Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Four Of The Top Five All Win, 
Calne Hit Double Figures Again

Ollie Dew who scored twice for Trowbridge today at Wroughton in their 3-1 win, seen here in the recent draw with Shrewton Utd (picture courtesy of Gary Caldicott)

The top of the table clash between league leaders Pewsey Vale and second placed Corsham Town Development, a repeat of last season’s Fountain Trophies Cup Final, was once again decided by a solitary goal, just like the cup final. Also, as in the cup final, it was a set piece that decided matters, a Harry Hoareau penalty on 35 minutes being the difference between the sides. Hoareau’s goal took him onto eleven for the season and sole ownership of the leader scorer crown for the time being. Corsham were much the better side in the opening half hour and could easily have been two goals to the good before the penalty award. Pewsey’s cause was not helped by Ryan Banks being sent to the sin-bin on 15 minutes. The second half saw Pewsey, who were missing their talisman James Guthrie through injury, step up their game and it became a more even contest. Corsham also then had a man sent to the sin-bin and then also reduced to ten men permanently when they had a player sent-off. The second half saw both sides hit the post and both sides missed a host of chances in what was a battle between two very good sides. Speaking after the game Pewsey manager Alistair Tuttle commented on another close game against Corsham. 

“Corsham were much the better side in the first half, and we were made to work hard for the win. We played our get out of jail free card today as they definitely deserved something out of the match.”

That is now 18 straight victories in competitive league and cup games for Pewsey Vale who opened a six-point gap at the top of the table with the win. Next up for Pewsey is a trip to Odd Down in midweek. The defeat for Corsham ended their mini-unbeaten run and they dropped a couple of places in the table due to results elsewhere and they will look to bounce back in midweek when they host Malmesbury Victoria Dev.
One of those other results which impacted the top of the table was at Purton where Calne Town Reserves left the Red House with all three points and, for the second time this season, hit a double-figure score, smashing ten unanswered goals. Jordan Anning set them on their way before goals from Tom Boakes, Richard Hudson from the penalty spot and Jack Coward made it 4-0. Kassa Anderson then decided to get in on the act scoring a fifth and went on to complete a hat-trick with Calne’s seventh and eighth goals, this after Kieron Gleed had made it 6-0. Two further goals from Tom Boakes, making him the second Calne player to score a hat-trick on the day completed the scoring for Calne who moved up to second spot in the table as a result of the win. Next up for Calne in midweek is a trip to Devizes Town Reserves. Purton remain rooted to the bottom of the table after their sixth straight defeat which has seen them so far concede 36 goals. It does not get any easier for them in midweek when they make the short journey to the Gerard Buxton Ground to play Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development, one of two sides to have won every game so far this season.
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development travelled to Shrewton United looking to defend their 100% winning start to the season but were mindful that all of the last five visits to the Recreation Ground had ended in defeat. After losing their two opening games at Calne Town Reserves and Pewsey, Shrewton were unbeaten in their last three ahead of today’s encounter. The visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town started brightly and went 1-0 up thanks to a fifth goal of the season from Tyler Sheppard but an equaliser from Tyler Pavey meant the sides went into the half time break all square. The second half was dominated by the visitors who went ahead thanks to a goal from man-of-the match Josh Connolly, Connolly getting on the end of a corner. Dale Richards then extended the lead with his fifth of the season to make it 3-1 before Matty Bennett made sure of the points with the fourth ten minutes from time. That is now five wins from five for Steve Yeardley’s side ahead of that midweek visit from struggling neighbours Purton, Shrewton meanwhile travel to Marlborough in midweek with manager Joe Sheldrake looking for a response from his players after they went down for the third time this season to one of the top three sides.

