Mid Wiltshire Division

The wet weather once again took its toll with the scheduled fixture between Corsham Town and FC Calne having to be called off with standing water on the Southbank Ground pitch. Devizes Town had already taken the precaution of switching their game to Green Lane and were rewarded with three more points which saw them climb a place in the table to fourth spot. They were made to work hard for the points by Chippenham Town Yard Dogs though, with the two sides turning round at half time with the game still looking for its first goal. It was Chippenham Town Yard Dogs who broke the deadlock, Ryan Nicholls bagging his seventh goal of the season to put his side ahead just after half time. However, two goals in the final ten minutes from player manager Craig Townsend, the latter coming 30 seconds from the end, ensured that Devizes claimed all three points and that fourth spot.

There were two games the following night, with Bradford Town also having moved their fixture to Green Lane. It was to be a good night for both of the two leading scorers in the division as both Rhys Schell and Steve Tweddle bagged a brace in Bradford’s 7-0 win over Trowbridge Tigers. A third of the season from Steve Munday plus further goals from Marc Canham and substitute Ralph Plummer, who both opened their account for the season, completed the scoring for Bradford Town. The win and a third consecutive clean sheet saw Bradford move above Corsham Town into second place, nine points behind leaders Melksham Town with two games in hand. The two sides are set to meet in a fortnight’s time for a match which could well prove to be a title decider.

The same night Amesbury Junior were in action looking to end a run that had seen them lose three on the trot after having made a good start to the season. Their opponents were St Andrews who had drawn 2-2 with Amesbury in December, the last time that Amesbury had avoided defeat. Amesbury bounced back in style to end that losing run as four goals from leading scorer Craig Watters saw them secure a 6-2 win. Watters took his total for the season to 12 and there were further goals for Amesbury from Daniel Field and Lukasz Labedzki, Steve Jackson with his 11^th of the season and Domonic Shepherd replying for St Andrews. Both sides remained where they started the night in the league table, but Amesbury moved to within five points of FC Calne and with four games in hand will be hopeful of achieving a top five finish by the end of the season.

North Wiltshire Division

There was just the one game played in the North Wiltshire Division this week. At the start of the night just three points separated Swindon Old Boys and Swindon Rovers and with the two sides having drawn 2-2 in the first meeting another close encounter was expected and so it proved. Rovers edged it by the odd goal as they ran out 2-1 winners, Lee Holland from the penalty spot and substitute Tim Hughes with the Rovers goals, Andrew King with his eighth of the season for Swindon Old Boys. The win saw Swindon Rovers climb three places in the table, moving above Swindon Old Boys into fifth spot.

The scheduled game between Cricklade Town and South Cerney Rangers was postponed with South Cerney unable to raise a side.

17 February 2022