Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Pewsey Go 12 Points Clear &
Impressive Result for Trowbridge Town

James Guthrie who bagged his second hat-trick of the season against Shrewton Utd (picture courtesy of Dane Pollard)

When league leaders Pewsey Vale met Shrewton United in midweek in the opening week of the season the influential James Guthrie had fired a hat-trick in a 4-1 win. Guthrie clearly likes playing against Shrewton as the return fixture saw him once again fire a hat-trick in a 4-2 win. The game between the sides is a local derby and matches between the two are generally a tough battle and today’s encounter was described by Pewsey manager Alistair Tuttle as a 'scrappy affair'. Pewsey went in front in the ninth minute, James Guthrie firing into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Shrewton got themselves back into the game when leading scorer Charlie Utterson, who started the day as a wing back, brought his side back on level terms with a neat dink over Pewsey keeper Louie Latouche. Shrewton were winning the midfield battles in that first half but were unable to add to their score and it remained 1-1 at the break. Pewsey Vale went back in front with Guthrie getting his second in bizarre circumstances, his corner kick going straight in to make it 2-1. Pewsey began to win the battles in midfield and doubled their advantage when substitute Matthew Milne hit a screamer from 25 yards to make it 3-1 to Pewsey. Shrewton responded to this setback by going down the other end and scoring a second almost straight away through Jake Watson who beat four defenders and slotted past La Touche at the near post to reduce the deficit back to one. However, Guthrie made sure of the points for the visitors completing that second hat-trick of the season against Shrewton with a goal similar to his first of the afternoon, firing in from the edge of the box to make the final score 4-2 and open up a twelve point lead at the top of the table ahead of a local derby against Marlborough Town next Saturday.

Charlie Utterson and Jake Watson who scored for Shrewton in their 4-2 defeat at the hands of league leaders Pewsey Vale

The big match of the day was at Corsham’s Southbank Ground where third placed Corsham Town Development entertained fourth placed Trowbridge Town.   When the two sides met back in August Corsham edged a close game 3-2 and Trowbridge were keen to avenge that earlier defeat. They went in front within the first five minutes when Mark Robinson was brought down in the box and leading scorer Scott Baker put the penalty away for his 21st of the season. Midway through the first half 21 for the season became 22 when Baker got on the end of a free kick from player-manager Jamie Jordan to make it 2-0. Whilst Corsham, who had the majority of the possession in the first half, continued to see a lot of the ball after the break they rarely troubled the Trowbridge keeper all afternoon, and a third for Trowbridge on the hour mark effectively made sure of the points, Mark Robinson firing in with the outside of his foot over the Corsham keeper for his 14th of the season. Any remaining doubt as to the final result was ended 15 minutes from time when a goal from George Walker-Wiltshire added a fourth for Trowbridge to round off a good afternoon for Jamie Jordan’s side, with the manager describing it as one of the, if not the best, performances of the season. Corsham are back in action next Friday when they entertain Melksham Town Reserves under lights whilst Trowbridge are home to Salisbury FC Development next Saturday.

Scott Baker and Mark Robinson who once again found the net in Trowbridge Town's impressive 4-0 win over Corsham Town Dev (pictures courtesy of Gary Caldicott)

