The curtain comes down on this difficult season for our Premier Division clubs with the final of the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup between Pewsey Vale and Corsham Town Reserves at Corsham Town’s Southbank Ground, the traditional home of the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup. This is now the 26th occasion in the last 27 finals of the Senior Cup competition that the final has been held at Corsham. We are once again most grateful to Corsham Town FC for hosting this final, particularly given its late staging when a lot of grass pitches have already been decommissioned for summer maintenance work.

The League Officers, Management Committee and Member Clubs also express their thanks to Paul Sebastianelli of Fountain Trophies who are sponsoring the Senior Cup for what is their fifth season after 24 seasons of sponsoring the league’s Junior Cup competition. Unfortunately, the issues with Covid-19 meant that this cup competition had to take a one season sabbatical and was not competed for in Season 2019-20, so the current holders of the cup remain Kintbury Rangers who defeated Wroughton 3-2 in a thrilling final between the best two teams in the league that season. Hopefully this season’s final will match that game for entertainment.

The two finalists, Pewsey Vale and Corsham Town Res, have both previously won the cup competition on two occasions. Corsham Town Reserves successes coming in Season’s 2005-06 and 2006-07, and they were also beaten finalist in Season 2013-14. Current manager Jamie Moss won the cup as a player and will be looking to do it for the first time as a manager. Pewsey Vale have also won the cup competition twice. Their first win came back in Season 1991-92, and they repeated that triumph when they made a brief return to the league in Season 2009-10 before being promoted back to Step 6 of the National League System.

At the time the current league season was brought to a premature end Pewsey Vale were league leaders and looked on course to be league champions having lost just one game, although they still had a lot of games to play against other sides in the top five. Ironically Corsham Town Reserves had suffered a similar fate in Season 2019-20, top of the table at the time that season was curtailed, so it is fitting that it is these two sides who compete for the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup given they were both denied possible league titles by Covid-19.

The two sides met just the once this season before the league competition was curtailed, Pewsey winning at Corsham’s Southbank Ground 5-2, two goals for both James Guthrie and Rory England that day.

Referee for the final is Adam Bewley from Devizes, with Malcolm Tinkler from Salisbury and Rhiannon Stevens from Tidworth as his assistants. Tony Sharkey from Swindon will be the fourth official.

How They Made It to The Final

Pewsey Vale

Pewsey have qualified for the final from the problematic North Group, which seemed cursed from the start. Two of the proposed North Group participants, Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Wroughton, decided for various reasons that they would be unable to take part. As a result, Pewsey Vale helpfully agreed to move across from the South Group to balance the numbers in each group, but with hindsight probably wished they had not given what then transpired with the North Group fixtures.

The first weekend started with a full three fixtures but after goal scorers were announced and team sheets submitted it became clear that all three winners on the opening day had played ineligible players. With limited time available to replay the games, all three fixtures were awarded to their opponents. Seeing that clubs were struggling to raise sides the league sought to assist by extending the league transfer deadline by a month but in the end both Marlborough Town and Purton pulled out of the competition. With Cricklade Town and Stratton Juniors also being unable to fulfil one of their games, just 10 of the scheduled 21 games were played with only seven of the results standing due to that ineligibility issue in the first week. Very frustrating for the League Management Committee and the sides who wanted to play their games. It was particularly harsh on Pewsey to be denied three fixtures given they had agreed to switch groups to balance up the group sizes.

Pewsey Vale opened their campaign with a 3-0 win at Devizes Town Res, two goals for James Guthrie and a debut goal for Oscar Middleton that day. Having had three games awarded to them through the teams not fulfilling their fixtures, Pewsey Vale put one foot in the final with a big 6-2 win over Cricklade Town, three more for James Guthrie plus one each for Ryan Banks, Ryan Thomas and Oscar Middleton.

The deciding match in the group was on the last weekend of group games with Malmesbury Vics Development meeting Pewsey, the latter needed to avoid defeat by three or more goals to progress to the final. Pewsey went in front with two goals just before half time through Cameron McKenzie and Ryan Thomas and after that there was never any danger they would not make the final. A third from James Turner rounded off a 3-0 win to see Pewsey finish six points clear at the top of the group.

Corsham Town

Corsham Town Reserves progressed from the South Group. After their first game against Frome Collegians, a 3-0 win, was declared void and ordered to be replayed, they finally got their cup campaign off to a winning start with a 3-0 win over Trowbridge Town, one goal each for Adam Shipman and Jake Dodge with an own goal completing the scoring. Two late goals from Adam Shipman then secured a narrow 2-1 win over Melksham Town Reserves who had led through a Cameron Pearce goal. 

Corsham Town’s perfect start to the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup continued with a thumping 10-0 win over Ludgershall Sports that put them well and truly in the driving seat in the group. There were hat-tricks for both Adam Shipman and Jake Dodge, two for Ed McCormack and one apiece for Ben Wickens and Tom Tanner.

The next round of group games consolidated Corsham’s leadership of the group. Whilst they were winning 4-1 against Shrewton United, thus ending any chance of Shrewton progressing, nearest rivals Odd Down Reserves were dropping points as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Trowbridge. Two goals from Jake Dodge plus one each for Emilio Mudrak and Ben Wickens did the damage, Charlie Jackson with a stunning strike for the Shrewton goal.

