There was once again Monday night action in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with AFC Aldermaston playing their home game at the start of the week. Their visitors on Monday were Calne Town whom they had beaten 3-2 in a close game back in September at Bremhill View. Two first half goals from Ryan Smith and Billy Rampton gave Aldermaston their fourth win of the season and ensured they maintained their unbeaten record at home as they ran out 2-0 winners to complete a league double over the visitors. The win for Aldermaston consolidated their fourth-place position in the table ahead of next  week's trip to New College Swindon.

Melksham Town started Thursday night as joint leaders of the division but by the end of the evening they had sole ownership of the summit for the next seven days thanks to a hard-fought win over Pewsey Vale and results elsewhere. Melksham had won comfortably 4-0 back in September at Pewsey but it was a different story in the return match with Pewsey pushing them all the way and with more luck and composure in front of goal could have avenged that earlier defeat. In a high-quality encounter all three goals came in the first half, Lyndon Banfield scoring twice for Melksham and Harry Field replying for the visitors Pewsey. The second half saw Pewsey go close to getting an equaliser on a number of occasions but in the end the Melksham defence held out to secure the three points and sole leadership of the division. For Pewsey Vale their fine unbeaten run of late had finally been brought to an end but they will look to return to winning ways when Devizes Town visit next week.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town's top of the table clash against Devizes Town more than lived up to the billing as the teams served up a thrilling contest. Frustratingly for the home side though, a last-minute equaliser saw Devizes claim a share of the spoils in a 3-3 draw which saw the home side drop to second place in the table. Royal Wootton Bassett Town twice went ahead, only to see Devizes pull level and earn a draw right at the end of the game. At half time, the home side looked comfortable, leading 2-0. Both goals came from corners, with James Johnson steering a header home in the opening five minutes and Sebastian Smith glancing into the far corner on the half hour mark. Devizes struck back shortly after the restart as Arlo Stone capitalised on a under hit back-pass to slot into an empty net. A Jack Farion penalty then levelled things up, but parity did not last long, however, as Charlie Stammers shot come cross from the right-hand edge of the 18-yard box looped over the Devizes keeper Jack Cross into the top left corner of the net. It appeared that the home side were on course for victory and would establish a four-point advantage over Devizes with a game in hand still to play. However, the home side were punished for being unable to keep hold of possession as they sought to run out the clock from a corner. This enabled Devizes to break forward and a robust, but seemingly fair, challenge on Stammers allowed them to maintain their attacking progress. When the ball was eventually played into the box, Stone was on hand to steer in at the right post, to level matters up at 3-3. There was just about time to take the kick-off before the referee brought the contest to an end. Despite being dislodged from top spot Royal Wootton Bassett Town remain unbeaten, with a game in hand over Devizes and two over Melksham. The goals from this game along with more photos from Steve Green can be viewed on the Royal Wootton Bassett Town website by clicking on this LINK. Another big game at the Gerard Buxton Ground next week when league leaders Melksham Town visit for a game that sees the current top two sides meet.

The final game of the night was at the other end of the league table and saw Radstock Town return to form with a convincing 6-1 win over New College, the win seeing them climb above their opponents and also Calne Town. Lewis Wheeler led the way scoring twice as he took his total for the season to four, also moving onto four for the season was Alfie Williams whilst Freddie Blacker, Thomas Hobbs and William Tucker all bagged their first goals of the season as Radstock secured their second win of the season. They will look to make it three next week when they host Calne Town.

26 November 2021