Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Premier Division Round-up
Even More Goals Than Midweek

Harry Hoareau who scored twice in Pewsey's 3-0 win over Salisbury FC Dev (picture courtesy of Dane Pollard)

There were certainly plenty of goals this Saturday in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division as the eight matches produced 51 goals and saw both Pewsey Vale and Royal Wootton Bassett Town make it three wins from their three opening games.

Pewsey Vale and Salisbury FC Development both went into their game at Pewsey Recreation Ground looking to defend 100% winning records. The young Salisbury side had made their debut in the league last Saturday smashing seven goals past visitors Purton whilst Pewsey Vale have themselves been in good goal scoring form having beaten Wroughton 4-0 in their opening game of the season and then defeating Shrewton United 4-1 in midweek. Against Salisbury, in what Pewsey manager Alistair Tuttle described as his side’s best performance of the season, Pewsey went in front on 17 minutes through a goal from youngster Harry Hoareau. Forced to make two substitutions in the first half due to injuries Pewsey, despite being on top for much of the half, were unable to add to their tally before the break. They finally extended their lead in the 51st minute when Hoareau scored his second of the game and his fourth of the season. Whilst Salisbury played some neat football at times, and had good spells during the game, they didn’t create too many chances in the final third, the closest they came to scoring was a shot that hit the Pewsey post. The result was then put beyond doubt fifteen minutes from the end when Pewsey were awarded a penalty and leading scorer James Guthrie put the spot kick away to make it 3-0. Commenting after the game manager Tuttle said, “I was proud of the boys today, it was a really good performance, our best performance of the season and once we got in front we never looked like conceding.” Pewsey are back in action in midweek when they make the short journey to play near neighbours Marlborough Town, whilst Salisbury are once again without a midweek match as a consequence of their late entry into the league with the initial fixtures having already been scheduled.
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development had won their opening two games ahead of their trip to Marlborough Town where they have only lost once in their last six visits. However, like Royal Wootton Bassett, Marlborough were also unbeaten going into the game having drawn at Odd Down and then having picked up a 5-1 home win over Stratton Juniors in midweek. Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development maintained that good record at Elcot Lane with a convincing 7-0 win which saw hat-tricks for both Tyler Sheppard and Dale Richards as they ended Marlborough’s unbeaten start to the season. The other goal for Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev was scored by youngster Kevin Prouse, one of five Under 18s in the winning visitor’s squad. The win saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev move above Pewsey at the top on goal difference. Next up for Royal Wootton Bassett Town is a trip to near neighbours Malmesbury Victoria Development in midweek whilst Marlborough have that game against Pewsey Vale.

Tyler Sheppard and Dale Richards who both scored hat-tricks in Royal Wootton Bassett Town's 7-0 win at Marlborough Town

Trowbridge Town were another side who started the afternoon with a 100% winning record having defeated Calne Town Reserves 2-0 in midweek. Opponents Shrewton United meanwhile arrived at Woodmarsh on the back of two defeats but knowing that their record against Trowbridge Town was a good one with nine wins in the 14 league meetings that have taken place in recent seasons and having also defeated them in last season’s Fountain Trophies Senior Cup. In an entertaining game with some late drama, player-manager Jamie Jordan put his Trowbridge side ahead only for Shrewton’s top scorer from last season Charlie Utterson to head his side level, his header back across goal finding the top corner of the net. Player-manager Jordan then put his side back in front, but the lead was not to last long as Utterson once again found the net, volleying in a cross from Craig Lewis to make it 2-2. Utterson certainly likes playing against Trowbridge having also scored the only goal of the game in last season’s Fountain Trophies Cup and also having scored in last season’s league win over Trowbridge. Shrewton then went ahead for the first time in the match thanks to an own goal and were still leading as the game moved into injury time. Just as it looked that they would take all three points back to Shrewton the visitors scored an own goal of their own to ensure the points were shared, 3-3 the final score. Next up for Shrewton is a midweek trip to Ludgershall Sports whilst Trowbridge travel to Devizes Town Reserves.