Corsham Town Reserves went into their penultimate game, the restaged game against Frome Collegians, knowing that a victory would secure their place in the final. However, a win for Frome Collegians could open the door for Odd Down Reserves, who were the only side capable of catching Corsham. Frome went ahead from the penalty spot but Jake Dodge equalised to make it 1-1. Despite chances at both ends it finished 1-1 and the draw meant that the final outcome in the group would go to the final round of matches.

Corsham went into their final game against Odd Down Reserves unbeaten and knowing that they needed to avoid a defeat by five or more clear goals to progress to the final. James Horrocks put Odd Down ahead early in the second half but a last-minute equaliser from substitute Adam Mitchell ensured that Corsham retained their unbeaten record and progressed to the final.

Respective League Positions

As noted above Pewsey Vale sat top of the table when the season was curtailed with 12 wins and 1 draw from their 14 league fixtures. The victories included that win against Corsham with the only defeat coming at the hands of Cricklade Town. Whilst Pewsey led the way they had not played either Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development, who sat third in the table or Wroughton, in fourth place, two sides who had only lost twice at the point the season was ended. They also had another game against an in-form Melksham Town to come and so the title race was still very much all to play for.

Corsham Town Reserves sat back in 10^th place in the table have won five, drawn two and lost six. However, they were on an upward trajectory when the league season was brought to an end, losing just one of their final six league games, winning four of them.

The full results of each side and their goal scorers are shown below:

Key Players

Both sides contain many players who are capable of playing a starring role in the final.

The Pewsey side assembled by manager Alistair Tuttle includes several experienced players who have played at Step 5 or higher including the likes of James Guthrie, Ryan Banks, Liam Edmondson, James Turner, Ryan Thomas and Max Etheridge. Guthrie has had a very influential season in midfield for the club and is currently the top scorer with 17 goals to his name.  The squad also contains several promising youngsters who have been a key part of their success this season. Harry Hoareau has scored seven goals in his seven appearances whilst Rory England and Oscar Middleton are both young strikers who have already shown they can score at senior level. It is not just up front that Pewsey have the promising youngsters, at the back Eden Bunce and Jake Force-Jones have shone in front of the young goalkeeper, Louie Latouche who has made the number one position his own this season.

Corsham Town Reserves under manager Jamie Moss also have a good mix of experience and quality youngsters, and in this cup competition they have generated a tremendous team spirit to go through their group unbeaten in six games. The experience comes in the shape of Douglas Dickson, Dominic Kilbane, Emilio Mudrak and Adam Mitchell. Mitchell, who returned to the club from Trowbridge Town part way through the season, is also one of three players in the Corsham squad who has scored nine goals this season. The other two are Adam Shipman and youngster Jake Dodge who between them have scored 13 times in this cup competition. With Ben Wickens also having scored seven times for Corsham this season they certainly have plenty of fire power at their disposal to win matches.  In midfield youngsters Tom Tanner and Jack Brain have both had excellent seasons for Corsham with several mature performance belying their age.  Like Pewsey, Corsham also have a young goalkeeper in Alex Croker, who has established himself in this competition. 

Premier Division Managers Predictions

A quick straw poll of a selection of managers from other Premier Division clubs on Friday night made Pewsey Vale the slight favourites for the cup, with six out of the ten managers contacted believing it would be Pewsey who will triumph in this season's Fountain Trophies Cup Final.

David Macey from Melksham Town Reserves and Steve Yeardley from Royal Wootton Bassett Town were both confident that it would be Pewsey who emerge victorious, with Karl Freeman from Frome Collegians and James Riccio from Odd Down Reserves also expecting a Pewsey win. Cricklade Town’s Craig Kent and Shrewton’s Joe Sheldrake also went for Pewsey, but both expected it to be a very close game.

Craig noted “Corsham will give a good game, Mossy has a solid side there, but Ali and his Pewsey side have the experience and I think will slightly edge it over the 90 minutes.”

Whilst Joe commented, “Pewsey for me, were the most consistent team who overcome adversity and got better and better as the league went on. Corsham, started slow and as the season went on picked up. Mossy created a good atmosphere, and the young lads proved their worth. Credit to both and it’s a deserved final without Royal Wootton Bassett and Wroughton. Credit to the Wilts League who done there all. Pewsey were the most consistent and Corsham were the best of the South Group and I commend them both and the Wilts League.”

Four Premier Division managers went for Corsham Town Reserves. Ludgershall Sports manager Andy Fennell noted that “Corsham were very very good against us, but Pewsey are strong. I’m going to stick my neck out and say Corsham.”

Troy Prentice from Malmesbury Vics Development, Ollie Gee from Devizes Town Reserves and Magnus Painter from Stratton Juniors all  also thought it would be Corsham who emerge victorious.

Final Words

It should certainly be a cracking game between the two sides who both have the honour of being top of the Premier Division when the last two league seasons were curtailed. Hopefully, there will be plenty of goals as has been the case in recent Fountain Trophies Senior Cup finals.

The game kicks off at 3pm and entry to the ground is free of charge. All spectators are asked to fully observe government guidelines and follow all instructions and guidance provided by Corsham Town Football Club.

28 May 2021