The curtain finally came down on the extended 2020-21 Season this week with the final two games in the two Veterans’ Divisions. On Monday night in the Mid Wiltshire Division, having just missed out on honours after a good season, VFC Devizes staged their final game of the season at Devizes Town’s Nursteed Road ground, their permanent home ground from next season. There was to be no winning start at their new venue though, as St Andrews spoiled the party with another impressive performance in an entertaining fixture. Two goals from Dom Shepherd and Oli Turner secured a 2-1 win for the visitors who extended their unbeaten run to three games which bodes well for next season. VFC Devizes reply came courtesy of Chris Underwood.

In the North Division, divisional champions KMLC ended their campaign with a hard fought 3-2 win over Swindon Rovers. Mark Simpkins continued his rich vein of goal scoring form for the Rovers bagging both their goals to make it six for him in the Rovers final three games of the season. His former teammate from the Wootton Bassett Town side of the early 2000s Gary Ashford also bagged a brace for the champions KMLC. Ashford took his total for the season into double figures, as KMLC made it eight wins and one draw from their ten league fixtures to finish four points clear at the top, Paul Cooper with their other goal.

Despite the elongated season the Veteran’s divisions have been a resounding success this season with the influx of new sides, certainly stepping up the standard over the inaugural season. In addition, in the Mid Wiltshire Division, the fact that a number of clubs utilised their own pitches, initially at Melksham Town and Corsham Town, but later joined by Bradford Town, Chippenham Town Yard Dogs and Devizes Town, not only improved the experience for the players but also made it easier for the fixture secretary to ensure the games were played. Some of these clubs also allowed other teams to utilise their grass pitches which greatly assisted the job of scheduling the fixtures and meant the programme could be completed more quickly. In the North Division, Stratton Juniors also starting utilising their grass pitch at Meadowcroft towards the end of the season which again helped expediate matters in the North Division. A big thank you to all the clubs who made their pitches available in this way, it was very much appreciated. The Veterans’ sides must compete with other sides at clubs for the use of the facilities and will often be at the back of the queue behind reserve and U18 sides and the co-operation provided this season in staging games on pitches other than New College and Green Lane has been outstanding.

On the pitch both title races have been exciting affairs. In the North Division, right from the start it looked to be a two-team battle between KMLC and Redhouse for the title, although Stratton Juniors towards the end put some pressure on the top two. After just one win in their first four games, Stratton Juniors went the rest of the season unbeaten in the league, a run which included a win over Redhouse and a draw with KMLC. When the season had been brought to a premature halt in December KMLC headed the table on goal difference from Redhouse, who at that stage had won all three of their games.

When the season finally resumed at the very end of March, KMLC carried on where they had left off, smashing 11 unanswered goals against bottom side AFC Swindon. Redhouse also came back in style, defeating Swindon Rovers 7-2 and then also scoring 11 against AFC Swindon. KMLC then got behind with their league fixtures due to progress in the Veterans’ County Cup and by the beginning of June Redhouse, despite losing to Stratton Juniors, were six points clear of KMLC, who had played two games less, and who had also been overtaken by Stratton.  However, the latter had just two games to play, and no doubt rued the poor start to the season as they ran out of games in their quest for honours. One of those two final games was against KMLC and when the two sides drew 2-2 on the opening day of June the title destiny for Redhouse was very much in their own hands. Avoid defeat against KMLC in their next game and then win their two final games against Swindon Rovers and AFC Swindon and they would be champions.

The big game between the two main title challengers took place on the second Tuesday in June was not the close affair that had been anticipated, as KMLC brushed aside their nearest rivals with a 4-0 victory. Two hard fought wins against Royal Wootton Bassett Town, both games being won with late goals, then put KMLC in pole position. Whilst expecting to have to win their final game against Swindon Rovers to lift the title, a surprise 4-1 defeat for Redhouse at the hands of Swindon Rovers saw KMLC crowned champions before their final game. As noted above they still went out and won that final game against Rovers in another close game that indicates that there should be a few more teams involved in the title race in the North Division in Season 2021-22. Well done to KMLC and Redhouse in taking the title and runners-up spot in the North Division this season. KMLC also made the semi-final of the Wiltshire FA’s Veterans’ County Cup, losing on penalties to eventual winners Melksham Town.

When Corsham Town lost their first game of the season in the Mid Wiltshire Division, 4-1 away at Melksham, few would have anticipated the season the side was to have. This was to be the one and only occasion they tasted defeat in the league and their only other defeat all season came in the final of the Veterans’ County Cup against Melksham Town, one of two sides, the other being VFC Devizes, who were to be their main rivals for the title. Melksham started the season on fire, winning all five of their opening games prior to lockdown, scoring 23 goals with the strike-force of Charlie Griffin and Steve Tweddle doing most of the damage. VFC Devizes also won their opening five fixtures and went into lockdown with the only points dropped being  a 1-1 draw with Corsham Town, this game was also to be the last time Corsham dropped points, as they went on to win all their remaining 15 league fixtures.

The key game of the league season was at the beginning of May when Melksham Town visited the Southbank Ground. Melksham went into the game unbeaten having won all but one of their games to that point, the only dropped points having come in a 1-1 draw with Marlborough Town. On a wet and windy night, the game was played in atrocious conditions. A solitary goal from Simon Gray settled matters in Corsham’s favour thus ending Melksham’s unbeaten run.  The win for Corsham meant that the top three sides in the division had all now dropped five points. Melksham remained six points clear at the top but both VFC Devizes and Corsham Town had two games in hand on the leaders and could draw level if they won those games in hand. Both Corsham and Melksham also still had to travel to Devizes in their remaining fixtures.

All three leading sides from the Mid Wiltshire Division had also progressed to the semi finals of the Wiltshire County Veterans’ Cup. Both semi-finals were to be tight affairs. As noted above Melksham needed penalties to see off KMLC in their semi-final and in the all Mid Wiltshire Division tie, a solitary goal from Simon Gray saw Corsham defeat VFC Devizes. The final at Green Lane was a physical affair of a high standard that Melksham dominated for much of the match and, despite going down to ten men, were comfortable 3-1 winners. 

Corsham Town with the Mid Wiltshire Division Championship Shield (pictures courtesy of John Cuthbertson)

30 July 2021