Firstly, before rounding up today’s action in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, it is congratulations to Corsham Town on making the semi-final of the prestigious national FA Vase competition, Corsham are now just one game away from Wembley.

Headline makers this week in our own competitions are Larkhall Athletic Development who knocked Premier Division side Blunsdon out of the Fountain Trophies Cup this afternoon and are now through to the semi-final. Blunsdon, who are in their first season at Senior level, have been having a great first season and currently sit fourth in the Premier Division table. Larkhall meanwhile look favourites to take the Division 1 title, currently trailing Kingsdown Lions by six points but with four games in hand, and they were keen to test themselves against Premier Division opposition and they certainly passed that test with honours today.  It was visitors Larkhall who got themselves in front Matt Bowman heading in from a corner. Blunsdon got themselves back on level terms when a ball from Rob Curtis found Jamie Pidgeon who cut in and fired in for 1-1 and it remained that way at the break. Blunsdon took the lead for the first and only time in the game early in the second half, Lewis Moorland with another header from a corner for 2-1 to the home side. From yet another corner, this time taken by Larkhall’s Lewis Dixon, James Book headed in at the far post to level matters up at 2-2. It remained that way until ten minutes from time Larkhall’s Arinze-Tross Nonyelu went through on goal but the a tackle from a Blunsdon defender saw the ball fall to Nonyelu's teammate Thierry Swaby who smashed a half-volley into the net for 3-2 to the visitors from 20-yards out, the third game running that the Larkhall player had found the net. With Blunsdon pushing forward to get an equaliser the game became stretched and Larkhall were able to put the game beyond the home side when they broke and Nonyelu was brought down in the box for a penalty. Captain Charlie Saunders saw his initial spot kick saved by Blunsdon keeper Harrison Ellis but  Saunders reacted quickest and made no mistake at the second attempt to secure that win that sees the Division 1 side through to the last four. Larkhall will be at home to the winners of the one outstanding quarter final tie between Trowbridge Town and Wroughton.

There was almost a second Division 1 triumph at Kingsdown School in an eventful game where Kingsdown Lions were playing the only unbeaten side in the two divisions, Devizes Town. Under 18 player Nicholas Wilkes put home side Kingsdown ahead on the half-hour mark and it remained that way at half time. Kingsdown extended their lead eight minutes into the second half, Aiden Miller with his 10^th goal of the season. Devizes finally got a foothold back in the game when skipper Jamie Walters reduced the deficit with his 14^th goal of the campaign in all competitions. Devizes then suffered a setback when leading scorer Derek Wheeler was sent off. Despite the numerical disadvantage Devizes continued to press for an equaliser and a goal from Jack Coward levelled matters up to send the game into extra time. Ben Payne then put Kingsdown back in front within two minutes of the start of extra time but Jamal Chevolleau quickly equalised to make it 3-3. An own goal then saw Kingsdown back in front for the third time in the match and with Devizes now reduced to nine men, with Chevolleau becoming the second Devizes player to be dismissed, it looked like that unbeaten run of Devizes would be finally ended. However, the nine men dug deep and a late equaliser from Kieron Gleed to make the score 4-4 at the end of extra time meant penalties would be needed to settle matters. In the shootout two saves from keeper Jack Cross saw Devizes prevail 4-2 in the spot kicks and the team that would progress to the last four with that unbeaten record still intact. Devizes certainly knew that record had been well and truly tested by their well organised Division One opponents.

Jamal Chevolleau and Jamie Walters, seen here against Salisbury earlier in the season, were both on target for Devizes in their cup win over Kingsdown Lions. 

(pictures courtesy of David Giles)

The final quarter final tie played this week was at the Sustain Stadium at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground where Frome Collegians were Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development’s visitors. Frome had won 4-1 on their last visit to the Sustain Stadium on the opening day of the season and followed that up with a comfortable 6-2 win in the home league fixture. Royal Wootton Bassett were hoping to avenge those two heavy league defeats and it was a much closer affair in the third meeting of the season. In a tight first half both sides created some good chances with the best falling the way of the visitors. They went close to taking the lead early on when an attempted clearance from Royal Wootton Bassett’s George Lance was sliced and went just wide of the post. The home sides’ Kevin Lartey looked the most likely player from Royal Wootton Bassett to open the scoring and he should have done better with a header at the far post from a cross from left that went tamely into the hands of Frome keeper Ben Forester. Frome continued to create chances at the other end, Max Biddiscombe fired wide before leading scorer Jack Newman had a great chance from a cross from the left but was only able to get to it with his hand rather than his head and it in any event went wide of the post. The closest either side came to scoring was from a Barry Sandquest free kick, Joe Upshall getting on the end of the set piece but his header came back off the crossbar and was scrambled to safety.  The second half continued to be nip and tuck and it was the home side who went closest to breaking the deadlock when Kevin Lartey beat keeper Forester with a shot but Upshall was on the line to clear to keep the scores level. Both sides continued to create chances the best falling the way of Upshall, but he fired over when an attempted clearance from a Max Biddiscombe free kick fell to him in the box. The deadlock was finally broken late in the game, another free kick this time from Theo Sing into the box found Ross Knapton and his looping header went just inside the far post for the only goal of the game. Frome will now be at home to Devizes Town in the semi-final. Your Sport Swindon were at the game and highlights from the match can be viewed by subscribers by clicking on the link below or the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the website.

