Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Shrewton End Run of Defeats,
Pewsey Extend Their Lead At Top

Shrewton United who ended their recent run of defeats with a 3-1 win at Purton

Shrewton United were on a bit of a bad run of late ahead of their trip to Purton having lost their previous three games. Purton in contrast have shown improvement in recent weeks under new manager Frankie Hunt after suffering some big defeats earlier in the season. On a pitch that held up well after recent wet weather it was visitors Shrewton who started the brighter of the two sides and Cameron Wildman went close on five minutes, after beating the Purton back line he saw his shot well saved by Purton keeper Ryan Devaney. Devaney could do nothing about the chance that came Shrewton’s way on 11 minutes, a ball into the 18-yard box from the left-hand side found Robbie Mitchell in space and he coolly fired into the net for 1-0 to the visitors. It was not all one-way traffic though and Purton were also creating chances at the other end in an even opening period. They got themselves back on level terms after 20 minutes, a strong run down the right-hand side by youngster Baillie Nicholls ended with a shot with the outside of his foot from outside the box that sailed over Shrewton keeper Cameron Miller and nestled in the top far corner of the net. Shrewton went close to restoring their lead and after a goalmouth scramble Matthew Blatchford cleared off the line to ensure it stayed 1-1. Shrewton continued to press for a second goal and on 26 minutes Robbie Mitchell found himself clear of the Purton defence from a ball over the top but saw his chip over Purton keeper Devaney go wide of the far post. Shrewton went close again ten minutes before the break, a cross from Mitchell was headed just over by Jake Connor. Shrewton continued to press for a second Lee Weeks firing just over three minutes before half time. After spurning so many chances Shrewton were nearly made to pay moments later, a ball over the top seeing Purton’s Chris Avery clean through on goal but the normally assured striker fired his shot well over when really, he should have made it 2-1 to Purton. However, there was still time for a goal, and it went Shrewton’s way. A ball down the left found Craig Lewis on the edge of the box and his pin-point cross to the far post found an unmarked Jake Watson and the Shrewton captain headed in to give his side a 2-1 lead at the break.

Robbie Mitchell, Jake Watson and Baillie Nicholls and Jake Connor all scored in Shrewton's 3-1 win at Purton

The second half followed the pattern of the first half, with Shrewton looking the more accomplished of the two sides but with chances being created at both ends of the pitch. Five minutes in Craig Lewis was twice denied by the feet of Purton keeper Delaney who was having a good game. A few minutes later Purton went close to an equaliser, Chris Avery seeing his shot from the edge of the box deflect over for a corner. Shrewton effectively secured the points 20 minutes from time when a ball in from the right found Jake Connor in space in the 18-yard box and he controlled the ball with his chest before volleying into the net for 3-1. Shrewton then safely saw out the remaining 20 minutes and indeed it was them that looked the more likely to score again, Will Harries being denied by keeper Delaney. Delaney again did well, saving with his feet two minutes from time when it looked like Shrewton would score again but, despite his efforts and those of his teammates in one of their best performances of the season, his side fell to a 3-1 defeat and remain rooted to the bottom of the table. For Shrewton a welcome win after their recent sticky patch.

 The new look Purton side who gave Shrewton United a close game at the Redhouse.

League leaders Pewsey Vale had the opportunity to open up a six-point lead at the top of the table this weekend with the game between second place Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Ludgershall being postponed with Ludgershall being unable to raise a side and third place Corsham Town Development being without a game. Pewsey were home to Odd Down Reserves, but they knew they were going to have to work hard for all three points as the two previous meetings between the sides had both been settled by a single goal margin, including the game this season at the Lew Hill Memorial Stadium at the beginning of September, when a solitary goal from Eden Bunce was all that separated the two sides. Pewsey went ahead early on after Ryan Thomas was fouled in the box. Thomas dusted himself down and put the resulting penalty away to make it 1-0 to the league leaders. As in those two previous meetings once again Odd Down made it difficult for Pewsey and it remained 1-0 at the break. Second half Odd Down continued to enjoy their fair share of possession but were unable to break down an organised Pewsey side. It got more difficult for Odd Down on the hour mark when they were reduced to ten men but it remained just the one goal in the match until an injury time second from youngster Rory England ensured all three points for the league leaders and a six-point lead at the top of the table.

