Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
 Big Win For RWBT Dev
Marred by Injury
With the rest of the top five all without a game Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development were hoping to close the gap to Pewsey Vale at the top of the table and put daylight between themselves and the three teams just below them in the table with a win away at near neighbours Purton. The last time they had met Purton they had racked up the biggest score in living memory for the club’s second team, winning 19-0 at the Gerard Buxton Ground back in September. Whilst the win in the return game was not as comprehensive, they still hit double figures against their opponents for the second time this season with a 10-0 win. The division’s top scorer Matt Bennett added two more to his total taking him to 26 for the season, Ryan Withers and Dale Richards also bagged a brace and there were first goals of the season from Mani Mesas, George Lance and George Drewitt, with a second of the season from Josh Connolly completing the visitors list of scorers. Unfortunately the win for Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development was tainted by the injury suffered by young player Jamie Ash who was starting his first game for the club, having previously made a brief appearance as a substitute. The youngster was taken to hospital and it has tonight been confirmed that he has a fractured ankle, torn ligaments and possible broken tibia which will keep him out of the game for a lengthy period. All from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League wish him all the best for a speedy recovery. The win for Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev saw them move to within nine points of the leaders Pewsey with three games in hand as they also opened up a six-point gap over third placed Trowbridge Town who they are set to meet for the first time early in the New Year.

Matt Bennett, Dale Richards and Ryan Withers who all scored twice in Royal W. Bassett Town Dev's 10-0 win over Purton.

(M.Bennett picture courtesy of Steve Green)

Salisbury FC Development were looking to stay in touch with the top five and a potential promotion position when they entertained another side who place an emphasis on youth, Odd Down Reserves. When the two sides had met at the Lew Hill Memorial Stadium back in October Salisbury returned with all three points following a 6-2 win and with just one home defeat all season were hoping to secure a double over Odd Down. Whilst Salisbury took an early lead with a stunning strike from Kai Gowring, Odd Down were back on level terms on 23 minutes, James Book scoring his second of the season. Odd Down then went in front five minutes before half time, Judah Oyelumade with his first goal of the season. Second half saw a well drilled and disciplined Odd Down performance as they maintained their shape and restricted the young and skilful Salisbury side to speculative shots and free kicks as the home side sought to get themselves back into the game. Standout performances in midfield from Ben Riccio and Rueben Whitson for Odd Down ensured they kept a clean sheet in the second half to capture all three points and avenge that earlier home defeat to Salisbury. The win for Odd Down saw them climb a place in the table moving above Frome Collegians.
Malmesbury Victoria Development had the chance to move above Salisbury in the table with a win away at Wroughton. When Wroughton had visited Malmesbury for a midweek game at the start of September Malmesbury had run out comfortable 7-0 winners. However, Wroughton are a different proposition these days and went into today’s game on the back of three straight wins and having won eight of their last ten games. It was a tight affair from start to finish at the Weir Field with the game seeing very few chances in the opening half hour. It was on the half hour mark that Malmesbury did have the ball in the net but a flag from the referee’s assistant saw the goal disallowed and it remained 0-0. Five minutes later Wroughton had their best chance of the game so far, lively striker Luke Saunders rounding Malmesbury keeper Macawley Brown but his shot unfortunately for Wroughton went wide of the post. Saunders continued to cause the Malmesbury back line problems and he and fellow striker Sam Long got in behind the defence to give Wroughton a two against one advantage over the Malmesbury keeper but rather than squaring it to his teammate Saunders tried to take it on himself and the Malmesbury keeper Brown pulled off a brave save at his feet and the ball was cleared to leave the game still looking for a goal at the break.

The second half saw the game continue in a similar vein to the first, but the better chances started to come the way of the home side. On 52 minutes Long broke clear of the defence only to be denied by a brave save at his feet by Malmesbury keeper Brown. Five minutes later Long went close again, the striker rising to meet a Chris Flanagan free kick but saw his powerful header tipped just over the bar by Brown. The game remained without a goal, but Wroughton had two golden chances around the 70th minute mark to take the lead. A ball into the box from the right-hand side from Flanagan was headed goal-ward drawing a reflex save from Brown who then followed up to dive at the feet of Saunders to deny the striker, injuring himself in the process. Fortunately, the keeper, who was having an impressive game, was able to carry on. He was once again on hand shortly after to deny Saunders once more, as the young striker was clean through on goal but once again the keeper bravely came out to dive at the feet of the striker to prevent his side from going behind.

