North Wiltshire Division

The headline makers this week in the two Veterans’ Divisions are AFC Swindon. Playing their 30th league game since joining the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, they finally avoided defeat for the first time securing an excellent 2-2 draw with South Cerney Rangers at Green Lane on Tuesday night. After suffering some heavy defeats in their three seasons in the league, including at the start of this season, results have gradually been improving. The first meeting with South Cerney at the beginning of December saw AFC Swindon lose 3-0. That defeat came after AFC Swindon had conceded eight goals in consecutive weeks against Redhouse and Swindon Old Boys and the 3-0 reverse against Cerney, whilst still a defeat, appeared to be a step in the right direction. Two 4-0 defeats against title chasing Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Priory Vale followed but given how well those two sides were going in the title chase were no worse than how other sides were faring against these two. On Tuesday night against South Cerney they found themselves trailing early on, leading scorer Steve Algar scoring after seven minutes for South Cerney. However, AFC Swindon were back on terms ten minutes later Jason Cobb with his second of the season to make it 1-1. Parity did not last long though, Richard Dickson putting South Cerney back in front six minutes before the break. The second half remained a close affair, and it looked like that would be the end of the nights scoring as the game went into injury time. However, just as it looked like AFC Swindon would suffer another defeat Andy Hendry netted to make it 2-2 and give his side that first ever point. Having now finally ended the run of defeats AFC Swindon will be hoping to go one better next week when they meet Stratton Juniors.

At the top end of the table, it is as you were at the start of the week with Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Priory Vale level on points after both secured wins this week. On Monday night Priory Vale went top of the table following a 3-0 win over Swindon Rovers. Leading scorer Richie Miles set them on their way, putting them 1-0 ahead with his 19^th of the season before James Lovell extended their lead to make it 2-0 at the break. They made sure of all three points when Nick Mackey added a third after the interval.

The following night Royal Wootton Bassett Town were back in action, and they moved back above Priory Vale following a 3-1 win over Swindon Old Boys at New College. Ben Gould maintained his rich vein of form in front of goal for Royal Wootton Bassett Town, netting for the ninth time this season and his fifth in the last six games, substitute Steve Howse scoring the other two goals for the league leaders. On target for Swindon Old Boys was Steve Bunting.

The final game of the week was on Wednesday night at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground where the two sides in opposition came into the game with vastly different recent form. Stratton Juniors had lost five in a row whilst opponents Cricklade Town in contrast had won all of their last three. However, the form book went out of the window as Stratton Juniors secured a narrow 2-1 win avenging the 3-0 defeat they suffered in November to the same opponents. On target for Stratton were Chris Quinton and Vince McMackin, Ryan Keech replying for Cricklade. The win for Stratton saw them climb three places in the league table to fifth spot. Your Sport Swindon were at the game and highlights can be accessed by clicking on the link below or from the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of this website.

Mid Wiltshire Division

There was a full programme of games in the Mid Wiltshire Division this week with all ten sides in action. The big game of the week was at Oakfield Stadium where league leaders Melksham Town entertained Bradford Town. The two sides went into the game with both having lost just once all season in the league but Melksham, having lost in the Veterans’ County Cup a fortnight ago, and then in the league the following week, were in the unprecedented position of looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat. It was expected to be a close game and it certainly lived up to expectations. Bradford Town went in front from the penalty spot in the first half, Steve Tweddle scoring against his former side with his 16^th of the season. However, Tweddle’s former strike partner Charlie Griffin scored twice in the second half, including one from the penalty spot, to give Melksham Town all three points and put them firmly in the driving seat to lift the league title. Whilst Melksham have an 11-point league at the top of the table, they still have some tough looking fixtures in their last five games, including the return game with Bradford Town and trips to Corsham Town and Devizes Town.

Second place Corsham Town remained those 11 points behind Melksham with a hard-fought 2-1 away win at Amesbury Junior. A sixth of the season from Jonathan Scott and fourth of the season from James Lye did the damage for Corsham, Daniel Field with the Amesbury goal. That is now four straight wins and five games unbeaten for last season’s champions who are returning to last season’s form, their only league defeats this season having come at the hands of Melksham Town and Bradford Town.

Another team in form are FC Calne who made it three wins on the bounce on Monday night with a narrow 2-1 success over Chippenham Town Yard Dogs. Stuart Ballinger and Adam O’Keeffe, the two players who had done the damage the previous week against league leaders Melksham Town, were once again on the score sheet, O’Keeffe bagging his 11^th of the campaign, Ryan Nicholls with the Yard Dogs goal.

The final game on Monday night was at Selwood Academy where Devizes Town were Trowbridge Tigers visitors. The two sides turned round at the break with the game still looking for its first goal and it took until ten minutes from time for the deadlock to be broken, Jonathan Couch giving Devizes Town the lead with his fourth of the season. A second for Devizes from substitute David Jenkins five minutes from time made sure of the three points for Devizes who moved up to fifth spot as a result of the win.

The final game of the week in the Mid Wiltshire Division was on Tuesday night at Bulford Camp where St Andrews were Amesbury Junior Badgers visitors. It was a good night for St Andrews who recorded their biggest win since joining the league, running out 12-1 winners against the Badgers who fell to their 15^th defeat of the season. Amongst the goals for St Andrews were Steve Jackson, who with five doubled his total for the season, Dom Shepherd who hit four and there was a brace for Kye Leather and one for Carl Mackness, Michael Broad with the consolation goal for the Badgers.

27 January 2022