Wiltshire Senior League

Corsham Print

Wiltshire Senior League

Veterans' Round-up

Corsham Town end Melksham's

Unbeaten Run

The title race in the Mid Wiltshire Veterans’ Division was thrown wide open on a wet and windy Monday night as Corsham Town finally ended Melksham Town’s unbeaten run in a game played in atrocious conditions. The first half saw Corsham with the wind behind them but they were unable to take full advantage and the two sides turned round at the break with the game still looking for the first goal. The difficult conditions continued in the second half but Simon Gray went close to putting the home side in front midway through the half, but the chance was missed. However, a few minutes later the same player made no mistake as he finally put the home side Corsham in front with his eleventh goal of the campaign. It remained a tight game with Melksham looking to get back into the match and maintain that unbeaten record. In the last ten minutes Melksham laid siege to the Corsham goal as they went in search of an equaliser. Five minutes from time a golden opportunity fell to the division’s leading scorer Charlie Griffin, normally so assured in front of goal, on this occasion he missed the chance and it remained 1-0 to Corsham. Three minutes from time Melksham thought they had a penalty when Francis Coleman went down in the penalty box but their claims for a spot kick were denied by the referee. Then, as the game went into the final minute, it looked like Melksham had finally got the elusive equaliser when Thomas Staddon had the ball in the net, only for the celebrations to be cut short as the goal was chalked off by a flag for offside. Melksham manager Darren Perrin commenting after the game noted that: “both sides deserved great credit for a game played in shocking conditions, with Corsham just about shading it on the night”.

The win for Corsham meant that the top three sides in the division have all now dropped five points. Melksham remain six points clear at the top but both VFC Devizes and Corsham Town have two games in hand on the leaders and can draw level if they win those games in hand. Both Corsham and Melksham also still have to travel to Devizes in their remaining fixtures as the Mid Wiltshire Veterans’ Division looks set for a very exciting finish.

On the same wet and windy night Trowbridge Tigers picked up their third win of the season at Green lane with a good all round performance in a 2-0 success over Amesbury Junior. Leading scorer Clifford Sayki got both the goals taking his total for the season to five. The victory saw the Tigers move above their opponents in the league table into seventh place.

On Tuesday night, just a week after they met for the first time at Bradford Town’s ground, Chippenham Town Yard Dogs and Bradford met again, this time at Stanley Park. In a repeat of the score line the previous week Bradford Town were 2-0 winners, Sam Gooding with both goals as he moved onto four for the season. Bradford Town remain in fourth place three points behind VFC Devizes and Corsham Town having played one game more.

The same night Marlborough Town returned to winning ways after last week’s defeat at Corsham with a 4-1 success over St Andrews. Two goals for Leigh Wells plus one each for Michael Martin and Doug Imrie gave Marlborough the three points. The luck did not go St Andrews way as they missed a penalty but the one goal they did score came courtesy of Jack Heard. Marlborough remain in fifth place in the table three points behind Bradford Town.

The one game in the North Division this week saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town return to winning ways after a couple of defeats since the restart after lockdown. Two goals from Steve Shaw plus one from Andy Huggins gave Royal Wootton Bassett a 3-1 win over AFC Swindon. Whilst still without a point, AFC Swindon’s player manager Marc Cowan became the first AFC Swindon player to find the back of the net this season as his side registered a goal in consecutive weeks after breaking their duck last week with an own goal. The win saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town climb a couple of places in the table but they have some tough fixtures still to come with three of their last four games against the top two Redhouse and KMLC.

There is one more game involving sides from the Veterans’ Divisions this week with VFC Devizes and FC Calne set to meet in their Second Round Wiltshire FA County Cup fixture this coming Friday at Green Lane, Devizes.