Charlie Utterson who scored twice for Shrewton in their 3-3 draw at Trowbridge Town (picture courtesy of John Cuthbertson)

Calne Town Reserves suffered their first competitive defeat in over a year in midweek when they lost at Trowbridge. Their visitors this afternoon were Stratton Juniors who have endured a tough start to the season with pre-season games being postponed, their first league game called off by their opponents and their new management team departing without taking charge of a single league game. When they finally got to play a game they had lost in midweek away at Marlborough and they had another afternoon they will want to forget quickly at Calne, as the home side hit 13 unanswered goals to move fourth in the table . Jamal Chevolleau, who recently joined from Corsham Town, led the way scoring five times, Mark Dolman, Oscar Webster and Kieran Gleed all bagged a brace, a goal from Declan McStravick and an own goal completing the scoring for a rampant Calne side. Hopefully, Stratton can put this defeat behind them and get their season up and running by getting some points on the board. This coming Tuesday sees them make the short journey to take on Purton, another side who have had a tough start to the season, whilst Calne Town Reserves are home to Wroughton the same night.
Frome Collegians have made a good start to the season, and they are now one of five sides who remain unbeaten after a 4-2 home win over Wroughton who were making their first ever visit to the Old Showfield Ground. Having lost 6-2 at home to Frome last season Wroughton put in a much better show this time round but eventually went down to goals from Oliver Brook (2), Dean Caslake and Ross Knapton, Josh Barnfield and Will Middler with the Wroughton goals. The win lifted Frome into third spot in the table two points behind Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Pewsey Vale.
After an opening day loss, Corsham Town Development have now achieved back-to-back wins, following up their impressive 4-1 away win at Melksham in midweek, with another big away win at Purton this afternoon. Purton’s poor record against Corsham since Purton dropped back down from the Hellenic League now extends to just one win in the seven league meetings so far. It was a reasonably close affair in the first half with Corsham leading 3-1 at the break thanks to two goals from Ben Wickens and one from Connor Morpungo, Nathan Crittle replying for Purton. It remained that way until ten minutes from time when Wickens scored again to complete his hat-trick and two late goals from substitute Tyler Smith in the final five minutes of the game rounded-off what in the end was a convincing win for the visitors.
Melksham Town Reserves returned to winning ways after that midweek home defeat to Corsham with a convincing 6-1 success away to Devizes Town Reserves who had been comfortable winners in midweek in their game with Ludgershall Sports. Ryan Lovitt set Melksham on their way firing in a penalty after ten minutes. Josh Thornton then saw it that the visitors had a two goal cushion at the break getting on the end of a cross from Cameron Pearce to make it 2-0 to Melksham. Pearce was once again the provider early in the second half setting up Tom Arliss to make it 3-0. Two further goals from Josh Thornton saw the Melksham player complete his hat-trick before Pearce went from provider to scorer putting Melksham 6-0 up. There was to be a late consolation for Devizes as Melksham’s Ryan Lovitt put the ball into his own net to make the final score 6-1 to the visitors. The win for Melksham saw them go fifth in the table ahead of a trip to Odd Down Reserves this coming Wednesday, whilst Devizes look to go again with that home game against Trowbridge Town.
Ludgershall Sports had a tough opening game in midweek going down 7-1 away at Devizes Town Reserves. They opened their home league campaign with a visit from Odd Down Reserves for what was the first ever league meeting between the two sides. Whilst they have not met in the league before, they did meet in the group stages of last season’s Fountain Trophies Cup, Odd Down winning 5-0. Odd Down came into today's match unbeaten in their last six competitive fixtures, although having drawn in each of their last four, including their two league games so far this season, they were keen to turn the draws into victories. Goals from Dan Taylor and Miles Imrie saw Odd Down achieve that objective, but they were made to work hard for the three points by a much-improved Ludgershall Sports side. Having secured the win Manager James Riccio was pleased to see his side maintain their unbeaten start to the season and the win sees his side sit seventh in the early season league table, and one of those five sides who still remain unbeaten.
21 August 2021
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