Mid Wiltshire Division

Just two games went ahead in the Mid Wiltshire Veterans’ Division this week with both games taking place on 3G pitches on Monday night. The game at MOD Lyneham saw a big shock as Melksham Town, who had started the night with a 100% winning record from their eleven league games, were beaten by FC Calne after an impressive second half showing by the home side. Melksham led 1-0 at the break thanks to a Kai Miller goal after FC Calne spurned the chance to go into the break all square having missed penalty on the stroke of half time. They did get themselves back on level terms early in the second half with an assist from the Melksham keeper. It remained all square until four minutes from time but two late goals in the final four minutes deservedly gave FC Calne all three points and inflicted that first league defeat of the season on Melksham. On target for Calne were Stuart Ballinger, who bagged a brace, and Adam O’Keeffe, the latter taking his total for the season into double figures. Having lost last week in the Wiltshire FA’s County Cup, that is now two defeats on the bounce for Darren Perrin’s side ahead of next week’s big league encounter with their nearest rivals for the Mid Wiltshire Division title, Bradford Town. Melksham remain eleven points clear at the top, but Bradford Town can draw level with them if they win their four games in hand and next week’s encounter could have a big say in the final destination of the title. The win for FC Calne saw them move up a couple of places in the league table to fifth spot.

The other game on Monday night in the Mid Wiltshire Division was at Selwood Academy in Frome where Trowbridge Tigers hosted St Andrews. In a tight affair two goals from Trowbridge Tigers Clifford Sakyi saw his side edge it 2-1, Neil Grant with the St Andrews goal. Whilst Sakyis goals secured the win, the Tigers had keeper Ali Jewers to thank for remaining on level terms before Sakyi scored the winner seven minutes from time, the keeper pulling off a tremendous save to deny St Andrews. .

Next Week's Fixtures

North Wiltshire Division

It was a busy week in the North Division this week with just South Cerney Rangers without a game. The action got underway on Monday night when Redhouse had and took the opportunity to close in on the top two with a 2-0 win over Stratton Juniors at Green Lane, Devizes. A fourth goal of the season from Anthony McCusker plus one for Ian Fawkes securing the points for last season’s runners-up who are looking to go one better this season. The win saw Redhouse temporarily move to within three points of top two with two games in hand but the six-point gap was to be restored by the end of the week but with Redhouse having three games in hand.

Priory Vale were the first of the top two to move onto 25 points, four goals from leading scorer Richie Miles sending his side top of the league overnight on Tuesday after a 4-0 win over bottom of the table AFC Swindon at New College. For Miles that is now 18 goals this season and he is now the overall leading scorer across the two Veterans’ divisions. AFC Swindon continue to improve, and their last two games have seen them do reasonably well against the top two and those first points cannot be too far away.

The same night there was a second game of the week at Green Lane Devizes when Swindon Old Boys and Cricklade Town met with Cricklade coming out on top thanks to a 5-3 win. Remarkably Cricklade scored seven of the eight goals on the night, scoring two own goals to add to the five they scored at the right end. Leading scorer Ryan Keech led the way for Cricklade scoring twice to move his total for the season into double figures and there were further goals from Stuart Hemsley, Andy Brien and Paul Lawrence, a sixth of the season from Andrew King with the other goal for Swindon Old Boys.

The final game of the week was on Wednesday night, and it saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town return to the top joining Priory Vale on 25 points, goals from Jeremy Newton and a penalty from Ben Gould in a 2-0 win over Swindon Rovers, both scorers taking their respective total for the season to eight. With both the top two in action again next week and with Redhouse the team without a game, both the top two have the chance to increase the gap to nine points. Redhouse and Priory Vale yet to meet this season with Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Redhouse having met just the once, the three remaining games between the top three sides will have a big say in the ultimate destination of league honours in the North Division this season.

Next Week's Fixtures

21 January 2022