Matches in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League this week got underway on Monday night when league leaders Devizes Town made their first ever trip to AFC Aldermaston looking to extend their lead at the top of the table, but things certainly did not go to plan. A 19th minute opener from AFC Aldermaston’s Finley Dove and a second just after the half hour mark from Jacob Wilson saw Aldermaston lead 2-0 at the break. Whilst Devizes rallied in the second half and scored through leadings scorer Jack Smith with his 11th of the season Devizes were unable to get a second and fell to their second defeat of the season.
Thursday night saw the two teams immediately below Devizes in the table in action away from home knowing that a win would send them top of the table. Melksham Town were at Calne Town, a side who had run them close when they met at the end of September, Melksham winning 2-1 that night at the Oakfield Stadium. It was a much more comfortable evening for Melksham manager Steve Rendell in the return match as his side scored five goals without reply to claim all three points. The goals were shared across the team with one apiece for Archie Haggerty and Kegan Smart, who both netted for the fourth time this season, Ashton Buckland, Theo Black and Luke Gonsalves, the latter three all scoring their first goals of the season. The win sent Melksham joint top of the table with 19 points from their opening nine league fixtures. For Calne that was their sixth defeat of the season, but they have this week had it confirmed that the score at the time of their abandoned game against New College will stand as the final result, both sides having agreed to this outcome. This means all sides in the division have won games this season. Next week sees them in action on Monday night when they visit AFC Aldermaston.
Joining Melksham Town on 19 points at the top of the table are Royal Wootton Bassett Town who completed a league double over New College Swindon with a 4-1 win. Two more goals for leading scorer Kevin Prouse who took his total for the season to eight, the other goals coming through Rhys Farrow and Kieron Legg, Tommy Jewell with his second of the season replying for New College. Royal Wootton Bassett Town remain the only unbeaten side in the league ahead of next week’s tasty looking encounter with Devizes Town.
Pewsey Vale made the trip to Radstock Town knowing they had lost heavily on their two previous visits to Southfield Recreation Ground. Whilst they had yet to lose at home to Radstock, those two previous visits had not been fruitful. In the latest encounter they twice found themselves trailing to Radstock goals, coming back on both occasions to level matters up. Lewis Wheeler put Radstock in front with a header before Ben England scored for Pewsey to make it 1-1. Alfie Wheeler then fired Radstock ahead from the penalty spot after a handball in the area and it remained 2-1 at half time. Just as it looked like Radstock would return to winning ways, Ben Hayward restored parity for Pewsey with a goal late on and the same player then headed in the winner in the closing stages of the match getting on the end of a corner unchallenged at the far post to make it 3-2 to Pewsey. The win saw Pewsey extend their unbeaten record in the league to five games ahead of a tough looking trip to Melksham next week. Meanwhile Radstock, who have been on the wrong end of narrow 3-2 scores in consecutive weeks, will be hoping for a change of luck when they entertain New College Swindon next Thursday.
19 November 2021