Salisbury FC Development have an impressive home record in their inaugural season in the league and had won five of the six games they have played at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium ahead of the visit from Frome Collegians this weekend. When the two sides met last month at Frome the home side secured a 2-0 home win and they travelled to Salisbury looking to complete a quickfire double over their opponents and become the first side to achieve that feat. Salisbury went ahead early on, Layton Tuck scoring from the penalty spot for his 12th of the season. Salisbury did not hold the lead for long through as Frome’s leading scorer Barry Sandquest netted for the eighth time this season to bring his side back level with quarter of an hour gone. It remained all square at the break and despite chances at both ends it remained level pegging until five minutes from time when Salisbury’s Ed Timberly fired in to give his side all three points and their sixth home win of the season, ensuring that Salisbury retain the record of no side having beaten them twice so far this season. That proud record will face its sternest challenge next Saturday when Salisbury travel for that game at Trowbridge when they meet the one side who have beaten them at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium so far this season.
Stratton Juniors are a much-improved side under new manager Neil Lee, and had already this season turned a heavy 9-0 defeat in an initial fixture into a victory when they played the second game against a Shrewton side who had inflicted that initial heavy defeat. Today’s visitors to Meadowcroft were Malmesbury Victoria Development who had also put nine passed Stratton in the initial fixture between the sides back in September. Stratton have now done it again after they triumphed 4-3 in the return fixture with Malmesbury but very nearly threw away victory at the end of the game. Stratton led 2-0 at half time with Malmesbury having missed a golden chance to get a foothold back in the game on the stroke of half time, Jack Duckers seeing his penalty saved. Two more goals in the second half saw Stratton 4-0 to the good but two goals from Harrison Archer and one from Duckers in the closing five minutes of the match made it 4-3. Malmesbury even had a chance for an equaliser, but it was not taken, and Stratton held on for the three points and that second big turn-around of the season. On target for Stratton in this fifth win of the season were Corey Cullen with two, Bartek Bys and Oliver Surridge. They have another chance to make amends for a big defeat earlier in the season next week when they entertain Calne Town Reserves who beat Stratton 13-0 in the first meeting back in August whilst Malmesbury have a local derby away at Purton.

Stratton Juniors' Corey Cullen and Malmesbury Vics Dev's Harrison Archer who both scored twice for their respective sides in Stratton's 4-3 win

Marlborough Town travelled to Wroughton under new management with Kenny Muir stepping up from assistant to take over from Steve Chadwick in the Elcot Lane dugout. Wroughton were 3-1 winners in the first meeting between the sides earlier in the season and went into the game in decent form with just one league defeat in their last ten games, that defeat coming at the hands of league leaders Pewsey Vale. In contrast Marlborough have been having a tough time of it of late with just the one win in their previous four games but had run Stratton Juniors close last week.  Early goals form Sam Long and Luke Saunders put the home side Wroughton in the ascendency, but Marlborough got themselves back in the game before half time, Kieran Maidment scoring to make it 2-1 at the break. The second half saw Kris Redford restore Wroughton’s two goal advantage smashing in a long-range effort for 3-1. Another long-range strike, this time from Jamie Rathbone, made sure of the points for Wroughton who climbed up to 10th place in the table as a result of their latest win. They are back at the Weir Field again next Saturday when Frome Collegians are the visitors.

Sam Long who opened the scoring for Wroughton in their 4-1 win over Marlborough Town

Melksham Town Reserves pushed Royal Wootton Bassett Town all the way last week, eventually succumbing to two second half goals. They returned to winning ways with a 4-0 home success over visitors Purton who continue to show signs of improvement, halving the number of goals they had conceded in the first encounter with Melksham. Aaron Masson led the way firing in a hat-trick for Craig Kent’s side, substitute Elliott Corp with the other goal. Purton went close to pulling a goal back but were denied by a fine save from Melksham keeper Harry Pickering who ensured his side maintained their third clean sheet of the season.
The final league game of the day saw Calne Town Reserves complete a league double over Ludgershall Sports, but it was much closer than the first meeting between the two sides back in September when Calne had won 8-1, the final score in the return fixture seeing Calne secure a 5-2 home win and move to within two points of near neighbours Corsham Town Development with a game in hand. Calne led 3-0 at the break but an improved second half showing from Ludgershall Sports score twice matching Calne Town Reserves second half showing as it finished 5-2. Two goals for both Oscar Webster and Logan Anning for Calne, Rory Davis with the other Calne goal, Joshua Perkins and Patrick Amoyaw replying for Ludgershall.
Odd Down Reserves were in Somerset Senior Cup Fourth Round action when they travelled to Nailsea and Tickenham to play one of the favourites for the competition. Nailsea and Tickenham play in the Somerset County League Premier Division and are currently unbeaten in their league having won 10 of their opening 11 league games. They sit fourth in the table but with games in hand on all of the three sides above them. Odd Down put in a good performance and were unfortunate in the end to be on the wrong side of a 2-1 score line, Harvey Kendrick with the Odd Down goal, and that means that both our Somerset based sides are out of this year’s Senior Cup competition. Odd Down are back in league action next week when they travel to Shrewton United.

Results

League Table & Top Scorers

Next Week's Fixtures

4 December 2021
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