 Ryan Thomas and Rory England (picture Dane Pollard) Pewsey's scorers against Odd Down Reserves

Trowbridge Town were looking to stay in touch with the leading sides when they hosted struggling Devizes Town Reserves. Trowbridge are one of the form sides in the division and went into the game unbeaten in their last seven games, five of which had been won including the last three. In contrast Devizes had just one win all season in their 16 games ahead of their trip to Woodmarsh and had lost 13 of their last 14 games. The game very much went to form with Trowbridge scoring eight unanswered goals with Scott Baker the star of the show as he fired a double hat-trick in the 8-0 win to move onto nine goals for the season. Player manager Jamie Jordan joined him on the nine-goal mark has he continued his fine scoring form this season and the scoring was completed by a first of the season from Owen Pearce as Trowbridge completed a league double over Devizes having registered a 4-0 win earlier in the season at Nursteed Road.

 Scott Baker who fired a double hat-trick in Trowbridge Town's 8-0 win over Devizes Town Res

Wroughton went into their game with Melksham Town Reserves as the current leaders of the form chart having won all of their previous five games and on an unbeaten run that extended to six games. They were up against Melksham Town Reserves who were looking to complete a league double over Wroughton having defeated them 6-2 at the beginning of September. Wroughton started the game the brighter and went in front on 15 minutes through Luke Saunders with his third goal of the season and it remained 1-0 at the break. Wroughton went in search of a second goal after the restart and despite having the better of things were unable to find that elusive second goal and were then pegged back by Melksham with an equaliser three minutes from time from Will Backhouse. Melksham manager Craig Kent acknowledged on social media that his side had been fortunate to come away with a point and paid credit to the much improved Wroughton side who are now unbeaten in their last seven games ahead of next week’s visit from league leaders Pewsey Vale.

 Will Backhouse whose late equaliser denied Wroughton all three points at the Weir Field

The one game played in midweek was an entertaining encounter between Malmesbury Victoria Development and Frome Collegians. This was Frome’s first ever visit to the Flying Monk Ground the two previous meetings both having taken place at Frome. Goals from Jack Duckers with his 11th of the campaign and substitute Gareth Jones put Malmesbury two goals to the good. Visitors Frome pulled one back late on through Laurence Ludgate but there was to be no second as Malmesbury saw out the closing stages to pick up their eighth win of what is turning out to be their most successful season in the Premier Division.

 Jack Duckers, whose 11th of the season helped Malmesbury to a 2-1 win over Frome Collegians

Salisbury FC Development slipped out of the top six after Malmesbury Victoria Dev’s 2-1 win over Frome Collegians in midweek and were looking to regain their place in that group with a win away at Marlborough Town. When the sides met at Salisbury last month, Salisbury were comfortable 7-1 winners, but Marlborough came into the game this weekend on the back of a confidence building 7-2 win away at Ludgershall Sports last week. Salisbury were certainly made to work harder for the points in the return fixture in difficult conditions at Elcot Lane. Salisbury led 1-0 at the break thanks to a headed goal from Reece McSorley on ten minutes. Three minutes after the restart Will Waterson doubled the lead for the visitors and the same player added another with his sixth of the season two minutes later from a free kick to make it 3-0 to Salisbury. Marlborough Town pulled one back just after the hour mark, Jamie Conway with his eighth goal of the season but Salisbury restored their three-goal advantage on 71 minutes, Layton Tuck putting away a penalty as he moved onto nine goals for the season. A fifth goal for Salisbury from Omario Henry on his Wiltshire Senior League debut completed a 5-1 win for Salisbury who duly moved back into sixth place in the table with games in hand over the three sides just above them in the table.
The game between Stratton Juniors and Calne Town Reserves was postponed due to Covid concerns in the Stratton camp.

Results

League Table & Top Scorers

Next Week's Fixtures

30 October 2021
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