Royal Wootton Bassett Town went into Thursday night’s top of the table clash against Melksham Town Reserves as the only unbeaten side in the division. They had secured a narrow 2-1 win away at Melksham in their opening league fixture of the season and a repeat of that victory would put them in the driving seat in the title race with Melksham having also lost to Devizes Town. For Melksham, with just four games to go, they really needed to win to make the pendulum swing back their way in the quest for the title. It was another tight affair on Thursday night with the sides turning round at the break with the game still awaiting its first goal. The game in the end was decided by two set pieces in the second half. Melksham Town went ahead five minutes after the restart when Tom Dowell got on the end of Cameron Pearce’s low free-kick at the near post, a deft flick from Dowell steering the ball into the net for 1-0. Pearce then went from provider to scorer, doubling Melksham's advantage just before the 70th minute mark, producing a stunning free kick from 20 yards out that was placed perfectly into the top right corner. The win saw Melksham open up a five-point lead at the top of the table over Royal Wootton Bassett Town, although second placed Bassett have two games in hand over Melksham. Melksham’s final three games see them go to AFC Aldermaston and Radstock Town and a home game against Devizes Town, all potentially tricky fixtures in what is turning out to be another fascinating title race in the Under 18 Division.The goals from this game can be viewed on the Royal Wootton Bassett Town website by clicking on this LINK.

Radstock Town are certainly a side who have started to find form. After last week’s big 6-1 win over New College they followed it up on Thursday night with another victory over Calne Town, 3-1 the score in their latest win. Two goals from Toby Vining plus a strike from Freddie Blacker secured Radstock’s third win of the season and saw them climb a couple of places in the table. Calne Town's goal came from the usual source this season, with Harrison Dunsden scoring his sixth of the campaign. 

New College bounced back from that defeat last week with a narrow 1-0 home success over AFC Aldermaston, Tommy Jewell with his fourth goal of the season securing the three points for New College who moved off the bottom of the table as a result of their win.

4 December 2021