Match official Rhiannon Stevens (2nd from left) before last season's Fountain Trophies Cup Final (picture John Cuthbertson)

The opening night's action in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League was overshadowed by an injury to a New College player in their game at Calne Town which resulted in the match having to be abandoned ten minutes from time. The injury occurred after an accidental collision between the player and the home sides keeper as they challenged for the ball. As the player attempted to get to his feet he fell back to the floor and when the New College management team got to the player there were concerns regarding a neck injury with the player having back pains. With concerns about moving the player an ambulance was called and the match abandoned by the referee Rhiannon Stevens with the score 4-1 to Calne Town at the time of the abandonment. Unfortunately the paramedics did not arrive until 3.10am due to their resources being stretched on a busy night for the ambulance service, some six hours after the original call had been made during which time the New College coach Richard Dent was having to hold the players head still and talking to him to keep him awake. Young referee Rhiannon Stevens and her mother also remained with the player until the ambulance arrived. After being taken into the ambulance the player was checked over and we believe that there was no major injury. Special praise to both New College coach Richard Dent for diligently ensuring the safety of his player and also to referee Rhiannon for staying so late in the night to ensure the player was looked after, both went above and beyond on a difficult evening.  Thank you also to Calne Town for leaving the lights on and providing everyone with refreshments whilst they waited for the ambulance to arrive and during the period in which the ambulance crew then assessed the injured player. We wish the player a speedy return to action after this traumatic experience. The abandoned match will now be discussed by the League Management Committee in accordance with league rules.

In the games that did get completed there were opening day wins for Devizes Town, Radstock Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Devizes Town had opened their season the previous week with an excellent 6-1 away win in the FA Youth Cup at Shepton Mallet and followed that up on Thursday night in the opening league game with another six-goal performance at home to Pewsey Vale. However, on this occasion it was a come from behind victory as they trailed 2-1 at the break. Archie Tooth put Pewsey ahead, lobbing the keeper but Devizes were then awarded a penalty which Jack Farion put away to level the scores at 1-1. The visitors Pewsey were then awarded a penalty of their own with Tooth safely put away for his second of the game to restore Pewsey’s lead. Devizes stepped up their game in the second half and drew level through Jack Smith. They went in front for the first time in the game with a goal from Tyler Moore and from thereon in took control of the game, Caleb Hollow who had scored four in that FA Youth Cup win, added a fourth before Danny Bowyer fired in to make it 5-2. There was still time for one more goal, Caleb Hollow adding a sixth to complete the nights scoring as Devizes get their league season off to a winning start. Credit to Pewsey Vale who were in the game for a long period and look like they are set to have a much better season this time round in the Under 18 Division.

There was an entertaining game at Melksham Town where Royal Wootton Bassett Town were the visitors. Melksham went ahead when Ruben Rule scored with a neat side-footed volley. Visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town got themselves back on level terms with some assistance from the home side, an attempted defensive clearance ended up going over the keeper’s head and into the net for 1-1. Both sides were playing some good football, and both had chances to go in front, the frame of the goal denying both as they went in search of the three points. It remained all square until five minutes from time when the visitors Zane Pinnock scored to ensure it was visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town who went home with the three points with both managers commenting afterwards what a great game of football it had been.

The final game of the night was at Radstock Town where the new side to the league AFC Aldermaston were making their debut in the competition. Aldermaston took an early lead with James Blackman scoring after just four minutes. Radstock got themselves back on level terms on the stroke of half time, Lewis Wheeler firing in a free kick from distance to make it 1-1 at the break. In a busy second half for the referee which saw two Radstock players spend time in the Sin Bin and Aldermaston have a player sent off, Radstock scored twice when their players were spending time temporarily off the pitch. Both goals were fine individual goals from Ollie Hulbert, the first coming when one teammate was in the Sin Bin and the second when Radstock were temporarily down to nine men, 3-1 the final score to the home side.

11 September 2021