Wiltshire Senior League

Corsham Print

Wiltshire Senior League

Pewsey Vale Held By Frome,

Important Wins For

Devizes Town Res & Ludgershall Sports

This week’s games in the Premier League of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League got underway on Friday night under lights at the Oakfield Stadium, Melksham where Melksham Town Reserves entertained Odd Down Reserves. Melksham were rewarded for staging the game under lights with a large crowd of 145 and the two young sides did not disappoint as they put on an entertaining and close encounter under the lights. Melksham started well and were in front within the first five minutes, Cameron Pearce getting behind the Odd Down defence and slotting the ball past Matt Banahan who was once again donning the gloves for Odd Down. Odd Down responded well and took the game to Melksham. After a sustained period of pressure they got themselves back on level terms through Tom Ellis-Ricketts with his fifth of the season. Melksham went back in front with a second goal of the game from Cameron Pearce before the break, the youngster finishing with a neat chip over Banahan to put his side 2-1 to the good. Both sides continued to create chances in the second half but it was Melksham who extended their lead, Elliott Corp picking the ball up in the box and cutting across and firing in a shot which went in off the post. Odd Down pushed hard to get back in the game, they twice hit the post and had a goal disallowed and reduced the deficit right at the death, Charlie Saunders scoring from the penalty spot to make it 3-2. There was insufficient time left for a third and Melksham edged it by the odd goal in five to move back above Wroughton into ninth spot in the table.

Cameron Pearce, with two, and Elliott Corp who scored the goals in Melksham Town Reserves 3-2 win over Odd Down Reserves

League leaders Pewsey Vale had what looked ahead of the game to be a tricky looking trip to Frome Collegians. Whilst Pewsey had won nine games in a row, a run which included a 2-0 home win over Frome, the Collegians were also in good form and came into the game following back-to-back wins in their last two games. Pewsey Vale had won the corresponding fixture last season 2-0, but it had been another close game and another tough fixture was anticipated, and so it proved. Frome Collegians took the lead 15 minutes in, Theo Sing playing a one-two with Pete Weston on the edge of the area and firing in a shot past Pewsey keeper Louie Latouche. Pewsey got themselves back on level terms on the half hour mark, captain Liam Edmondson heading in from a corner to make it 1-1. There was to be no further goals in the final 15 minutes of the half and the two sides turned round all square. Whilst the league leaders Pewsey had much of the possession in the second half neither side was able to create any real clear-cut chances. The closest either side came to getting a second was in the closing stages when Pewsey keeper Latouche was called on to make a good save to ensure his side returned with a share of the spoils in their first game of the New Year. Commenting after the game Frome Collegians manager Karl Freeman was clearly delighted with his side’s point,

“I am really pleased with the point today. Getting a point against the league leaders is a bit of a bonus. When we looked at the fixtures for January and February we viewed this as a bit of a free hit, with Pewsey going so well, so I am really pleased with the point.”

“We have now played most of the teams at the top end of the table twice and now have some winnable games in the second half of the season.”

With games in hand over most of the sides above them in the table Frome will now be eying up a top half of the table finish, with a trip to Marlborough Town coming up next. Next up for Pewsey Vale, who extended their lead at the top to seven points, is another potential tricky fixture away to Calne Town Reserves.

Theo Sing (Frome Collegians) and Liam Edmondson (Pewsey Vale) who both scored in the 1-1 draw at Frome

Pewsey keeper Louie Latouche whose late save ensured his side came away from Frome with a point

Second in the table Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development were left kicking their heels as they saw their scheduled game against Wroughton postponed late on Friday night due to pitch issues at the Weir Field after recent games.

There was a big local derby at Calne Town Reserves where the visitors were near neighbours Corsham Town Development. When the two sides met earlier in the season, they served up a seven-goal thriller under the lights at the Southbank Ground, Calne almost blowing a 3-0 lead but eventually winning it 4-3 thanks to a late goal from Jamal Chevelleau playing against his former club. The return match at Calne saw Corsham avenge that earlier defeat in some style in the end. In a tight first half they led 1-0 at the break thanks to a goal from Lewis McCarron but stepped it up in the second half to score four more unanswered goals. McCarron, scored a second, bagging a brace for the second week running, Chay Forrester scored from the penalty spot, an own goal from a Calne player and a strike from Ed McCormack completing the scoring in the 5-0 win for Corsham. This was Calne Town Reserves first home defeat of the season, and they have another tough looking fixture next week with that visit from Pewsey Vale. The win for Corsham saw them move above Calne into third spot in the table ahead of next week’s trip to the Raymond McEnhill Stadium to play Salisbury FC Development.

Trowbridge Town have been in decent form of late but had lost narrowly last week at the Gerard Buxton Ground. They were looking to bounce back from that defeat against a struggling Marlborough Town side they had not played since August 2019. Marlborough Town put in one of their best performances in a while and Trowbridge were certainly made to work hard for the three points. The two sides turned round at half time with it all level at one apiece, but two further goals for Trowbridge after the break ensured all three points for Jamie Jordan’s side who also moved above Calne Town Reserves into fourth place as a result of the win. There were two more goals for leading scorer Scott Baker who took his total for the season to an impressive 24, a 15th of the season from strike partner Mark Robinson with the other Trowbridge goal, Daniel Burke with that first half goal for Marlborough Town. Next up for Trowbridge is another home game against Wroughton, whilst Marlborough Town host that game against Frome Collegians.

Scott Baker who scored twice in Trowbridge Town's 3-1 win over Marlborough Town

After losing to Pewsey Vale at the beginning of December, Shrewton United ended the month with back-to-back wins against Odd Down Reserves and Frome Collegians. After last week’s postponement against Salisbury FC Dev, their first played game in the New Year saw Malmesbury Victoria Development visit the Recreation Ground, a side Shrewton had a perfect record against in the seven meetings in recent seasons. That perfect record was maintained by Joe Sheldrake’s side as two goals from Adam Burford saw Shrewton pick up their 12th win of the campaign, the win seeing them climb above Salisbury FC Development into sixth spot.

The weekend saw all the four sides at the bottom of the table in action against fellow bottom four sides and all four would have fancied their chances ahead of kick-off. Stratton Juniors travelled to Ludgershall Sports with an unblemished record against the South Wiltshire side in the previous three meetings between the sides, but that record was finally dented, as Andy Fennell’s Ludgershall side recorded an impressive 3-1 win. For Ludgershall this was their fourth success of the season and saw them move to within two points of beaten opponents Stratton. Leading scorer Luke Holden was once again amongst the goals for Ludgershall, taking his total for the season to seven, Adam Campbell and Cameron Metcalfe with the other Ludgershall goals, Corey Cullen with the Stratton Juniors goal.

The final game of the weekend saw the two sides at the bottom of the table up against each other and for new Devizes Town Reserves manager Duncan Sterling a first win after going close in their previous two matches. Devizes secured only their second win of the season but achieved it in emphatic style, hitting eight unanswered goals against Purton. Sam Dodds and Olly Barnes both scored twice, with further goals from Ben Tylee, Caleb Hollow, Archie Haggerty and Jack Swan in the 8-0 win. The victory saw Devizes move four points clear of Purton and manager Sterling will be hoping this will be the start of a good run, with Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development scheduled to be their next opponents.

League Table, Results & Top Scorers