Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Competitions

The Under 18 action got underway on Monday night when AFC Aldermaston entertained New College Swindon in Group A of the Cup competition. Having won 6-1 at Supermarine 11 days earlier, AFC Aldermaston completed a quickfire cup double over New College with a 5-0 win. Billy Rampton scored two, netting for the second consecutive game, and there were further goals from Adam Keating, Finley Dove and Ryan Smith. The win sent Aldermaston back top of the table ahead of Thursday’s scheduled games.

On Thursday night just the one game survived the wet weather in the early part of the week and that was at the Gerard Buxton Ground where the game was being played on the 3G pitch. The home side Royal Wootton Bassett Town had defeated Calne Town 3-0 in the first cup fixture between the two, but Calne were on better form on Thursday night. Having beaten Royal Wootton Bassett in the league towards the end of the season, they have now also taken points off them in the cup competition. Jahrel Campbell gave Calne a half time lead with his first goal of the season, but Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s leading striker Kevin Prouse put his side back on level terms with his tenth goal of the season and the sides had to settle for a point apiece. The point for Calne Town was enough to send them back above AFC Aldermaston at the top of the table, whilst Royal Wootton Bassett Town remained third but with games in hand on the top two.

Wiltshire FA County Youth Cup Final (Report courtesy of Lee Jeffery, Pewsey Vale FC)

Friday night saw Pewsey Vale's U18's against Swindon Supermarine Youth U18's in the Wiltshire FA Youth Cup Final held at the Wiltshire FA's headquarters at Green Lane, Devizes. The game started with the intensity expected of a cup final, Supermarine going close on a counterattack in the very first minute. Pewsey then attacked, Tom Holdstock took a shot at the Supermarine keeper, who spilled it, for Pewsey's Jude Cawley to find the back of the net to take an early lead. Supermarine then went back on the attack again and quickly got an equaliser. Both teams battled hard and fast until half time but it remained 1-1 at the break.

In the second half, Pewsey lost Jude Cawley due to injury and young Jack Cady was introduced. Pewsey won a free kick outside the Supermarine goal area. Pewsey's Tom Plank lofted his free kick to the back post of the Supermarine goal where it was met by Harry Field with a thunderous header to put Pewsey in the lead again. Pewsey stayed in the lead until 15 mins from time. A Swindon Supermarine’s player made a mazy run through some tiring legs in the Pewsey defence and his shot was just out of the reach of Pewsey's keeper Ben King. The game was tight in the final minutes with both teams having chances to take the lead. In the final minute of the game Pewsey lost their attacker Tom Holdstock, with what looks like ruptured knee ligaments..... we wish him a speedy recovery.

Penalties were then needed to decide matters. With four out of the five nominated penalties being scored by both teams the shootout then went to sudden death, both teams finding the back of the net until the ninth penalty. Pewsey hit the post with theirs, which put the pressure on Supermarine to score, which they did to take the cup.

Well done to Pewsey Vale on making the final, penalties are always a cruel way to lose a cup final but the youngsters from Pewsey can be proud of their efforts in this prestigious competition in Season 2021-22.

20 March 2022