It was not all one-way traffic though with Malmesbury having an appeal for a penalty 15 minutes from time, but their shouts for a foul in the box were waved away by the referee.  Malmesbury then went close again with ten minutes remaining, good build up play down the left-hand side saw Harrison Archer get a shot away that was well saved with his feet by Wroughton keeper Jack Gibson. Wroughton then introduced the experienced Lee Curtis for the closing stages of the game and he was involved in a lot of their build up play in those final minutes of the game. From one such move he put Saunders through on goal with a neat pass, but the danger was cleared after a tremendous recovering tackle from Ant Brown, who denied the striker a shot when it looked like he might break the deadlock. Defender Brown then nearly went from hero to villain as his back-pass put his namesake keeper in trouble but after the ball rebounded off his chest, as he had done all afternoon, the Malmesbury stopper got to the ball just ahead of the Wroughton striker Saunders, and his powerful kick rebounded off the Wroughton player to safety. The game which had been good natured throughout ended with a moment of controversy as Wroughton defender Kyle Mouldon appeared to be kicked whilst on the ground and his retaliation saw him sent off with no action taken for the original offence which went unseen by the officials. In the end the two sides had to settle for a point apiece, a major turnaround for the ever-improving Wroughton side from that heavy defeat earlier in the season.
Shrewton United continue to be consistently inconsistent this season but tend to be a much stronger side at home at the Recreation Ground and, whilst today’s visitors Frome Collegians inflicted a 4-1 defeat on Shrewton just three weeks ago, Karl Freeman’s side knew they would be in for a much tougher game in the return and so it proved. A solitary first half goal from Shrewton’s Christian Boothe was the only difference between the sides at the break.  Boothe scoring after rounding Frome keeper Josh Scrivens before slotting the ball into the net. Frome had gone close to taking the lead from a free kick before Boothe scored had been denied by a fine save from Shrewton’s young keeper Will Davis. Shrewton had been on top for most of the first half and continued to look the more likely to score after the break. They eventually went further ahead with Boothe once again the scorer, firing into the roof of the net from an acute angle after he beat two Frome defenders. It was certainly Boothe’s day today and he saved his best for last. Seeing the Frome keeper off his line he tried an audacious shot from 45-yards out which sailed over the Frome keeper and into the net to make it 3-0 and complete a hat-trick, which also saw him take his total for the season into double figures. The win saw Shrewton move above Malmesbury Victoria Development into seventh spot in the league table.

 Christian Boothe who scored all three goals in Shrewton United's 3-0 home win over Frome Collegians

The big game at the bottom end of the table was at Elcot Lane where both Marlborough Town and visitors Ludgershall Sports were looking to bring recent miserable runs to an end. Marlborough came into the game having lost five of their last six games, whilst for Ludgershall it was six defeats in their last eight games. Those defeats included a 7-2 reverse at the hands of Marlborough, but Ludgershall were buoyed by the return of manager Andy Fennell, who had been overseas with his work for most of the season. It was to be a good afternoon for his side as they recorded their third win of the season thanks to goals from Kiefer Roper, Craig Gornall and Tony Young in their 3-1 win, Daniel Burke with his second of the season replying for Marlborough. That is now five straight defeats for Marlborough who will be hoping for a change in fortune in the New Year whilst Ludgershall will hope the win over Marlborough is the start of a winning run of games.
The scheduled games between Corsham Town Development and Stratton Juniors and Melksham Town Reserves and Calne Town Reserves have both been postponed.

Finally, the officers of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League would like to wish all our clubs, sponsors and supporters a very merry Christmas and best wishes for a prosperous New Year. Please stay safe over the festive period and see you all in the New Year.

League Table & Top Scorers

January's Fixtures

 Saturday 8th January 2022

Corsham Town Dev v Wroughton

Devizes Town Res v Frome Collegians (2:15PM)

Malmesbury Vics Dev v Salisbury FC (2:15PM)

Marlborough Town v Trowbridge Town (2:15PM)

Melksham Town Res v Shrewton Utd

Odd Down Res v Calne Town Res

Purton v Pewsey Vale (2:15PM)

Royal W. Bassett Town Dev v Stratton Juniors (2:15PM)

 

Saturday 15th January 2022

Calne Town Res v Malmesbury Vics Dev

Corsham Town Dev v Devizes Town Res

Frome Collegians v Marlborough Town (2:15PM)

Odd Down Res v Ludgershall Sports

Pewsey Vale v Stratton Juniors

Royal W. Bassett Town Dev v Trowbridge Town (2:15PM)

Shrewton United v Salisbury FC Dev

Wroughton v Purton (2:15PM)

 

Saturday 22nd January 2022

Calne Town Res v Corsham Town Dev

Frome Collegians v Pewsey Vale (2:15PM)

Ludgershall Sports v Stratton Juniors (2:15PM)

Melksham Town Res v Odd Don Res

Purton v Devizes Town Res (2:15PM)

Shrewton United v Malmesbury Vics Dev (2:15PM)

Trowbridge Town v Marlborough Town (2:15PM)

Wroughton v Royal W.Bassett Town Dev (2:15PM)

 

Saturday 29th January 2022

Calne Town Res v Pewsey Vale

Devizes Town Res v Royal W. Bassett T Dev (2:15PM)

Malmesbury Vics Dev v Ludgershall Sports

Marlborough Town v Frome Collegians (2:15PM)

Odd Down Res v Purton

Salisbury FC Dev v Corsham Town Dev (2:15PM)

Stratton Juniors v Melksham Town Res (2:15PM)

Trowbridge Town v Wroughton (2:15PM)

 

18 December 2021
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