Wiltshire FA Veterans' County Cup
This week’s fixtures involving the Veterans’ sides was dominated by the Wiltshire FA’s Veterans’ County Cup quarter finals. On Monday night last season’s winners Melksham Town maintained their interest in this season’s competition with a narrow 1-0 win over fellow Mid Wiltshire Division side Devizes Town. A 13th minute goal from Wayne Wheeler was all that separated the two sides. Whilst Melksham were on top for most of the game, they were wasteful in front of goal and were not able to add to that early strike and were nearly made to pay for failing to put their chances away when Devizes Town had a golden chance to equalise two minutes from time, but Rob Hannah was unable to put the chance away and it remained 1-0.
The second tie on Monday night saw
Bradford Town from the Mid Wiltshire Division at home against
Swindon Old Boys from the North Division and Bradford Town became the second Mid Wiltshire Division side through to the last four as they proved too strong for the Swindon based side, winning 4-1, Ryan Mason with the consolation goal for Swindon Old Boys.
There were two further quarter final ties the following night and both games saw teams from the North Wiltshire Division up against opponents from the Mid Wiltshire Division and it proved to be a good night for the North. At New College Swindon a free kick from the edge of the area from Martin Ohrland put
Royal Wootton Bassett Town 1-0 up but opponents
Trowbridge Tigers
got themselves back on level terms when Ben Whatcott won his side a penalty, which was duly put away by Clifford Sakyi for his third of the season. It remained a tight affair with Trowbridge Tigers having a chance for a winner late on, but the chance was not taken, and they then suffered the agony of seeing Royal Wootton Bassett scoring at the other end through Chris Head two minutes from time, Head firing in with a great strike following a fast break down the right to make the final score 2-1 to Royal Wootton Bassett Town.
The second inter-divisional tie saw North Division leaders
Redhouse make the long journey to the Bulford Barracks Ground to play Mid Wiltshire Division side
Amesbury Junior Badgers and it would have been a happy camp that made the return journey after Redhouse secured a 7-1 win. Top scorer David Rendle led the way scoring four times, taking his total in this competition to six and his total for the season so far to eleven, Ashley Bowes bagged a brace and a second of the season from Michael Lichota completed the scoring for Redhouse who maintained their unbeaten start to the season, Lee Bates with the consolation goal for the Badgers. With both Tuesday nights inter-divisional ties being won by North Wiltshire Division sides it means it is two teams from each division in the semi-final.
Redhouse Vets who made it through to the semi final of the County Cup with a 7-1 win against Amesbury Junior Badgers
Mid Wiltshire Division
Back in the league there was just the one game played in the Mid Wiltshire Division this week and it saw last season’s divisional champions
Corsham Town return to winning ways after a couple of defeats, one in the County Cup and one in the league. They were up against an in-form
Chippenham Town Yard Dogs
who went into Monday night’s game on the back of a five-game unbeaten run, having win four of those five games, but that run was finally ended as Corsham returned to form. A second goal of the season from Luke Chapman plus further goals from Ibrahim Bigger and Bryan O’Donnell who both scored their first goals of the season did the damage for Corsham.Gino De Antonis netted for Yard Dogs scoring for the third consecutive game as his fine goal scoring form of late continued.
North Wiltshire Division
In the North Wiltshire Division on Monday night Stratton Juniors had the chance to go level on points at the top of the Division with Redhouse with a win against Swindon Rovers. The two sides had met four times in recent seasons and matters had always been close between the sides with two draws and one win apiece. It was not a good night for Stratton as Rovers put four unanswered goals past them to now lead the head-to-head record and also move up a place in the table as a result of the win. Two goals for Andrew Mark saw him move onto eight for the season, whilst Mark Simpkins took his personal tally to seven and a first of the season from Lee Holland completed the scoring.
The final league game of the week in the North Division was at the Gerard Buxton Ground where Priory Vale and Cricklade met for the third time this season with both sides having won one game apiece prior to the latest encounter, Cricklade having won 3-0 in the County Cup and Priory Vale having won 3-1 in the league. A goal in each half from Richie Miles, who took his total for the season to seven, saw Priory Vale secure all three points and move level at the top of the table with Redhouse.
Next Week's Fixtures
11 November 2021