Once again in the Under 18 Floodlight Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire it was just the 3G pitches at Kingsdown School and Green Lane that saw action this week.

On a bitterly cold Tuesday night Kingsdown Lions entertained a Royal Wootton Bassett Town side who had the chance to move back top of the table with a win. When the sides had met at the Sustain Stadium at the very start of the season Royal Wootton Bassett Town had won 5-3 in an entertaining game and, despite the cold weather, the two sides conjured up another thrilling encounter. The teams turned round at the break with the game still looking for its first goal, but plenty came in the second half. Despite just two wins in their opening ten games it looked like Kingsdown would be the first team to inflict a defeat on Royal Wootton Bassett Town this season, as goals from Jack Byrne and Callum Tregunna in the first 15 minutes of the second half put them 2-0 up. It remained that way until 20 minutes from time when Joey Warren pulled one back for the visitors to give them a foothold back in the game. Royal Wootton Bassett Town eventually restored parity, but it needed a helping hand from the home side as an own goal made it 2-2. They then went ahead for the first time in the match five minutes from time, Rhys Westlake firing in to make it 3-2 to secure three vital points for his side and send them two points clear at the top of the table having played one game more than second placed Kintbury Rangers. Credit to Kingsdown Lions who had pushed the visitors all the way in a sporting contest between the two sides.

The other game to be played this week was on Friday night at Green Lane Devizes where Bishops Cannings entertained Melksham Town on another very cold evening. It was visitors Melksham who went ahead early on, a Leo Rendell strike from outside the box giving them the lead. Melksham had a number of chances to extend their lead as they took the game to Bishops Cannings but they were unable to add to that Rendell goal. Bishops Cannings stepped up their game and four unanswered goals from Jack Farion, Joseph Muir, Caleb Hollow and one from the division’s leading scorer Jack Smith, taking his total for the season to 14,  saw them run out 4-1 winners. The win for Bishops Cannings saw them move level with Calne Town in third spot but having played one game more.

Next week could be a pivotal one in the title race with leaders Royal Wootton Town hosting Calne Town and Bishops Cannings entertaining second placed Kintbury Rangers the following night, with both games involving the top four sides being played on 3G pitches. Kingsdown Lions are also at home again this week when they host Warminster Town on Tuesday night, with the final game of the week seeing Radstock Town at home to AFC Aldermaston on Thursday night.

League Table

Leading Scorers

Results and Next Week's Fixtures

22 January 2023