Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
 Trowbridge Defeat Salisbury
& Top Sides All Win

Adam Mitchell whose late goal gave Corsham Town Dev all three points in midweek at Devizes (picture courtesy of John Cuthbertson)

There was just one midweek game in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League this week, and it saw Corsham Town Development go second in the table after a come from behind win away at Devizes Town Reserves on Wednesday night. Based on current form going into the game Corsham were clear favourites to secure the win but they found themselves trailing 2-0 to goals from Joseph Muir and Jack Swan with an hour gone. However, a goal soon after from Will Stead got the visitors back into the game and a second from Joe Clayton five minutes later levelled matters up. It then remained all square until two minutes from time when Adam Mitchell fired in his tenth goal of the season to secure all three points for Corsham. Devizes finished the game with just nine men with both Cullen Wylie and Jack Smith picking up second yellow cards. For both sides this was their 16th league game of the season and they became the first teams to reach the half-way mark with their league fixtures.

Saturday saw league leaders Pewsey Vale back on home soil for the ninth time in the league this season when they hosted Frome Collegians who sat ninth in the table at the start of the day. Frome went into the game unbeaten in their previous four games, three of which have been won, and they were expected to give the leaders a close game and it proved to be the case as the two sides turned around at half time with the game still without a goal. It remained that way until fifteen minutes from time when veteran Ryan Banks put the leaders ahead after he beat the offside trap and scored from just outside the six-yard box. Frome remained in the game and went in search of an equaliser, but the game was finally put beyond them three minutes from time, Harry Hoareau again getting beyond the Frome defence and firing in on the half-volley from 20 yards out for his 20th of the season to seal the points for Pewsey.

 Ryan Banks and Harry Hoareau whose late goals secured another win for Pewsey  (H.Hoareau picture courtesy of Dane Pollard)

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development were looking to bounce back from last week’s first defeat of the season and reclaim second spot in the table having been overtaken by Corsham with that win in midweek when they visited Odd Down Reserves. The two sides have met just once previously on the opening day of last season when an injury time goal from Bailey Gallagher secured all three points for Royal Wootton Bassett Town in a seven-goal thriller. The sides produced another entertaining game this afternoon that Odd Down manager James Riccio described as a “great advert for the league”. Despite some good football from both sides the teams turned round at half time with the game still looking for its first goal. The deadlock was broken just after half time, a free kick from debutant Nathan Hawkins finding Tyler Sheppard who’s cross into the box was headed home by Matt Bennett. Bennett then scored again ten minutes later, again scoring with his head to take his total for the season so far to 21. Odd Down got themselves back into the game when, after a defensive mistake, Harvey Kendrick fired in for his third of the season. The visitors eventually put the game beyond Odd Down when Dale Richards scored a third goal five minutes from time, the goal again coming from a header, to make the final score 3-1.

 Matt Bennett and Dale Richards, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev's scorers against Odd Down Reserves

The last time Trowbridge Town would have visited Salisbury FC (or its earlier incarnations) for a league fixture is believed to be way back in Season 1990-91 when Trowbridge were in the Southern League South Division along with the first team of the old Salisbury club. Trowbridge finished second in the table that season with Salisbury’s first team just one point and one place below them in the final table. A lot has happened to both Wiltshire clubs in the 30 plus years since and Trowbridge met the Development side of the Salisbury club for the first time this afternoon. Both sides went into the game in great form, home side Salisbury had won their last three games, scoring 20 goals in the process, whilst Trowbridge have also been amongst the goals recently scoring 11 in their previous two games whilst on a run that had seen them unbeaten in their last six games, four of which have been won. As expected ahead of the game it was a close run affair but, as in that earlier season, it was Trowbridge who just got the better of the Salisbury club to become the first side in the league to win at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium this season. Devon Arnold put the home side ahead early on, but Ryan Baggs got the visitors back on level terms with his second goal of the season. Mark Robinson then put Trowbridge’s ahead for the first time in the game before Josh Howlett added a third to make it 3-1 to the visitors. A second goal for Trowbridge’s Devon Arnold ten minutes from time, his 22nd of the campaign, led to some tense closing minutes for the visitors but they held out despite coming under intense pressure that saw a couple of chances cleared off the line to secure the win. The three points for Trowbridge saw them swap places with their opponents in the league table.
Shrewton United had lost their last two games but were hoping to return to winning ways when they hosted Stratton Juniors at the Recreation Ground. When the two sides met at the back end of last month in Swindon, Shrewton had dominated proceedings hitting nine unanswered goals to take all three points. However, since that game Stratton had appointed a new manager in Neil Lee and strengthened their side. In the return encounter at Shrewton his new look side avenged that earlier heavy defeat with an impressive 3-1 win to give the new manager a welcome birthday present. Goals from Damian Smolinski, Corey Cullen and a third of the season from Moses Naisarani did the damage for Stratton as they completed a remarkable turnaround in such a short space of time. Shrewton’s reply was scored by Charlie Utterson with his 12th of the season. Stratton remained in 14th place in the table but opened up a five-point gap over the bottom three. Shrewton also remained in the same place in the table as at the start of the day, missing out on the chance to go above Malmesbury Victoria Development.

 Corey Cullen seen here playiing for Pewsey Dev a couple of seasons back was on target in Stratton Juniors 3-1 win at Shrewton

Melksham Town Reserves had racked up eight goals away at Ludgershall last week and travelled to Purton looking to register back-to-back wins for only the second time this season. Purton also went into the game on the back of a win last week after they picked up their first win of the season against Devizes Town Reserves last Saturday. There was to be no repeat of that opening win for Purton this week though as Melksham hit eight goals for the second week running. Jake Farrell and Will Backhouse both fired hat-tricks and there were further goals from youngsters Cameron Pearce and Lenny Gale, the latter notching his first goal in senior football.

Will Backhouse with a hat-trick and Cameron Pearce who were both on target for Melksham in their 8-0 win at Purton

Two sides much in need of a win met at Astor Crescent when Marlborough Town made the short journey to Ludgershall Sports. Marlborough were without a win in the league in their previous eight games, whilst Ludgershall had won just the one game all season, that the recent 4-1 success against Purton.  It was Marlborough manager Steve Chadwick who was celebrating come five-o-clock as his side secured their third win of the season to end their miserable run in the league, 7-2 the final score. Kieran Maidment led the way helping himself to a hat-trick, Jamie Conway bagged a brace and there were further goals for Marlborough from Elliott Morris and Harry Womersley.

Results

League Table & Top Scorers

Next Week's Fixtures

23 October 2021
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