Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
   Premier Division
Royal W. Bassett Town Dev
Crowned Champions
After just over eight months of action in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League it all came down to the game at Pewsey Recreation Ground this afternoon when league leaders Pewsey Vale entertained the one side who could deny them the title, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development.  The stakes were high - albeit clear - going into the match. After Royal Wootton Bassett Town's loss at Trowbridge Town last week - only their second of the campaign - and Pewsey's midweek win against Stratton Juniors, hosts Pewsey started the afternoon with a one-point advantage having played one game more. Those results meant that a win for either side would be enough to clinch top spot. A draw, meanwhile, would have kept the race alive and required Royal Wootton Bassett Town to gain at least a point in their final match of the campaign away at Salisbury Development next Saturday.  It was therefore set up to be a thrilling finale to what has been an engaging, back-and-forth title race. And the game did not disappoint, with both sides demonstrating the quality at both ends of the pitch that had set them out as a cut above the rest of the league throughout the season.

The opening 15 minutes were understandably a cagey affair, with both sides frustrating each other, limiting their opponents to half chances, with a set piece looking likely to be the source of the first goal. Shortly after the 15 minute mark had passed, the visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town went close to breaking the deadlock, Matt Bennett getting beyond the Pewsey back line and firing in a shot that looked destined for the top corner of the net but saw Louie LaTouche in the Pewsey goal pull off a stunning save to deny Bennett the opener. A minute later Pewsey went straight down the other end and went close themselves to getting the opener, Harry Hoareau seeing his shot deflected wide of the goal. A goal was coming, and it was to go to the visitors a minute later. A break down the right saw Matt Bennett outpace the Pewsey defence and hit a powerful low cross across the Pewsey six-yard box and it was met perfectly by Dale Richards who fired into the net for 1-0 to Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Pewsey then suffered a double blow with firstly Ryan Banks having to leave the pitch with a back injury following a collision with his own player Hoareau and then Ryan Thomas going down in the box as he twisted his knee in the turf. Two substitutions were required before there were even 20 minutes on the clock. Luckily Pewsey had more than capable replacements they could bring on with Harvey Flippance, fresh from his goal scoring exploits helping Westbury United to gain promotion to the Southern League, and the skilful youngster Rory England brought on by the home side. Just before the half hour mark Flippance had his first chance of the game but mishit his shot and it remained 1-0.

Flippance and Hoareau were now linking up well and Hoareau went close to the equaliser on 34 minutes when, following some hesitation in the Royal Wootton Bassett Town defence, Pewsey were able to create a turnover and fed in Hoareu but his shot across goal went wide of the post. Two minutes later Flippance got behind the visitor’s defence after a long ball over the top but the Royal Wootton Bassett Town keeper Simon Notman was quick off his line and denied the Pewsey striker a shot on goal. Just before half time Pewsey’s Jake Force-Jones had a half chance but his shot went wide of the post, and it remained 1-0 to Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development at the break in what had been a tight and tense half of football with both defences nullifying the potent strikers that each team possessed.

Action from today's game between Pewsey Vale & Royal W. Bassett Town Development

The early action in the second half saw both sides go close with free kicks from just outside the box. First Pewsey’s leading scorer James Guthrie saw his free kick saved by Notman and then two minutes later at the other end it was Pewsey keeper LaTouche’s turn to prevent his side from going further behind, pulling off another excellent save to deny Sam Ockwell’s powerfully hit free kick. Just before the hour mark Pewsey had their best chance of the game after Royal Wootton Bassett failed to properly clear a corner, the ball falling to Hoareau just outside the six-yard box but he fired way over. Pewsey were now pushing hard for the equaliser and Hoareau again went close for the home side, his low shot from close range forcing Notman into making another great save to maintain his side’s lead. Notman then went from stopping goals at one end to almost creating one at the other end, his long kick finding Dale Richards inside the opposition area but Richard’s header went just wide of the post.

With Pewsey pushing men forward in search of the equaliser they became susceptible to the quick break, and they could well have been two goals down when a ball over the top saw Bennett get clear of the Pewsey defence and his powerfully hit shot was spectacularly turned onto the crossbar by LaTouche and the rebound cleared to safety. There were two further chances for Bennett, but he was unable to put either away and the division’s top scorer at the start of the day was not having any luck in front of goal. Pewsey continued to push for that elusive equaliser but were unable to unlock a disciplined Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development defence who used all of their experience to see out the closing minutes without conceding. The referee’s final whistle saw wild celebrations as the visitor’s knew they had secured the title, but boy had it been a battle all afternoon and indeed all season between the division’s top two sides. Congratulations to Royal Wootton Bassett Town on their success, the first time a side from the club had won the Premier Division title since Season 1987-88. Commiserations to Pewsey for such a valiant effort, falling just short in the end and they will now look to go one better next season.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development manager Steve Yeardley was obviously delighted at the end but was emotionally drained and it remains to be seen if he will be in the dugout in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League next season. Commenting after the game he noted that

“The league title was reward for all the hard work we asked of the players during training and matches throughout the season, we have asked so much of the players this season.”

