Wiltshire Senior League

Corsham Print

Wiltshire Senior League

Veterans' Round-up

VFC Devizes & Corsham Town Close In

Action from VFC Devizes v Bradford Town on Monday night (picture courtesy of David Giles)

This week saw a mix of league fixtures and Second Round games in the Wiltshire FA’s Veterans’ County Cup for our Veterans’ sides.

Action in the County Cup started last Friday when VFC Devizes carried over their league form into the County Cup competition, securing a 4-2 win over FC Calne at Green Lane. It was very much the Nick Oram show as the VFC Devizes player struck four times in the opening half for his side. Goals in reply for FC Calne from Stuart Ballinger and Ben Trafford were not enough to prevent VFC Devizes making it through to the semi-final.

Action from VFC Devizes v FC Calne in the Wiltshire Veterans' County Cup (pictures courtesy of David Giles)

More photos from this game taken by David Giles can be viewed on the league’s Facebook Group page.

Tuesday night in the County Cup saw the current top of the table sides in both the North Division and the Mid Wiltshire Division meet at New College where Redhouse from the North entertained Melksham Town. Redhouse went into the game having won all five of their opening league fixtures, whilst Melksham had only recently lost their own unbeaten record when they had down to a single goal defeat at Corsham but had won nine of their eleven league games to date. On the night Melksham proved too strong for their Swindon based opponents, the experienced strike force of Steve Tweedle and Charlie Griffin once again doing the damage in a 3-1 win for the visitors. Tweedle put Melksham in front in the first half and two goals from leading scorer Charlie Griffin just after the break sealed the win. Redhouse continued to work hard to get themselves back in the game and were rewarded with a consolation goal five minutes from time from their leading scorer Dave Rendle. In the battle of the divisional leaders, it was Melksham Town who join VFC Devizes in the last four.

The remaining two ties in the quarter finals are between Marlborough Town and Corsham Town, which is scheduled for this coming Friday, and Swindon Rovers and KMLC which is at New College next Tuesday.

The league action in the Mid Wiltshire Division commenced on Monday night when VFC Devizes were back in action looking to close the gap at the top to leaders Melksham Town. Opponents Bradford Town were in good form and a tough game was anticipated and so it proved. Nick Oram put Devizes ahead on 16 minutes, continuing where he left off on Friday, and it remained just the one at the half-time interval. Mid-way through the second half Jonathan Couch added a second for Devizes to wrap up the points and move VFC Devizes to within three points of Melksham with a game in hand.

Action from VFC Devizes 2-0 win over Bradford Town (pictures courtesy of David Giles)

Once again more photos from this game taken by David Giles can be viewed on the league’s Facebook Group page .

The same night a goal in each half from Simon Gray and James Lye gave Corsham Town a 2-0 away win against bottom side Chippenham Yard Dogs. The last time they had met Corsham had inflicted a heavy defeat on Chippenham, hitting nine unanswered goals and credit to Chippenham Yard Dogs for their improvement in recent weeks and that first point of the season cannot be too far away. That was the eighth straight win for Corsham Town, who are now unbeaten in ten since their opening day defeat to Melksham, and they remain level with VFC Devizes, just three points behind Melksham and also with a game in hand.

Tuesday night saw St Andrews end a run of seven games without a win as they defeated Trowbridge Tigers 3-1 at Bradford On Avon Sports Club. Daniel Foster put them one up and an own goal plus one from Oliver Howe secured the three points, Phil Lewis replying for Trowbridge Tigers with his third of the season.

The same night Marlborough Town picked up a narrow 2-1 win over Amesbury Junior, an identical score to that when the sides had met last month. Michael Martin had scored that night and he was once again amongst the goals for Marlborough, Leigh Wells netting his fifth of the campaign with the other Marlborough goal. Ben Taylor-Brown replied for Amesbury who are having a tough run of results, the defeat against Marlborough being their ninth straight defeat and they will hope to bring their miserable run against Trowbridge Tigers next week.

As well as the game at New College in the Veterans’ County Cup, there was also league action in the North Division with Stratton Juniors playing on their senior pitch at Meadowcroft, rather than at New College, against Swindon Rovers. A fifth of the season for Vince McMackin plus a first of the season for Neil Tonner secured a 2-0 win for Stratton which saw them climb to third place in the table, two points behind second placed KMLC having played one game more. Stratton are back in action at Meadowcroft next Tuesday when they host league leaders Redhouse.

On behalf of the Management Committee a big thank you to all the clubs who are making their grass pitches available to get games played earlier than would otherwise have been the case utilising the hired facilities at Green Lane and New College.