Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Top Two Win Again in Prem,
Div 1 Leaders Beaten

 Trowbridge Town who made it 7 straight wins with a 6-0 success away at Marlborough Town

(picture courtesy of Gary Caldicott)

Trowbridge Town continue to lead the way in the Premier Division after another storming first half performance, this time against Marlborough Town, saw them make it seven wins from seven games to start the season. As they had done to Odd Down Development recently, they had the game against Marlborough effectively won by half time as they went into the break five goals to the good. Ben Wickens, who had been out of the starting line up for a couple of games after picking up an injury in that win over Odd Down, made an immediate impact on his return to the starting line-up scoring early on with a header. It was very quickly 2-0, George Bendle firing into the bottom left-hand corner for the net for his seventh of the season.  Leading scorer Scott Baker then got into the scoring act, firing in from the edge of the box for 3-0. Wickens then scored his second of the game three minutes before half time, following up to score after the ball had come back off the crossbar. There was still time for one more Trowbridge goal before half time, a ball over the top found Wickens who set up Baker for his second of the game and tenth of the season to go joint top of the division’s leading scoring chart that he headed last season. Second half, Trowbridge were not able to maintain the momentum and added just one more goal, that going the way of man of the match Wickens who completed his hat-trick and took his personal tally for the season to nine, just one behind Baker. Next up for Trowbridge is a home game against Stratton Juniors next Saturday whilst Marlborough will look to bounce back from this heavy defeat when they host Melksham Town Reserves against whom they have a good recent record.

  Ben Wickens (picture courtesy of Gary Caldicott) who hit a hat-trick & Scott Baker who scored twice in Trowbridge Town's 6-0 away win over Marlborough Town

Whilst Trowbridge Town keep winning, they cannot shake off Devizes Town who secured probably their best result of the season with a 4-0 home success over an in-form Pewsey Vale side who had come into today’s game on the back of four straight wins. Devizes have now won six and drawn one of their opening seven fixtures to sit two points behind Trowbridge. The goals against Pewsey were shared around with one each for Gabe Costello, Jordan Kirk, Jamie Walters and Keiron Gleed, the latter scoring his third of the season. Whilst manager George Bettles will be pleased with the four goals, his sides success is also being built around a strong defence which has conceded just two goals in those opening seven fixtures. Next up for Devizes is a trip to Shrewton United whilst Pewsey will look to immediately return to winning ways when they host Odd Down Development.

  Man of the match Jamie Walters and Jordan Kirk who both scored in Devizes Town's 4-0 win over Pewsey Vale

On the subject of mean defences there were two on display at Bremhill View this afternoon for the first ever meeting between Calne Town Reserves and Blunsdon which finished in a stalemate, with neither side being able to find the net over 90 minutes and having to settle for a point apiece. The closest the game came to a goal was when Blunsdon were awarded a penalty but stand-in keeper Charlie Strickland, who had taken over in goal after Calne's keeper had to go off injured, saved the spot kick from Nick Craft who had been the player brought down for the penalty award.  In their short time in the league Blunsdon are already establishing a name for themselves as the draw specialists in the division as this was their fourth draw of the season in just seven games.
After two consecutive drawn games, Stratton Juniors returned to winning ways with a 5-3 success over Melksham Town Reserves who have not made the best of starts to the new season. Stratton found themselves 2-0 down but came back to lead 3-2 at the break. Melksham equalised shortly after the re-start but two further goals ensured all three points for Stratton Juniors.  Josh Bolton led the way bagging a brace, with a fifth of the season from Corey Cullen plus further goals from Moses Naisarani and Imman Bains doing the damage. The three goals in reply for Melksham Town Reserves were scored by Elliott Corp, Isaac Wain and Lenny Gale.

  Josh Bolton, seen here playing for RWBT Dev, scored twice in Stratton Juniors 5-3 win over Melksham Town Reserves

Last season’s champions Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development have finally registered their first point of the season and it came away at Shrewton United, a ground where the visitors record has not been very good over the years. A stunning strike from youngster Jowan Partridge gave the visitors a 1-0 lead but Shrewton got themselves back on level terms a minute before the half time break, Dalitso Marsdon with the equaliser. Despite both sides creating chances after the break there was to be no further goals and the sides had to settled for a point each following the 1-1 draw. Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development are scheduled to be back in the south of the county next Saturday with a trip to Salisbury FC Development whilst Shrewton have that tough looking fixture at home to Devizes Town.

  Jowan Partridge who scored for Royal Wootton Bassett Town in their 1-1 draw away at Shrewton United

The scheduled game between Odd Down Development and Salisbury FC Development was postponed with Salisbury unable to raise a side.
There was a full set of fixtures in Division One with the big game of the day being at Astor Crescent where league leaders Ludgershall Sports were up against another unbeaten side in Larkhall Athletic Development. Larkhall Athletic Development went 1-0 up on 15 minutes, Luke Bell scoring with a header and it remained 1-0 at the break. They extended their lead on the hour mark, James Payton also scoring with his head to make it 2-0.  League leaders Ludgershall got a foothold back in the game seven minutes from time, leading scorer Luke Holden scoring his sixth goal of the campaign. However, any chance of getting anything out of the game was extinguished two minutes from time when Brad Evans curled a free kick in to give his side an excellent 3-1 away win and inflict a first defeat of the season on Ludgershall Sports. The win lifted Larkhall to within a point of the leaders with two games in hand. The Division One title favourites are back in action next Saturday when they travel to Devizes Town Reserves whilst Ludgershall make the trip into Swindon to play Kingsdown Lions.

  Brad Evans whose late goal made sure of the points for Larkhall Athletic Development in their 3-1 win over Ludgershall Sports

There was an entertaining game at Pewsey Recreation Ground. Whilst the two first teams of Pewsey Vale and Devizes Town were doing battle at Nursteed Road, the clubs second teams were in action at Pewsey with home side Pewsey Vale Development up against Devizes Town Reserves. At one stage it looked like the points would all go the way of Pewsey as a hat-trick from Melvin Tatah, taking his total for the season to five, plus one from Jack Cady saw Pewsey lead 4-1. However, Tom Bull’s Devizes Town Reserves side did not give up and came back with three goals to level matters up at four each. On target for Devizes were Chris O’Donovan with two, Liam Moffat and Tyler Smith as the two sides shared eight goals and the points, with the crowd at the Recreation Ground certainly being well and truly entertained.
Purton have been showing gradual improvement as the first month of the season has gone on but fell to their fourth straight defeat going down 4-0 against Swindon based side Kingsdown Lions. The goals for Kingsdown were shared around with Josh Barnfield, Tyler Wilkinson, Will Middler and Isaac Osazuwa all getting on the score sheet. The win for Kingsdown saw them stay in sixth spot but move to within a point of the three teams above them ahead of that meeting with Ludgershall Sports next week. Purton will look to register their first points of the season next Saturday when they visit Kintbury Rangers Development.

  Tyler Wilkinson seen here playing for Shrivenham last season was amongst the goals for Kingsdown Lions (picture courtesy of Steve Green)

League Tables

Leading Scorers

Results and Next Week's Fixtures

3 September 2022
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