlborough was Jamie Conway who fired in a hat-trick with the other goals coming from Kieran Maidment and substitute Charlie Galley. Ryan Cooper replied for Stratton. Marlborough now already have more points than they secured last season from just two games in a good start under new manager Steve Chadwick.
Having drawn 0-0 with Marlborough on Saturday Odd Down Reserves travelled to fellow Somerset based side Frome Collegians on Wednesday seeking their first goal of the season. The two sides had met three times last season, twice in the curtailed league season and then again in the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup group stages. Bizarrely all three games had finished 3-2, each side winning their respective away league game and Frome then winning by the same score in the cup, which with hindsight probably cost Odd Down a place in the final. Odd Down didn’t have to wait long for that first goal, Marley Carpenter putting them ahead in the first half, a lead they held at half time. There was to be no repeat of that 3-2 score line this time round though, Frome did manage an equaliser, Barry Sandquest netting his third of the season to ensure a share of the points and maintain Frome Collegians unbeaten start to the season.
Also on Wednesday evening Melksham Town Reserves were one of three sides looking to make it two wins from two games when they welcomed Corsham Town Development to the InfiLED Stadium. Whilst Melksham’s record against Corsham was the better of the two sides, with 10 wins in the previous 14 league meetings, Corsham had beaten Melksham 2-1 in their last meeting in the Fountain Trophies Cup on their way to last season’s final. Having retained the majority of last season’s cup squad, and with keeper Dave Cardus having returned to the club from Shrewton, Corsham look like they could be in for another good season. They bounced back from Saturday’s narrow defeat at Frome to inflict a first defeat of the season on Melksham with an impressive performance. Their leading scorers from last season were all on target with Adam Shipman, Ben Wickens, Jake Dodge and Adam Mitchell all finding the net in a 4-1 success. Corsham had gone in front early on only for Melksham to get back on level terms from the penalty spot, Alex Baker putting the spot kick away, but three unanswered goals for Corsham followed to give them all three points.

All Corsham Town Developments leading scorers from last season registered on the score sheet in their 4-1 win at Melksham (pictures courtesy of Jacob Price)

The other side looking to maintain a 100% winning start to the season were Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development who entertained Wroughton at the Gerard Buxton Ground. Youngster Nathaniel Bell put the home side ahead on nine minutes and Dale Richards then made it 2-0 ten minutes later. It remained 2-0 at the interval but almost immediately after the restart former Wroughton player Matt Bennett made it 3-0 as the home side effectively put the game beyond their visitors. Nick Mason then added a fourth on the hour mark, scoring for the second consecutive game. Matt Bennett notched his second of the game to round off the night’s scoring and a comprehensive 5-0 win for the home side. The win sent Royal Wootton Bassett second in the table, behind leaders Pewsey Vale on goal difference. Saturday sees them travel to Marlborough Town to take on their former manager Steve Chadwick, whilst Wroughton joint managers Craig Jones and Ben Jarrett will look to rally their side for another tough looking trip to unbeaten Frome Collegians.

Matt Bennett and Dale Richards who were both amongst the goals in the 5-0 win over Wroughton, seen here in pre-season action

Two sides who tasted defeat on the opening weekend met at the Flying Monk when Malmesbury Victoria Development, who had lost at Melksham the previous Friday, entertained a Purton side who were well beaten at Salisbury FC Development on Saturday. Former Purton player Jack Duckers was playing against his former side, and it was he who both started off the scoring and ended it, with plenty of goals in between. Duckers put Malmesbury ahead in the 19th minute and Aaron Sanghera then extended their lead five minutes later. Wesley Lima pulled a goal back for Purton and it remained 2-1 to the home side at the interval mainly thanks to a double penalty save from Malmesbury keeper Macawley Brown just after the half hour mark to deny Purton a second goal. The second half saw Malmesbury extend their lead on 56 minutes when last seasons’ leading scorer Joe Tranter scored his first of the campaign for the Development side. Further Malmesbury goals from Aaron Sanghera, with his second of the game, and Harrison Archer put the match beyond the visitors. The night’s scoring was then capped off by the man who had started it, Jack Duckers netting his second of the game to complete a comfortable 6-1 win for Malmesbury.

Jack Duckers who scored twice against his former club Purton in Malmesbury's 6-1 win

On a night that saw 27 goals scored in total, the seven goals at Malmesbury was not the highest scoring game of the night, that honour goes to the match at Devizes where Devizes Town Reserves were 7-1 winners over Ludgershall Sports. Having lost their opener on Saturday Devizes found their form in their opening home league game, defeating visitors Ludgershall at Nursteed Road for the second consecutive season. Jack Smith, who had scored on Saturday in their 2-1 defeat at Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev, was once again amongst the goals, James Cox bagged a brace and there were further goals from Nick Taylor, Richard Tandy, Charlie Strickland and an own goal. Ludgershall’s consolation goal was scored by Nathan Collins. Disappointed manager Andy Fennell commenting after the match noted that his side never really got going in their first outing of the season. Ludgershall will look to put things right at home to Odd Down Reserves on Saturday whilst Devizes Town Reserves entertain Melksham Town Reserves.

Devizes Town Res captain Nick Taylor who was amongst the goals against Ludgershall Sports

19 August 2021
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