On Tuesday night Pewsey Vale, who had won all three of their opening league fixtures made the short journey along the A345 to play a local derby against Marlborough Town. After a bright start that had seen them unbeaten in their opening two games, Marlborough had been brought back down to earth on Saturday when they were heavily beaten by Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. Last season Pewsey had done a league double over Marlborough and extended that winning run of results with a comfortable 5-0 win at Elcot Lane to make it four wins from four. Pewsey went ahead within the first five minutes Zak Messenger scoring his first goal for Pewsey, getting his head to a cross from the left from Jake Force-Jones. Marlborough responded to the early set back and created a couple of chances of their own without success. Pewsey remained on top, missed a few chances and when they did get their efforts on target they found the Marlborough keeper Jake Hull in fine form. It remained 1-0 until eight minutes before the break when a free kick from James Guthrie was turned into his own net by a Marlborough defender to double Pewsey’s lead. Almost straight away two became three when a well worked move saw Zak Messenger net his second of the game to give Pewsey a 3-0 lead. It could easily have been four but Hull denied Pewsey’s leading scorer James Guthrie when clean through on goal, saving with his legs. The second half saw Pewsey continue to dominate but again any attempts they were able to create were well dealt with by Marlborough keeper Hull who continued his fine form of the first half. Eventually Pewsey did find the net James Guthrie scoring after again being put clear of the defence and giving Hull no chance. Ollie England then added a fifth in a similar manner to complete the scoring on the night. Manager Alistair Tuttle was no doubt pleased his side had secured all three points even if his side were not at their best, as is often the case in local derby games. The win took Pewsey clear at the top of the table with previous leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town not in action until the following night. Marlborough Town manager Steve Chadwick can take consolation from the fact his side were in the game against the title favourites until the closing stages of the first half and from another outstanding performance from his young keeper, commenting after the game he said, “he’s been amazing for us so far”. Next up for Marlborough is a visit from Malmesbury Victoria Development whilst Pewsey are also at home with Calne Town Reserves, another side winning on Tuesday night, the visitors.
Calne Town Reserves had hit a double figure score on Saturday against Stratton Juniors but were made to work really hard for all three points on Tuesday night by an improving Wroughton side whose first points of the season can’t be far away. In the end all that separated the two sides was a solitary early Brett Fairclough goal scored after ten minutes. Whilst Calne Town Reserves had the better of things for a large part of the game, Wroughton created chances of their own as well and defended stubbornly, but their cause was not helped when they had a player dismissed 20 minutes from time. Neither side was able to find the net again and whilst having lost their fourth game of the season, Wroughton’s joint manager Ben Jarrett said after the game that “it didn’t feel like a loss, it was a pleasing performance.” Wroughton will now look to get those first points on the board when they travel to Devizes Town Reserves on Saturday. Calne, who went second in the table on goal difference ahead of Wednesday’s fixtures have that top of the table clash with Pewsey Vale on Saturday.
After their heavy defeat against Calne Town Reserves last Saturday Stratton Juniors were hoping for a quick change in fortune as they travelled to the Red House to play another side who have been struggling at the back so far this season. Purton had conceded 19 goals in their opening three fixtures whilst Stratton’s total goals against column stood at in 18 in just two games. The sides had not met last season but in Stratton’s first season in the league in Season 2019-20 Purton had done the double over them winning 3-0 at the Red House at the start of the season and then 4-1 in Swindon in December in the return match. For Stratton Tuesday night was to be a most enjoyable evening as they picked up their first win of the season, their first win against Purton, and a clean sheet as well after such a confidence sapping result on Saturday. Well done to the Stratton management team for turning things around in such a short space of time. A 30-yard free-kick from Lewis Taylor that sailed over the head of the Purton keeper and into the top corner of the net put Stratton ahead. Ryan Major then doubled Stratton’s lead scoring direct from a corner that eluded everyone and found the back of the Purton net. There were plenty of chances at both ends but that was to be the end of the scoring on the night. Highlights from the game can be viewed on the Your Sport Swindon website.
