Once again the weather caused a much reduced programme of games in the Under 18 Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, with frozen pitches and illness being the cause of postponements this week. In the end just one game went ahead, a game that was not even scheduled to have been played this week but was hastily arranged with co-operation from both Royal Wootton Bassett Town and Bishops Cannings after both saw their scheduled games postponed. Bishops Cannings were scheduled to be away at Bradford Town, but weather-related pitch issues meant that game was postponed earlier in the week. An attempt was made to switch the fixture to Bishops Cannings but when that was unsuccessful another opportunity for a league fixture for Bishops Cannings was provided by Warminster Town postponing their scheduled trip to Royal Wootton Bassett Town due to illness for a game that was being played on the 3G at the Gerard Buxton Ground. Although Bishops Cannings and Royal Wootton Bassett Town had only recently played each other at Devizes, both were happy for the return fixture to be brought forward at short notice from March and, in the end, this was the only fixture played in the division.

On a bitterly cold evening the two sides served up an entertaining game between two sides expected to be contesting for honours this season. It was visitors Bishops Cannings who took the lead, Harvey Swain scoring his fourth of the season. Home side Royal Wootton Bassett Town had been forced to make a late goalkeeping switch after Jack Rae reported feeling ill just before kick-off. Replacement keeper Finlay Cranswick-Coates was certainly the busier of the two keepers in the opening half, but his efforts in an impressive performance prevented any further goals and, despite, having the better of the half Bishops Cannings found themselves trailing 2-1 at the break. Joe Beavis, who certainly enjoys playing against Bishops Cannings having scored twice in the first meeting between the sides, had pulled Royal Wootton Bassett level and then a first of the season from Flynn Walters had given the home side the lead. Second half saw the home side up their game and a second of the game from Beavis, taking his total against Bishops Cannings this season to four, gave his side a two-goal advantage. It remained tight throughout between two evenly matched sides, but Bishops Cannings were unable to create any clear-cut chances and add to their one goal tally as it finished 3-1 to Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

This was the home sides’ ninth game of the season, and they reach the halfway stage with their fixtures unbeaten, with seven wins out of nine, and are one point behind league leaders Kintbury Rangers who have played the same number of games and who they beat at the start of the season. Bishops Cannings remain in fourth spot but are now 13 points adrift of Royal Wootton Bassett Town but with two games in hand. Whilst they have lost three games, two of them have been against unbeaten Royal Wootton Bassett and one against Calne Town, the team immediately above them. Despite these defeats Bishops Cannings are still going to have a big say in the title race as many of last season’s team from Devizes look to retain the title they won last season.

The games at Calne Town, Melksham Town and Radstock Town were all postponed due to frozen pitches.

League Table

Leading Scorers

Results & Next Week's Fixtures

9 December 2022