Wiltshire Senior League

Corsham Print

Wiltshire Senior League

Veterans' Round-up

Three Teams Level on Points At Top

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

Ahead of two more games on Thursday night, the Mid Wiltshire Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League currently has a three-way tie at the top of the table with Corsham Town, VFC Devizes and Melksham Town all level on 28 points after playing 11 games. VFC Devizes and Corsham Town moved level on points with Melksham with wins on Monday night, with Corsham Town the new leaders on goal difference.

Corsham moved to the top of the table with their tenth consecutive win in all competitions and twelfth game unbeaten in what is turning out to be a very impressive run, hitting five unanswered goals at the Southbank Ground against St Andrews. Two for Ibrahim Bigger plus one apiece for Ross Hall, Adam Taylor and Luke Chapman secured the victory. The previous Friday Corsham had progressed to the semi-final of the Wiltshire FA’s Veterans’ County Cup with a 4-1 away win at Marlborough Town in a game played at Marlborough Town’s senior side's pitch rather than the normal Vets home venue of Green Lane, Devizes. On target for Corsham that night were Stuart Skinner with two, Simon Gray and Jonathan Scott, Richard Clark replying for Marlborough.

VFC Devizes also moved level at the top on Monday night with a 4-1 away win against Chippenham Yard Dogs. Two first half goals from Chris Underwood set them on their way before leading scorer Nick Oram extended the lead ten minutes into the second half. A fourth from Scott Sartin five minutes from time made sure of the three points.

Action from VFC Devizes 4-1 win over Chippenham Town Yard Dogs (pictures courtesy of David Giles)

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

With the clubs above them winning it was important for Bradford Town in fourth spot to stay in touch with a win against FC Calne on Monday night. Two goals from their leading scorer Rhys Schell, taking him into double figures for the season, plus further goals from Peter Ayrton and Nicholas Ross secured a 4-0 win at Green Lane.

The following evening two sides much in need of a win met at Green Lane. Amesbury Junior went into the game against opponents Trowbridge Tigers with just one win in their previous twelve games and were on a run of nine straight defeats, whilst Trowbridge had just one win in their last seven games and that coming against Amesbury a fortnight ago. Amesbury went ahead with a goal from Ben Taylor-Brown but the Tigers were soon level, Lee Mattravis bringing his side back into the game. However, parity did not last long as Anthony Sharps put Amesbury back in front ahead of the half time break. It looked like Amesbury would avenge that earlier defeat and secure the win that would end that barren run but the Tigers leading marksmen Clifford Sakyi denied them the victory, scoring an equaliser five minutes from time.

League action in the North Division once again was based on grass at Meadowcroft where home side Stratton Juniors continued their impressive form of late inflicting a first defeat of the season on league leaders Redhouse, Vince McMackin with his sixth of the season and a fourth of the season from Jamie Ashby giving Stratton the points in a 2-0 win. The win lifted Stratton up to second spot in the table, two points behind Redhouse having played one more game.

KMLC are one place behind Stratton but with two games in hand and on Tuesday night became the fourth and final semi-finalist in the Wiltshire FA’s Veterans’ County Cup with a 4-0 win over Swindon Rovers. Two goals from Paul Cooper plus one from both Gary Ashford and Neil Matthews secured the semi-final place for KMLC.

The Wiltshire FA have today advised the draw for those semi-finals which sees KMLC, the sole representative from the North Division travel to Melksham Town whilst VFC Devizes are home to Corsham Town in the other semi-final.

Wiltshire Veterans’ County Cup Semi Final Draw

Melksham Town v KMLC

VFC Devizes v Corsham Town

The semi-final games will be arranged and dates advised shortly with the cup final itself set for Green Lane on Friday 11^th June.

Next Season

Looking ahead to next season, we already have four new veterans’ teams based in the Swindon area looking to join the league at the AGM in June but are still open to other sides who want to join.

Any further new teams within the geographical catchment area for the veterans’ divisions (i.e., within the county of Wiltshire or within 15 miles of the County boundary) who are interested in joining the league for next season should contact League Secretary Jim Thorn at

jim.thorn@wiltshireseniorleague.co.uk.