The final game on Tuesday night was at Ludgershall where Shrewton United were the visitors with both sides looking to secure their first win of the season, Shrewton having been denied victory by an injury time own goal on Saturday at Trowbridge. Shrewton had won eight of the previous 15 league meetings against Ludgershall, including a 5-1 success at Shrewton last season, but Ludgershall had avenged that earlier defeat with an impressive 2-1 win in the return fixture, their only win of last season. There was to be no repeat of that win on Tuesday as Shrewton finally got their season up and running with a victory, but they were helped by a controversial sending off that led to Ludgershall playing for the whole of the second half with just ten men. Shrewton had been on top in the opening 20 minutes and both James Dolman and Elliott Smith had gone close to giving the visitors the lead. That lead eventually came on 25 minutes and the home side had the misfortune to put the ball into their own net after a cross from Robbie Mitchell hit one Ludgershall player and rebounded off another defender into the net. Despite Shrewton having the extra man they found a dogged Ludgershall side hard to break down after the break and it took until the 65th minute for them to get a second goal. Tyren Harrington crossed the ball to Joey Weeks who with one touch neatly laid it into the path of Craig Lewis just inside the area who smashed a shot into the top corner of the net for 2-0. Ludgershall pulled one back ten minutes from time through Luke Holden, but Shrewton held out for that first win of the season.
Shrewton manager Joe Sheldrake whose side picked up their first win of the season
On Wednesday Royal Wootton Bassett Town made the short trip to Malmesbury Victoria Development looking to maintain their 100% record this season at what had historically not been a happy hunting ground in recent seasons. Whilst overall they had the better record in games against Malmesbury, they had last won at Malmesbury back in 2016-17 and their last three visits have included a couple of heavy defeats (5-0 in Season 2018-19 and 6-2 in Season 2017-18. They finally put an end to that bad run at the Flying Monk Ground with a convincing performance that saw them come away with all the points following a 4-0 win. They went in front courtesy of an own goal on 12 minutes and two further goals before the break put them in the ascendancy. Another goal after the interval made sure of the points, Zac Skinner (2) and Matt Bennett the Bassett scorers. The win saw them go back top of the table ahead of Pewsey Vale on goal difference, both teams having won all four of their opening fixtures. .
Zac Skinner who scored twice in Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev's 4-0 win at Malmesbury
There was an entertaining game at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground on Wednesday night when Melksham Town Reserves were Odd Down Reserves’ visitors. It was the anniversary of the sad passing of 18-year-old Ben Saunders and with his brother Charlie captaining the Odd Down side the two sides, as a mark of respect, held a minutes applause before the game. The Odd Down players also wore Ben Saunders Foundation t-shirts in support of the charity set up in Ben’s name. The game itself was played in front of a large crowd at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground and both managers afterwards commented on social media about how the game had been a good advert for the league. In a close game that saw both sides playing some good passing football with plenty of fair physical challenges all night. The match was ultimately decided by an excellent first half goal from Melksham youngster Cameron Pearce who got on the end of a diagonal pass that he controlled with one touch and fired back across the keeper into the Odd Down net. After that Odd Down took the game to Melksham but some backs to the wall defending and a little bit of luck ensured that Melksham left with all three points. Odd Down had claims for a penalty ten minutes from time which on another day could have seen a spot kick awarded but the claims were brushed aside to the relief of the Melksham side. Commenting after the game manager Craig Kent said,
“It was a great game of football and a respectful occasion. I can’t deny that a point apiece would probably have been a fair result, but I was pleased with our backs to the wall solid defending. A win earned like that is more satisfying than winning, say, 6-1”.
Corsham Town Development, after a narrow opening day 4-3 defeat against Frome Collegians, had won their next two games against Melksham Town Reserves and Purton. That first meeting with Frome ten days previous had seen Frome two goals up at half time and appearing to be in control but a storming start to the second half by Corsham saw them score three times to go in front. Frome managed to get back on level terms and then then got a late winner to take three points. In the return match Corsham must have thought they had avenged that earlier defeat when they led going into injury time thanks to a Jamie Cunning goal on 22 minutes. However, Frome once again left it late to score, this time a Laurence Ludgate goal in the 91st minute salvaged a point and ensured they maintained their unbeaten start to the season. They had goalkeeper Steve Wilkinson to thank for being in a position to come away with that point the Frome keeper denying Corsham a second goal on a number of occasions.
Corsham captain Jamie Cunning, pictured last season against Odd Down Res, who put his side ahead in the 1-1 draw with Frome Collegians. (Picture John Cuthbertson)
Another side maintaining their unbeaten start to the season on Wednesday night were Trowbridge Town who left Nursteed Road with all three points following a 4-0 win over Devizes Town Reserves. George Bendle, who moved across from Melksham Town Reserves in the summer, bagged a brace and there were further goals from Alex Pippard and Josh Howlett. Trowbridge now sit seventh in the table with a game in hand over the six sides above them in the table and just two points behind third placed Calne Town Reserves.