“When Benno kept missing those chances at the end I was worried it was going to be one of those days but the defence were superb today and we deserved to win it in the end.”

Yeardley made special mention of captain Nick Mason, Ben Brown and Ben Spackman who have been long standing members of the squad for a number of seasons and had been part of the side that had struggled only a couple of seasons ago. Royal Wootton Bassett Town now go to Salisbury FC Development next week for their final game knowing that the title is already secured.

Your Sport Swindon were at Pewsey on Saturday and highlights can be viewed by clicking on the link below or from the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the website.
23-04-2022 Pewsey Vale v RWBT Dev (WSL Prem )

Royal W. Bassett Town Dev celebrate their title success at the end of the game (picture courtesy of Steve Green)

Elsewhere Trowbridge Town ended their season in style with an empathic 7-2 home win over Stratton Juniors. Star of the show was Scott Baker who added five more to his season’s total which means he finishes the season on 43 goals and is now the top scorer in the division, although Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development’s Matt Bennett has one more game to go and currently sits two goals behind on 41. Player manager Jamie Jordan scored one of the other Trowbridge goals, taking his total for the season to 17, and there was a first of the season for Sam Franklin. Stratton’s goals came from Corey Cullen, who also took his personal total to 17, and a first of the season from Liam Butcher. The win for Trowbridge means they ended the season with an unbeaten run that stretched to 11 games, ten of which were won, and will clearly start as one of the favourites next season if they can retain the same squad. Stratton have one more game to play and complete their season next week with a home game against Frome Collegians.

Premier Division's leading scorer Scott Baker seen in action here in last week's win over RWBT Dev

Calne Town Reserves were looking to secure a fifth-place finish having rarely been outside the top five all season. It started well for them at the Flying Monk Ground against Malmesbury Vics Development. They took the lead on 20 minutes through Josh Bright and extended their lead just before the hour mark, Josh McGory scoring direct from a corner. Kyle Witt got his Malmesbury side back into the game, scoring from a free kick 25 yards out which he fired into the top corner of the net. Calne then had the chance to wrap all three points up from the penalty spot but Malmesbury keeper Chrsitain Goodwin pulled off an excellent save on his first full appearance for the club to keep the score at 2-1 to Calne. Calne were made to rue that miss when, with virtually the last kick of the game, Gareth Jones scored an equaliser to ensure the points were shared. With Calne being unable to secure the three points they are now vulnerable to be overtaken by one or more of five sides who sit just below them in the table. Shrewton, Melksham Town Reserves, Salisbury FC Development, Frome Collegians and today’s opponents Malmesbury Vics Development can overtake them, depending on how the final five fixtures in the division pan out.
Frome Collegians could have moved to within a point of Calne had they won away against Wroughton, but the home side avenged their 4-2 defeat away at Frome back in the first few weeks of the season. Once again Wroughton were forced to field an outfield player in goal and this time it was the turn of co-manager Ben Jarrett to take the gloves. He was full of praise for his side and in particular his defence which meant he had very little to do all afternoon as his side secured a 2-0 win. Leading scorer Jonathan Peachey-Score set them on their way with another goal scored from distance and Ollie Armstrong, on his return from a long-term injury, made sure of the points with a second for Wroughton. Wroughton climbed to eighth place in the table while Frome dropped down to 10th spot.
Purton had opened their difficult season with a trip to the Raymond McEnhill Stadium on the opening day and they met the same opponents Salisbury FC Development in their final fixture of the season. Credit to manager Frankie Hunt for continuing and seeing out the season after some heavy defeats and he will be pleased with his side’s efforts in their final game of the season. They shut out their opponents for a good hour of the match, the deadlock finally being broken by a Dyllan Roocroft goal, his first of the season. Having broken through two quick goals from Ed Timperley saw Salisbury lead 3-0 and a further goal five minutes from time from Harry Youd rounded-off the afternoon’s scoring. Salisbury are now home to Melksham Town Reserves in midweek before ending their season with a visit from the newly crowned champions Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development next week.

 Purton manager Frank Hunt seen here against Shrewton United

League Table, Results & Top Scorers

26 April 2022
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