Ross Knapton who scored the winner for Frome Collegians and Joe Upshall whose goal line clearance was also important in Frome's 1-0 win over RWBT Dev.

In the league third placed Wroughton were looking to close the gap to the top two and go into their Wiltshire Senior Cup Final this coming midweek against Warminster Town on a winning note when they travelled to Calne Town Reserves. It started well for them Luigi Hernandz heading in from a corner on 25 minutes to give Wroughton the lead. However, it was the home side who went into the half time break ahead as goals from Eddie Summers and Woody Smart gave the young and well organised Calne side a 2-1 half time lead. Wroughton got themselves back on level terms within ten minutes of the restart though, Ollie While firing in from the penalty spot. Wroughton had the better of things in the second half but were unable to find the net and almost conceded a late winner to Calne but a save from keeper Eddie Salsbury lwhen faced with a one-on-one ensured the points were shared.

Luigi Hernandez who opened the scoring for Wroughton & keeper Eddie Salsbury who ensured his side came away with a point.

The other three games all involved sides involved in what is turning out to be a fascinating relegation battle at the bottom end of the table. At the Oakfield Stadium Melksham Town Reserves visitors were Kintbury Rangers who were looking to move back into the top six. Whilst they dominated  position in the first half they were unable to find the net and it was completely different story in the second half. Whatever manager Justin Flowers said to his players at half time it certainly did the trick as goals from James Gardner, Luke Curtis and Jake Dodge saw Melksham 3-0 to the good, a late consolation from the penalty spot from Alex Davidson-Soler restored some pride for Kintbury whose two contrasting halves of football saw them fall to a 3-1 defeat against the bottom of the table side. The win for Melksham saw them close the gap to the cluster of other sides in the relegation battle to just five points and on their current form they may still get out of the bottom three with seven games to go, those seven fixtures including games against fellow strugglers Marlborough Town, Stratton Juniors and Odd Down (Bath) Development .

Games between Marlborough Town and Shrewton United tend to be high-scoring affairs with the last four league games before today’s encounter at Elcot Lane producing 31 goals in total, including nine in the first game between the sides this season, with all four games having been won by Shrewton. Indeed their record against Marlborough is an impressive one with 15 victories in the last 17 league meetings. Whilst it was once again a high scoring affair this one was to go Marlborough’s way. Luke Little put them 1-0 up before Dan Burke doubled their lead. Shrewton got themselves back in the game when Tyler Hull set up leading scorer Sam Webb for his eighth of the season. Shrewton were back on level terms by the break, an own goal levelling matters up. Having twice come from behind Shrewton got their noses in front for the first time in the game, Mike Glasson firing in from the penalty spot after Sam Webb had been brought down in the box. In what was proving to be another entertaining game, Jake Farrell levelled matters up at 3-3 with another Marlborough goal and it was to get better for the home side when Simon Neale netted their fourth of the game with what proved to be the winner. The victory saw Marlborough climb out of the bottom three with their defeated opponents taking their place on goal difference. Both teams are now on 18 points along with Malmesbury Victoria Development and Odd Down (Bath) Development with Stratton Juniors one point behind these four sides in a congested bottom end of the table.

Odd Down (Bath) Development were unable to add to their points tally after they fell to a 5-2 defeat away at Salisbury FC Development. Salisbury led 3-1 at the break and ensured all three points by also taking the second half scoring twice more with just one further goal for the visitors. Dyllan Roocroft led the way for Salisbury helping himself to a hat-trick, Abdulrahim Razak and Omario Henry with the other Salisbury goals, David Cooper and Tyrone Mulholland replying for Odd Down. The win for Salisbury saw them move four points clear of those four sides sat on 18 points and their form since the start of the calendar year looks to have ensured they should be safe despite suffering points deductions for postponing games earlier in the season.

The game between Stratton Juniors and Pewey Vale was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch following an inspection in conjunction with the scheduled referee.

Division 1

There was just the one league game in Division One with Pewsey Vale Development entertaining Ludgershall Sports. On a day that saw plenty of goals it was another high-scoring affair as the two sides shared six goals and the points. On target for Pewsey were Oscar Middleton, player-manager Kierron Kiff and Jude Cawley, Luke Holden, Marcus Read and Elliot Sharlott replying for Ludgershall Sports. The point for Ludgershall saw them move level on points with third placed Devizes Town Reserves but they stay fourth on goal difference having played the same number of games as Devizes.

11 March 2023