After last week’s complete wipe out, there was finally some action in the Premier Division and Division 1 of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with seven games played in the Premier Division, one in Division 1 and Kintbury Rangers finally got to play their County Cup game against Maidenhead Town.

The top two, who have now both applied for promotion to Step 6 next season, carried on with their impressive run of results so far this season, with both securing comfortable wins to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. With results elsewhere they also widened the gap to the chasing pack. At Devizes Town there were no signs of any rustiness after just the one game so far this calendar year, a hat-trick from Jamie Walters, two goals from Rhys Talmash plus one from Dan Skinner saw them complete a 6-0 win and a league double over Odd Down (Bath) Development having won 5-0 at the Lew Hill Memorial Stadium back in October.

Jamie Walters (3) and Rhys Talmash (2) who were both amongst the goals in Devizes Town's 6-0 win over Odd Down (Bath)

Trowbridge Town also completed a league double over today’s opponents Shrewton United. When the two sides had met back in October Trowbridge had put nine unanswered goals past Shrewton but both teams had different looking squads for this return encounter after a turbulent end to 2023. It was a much closer affair this time round but still ended up being a comfortable afternoon for the league leaders. Trowbridge led 2-0 at the break and added three more after half time before a consolation goal for Shrewton from the penalty spot ten minutes from time reduced the arrears. On target for the league leaders were James Rustell with two, Dan Jordan, Dan Sibley and Martin Johnson, Ben Jenks with that consolation goal for Shrewton. With both teams winning it meant Trowbridge Town maintained their two point lead over Devizes with 12 games to go with the two sides yet to play each other this season. Those two games are likely to decide the destination of the title as the top two continue their winning ways, for both sides today’s victories were their sixth straight league win.

Another team who are on a long winning streak are Blunsdon who had won four in a run and were unbeaten in eight games, seven of which had been won, ahead of their short trip across town to Wroughton today. On paper today’s trip to the Weir Field looked a stern test of that unbeaten run as Wroughton themselves were unbeaten in their last six games, five of which had been won. However, the close contest anticipated did not materialise. Whilst Blunsdon had been able to play a fortnight ago Wroughton had not played since the beginning of December, and they were caught cold on their return to action this afternoon as Blunsdon scored six unanswered goals to move above their opponents into third spot on goal difference. Nick Craft led the way smashing a hat-trick to take his total for the season to nine, and there were further goals from Jamie Pidgeon, Rob Curtis and a 13^th of the season from leading scorer Eliot Wheatley. Your Sport Swindon were at the game and subscribers can view highlights of the game by clicking on the link below or the link from the Your Sport Swindon page of the website.

Another side moving up the table are Frome Collegians following a hard fought 2-1 win over the young Calne Town Reserves side. Once again Frome’s leading scorer Jack Newman was amongst the goal netting his 15^th of the season, his strike plus a seventh of the season from Max Biddiscombe did the damage, Zach Bunce with the reply for Calne Town Reserves. The win for Frome saw them move into fifth spot in the table.

The side that Frome moved above were Pewsey Vale who were involved in a seven-goal affair at home to Malmesbury Vics Development. Malmesbury led twice only to be pegged back on both occasions by the home side. Pewsey then got themselves in front for the first time in the game but two goals from Harrison Archer for Malmesbury meant it was they who returned home with the three points. The other Malmesbury goals came courtesy of an own goal and a 30-yard strike from Josh Gale, Jude Cawley, James Guthrie and Andy Rossiter with the Pewsey Vale goals. Malmesbury are turning into something of a bogey side for Pewsey who have now failed to beat Malmesbury in the last four meetings between the two sides.

Harrison Archer (Malmesbury Vics Dev) & James Guthrie (Pewsey Vale) who were both amongst the goals for their respective sides in today's game at Pewsey

Salisbury FC Development went into their game against Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development on a decent run of form. Since November they had won three and drawn one in the league, their only defeat coming in the Fountain Trophies Cup against league leaders Trowbridge Town. Ahead of today's game, Salisbury had yet to defeat last season’s champions in the three previous meetings but had drawn their last two. Salisbury started much the brighter and their lively front line was causing the visitors defence all kinds of problems, hitting the bar on a couple of occasions and twice failing to put away from one-on-one chances against the keeper. The visitors rode their luck and then somewhat against the run of play went in front through Zach Pettifer. The visitors stepped up their game in the second half and created a couple of chances to extend their lead but in the end had to settle for the one goal which, along with a second clean sheet of the season against Salisbury, was enough to secure the three points against a very good young side.

Stratton Juniors had been on a torrid run that had seen them lose eight straight games ahead of today’s visit from Marlborough Town. They started well taking an early lead through Corey Cullen, Cullen firing in from outside the 18-yard box with just ten minutes gone. The same player then doubled Stratton’s lead ten minutes from half time. Whatever Marlborough manager Malcolm Ford said to his players at half time it certainly saw a reaction as Marlborough were back in the game within three minutes of the restart, Nathan Good with the Marlborough Town goal. They then took the game to Stratton and had two or three good chances to get back on level terms. Stratton weathered the storm and with 12 minutes remaining Cullen scored a third to complete his hat-trick and effectively make the game safe for Stratton. Stratton then rounded off a good afternoon for Neil Lee’s side when Sam Lowrie scored a fourth from a free kick to make the final score 4-1. The win saw Stratton climb out of the bottom three and into 12^th spot ahead of another big game at the bottom end of the table against Salisbury FC Development.

Corey Cullen whose hat-trick fired Stratton Juniors to a 4-1 win over Marlborough Town,ending Stratton's barren run

There was just the one game played in Division 1 and it saw the leaders Kingsdown Lions extend their lead at the top of the table with a 4-0 win over Pewsey Vale Development. Aiden Miller set them on their way with the opening goal before Josh Barnfield doubled their lead from the penalty spot for his eight goal of the campaign. Substitute Ollie Hunt then bagged a brace to complete a good afternoon for the leaders. The other two scheduled games in Division 1 were postponed.

Kintbury Rangers excellent run in the The Berks & Bucks FA Charles Twelftree Trophy was finally brought to an end at the 4th Round stage, Kintbury going down 1-0 to a penalty five minutes from time against Maidenhead Town. Kintbury's Josh Wallin being sent off for deliberate handball in the penalty incident. Kintbury could have gone behind two minutes earlier, again from the penalty spot, but keeper Kyle Clough saved that initial spot kick but unfortunately, he was unable to repeat the feat with the second penalty.

More Care Please

Result texts sent in by clubs for today's games saw two teams send in their result the wrong way round and one send the wrong score in. FA Full-Time defaults to the last text sent in when there are conflicts. Please would clubs take care when sending their texts in. The Non-League Paper take our Premier Division results from FA Full-Time and, depending on what time they record the results, an incorrect result sent in by a club could see the wrong result and league table published in what is a national paper.

28 January 2023