Devizes Town U18 celebrating their league title sucess

On Thursday night Devizes Town were crowned champions of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Under 18 Division with a game to spare. They secured the league title in their first season in the league with a hard fought 2-0 win away at Radstock Town. Devizes started their first season in the league with an impressive 6-1 win in the FA Youth Cup over Shepton Mallet and it was the first evidence that Devizes were in for a good season. They immediately brought that cup form into the league hitting another six goals in their opening league fixture against Pewsey Vale. They exited the FA Youth Cup at the hands of the youth team of National League side Gloucester City but this after giving their higher league opposition a fright. They raced into a 2-0 lead before missing a penalty and then seeing Gloucester pull one back just before half time. Gloucester equalised from the penalty spot early in the second half, and it then remained all square until three late goals saw Gloucester secure the win, but they knew they had been given a tough game by their opponents from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League.

Three straight wins in the league against Calne Town, AFC Aldermaston and an impressive 5-0 success against Melksham Town saw Devizes Town the early league leaders.  They suffered their first defeat of the season away at New College in what was New College’s first win of the season but was an early indication that on their day any side in this season’s Under 18 Division was capable of beating any other. Devizes returned to winning ways with back-to-back wins at fortress Nursteed Road to maintain a two-point lead over Royal Wootton Bassett Town who were at this stage unbeaten and with a game in hand. Next up for Devizes was a Monday night trip to Aldermaston and David Moore’s side suffered their second defeat of the season going down 2-1. Once again it was only by a solitary goal, but it allowed both Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Melksham Town to go ahead of them in the table as just one point separated the three teams at the top of the table. However, this was to be the last time that Devizes lost until they had secured the league title.

Next up for Devizes was a trip to the Gerard Buxton Ground to meet the new leaders Royal Wootton Town and the two sides served up a thriller. Trailing 3-2 going into the last minute of the game a goal for Devizes from Arlo Stone ensured the points were shared and gave Devizes a big physiological advantage knowing that their opponents still had to travel to Nursteed Road where Devizes had a 100% winning record. Devizes saw out 2021 with a second win over the strong Melksham Town side who by now were the new league leaders, although the 3-2 score line was a lot closer than the first meeting and once again it was a late goal, this time from leading scorer Jack Smith that secured the points.

The first game of the new calendar year was the return match against Royal Wootton Bassett Town and after successfully defending against some initial pressure from the visitors, Devizes went into the break one nil to the good thanks to a spectacular goal from Caleb Hollow in what had been another close encounter up to this point. It was a different story after the break as a rampant Devizes came out second half and scored three unanswered goals to put them well and truly in the driving seat for the league title. An emphatic win against New College last week on a night when their two nearest rivals were losing set them up for Thursday’s game at Radstock. The win over New College meant Devizes had won all seven of their home league games at Nursteed Road.

With the game against Radstock and one more against Pewsey Vale, Devizes knew they only needed to win one of those two games and they were guaranteed the title. Lose both and they would open the door for Royal Wootton Bassett Town were they to win their own game against Pewsey. If Devizes lost one and drew one and Royal Wootton Bassett Town won their final game, then a play-off would be needed to decide the title as FA rules do not allow goal difference to decide Under 18 divisions. There was also still an outside chance that Melksham Town could also be involved in a title play-off, but it would need both Devizes Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town to lose their remaining games and Melksham to win their final game. Under that scenario a play-off would then be required between Devizes Town and Melksham Town.

There was to be no need for a play off though as Devizes Town made sure of the title in the first of those two games although they were made to work hard for the three points by a Radstock Town team who had won three games in a row going into the match and had a good record at home. They made it difficult for Devizes and it was certainly a tight first half played at a high tempo with both sides creating chances. The deadlock was finally broken five minutes from the break, and it was Devizes with the goal when Arlo Stone was upended in the box and a penalty given. Jack Farion made no mistake from the spot firing into the keeper’s right for his eighth of the season to send his side into half time with that slender lead.

Jack Farion with the penalty that put Devizes 1-0 up & the celebrations for the second goal from Caleb Hollow

Both sides came out second half and maintained the intensity of the first period. In the 66^th minute Devizes finally gave themselves some breathing space when a ball forward found Caleb Hollow behind the Radstock back line one on one with the Radstock keeper. The striker made no mistake with the chance as he hit the ball under the keeper for 2-0 and his eighth league goal of the campaign and his 13^th of the season. Devizes saw out the closing stages maintaining a clean sheet for the third consecutive game and the fifth time this season to ensure the title was secured and the celebrations could commence.

Congratulations to Devizes manager David Moore, his young players and the team’s coaches on their excellent achievement in their first season in the league.  It has been a difficult season for their two senior sides but their Under 18 team has certainly given the club something to celebrate this season. They led from the front in the early part of the season and then those two wins over their nearest rivals in the run in showed they were clearly the top side in the division this season and are fully deserving of all the accolades that will come their way. With several of the team progressing to both the Reserves and First Team already this season the future is clearly a lot brighter for Devizes Town Football Club’s senior sides going forward.

Whilst Devizes were making sure of the league title their nearest challengers Royal Wootton Bassett Town were securing runners-up spot. They came into the game following defeat last week at Calne Town that had effectively ended any realistic hopes of the title. With Melksham Town hot on their heels, they knew they could not afford another slip up. Three points were almost certainly needed for runners-up against a Pewsey Vale side who, whilst bottom of the table, were a match for any side in the division as Royal Wootton Bassett Town had found on their visit to Pewsey at the end of September when the two sides had shared six goals and the points. It was anther tight game in the return match with the two sides turning round at the break with the game still looking for its first goal. The deadlock was finally broken early in the second half, and it was visitors Pewsey who got the goal, Thomas Holdstock firing in after good build up play down the left. Royal Wootton Bassett Town finally got themselves back on level terms 20 minutes from time, Joey Warren hitting a shot into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box. Warren then created what turned out to be the winning goal, his powerful run through midfield initiating a move that eventually saw the ball fall to Kevin Prouse on the edge of the six-yard box and the sides’ leading scorer fired home for his ninth of the season to make it 2-1, ensuring that Royal Wootton Bassett Town finished second behind Devizes Town. The performance from Pewsey once again highlighted how close most games have been this season in the Under 18 Division and whilst the honours go to Devizes Town and Royal Wootton Bassett Town credit to all eight teams for making this one of the most competitive seasons ever. Pewsey now have the Wiltshire FA's County Youth Cup Final to look forward to when they will have their top striker Rory England back in the fold for the final against Swindon Supermarine on March 18th.

There are four more league games left to complete the season before the sides then take part in a cup competition which sees the eight sides split into two groups based on a geographic split with the winners of the two groups then meeting in a final to decide the cup winners. Initial fixtures for this competition should be on FA Full Time shortly.

11 February 2022