Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Kintbury Rangers Move up to 2nd Spot
(Picture courtesy of Brian Busson)
After just the one game last week, a respite in the weather plus the use of a 3G pitch at Stanley Park meant four of the six scheduled fixtures survived the wet weather that continues to play havoc with football fixtures across the country. With leaders Shrewton United being without a game and Wroughton’s fixture with Ludgershall being one of the two postponed games, the three sides below them all had the chance to move above Wroughton with a win and at the same time move to within a point of the leaders.

The first game of the day was a midday encounter at Stanley Park on the 3G pitch between Trowbridge Town and Corsham Town Reserves. Goals from Joshua Hard, who was playing against his former club, and Miles Littlechild secured a 2-0 win for Corsham in difficult windy conditions as the visitors were rewarded for their efforts in helping to secure the facility for Trowbridge to use. Corsham successfully overcame a side they have struggled against in recent times, having gone into the game with just two wins in the previous 14 league meetings between the sides, that record was improved with the win which for a couple of hours meant they were in second spot.

By the end of the afternoon they had slipped back to third place when promotion chasing Kintbury Rangers moved back above them on goal difference following a hard fought win over visitors Purton, a team who like Trowbridge with Corsham, had recently had the better of things in games against their opponents, winning 5-1 at the back end of last season and then 5-3 at the Red House in October. In the latest encounter, Purton started the stronger but  it was Kintbury who went in front against the run of play on 37 minutes, Tom Mahoney, dribbling into the box from the left and firing a low shot beyond the Purton keeper for his eighth of the season. In a half of very few chances, with the strong wind not helping matters, this was to be the only goal of the first period as Kintbury led 1-0 at the break. However, Kintbury were pegged back by visitors Purton on 64 minutes, Robbie Hendry scoring with a powerful shot from distance in his first game for Purton having recently joined on loan from Shrivenham. Kintbury were not to be denied though, Russel Benham firing in his fifth of the season from the edge of the box on 70 minutes, after a corner had been cleared to him to give Kintbury the 2-1 win and avenge that defeat earlier in the season at the Red House. The win ensured his side went second in the table and a point behind leaders Shrewton whilst Purton remain in sixth spot despite the defeat.

The third side looking to move within a point of Shrewton were Melksham Town Reserves who went into their home game with Cricklade Town in impressive form with just one defeat in their previous thirteen games in all competitions. However, opponents Cricklade were also enjoying their best form of the season with just one defeat in their previous four games. In an excellent performance against a strong Melksham Town Reserves side, goals from Jonathan Peachey-Score, with his sixteenth of the season, Max Scholefield and Elliott Corp gave Craig Kent’s Cricklade side their best result of the season as they ran out 3-1 winners, denying Melksham the chance of moving level with Kintbury Rangers and Corsham Town Reserves. Melksham’s goal was scored by Josh Brigham. Whilst Cricklade remained in eighth spot after this latest win which made it three straight wins, with a run of games coming up against sides at the wrong end of the table and with eight of their last nine games at home, they will be confident of getting themselves up into the top six by the end of the season. Despite the defeat Melksham remain in the top five and there are just four points separating those five sides in what is shaping up to be an exciting title race.

The final game of the day was at Meadowcroft where the home side Stratton Juniors were looking to make it two wins on the bounce against a Frome Collegians side who had not won for eight games, their last league win being back in November. Stratton Juniors went ahead when a cross from Ryan Major caught the wind and sailed into the net, but a Lee Handford goal restored parity for visitors Frome. There was to be a dramatic end to the encounter as Frome’s leading scorer Barry Sandquest scored in the final minute of the match to give his side a 2-1 win and end that barren run. The goal saw him move onto eight for the campaign and saw his side climb three places in the table up to ninth spot.
Results
Premier Division
Saturday 22nd February 2020
Kintbury Rangers 2 Purton 1
Marlborough Town v Pewsey Vale - Postponed
Melksham Town Res 1 Cricklade Town 3
Stratton Juniors 1 Frome Collegians 2
Trowbridge Town 0 Corsham Town Res 2
Wroughton v Ludgershall Sports - Postponed
Saturday 22  February 2020
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