Corsham Town’s Southbank Ground, the traditional venue for cup finals in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, was the venue for what was the second staging of an Under 18 Cup competition. The last final had been back in 2019 when New College, Swindon had defeated Calne Town 3-2 in the final, in what had been a very entertaining game. Covid had prevented any further cup competitions until today’s encounter between AFC Aldermaston and league champions Devizes Town.

Both teams came into the game in good form. League champions Devizes Town came into the final on the back of an eleven-game unbeaten run, nine of which have been won, their last defeat being a league fixture against their opponents in the final AFC Aldermaston. However, AFC Aldermaston were also on an unbeaten run which has seen them go six games without defeat and the final was expected be a close game and so it proved.

On a warm sunny afternoon at the Southbank Ground the first half was a cagey affair with both sides’ defences cancelling each other out. That said both sides created a number of half chances. Five minutes in Devizes centre forward Jack Smith created a shot for himself from the edge of the box but his effort was well saved by Jamie Morris in the Aldermaston goal. Four minutes later AFC Aldermaston had their first chance of the game with the award of a free kick on the edge of the box after a foul on Adam Keating. Ben Luckett stepped up to take the free kick, but his shot was fired straight into the wall and the danger was cleared.

Devizes striker Jack Smith was starting to cause the Aldermaston defence problems with his pace, and it was from one of his runs down the left which saw him play a ball into the box to Arlo Stone but Stone’s shot went just wide of the post. As well as Smith’s pace, Devizes had Jack Farion starting to boss the midfield area and with 23 minutes on the clock he created a chance for himself, but his powerfully hit shot was well held by Morris in the Aldermaston goal. Devizes continued to have the better of things and with 30 minutes on the clock the ball fell to Smith on the edge of the area following a corner, but he fired well over, and the game remained without a goal.

As the half wore on Aldermaston started to have the better of things and ten minutes before the break Finnley Dove fired into the side netting after some neat inter-play between Ben Luckett and Jack Wilson. A minute before the interval it looked like Aldermaston might get behind the Devizes defence, a through ball from Ryan Smith found Adam Keating but his powerful run into the box saw him beat a couple of defenders but, in the end, there was just one too many defenders to navigate and he was dispossessed without being able to get a shot away. Devizes then went down the other end and right on the stroke of half time had claims for a penalty with an alleged hand ball in the box but the Devizes claims were waved away by referee Rhiannon Stevens who was having an excellent game. It had been a tight first half of limited clear-cut chances and the two sides turned around with the game still looking for its first goal.

The two teams came out for the second half looking to push for the opener, and it was not long before that elusive first goal came. In the very first attack of the half Devizes went close to breaking the deadlock, a break down the left saw Fraser Blake hit a pinpoint cross which found Caleb Hollow in the six-yard box, but his header lacked power and direction and went wide of the post. The deadlock was finally broken on 52 minutes, and when the goal came it was from a set piece, as Aldermaston captain Jacob Wilson powerfully headed in from a corner to give his side a 1-0 lead.

Having gone behind Devizes sought to up their game and just before the hour mark a chip over the top from Arlo Stone found Caleb Hollow on the edge of the box, Hollow, who has scored some spectacular goals from distance this season, decided to take his shot on the volley and unfortunately did not connect with it right and it flew well over. Devizes continued to press for an equaliser and a ball over the top found Jack Smith clear of the Aldermaston back line, but his shot was cleared for a corner. The resulting corner saw Smith rise above the Aldermaston defence but frustratingly for his side his header was deflected for another Devizes corner. It was not all one-way traffic though as Aldermaston continued to create chances of their own. On 68 minutes Dan Sandes fed a pass into Finnley Dove but unfortunately for Aldermaston Dove’s shot went well wide of the post and they were unable to extend their lead.

Devizes finally got themselves back on level terms 20 minutes from time, Danny Bowyer seeing his effort from the edge of the box loop over Morris in the Aldermaston goal and nestle in the net to make it 1-1. Devizes now had their tails up and nearly scored a second almost straight away, the ball being fed into Jack Smith who was one-on-one with Morris, but the Aldermaston keeper was quick off his line and pulled off another great save to deny Smith. Morris was again called into action in the 79^th minute, Jack Farion setting up Caleb Hollow but again the Aldermaston keeper was quickly out and deflected the ball away for a corner. Three minutes later Morris again denied Devizes the lead, this time a shot from Danny Bowyer from the edge of the box was turned round the post. Devizes continued to press for that second goal, Jack Smith heading just over from a corner but you could sense a goal was coming. It arrived a minute later and what a goal it was. Devizes’ Toby Baker cutting in from the left flank hit a superb curling shot that sailed into the top far corner of the net to give Devizes the lead for the first time in the game and Baker his first goal of the season.

Aldermaston sought to respond and had a couple of corners but were unable to create any chances of note and Devizes saw out the closing moments of the game to secure a league and cup double in what had been another excellent Under 18 cup final. The game had been played in a really sporting manner by both sides and had been well officiated by Rhiannon Stevens and her two assistants Colin Hopkins and Sam Pinches. Congratulations to Devizes Town from all at the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League on both their cup success and the double. Commiserations to Aldermaston who had played their part in producing an entertaining afternoon of football for the sizeable crowd at the Southbank Ground. We are as ever most grateful to Corsham Town for hosting this final, particularly given its late staging when a lot of grass pitches have already been decommissioned for summer maintenance work.

Devizes Town manager David Moore was obviously delighted after the game noting:

“It has been a fantastic season and the boys have done really well. They have been a fantastic group of lads both on and off the pitch and deserve everything they have achieved this season.”

“It is pleasing to note that four or five have progressed to the first team this season as well and all but two of the squad will still be available to play in the Under 18 Division again next season.”

Moore also noted that part of the key to their success has been to give each member of the squad sixty minutes playing time each game, something they have always done as they have come up through the various age groups in Youth football. Moore noted:

“That approach has carried us through a number of games this season in the Under 18 Division, having such a balanced squad has helped us see out games and secure some late goals.”

Moore’s final comment of the afternoon was to praise his opponents in the final:

“Congratulations to Adam and his side for making the final and giving us such a tough game this afternoon, they played their part in what was a tremendous game of football.”

To view the matchday programme for the Season 2021-22 U18 Cup Final click on the image of the programme.

7 May 2022