There were just three games in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League this week.

The top game of the night was at the Gerard Buxton Ground where two unbeaten sides, Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Kintbury Rangers met each other with early leadership of the division at stake. It was a cagey opening 25 minutes with few clear-cut chances but with Kintbury having the greater share of the possession playing some neat passing football. However, they fell behind on 26 minutes when a quick break from the home side saw Joey Warren fire a shot from the edge of the box that came back off the bar and leading scorer Jacob Rendell-Haines headed in from the rebound for 1-0. Kintbury continued to have the better of the possession but found themselves 2-0 down on the half-hour mark. Another quick transition from defence into attack saw the ball find the lively Charlie Stammers on the right flank and his low powerful cross into the box was deflected into his own net by a Kintbury defender. Five minutes later the home side had the ball in the net once again but this time it was correctly disallowed by referee Rhiannon Stevens for offside with the goalkeeper not between the goal and the attacker when the ball was played into him. Kintbury finally started to create chances from their domination of possession and went close with a powerful shot which was turned away for a corner by keeper Jack Rae. The resulting corner was then almost put into his own net by a Royal Wootton Bassett Town defender, with an attempted clearance hitting the post and then being cleared to safety for a lucky escape for the home side. With a minute to go to half-time the home side were awarded a free kick 25-yards out. Joey Warren fired the ball into the box and Jacob Rendell-Haines reacted quickest to the loose ball and tucked away his second of the game to make it 3-0 at the break, somewhat harsh on the visitors who had been playing some neat football but without the end product that the home side had demonstrated so well on the break.

Kintbury came out for the second half in determined fashion and were rewarded two minutes after the restart when Jowan Partridge in the home defence failed to deal with a ball into the box and Joseph Sheridan pounced to pull one back for the visitors. Kintbury continued to try and get themselves back in the game and went close to reducing the arrears 15 minutes from time when a free-kick went just wide of the angle of post and crossbar. The home defence restricted any further chances for the visitors and safely saw out the remaining minutes to claim all three points and early leadership of the division. Kintbury are back in action on Monday when they host Calne Town, whilst Royal Wootton Bassett Town take on Melksham Town next Thursday.

Another of the unbeaten sides, Radstock Town, were home to one of the new sides to the division this season, Warminster Town. Warminster had opened with a 3-0 home defeat against AFC Aldermaston and in their first away game of the season found themselves one down within a minute of the start of the match, Shaniel Mwaura putting Radstock ahead. Two quick fire goals around the 20-minute mark from Bartek Grzywa and Lewis Wheeler put Radstock 3-0 up and in the driving seat and it remained that way at the break. Warminster had a much better start to the second half than they had in the first and, whilst the first 25 minutes of the second period saw no further goals being conceded, Warminster were also unable to find a goal at the other end to get a foothold back in the game. The game was effectively put beyond them 20 minutes from time when Leo Miller added a fourth goal. Lex Southall extended the lead further ten minutes from time and two further goals in injury time from Thomas Hobbs and Theo King rounded off a resounding win for the home side. Seven different scorers for Radstock on a night that saw them move second in the table one point behind the leaders but with a game in hand. Radstock are back in action this coming Monday when they travel to another side with a 100% winning start to the season AFC Aldermaston and it will be interesting to see whether which one or both remain unbeaten after Monday’s encounter. Warminster will be looking to pick up their first points of the season when they travel to Bradford Town, another of the new clubs who are also yet to win this season.

Bradford Town were in action on Thursday night when they travelled to the Oakfield Stadium to play a Melksham Town side who were looking to bounce back from their opening day defeat to Kintbury Rangers. Bradford Town had picked up their first point of the season last week in a high scoring draw with Kingsdown Lions but found Melksham Town in top form, especially striker Rueben Rule. Rule hit a first half hat-trick to give the home side a 3-0 half-time lead. That lead was extended within four minutes of the restart, Owen Allison getting on the score sheet. 15-year-old substitute Charlie Walder then added a fifth before Luke Masero scored a late consolation goal for Bradford Town, scoring for the second week running for his side. Bradford Town go in search of their first win with that home game against Warminster Town whilst Melksham have that home game with the leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

League Table

Leading Scorers

Results and Next Week's Fixtures

Wilts FA County Youth Cup

The Wiltshire FA have made the draw for the Second Round of their Youth Cup which is scheduled for Sunday 2nd October 2022 and all the remaining Floodlit League sides have been given a home draw. Bishops Cannings, after their 11-0 demolition of Durrington in the last round will be home to Downton Youth U17. Bradford Town will be home to Heytesbury, whilst Royal Wootton Bassett Town will host Clarendon Juniors.The final tie involving our sides sees Warminster Town at home to Downton Youth U18 who knocked out the holders Swindon Supermarine in the last round. Details of the results in the First Round and the full Second Round draw is shown below:

23 September 2022