At last, after 112 days of inactivity, football is back for the Premier Division sides in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. Whilst the 2020-21 league season has been curtailed, the league is running a cup competition, known as the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup in the time permitted from the re-start of Grassroots football to the end of May to give competitive football to our Premier Division sides.

The Fountain Trophies Senior Cup sees 14 teams participate, with the teams initially split into two groups of seven. The teams will play each other once with the top side in each group after the six games for each side in the mini-leagues then competing in a final scheduled for May 29th. The two groups have been broadly based on geographic location.

North Group

The North Group kicked off on Saturday 10^th April with a full complement of fixtures, with Group favourites and league leaders at the time the season was curtailed, Pewsey Vale, the side who were without a game in the first week.

Cricklade Town started their cup campaign with a visit from Devizes Town Reserves. Whilst based on relative league positions at the time the 2020-21 Season was curtailed Cricklade Town started the game as favourites, Devizes had beaten Cricklade twice in the last three meetings between the sides. On what was a good afternoon for the sides who had struggled in the league, Devizes improved on that recent record as second half goals from Rich Tandy and Liam Moffat, the latter notching his third of the season, secured all three points in a 2-0 win at the Cricklade Leisure Centre. Next up for Devizes is a home game against Stratton Juniors next week, whilst Cricklade will next be in action in a fortnight’s time when they entertain Marlborough Town.

Stratton Juniors and Purton had not met this season at the time the league action was curtailed but the two meetings last season had seen Purton complete a league double over their Swindon neighbours. Purton maintained that unblemished record against Stratton in their opening Fountain Trophies Senior Cup game, winning 2-0 away win at Meadowcroft. Scott Chilcott put them ahead in the first ten minutes of the game and a second from Nathan Blackford on the hour mark secured the three points in a hard-fought battle between the two sides. As noted above, Stratton visit Devizes next week whilst Purton are home to Malmesbury Victoria Development.

Two sides who were hoping for better things in the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup than their respective league campaigns were Marlborough Town and Malmesbury Victoria Development, who met at Elcot Lane in their opening group game. Marlborough had won just once in the league by the time the league season was curtailed but, continuing the theme of sides at the bottom of the league at the end of December having a good day, they picked up their second win of the season with 6-3 triumph. Jake Farrell led the way with a hat-trick for Marlborough, taking him to five for the season in Wiltshire League competitions, Jamie Conway was also on target with his fourth of the season, the other two Marlborough goals coming courtesy of Declan McEniry and Cian Cabell who both scored their first goals of the season. Malmesbury’s goals came courtesy of their leading scorer Joe Tranter, who moved onto six for the season, James Archer, who notched his fifth of the campaign, and Danny Cook. Next week Malmesbury have that short trip to Purton, whilst Marlborough Town have a big local derby when Pewsey Vale are the visitors to Elcot Lane.

South Group

Two fixtures went ahead in the South Group with the game between Shrewton v Odd Down moved to next month as a result of co-operation between three member clubs and the Fixture Secretary to facilitate participation of two of the clubs in the Cricklade Supreme Trophy. Trowbridge Town were the side without a scheduled fixture.

The big shock of the day was in the meeting between the side who sat second in the table when the season was curtailed, Melksham Town Reserves, and the side who were bottom at the time the league season ended, Ludgershall Sports. When the two sides had met in the league back in October Melksham had hit nine unanswered goals but Ludgershall had shown improvement during December and that improvement had continued with a good performance against Shrewton in the Cricklade Supreme Trophy last week. Against Melksham in the Fountain Trophies Cup fixture, it was Ludgershall who went in front from the penalty spot, Luke Holden firing them into the lead. Owen Pearce levelled things up for the visitors Melksham, with his second goal of the season, but that was to be the end of the scoring as the two sides had to settle for a point apiece in their opening group fixture. Next week Melksham Town Reserves take on Shrewton United whilst Ludgershall Sports travel to Corsham Town Reserves.

On the subject of Corsham Town Reserves, their opening fixture in the Fountain Trophies Cup saw them play a Frome Collegians side who had inflicted a heavy defeat on Corsham at the Southbank Ground in the league back in September. On this occasion Corsham avenged that earlier defeat scoring three unanswered goals at the Old Showfield Ground. Dan King put them ahead, firing in a free kick from the edge of the area for his second goal of the season. The same player then extended Corsham’s lead before Corey Burgess added a third to make sure of the three points. Next week Frome Collegians host near neighbours Trowbridge Town, whilst Corsham have that home game against Ludgershall.

Player Eligibility for Fountain Trophies Cup

Clubs are reminded that to be eligible to play in the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup, players must not have played 3 games or more at a higher level (e.g., Hellenic League, Western League, Wessex League or higher) during Season 2020-21. This includes substitute appearances.

Managers Wanted

Two of our Premier Division clubs based in the Swindon area, Stratton Juniors and Wroughton, are currently on the lookout for new managers for next season.

Stratton Juniors are looking for a new First Team Manager to take over from current manager Magnus Painter, who is also the Chairman of the club. Anyone interested in applying for the position or would like more information should contact Magnus.

Wroughton are also seeking a new First Team Manager and assistant for the 2021-22 Season. They are looking for individuals who have a good all-round local football knowledge. Wroughton have opted not to participate in the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup but intend to re-start their pre-season training in June ahead of next season in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. Anyone who is interested in the managerial positions should contact Wroughton Chairman Kevin Cook.

Next Week's Fixtures - Saturday 17 April

North Group

Devizes Town Res v Stratton Juniors

Marlborough Town v Pewsey Vale

Purton v Malmesbury Vics Dev

South Group

Corsham Town Res v Ludgershall Sports

Frome Collegians v Trowbridge Town

Shrewton United v Melksham Town Res