Action from Odd Down Res 5-1 win in the Fountain Trophies Cup over Melksham Town Res (picture courtesy of Starsphinx Photography)
Odd Down Reserves
had won at the IfiLED against
Melksham Town Reserves
in the league at the beginning of September but had then suffered a 3-0 reverse in the return game at the Lew Hill Memorial Stadium. Their return to the InfiLED on Saturday in the Fountain Trophies Cup saw them put on their best performance of the season to secure a stunning 5-1 away win. It was certainly a game for the youngsters with all of the Odd Down side under the age of 20 and Melksham Town Reserves also taking the opportunity to field a number of their Under 18 squad to give them experience of senior football. Both Harvey Kendrick and Charlie Saunders bagged a brace for Odd Down, and the fifth goal came courtesy of William Harbinson with his first of the season in Wiltshire Senior League competitions. Liam Monelle replied with the consolation goal for Melksham Town Reserves. Next Saturday Odd Down play Shrewton United in a game switched to Odd Down Sports Ground due to cricket at Shrewton’s ground, whilst Melksham host Corsham Town Reserves.
After picking up their first group win the previous Saturday against Shrewton United, Frome Collegians then secured a hard-fought win over Odd Down in midweek ahead of their trip to Ludgershall Sports on Saturday. That good form continued on Saturday as they made it three straight wins and once again it was the division’s leading scorer Jake Wright who led the way firing in a hat-trick for the visitors. Further goals from Sam Wright and Barry Sandquest in a 5-2 win ensured Frome went three points clear at the top of the South Group. Frome have played one more game than most of their rivals and will be the team without a game next week as their group rivals look to close the gap at the top. On target for Ludgershall Sports were Nathan Collins and Iain McMillan.
The other game in the South Group saw
Shrewton United
bounce back from defeat last week in an entertaining game at Woodmarsh against
Trowbridge Town. With regular goalkeeper Dave Cardus unavailable and with his young understudy suspended after last week’s sending off, manager Joe Sheldrake was required to don the gloves once again and it was to prove a good afternoon for him and his team. Shrewton went in front on 25 minutes when the ball fell to Charlie Utterson, Shrewton’s leading scorer, beat two players and then fired under the Trowbridge keeper to make it 1-0 to the visitors with his seventh goal of the season. Trowbridge thought they had got back on level terms when they had the ball in the net ten minutes before the interval but unfortunately for the home side the goal was disallowed, and it remained 1-0 at the break. The second half saw both teams create chances and on 55 minutes Shrewton thought they had extended their lead but this time it was their turn to have a goal disallowed. In the end it did not matter as Trowbridge were unable to breach the Shrewton defence enabling Joe Sheldrake to end the game with a clean sheet, three points for his side and still very much in the reckoning for that place in the final. Next week Shrewton have that encounter with Odd Down whilst Trowbridge are home to Ludgershall Sports.
Charlie Utterson who scored the only goal of the game in Shrewton's 1-0 win at Trowbridge Town
(picture courtesy of John Cuthbertson)
Pewsey Vale had seen their opening two fixtures in the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup North Group awarded to them with the withdrawals of Marlborough Town and Purton but finally got to see some action when they visited a much-improved Devizes Town Reserves in the North Group. Prior to the league season being curtailed Pewsey were heading the table and looking a good bet to win the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League for the third time, the last occasion being back in Season 1992-93 after which they moved up to Step 6 of the National League System. Their leading scorer in the league had been the experienced James Guthrie and his goal tally had included one in a 2-0 win over Devizes just prior to the season being brought to a premature end. On Saturday Guthrie continued his rich vein of goal scoring form, scoring twice in a 3-0 win to take his tally for the season to fourteen. The third Pewsey goal was scored by Oscar Middleton with a goal on his first appearance of the season for Pewsey.
The other game in the North Group saw
Stratton Juniors entertain
Cricklade Town at Meadowcroft. It was a tight affair between two evenly matched sides with both defences frustrating the other sides attacking units. Max Scholefield had the best chance for the visitors in the first half, but his scissor kick volley was straight at the Stratton keeper who saved easily. Scholefield then had another chance for Cricklade with a free kick just outside the box but his kick sailed high over the bar. It took until just before half time for the deadlock to finally be broken, Charlie Pugh scoring for the home side Stratton Juniors, getting on the end of smart cross from the right-hand side which eluded the Cricklade keeper. The second half saw Stratton Juniors in the ascendency and they hit the frame of the goal on a couple of occasions with shots from the right hand side of the area that came back off the far post but were unable to add to that first half goal. Cricklade meanwhile struggled to create many chances but went close right at the death to snatching an equaliser. Your Sport Swindon were at the game and highlights of the game can be found using the link below or by using the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the league website.
Next Week's Fixtures
South Group
Saturday 8th May 2021
Melksham Town Res v Corsham Town Res
Shrewton Utd v Odd Down Res (at Odd Down)
Trowbridge Town v Ludgershall Sports
North Group
Saturday 8th May 2021
Devizes Town Res v Stratton Juniors
3 May 2021