Just Royal Wootton Bassett Town of the top three were in action this week in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. They had what looked to be a tricky away game at AFC Aldermaston, a side who were unbeaten at home ahead of Monday night’s encounter. When the sides had met at the Gerard Buxton Ground in November, Royal Wootton Bassett Town were 4-2 winners in an entertaining game, and it was expected to be another close game in the return at Aldermaston given their excellent home form. A first half deflected goal from the visitors’ Charlie Stammers, coming after good good build up play involving James Johnson and Kevin Prouse,  was all that separated the two sides at half time. A second from Kieron Legg in the closing stages of the game, firing in on the rebound after Kevin Prouse saw his penalty saved, extended Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s lead and helped alleviate some of the nerves in the visitors’ dugout. AFC Aldermaston continued to push to try and get themselves back in the game and had a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit in the dying minutes when they were also awarded a penalty after the visitors' keeper Louis Smith pulled down an Aldermaston player in the box. However, the keeper redemmed himself diving to his right to save the spot kick to ensure a clean sheet for his side who returned to Wiltshire with all three points courtesy of the 2-0 win. This was enough to send them back top of the table with two games to go, although Devizes remain in pole position one point behind but with three games to go. Royal Wootton Bassett Town are away to Calne Town next Thursday and end their fixtures with a home game against Pewsey Vale. Devizes are home to New College Swindon next Thursday, a side they lost to earlier in the season, before a tricky looking away game at Radstock Town. They then finish with an away game at Pewsey Vale. Melksham Town are level on points with Devizes with two games to play and also have to go to Radstock Town before finishing their fixtures against AFC Aldermaston.

With Radstock Town playing both Melksham Town and Devizes Town in those final series of matches, and still with an outside chance of a top three position themselves, they will certainly have a major say in the ultimate destination of the Under 18 Division honours this season. On Thursday night they recorded their fourth win in their last five games with a comfortable 3-0 win over New College Swindon. Leading scorer Lewis Wheeler notched a sixth goal of the season, William Tucker was also on target with his second of the season and there was a debut goal from substitute Ollie Thomas.

The final game of the week saw the bottom two at the start of the night, Calne Town and Pewsey Vale, in opposition. Pewsey went into the game having booked a place in the final of the Wiltshire FA County Youth Cup last Sunday thanks to an impressive 3-1 win over Chippenham Town Youth. Rory England, Ayron Rowe and Jude Cawley with the goals that secured that place in the final of this prestigious competition. They will meet Swindon Supermarine in the final which is being staged at the Wiltshire FA’s headquarters at Green Lane on Friday 18^th March. Unfortunately for Pewsey they were unable to take their cup form into the league on Thursday night and went down to a narrow 1-0 defeat, an eighth of the season from Calne Town’s Harrison Dunsden being all that separated the two sides on the night. The win for Calne saw them climb two places in the table, with Pewsey slipping to the bottom as a result of the defeat.

28 January 2022