After the penultimate weekend of games in the two groups in the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup the picture regarding the potential finalists is now a lot clearer.

In the North Group, Pewsey Vale who led the league table at the time the league season was curtailed, put one foot in the final with a big win against visitors Cricklade Town. A hat-trick from leading scorer James Guthrie saw him move onto 17 goals in Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League competitions this season and to within two goals of the current top scorer in the league, Jake Wright of Frome Collegians. Further goals from the evergreen Ryan Banks, Ryan Thomas and Oscar Middleton completed a 6-2 win for Pewsey. Cricklade’s reply came with first goals of the campaign for Ryan Lovitt and Rhys Armstrong, the latter scoring his first goal in senior football.

With Malmesbury Victoria Development having won the previous night the final group game next Saturday between Malmesbury Victoria Development and Pewsey Vale will decide the finalists from the North Group. With Pewsey currently three points ahead of Malmesbury and having scored four more goals than their closest rivals it will need a Malmesbury win by four or more clear goals to swing the goal difference in Malmesbury’s favour. A win for Pewsey or a draw or a defeat by 3 or less would see Pewsey make the final.

After their big win in midweek Corsham Town Reserves were looking to maintain their perfect start in the South Group with a fourth consecutive win. Opponents Shrewton United still had a chance of making the final but another good performance from Corsham saw them put themselves in pole position for a place in the final, a game which is being staged at their own ground, the traditional venue for the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup. Jake Dodge, who had scored a hat-trick in midweek, was the star of the show against Shrewton, adding two more to his season’s tally. Further goals from Emilio Mudrak and Ben Wickens completed a 4-1 win, Shrewton replying with a good goal from Charlie Jackson which manager Joe Sheldrake described as the best of the game. Corsham Town have the chance to secure that place in the final with a win against Frome Collegians in midweek. A point may also be good enough given their superior goal difference over second placed Odd Down Reserves, but I am sure Jamie Moss will want his side to make certain of that place with a win on Tuesday. If Frome can get a result in midweek it will mean the final place from the South Group will be decided next Saturday when Corsham Town Reserves play Odd Down Reserves. Shrewton end their Fountain Trophies Senior Cup campaign next week with a trip to Ludgershall Sports.

Odd Down Reserves still have a chance of reaching the final but now need fellow Somerset based side Frome Collegians  to do them a big favour in midweek by getting a result against Corsham Town Reserves. This after Odd Down were frustrated by visitors Trowbridge Town on Saturday, the two sides sharing the points after a 1-1 draw. Visitors Trowbridge went ahead early on, leading scorer Jake Sainsbury scoring his 8^th of the season. Odd Down Reserves, whilst not at their best, got themselves back on level terms just after the half hour mark, Tom Ricketts with the goal. There were chances for both sides after that, Odd Down hitting the woodwork twice and Trowbridge having an effort cleared off the line but in the end the draw was a fair result albeit a frustrating one for Odd Down whose destiny is no longer in their own hands.

Melksham Town Reserves had started the cup campaign as one of the favourites in the South Group based on their league record at the time the season was curtailed. However, they have used the competition to give a number of their successful Under 18 side the opportunity to gain some valuable experience of senior football and any chance of reaching the final had disappeared before their game with Frome Collegians. Once again on Saturday they fielded five players from Colby Cain’s Under 18 team. One of them, Billy Hawkins, who was in fine goal scoring form for the U18’s at the end of the season, scoring five in the U18’s final four games, found the back of the net for his first senior goal for Melksham Town Reserves. A second goal from George Bendle completed a 2-0 win for Melksham, their first in the competition. The defeat for Frome Collegians ends their chances of reaching the final. Even if they beat Corsham in midweek in their final game, with Corsham and second placed Odd Down meeting in the final group game next Saturday one or other will finish above them. Melksham Town Reserves end their cup campaign next Saturday with that visit to Trowbridge Town.

15 May 2021