Josh Connolly and Matt Bennett who both scored in Royal W. Bassett Town Dev's 4-1 away win at Shrewton

Trowbridge Town remain in fifth spot after a 3-1 away win at Wroughton to make it four wins from their opening six games. Due to cricket being played at the Weir Field in August Wroughton were playing their first home game of the season but there was to be no victory to celebrate their return to the Weir Field. Ollie Dew put visitors Trowbridge ahead just before the half hour mark and Alex Pippard extended the lead ten minutes later. Chris Flanagan pulled one back for the home side Wroughton but a second of the game from Dew (pictured at the top of the page) ensured it was Trowbridge who left with the three points and ensured Trowbridge they stayed in touch with the rest of the sides at the top end of the table. Trowbridge are without a game in midweek, whilst Wroughton travel to the InfiLED Stadium to take on Melksham Town Reserves.
Melksham Town Reserves were looking to return to winning ways after that narrow defeat to Trowbridge Town in midweek when they travelled to Marlborough Town, who they defeated 12-3 in a pre-season game. Marlborough, however, have had a decent start to the league season, with seven points from their opening six fixtures including a 5-0 away at Purton in midweek, and they once again put in an excellent performance to secure a point against a decent Melksham Town Reserves side. The home side Marlborough went in front when Zac Symon scored for the third consecutive game although there was a touch of fortune about the goal as the Melksham keeper slipped over when Symon’s free kick from outside the box was goal bound and ended up in the Melksham net. It remained 1-0 at the break to Marlborough who fully deserved their lead after a hard working first half show. Cameron Pearce equalised for the visitors early in the second half and Melksham went in front for the first time when Tom Arliss fired in from distance to make it 2-1 to Melksham. Marlborough continued to plug away seeking an equaliser and were rewarded in the closing minutes when Jamie Conway made it 2-2 with his fifth goal of the campaign. Manager Steve Chadwick was delighted with the result.

“We fully deserved our point today, we worked incredibly hard and played some good football. I am so proud of my side, especially as we had to play without a recognised goalkeeper, with a centre-half having to go in goal.”

 Zac Symon who put Marlborough ahead at Elcot Lane against Melksham Town Res

Cameron Pearce and Tom Arliss who both scored for Melksham Town Res at Marlborough

Frome Collegians were beaten for the first time this season in midweek by Calne Town Reserves and were looking to get back amongst the leading pack with a win away at Ludgershall Sports. The two sides have met three times in the two previous curtailed seasons that Frome have been in the league, twice in league games, and once in the Fountain Trophies Cup, with Frome winning all three games. That 100% winning record against Ludgershall was maintained courtesy of a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Lee Handford, Lewis Perrett and a third of the season from Oliver Brook. The win lifted Frome a couple of places in the table to sixth spot. Ludgershall have now lost all of their opening five games but will try again in midweek with a trip to Salisbury FC Development.
With Salisbury FC Development having joined the league after the publication of the August fixtures they had only played two games ahead of their visit to Devizes Town Reserves today. They had opened with a big win over Purton but were then beaten 3-0 away at league leaders Pewsey. They took an early lead at Nursteed Road against Devizes, Jonny Timberley scoring in the sixth minute after good work by Devon Arnold. Salisbury extended their lead on the half hour mark, Arnold going from provider to scorer to make it 2-0. Two very quickly became three when Layton Tulk scored two minutes later. Tom Bull’s Devizes side rallied and pulled one back just before the interval, Calleb Hollow making it 1-3. Salisbury were then reduced to ten men after Lewis Tosdevine picked up a second yellow card. Devizes battled away seeking to get back into the game but the game was finally put beyond them ten minutes from time when 16-year old Kai Gowing scored a fourth for visitors Salisbury, Arnold again involved in the build up play for the goal. Salisbury saw out the remaining ten minutes to secure a second win of the season and will look to make it three in midweek with that visit from struggling Ludgershall Sports.
Odd Down Reserves have not had much luck in recent games but manager James Riccio would have been pleased that his side returned from their first ever visit to Stratton Juniors with all three points following a 3-1 success. Angus Williamson and Benji Riccio both scored for the second consecutive game and a second half effort from Marley Carpenter completed the scoring for the visitors, Moses Naisarani with the Stratton goal. Next up for Odd Down is that visit form the league leaders Pewsey Vale, whilst Stratton go again next Saturday when Devizes Town Reserves are the visitors.
04 September 2021
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