Action from the 3-3 draw between Royal W. Bassett Town & Shrivenham (picture courtesy of Steve Green)
This week’s games in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print commenced on Monday night when Pewsey Vale entertained Royal Wootton Bassett Town. All of Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s opening five fixtures had been close run affairs, either ending in draws or being decided by one goal, and this game was no different. Zane Pinnock opened the scoring putting the visitors ahead before Michael Gilder extended the lead. George Allen pulled one back for home side Pewsey Vale, but James Johnson restored the visitors two goal advantage. Harry Womersley then scored a second for Pewsey Vale to give the home side hope of salvaging a point but despite creating chances that was the end of the scoring on the night and Royal Wootton Bassett Town secured their second win of the season.
The second game of the week in the Division took place on Wednesday evening where Melksham Town were looking to end a barren run. Having started the season with three impressive wins, Colby Cain’s side had suffered four straight defeats including one against Wednesday evening’s opponents Radstock Town. Unfortunately for Melksham the run of defeats continues as a solitary goal from Lyndon Banfield was all they could muster on the night whilst visitors Radstock Town scored four against them for the second time this season in what manager Ian Lanning described as their best performance of the season. On target for Radstock were Freddie Blacker, Kian Kearn, Toby Vining and George Rowe. The win saw Radstock move above Melksham into fourth spot in the table.
Royal Wootton Bassett Town were in action for the second time this week on Thursday night with league leaders Shrivenham the visitors to the Gerard Buxton Ground. Once again they were involved in another close encounter. Joe Kemp opened the scoring putting the league leaders ahead. However, parity was restored from the penalty spot after 18 minutes, Thomas Pitt putting away the spot kick for Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Six minutes later the home side went in front, Seb Smith heading in to make it 2-1 which remained the score at the break. The second half saw the visitors push hard for an equaliser in what was turning into a very entertaining game of football. There were chances at both ends before a cross into the box was not dealt with by the home sides defence and former Royal Wootton Bassett Town player Taida Tendayi headed his side back on level terms. Both sides went in search of a winner and it looked like Shrivenham would leave the Gerard Buxton Ground with all three points when a cross from the left was met first time on the edge of the box by Bilal Durdu with a superb volley that put the visitors ahead for the second time on the night. Just as it looked like Shrivenham would retain sole leadership of the division, a free kick from Adam Jones to the far side of the box two minutes from time was headed back across the six-yard box where James Johnson was ideally placed to head home for his second goal of the week to make it 3-3. In the closing minutes both sides tried to push forward for a winner but that was to be the end of the scoring on the night, and they had to settle for a point apiece. Results elsewhere meant Shrivenham now share top spot in the table and Royal Wootton Bassett Town remain in joint fifth place in what is a very tight Under 18 league table with just five points separating the top six sides. Royal Wootton Bassett Town recorded highlights of the game which have been published by Your Sport Swindon. Use either the link below or the link from the Your Sport Swindon page on our website to watch the highlights.
Three players who were on the score sheet in the 3-3 draw between Royal Wootton Bassett Town & Shrivenham (pictures courtesy of Steve Green)
The new joint leaders of the Division are Chippenham Town who picked up their biggest league win of the season, defeating New College 8-2 in a game switched to Swindon Supermarine as a result of co-operation between the two clubs. With Chippenham having won 6-1 against the same opponents just prior to lockdown the win completed a league double over their opponents. Jake Angell fired a hat-trick for the new league leaders, there was a fourth of the season for Dylan Jones, with the other goals coming from Luca Robinson, David Moor-Bardell, Sam Hughes and Ethan Witchell. The two in reply for New College were scored by Guiherme Vecci Rosa and Ari Filho. Chippenham are now on 14 points, the same as Shrivenham, with Chippenham Town having played one game less, whilst FC Chippenham with games in hand on both the leaders sit four points behind level on points with Radstock Town.
Results
Monday 12th April 2021
Pewsey Vale 2 Royal W. Bassett Town 3
Wednesday 14th April 2021
Melksham Town 1 Radstock Town 4
Thursday 15th April 2021
Chippenham Town 8 New College 2
FC Chippenham v Pewsey Vale - Postponed
Royal W. Bassett Town 3 Shrivenham 3
Next Week's Fixtures
Monday 19th April 2021
FC Chippenham v New College
Pewsey Vale v Melksham Town
Tuesday 20th April 2021
Chippenham Town v Royal W. Bassett Town (at RWB)
Thursday 22nd April 2021
Melksham Town v Chippenham Town
Radstock Town v Pewsey Vale
Shrivenham v FC Chippenham
16 April 2021