Wiltshire Senior League

Corsham Print

Wiltshire Senior League

Premier Division

Pewsey Vale Lead

The Way Again

Over half of Pewsey Vale’s goals this season have been scored by Harry Hoareau and James Guthrie and the prolific duo were at it again as Pewsey returned to the top of the table having been temporarily dislodged from top spot last week. Pewsey were playing Swindon based side Stratton Juniors for the first time this season. On a difficult playing surface Pewsey took an early lead when Guthrie lobbed the Stratton keeper from short range with a neat finish. The same player scored again fifteen minutes in when his shot was deflected in by a Stratton defender for 2-0 and his 28th goal of the campaign. Despite going 2-0 down so early on Stratton responded well and put the title chasers under pressure but without creating any real clear-cut chances. The game was finally put beyond them fifteen minutes from time when Harry Hoareau took his personal tally for the season to 30 and complete a 3-0 win for Pewsey that saw them move back to the summit with five games to go, starting with a trip to Salisbury FC Dev next week. Today's opponents Stratton Juniors now face six games on the road, including games against all of the current top four, before finishing with a home game against Frome Collegians.

James Guthrie & Harry Hoareau who have now scored 58 goals between them for Pewsey Vale so far this season

(pictures courtesy of Dane Pollard)

It looked the top game of the day in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League ahead of all the weekends’ action and due to their pre-match marketing of the fixture as part of Non-League Day, Trowbridge Town were rewarded with their biggest crowd of the season for their game against Melksham Town Reserves. In front of an impressive crowd of 129, Jamie Jordan’s side continued their excellent form of late, extending their winning run to eight straight victories after a 2-0 success. In a tight contest Trowbridge got their noses in front around the half hour mark, Scott Baker finishing off a good move to make it 1-0. It remained that way at the break and the second half saw the teams continue to be evenly matched. Just after the hour mark Melksham went close to getting back on level terms. A free kick from Tom Mack on the edge of the area was spectacularly tipped onto the crossbar by Trowbridge keeper Cameron Miller before being cleared away to leave the score 1-0 to the home side. Shortly after Trowbridge doubled their lead, a quick free-kick from the player-manager Jordan finding Baker who slotted home for his second of the game and take his total for the season to 37. Trowbridge saw out the remainder of the game to record the win which saw them move to within a point of second placed Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development who have still to visit Woodmarsh. After going unbeaten since November that is now back-to-back defeats for Melksham Town who will look to get back to winning ways in midweek when they entertain Calne Town Reserves at the Oakfield Stadium.

Scott Baker who got both goals for Trowbridge Town in their win over Melksham Town Res

Corsham Town Development sat just two points behind Trowbridge Town at the start of the day and were another one of the form sides in the division with seven wins from their previous eight games ahead of their trip to Wroughton. The game against Wroughton was the first leg of a double-header in the space of seven days with the sides set to meet again next Saturday. On a warm March afternoon, it turned out to be another close encounter between two evenly matched sides. Wroughton edged in front on 25 minutes, Luke Saunders scoring with a header. Corsham Town Development got themselves back on level terms after the break, Dan Sibley with his fifth goal of the season and it looked like the game was heading for a draw. Wroughton striker Jonathan Peachey-Score had been having one of those games where nothing seemed to be going his way, missing four or five gilt edged chances. However, having failed to put away those chances he was to have the last laugh, smashing in a stunning strike from 30-yards which proved to be the winner for his side, who took the three points courtesy of a 2-1 win. The sides go again next Saturday at the Southbank Ground when another close contest can be expected. The win for Wroughton saw them climb a couple of places in the table to ninth spot, Corsham remain in fourth but now trail Trowbridge by five points with just two games to go.

Jonathan Peachey-Score, seen here earlier in the season at Purton, scored the winner in Wroughton's win over Corsham

Shrewton United have been going well under their new management team and started the day in fifth place, unbeaten in their previous four games. In contrast opponents Salisbury FC Development had just the one win in their last six games ahead of their visit to the Recreation Ground. The young Salisbury side were comfortable 8-2 winners when the sides met back in October and were hoping to do the double over their near neighbours in this local derby, although Shrewton were very much the form side going into the game. Indeed, it was the home side Shrewton United who edged in front, veteran Craig Lewis scoring just after the half hour mark to make it 1-0. It remained that way until four minutes from time when Lewis Cross equalised for the visitors with his first of the season to ensure it finished honours even and the points shared. The point for Shrewton was enough to see them hold onto fifth place but only on goal difference.

Shrewton's Craig Lewis who was on target in their 1-1 draw with Salisbury FC Dev

Hot on Shrewton’s heels are Frome Collegians who this afternoon were home to bottom side Purton. Despite recent results and the relative form of the two sides going into the game, Purton certainly made it hard for the home side in the first half as Frome scored just the one goal in the opening forty-five minutes. However, Frome stepped up their game in the second half scoring six more times, although they did not have it all their own way as Frank Hunt’s side registered two goals of their own as it finished 7-2 to the Collegians. Leading scorer Barry Sandquest led the way for the home side hitting a hat-trick, Max Biddiscombe bagged a brace and there was one apiece for Pete Weston and Howard Dennis. On target for Purton were Brett Armstrong with his first goal of the season and Melvin Tatah on his return to the side from injury with his third goal of the campaign. The win for Frome saw them climb two places to sixth spot joining Shrewton United on 46 points but with three games in hand as they look to achieve a top five finish. They have some tough opposition coming up in their next couple of games, starting with the local derby against Trowbridge next week. They were beaten 9-1 in the first meeting with their near neighbours this season but will now go into the derby game in a more confident mood given their current form and position in the table.

Barry Sandquest who scored a hat-trick in Frome Collegians 7-2 win over Purton

Just a single point and place in the table separated Odd Down Reserves and Malmesbury Victoria Dev ahead of their meeting at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground this afternoon. Odd Down Reserves are another of the form sides in the division and went into the game with just two defeats in their last nine. Malmesbury’s form going into the game was also decent with just the one defeat in their previous four. A close game was anticipated, and it proved to be just that. Connor Laidlaw put visitors Malmesbury ahead with a deflected goal in the first half, but Odd Down’s leading scorer Charlie Saunders restored parity with his 12th goal of the season from the penalty spot after the break. Saunders had missed from a penalty in their recent defeat at Royal Wootton Bassett but didn't shirk the responsibility when given another opportunity and this time put his spot kick away. Odd Down’s Joshua Riccio then thought he had scored the winner for his side late on but the goal was ruled out for offside and his side had to settle for a point as it finished 1-1 with the relative positions of the two sides in the table remaining as they were at the start of the day.