Veteran's County Cup

Action involving the Veterans’ divisions this week was dominated by the semi finals of the Wiltshire FA’s Veterans’ County Cup. Both semi finals were staged at the Wiltshire FA’s headquarters at Green Lane Devizes. On Monday night the cup holders and current leaders of the Mid Wiltshire Division, Melksham Town, met the current leaders of the North Wiltshire Division, Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Melksham had won all of their eleven league games going into the game and had former England C international and Walsall, Shrewsbury Town and Oxford United striker James Constable making his debut as they looked to defend the cup they had won back in June. However, it was Royal Wootton Bassett Town who got off to the better start, Steve Howse putting them ahead with his second goal in the competition. Constable then got in on the scoring act on his debut putting Melksham back on level terms. Melksham Town then went in front for the first time through Simon Charity with his eighth goal of the season to make it 2-1. Whilst Melksham continued to have most of the possession, they were always vulnerable to the pace of Jeremy Newton and Chris Head on the break, and both were to inflict damage on the cup holders. First Newton levelled matters up at 2-2 before Head put his side ahead for the second time in the game. With 12 minutes remaining Royal Wootton Bassett Town were temporarily reduced to ten men when dissent from Justin Hyde saw him sent to the sin bin. Melksham took advantage of the extra man and within three minutes were back on level terms, Tom Stadden making it 3-3. Melksham continued to push for the winner but found Royal Wootton Bassett Town keeper Nick Warren in superb form and there was to be no further damage from the temporary dismissal as it finished 3-3 meaning penalties were required to settle matters. Chris Head, Jeremy Newton, Daniel Badman and Peter Wilson found the net for Royal Wootton Bassett Town, but Warren was to continue to be the hero on the night saving the Melksham penalties from both Constable and Charity to ensure it was Royal Wootton Bassett Town who progressed to final at the expense of the holders.

Mid Wiltshire Division

The heavy rain that had disrupted the Premier Division fixtures on Saturday also put paid to three of the Mid Wiltshire Veterans’ Division fixtures on Monday night with just the game on the 3G at Selwood Academy going ahead. Trowbridge Tigers visitors were FC Calne and the three previous league fixtures between the two sides had all finished in draws. Whilst it was once again a close game on Monday night there finally was a decisive result in games between the two when goals from Paul Maddox and a ninth of the season from Adam O’Keeffe secured a narrow 2-1 win for FC Calne over the Tigers, Lee Mattravis with the Trowbridge goal. The win saw FC Calne move above St Andrews into seventh place.

North Wiltshire Division

The league action in the North Wiltshire Division commenced on Tuesday night at New College where Priory Vale and Swindon Old Boys were in action. When the two sides had met back in September a solitary second half goal from Priory Vale’s James Lovell was all that separated the two sides. It was another close meeting in the return match but once again it was Priory Vale who finished with the three points, two more goals from leading scorer Richie Miles, moving him onto 14 for the season, securing a hard fought 2-1 win. A fourth of the season from James Roberts replying for Swindon Old Boys. The win for Priory Vale saw them move level on points with Royal Wootton Bassett Town at the top of the table, six points clear of third placed Redhouse but with Redhouse having three games in hand on both of the top two sides.

On Wednesday evening Swindon Rovers and Stratton Juniors met for the second time this season and there was to be a repeat score of the first meeting between the two sides, with Swindon Rovers completing a second 4-0 win over their fellow Swindon based opponents. Rovers led 1-0 at the break thanks to a goal from Chris Doyle but it was very much the Mark Simpkins show in the second half as he fired a hat-trick, including one from the penalty spot to complete the 4-0 score line in Rovers favour. The hat-trick saw Simpkins take his total for the season into double figures as he moved onto 11 for the campaign. The win for Swindon Rovers saw them climb three places in the table to fifth spot.

January's Fixtures

12 January 2022