Premier Division

The top two Trowbridge Town and Devizes Town continued their relentless pursuit of the league title with both securing comfortable victories this afternoon.

Trowbridge Town were forced to play their game against Stratton Juniors at Stanley Park, Chippenham with Woodmarsh living up to the second part of its name with the pitch thoroughly waterlogged. Despite being forced onto a neutral ground there was no stopping Ryan Baggs’ side as they racked up victory number 20 from their 23 games to date. Trowbridge had to come from behind after Stratton Juniors went in front early on thanks to a first of the season from Jordan Taylor but there was to be no upset. Trowbridge were back on level terms on 23 minutes when Connor McKay was brought down in the box and James Rustell made no mistake from the spot to make it 1-1. Almost straight away McKay then put Trowbridge in front for the first time before Jamie Hughes then extended the lead to make it 3-1. Cory Cullen pulled one back for Stratton with his 14^th goal of the season, but Trowbridge restored their two-goal advantage going into the break, McKay with his second of the game to make it 4-2 at half time. Further goals in the second half from Martin Johnson and a second of the game for James Rustell secured for Trowbridge what in the end was a comfortable 6-2 win. That second goal of the game from Rustell was Trowbridge’s 100^th league goal of the season as they became the first side this season to reach a century of goals.

Devizes Town had what on paper looked a tough game away at an in-form Frome Collegians side. Frome came into the game on the back of nine straight wins in all competitions and, despite having lost 6-0 in the first encounter, were expected to give the title chasers a tough afternoon. That tough afternoon did not materialise for George Bettles’ side as they ran out comfortable 5-1 winners. Jamie Walters led the way firing in a hat-trick to take his total for the season to 17, Rhys Talmash took his own total to 13 and Kieron Gleed moved into double figures with the other Devizes goal, Lee Handford with the consolation goal for Frome Collegians. The match was a dress rehearsal for the Fountain Trophies Cup semi-final which is set to take place at the beginning of April and Frome will be hoping they can produce a much better performance when they next meet up. The win left Devizes one point behind Trowbridge in the table with seven games to go with two sides set to meet on Easter Monday at Nursteed Road.

Jamie Walters (3) and Rhys Talmash, seen here against Salisbury earlier in the season, were both on target for Devizes in their 5-1 away win at Frome Collegians.

(pictures courtesy of David Giles)

After their midweek heroics in the Wiltshire Senior Cup, third placed Wroughton returned to league action with a visit from Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. When the sides had met at the Sustain Stadium back in October Royal Wootton Bassett Town had defeated Wroughton 1-0, which at the time was only Wroughton’s second defeat of the season, and Ben Jarrett and Nathan Hall were hoping their side would avenge that defeat to ensure they did not lose further ground to top two. However, in a game that saw the two defences on top neither side was able to find the net in the return fixture and had to settle for a point apiece. Having dropped two more points realistically the best Wroughton can now do is finish third, as it would require a major change in the fortunes of the top two for any other outcome. The point did edge Wroughton two points clear of their nearest challengers for that third spot, Frome Collegians, with both sides having eight games to go. Wroughton have their League Cup quarter final with Trowbridge Town next week before they then take on Downton in the final of the Wiltshire Senior Cup at Melksham Town.

Pewsey Vale returned to action after going three weeks without a game following last week’s postponement at Stratton Juniors with a visit from Shrewton United. Darren Tapper’s side were quick out of the blocks, James Guthrie giving them the lead as early as the third minute. Guthrie then went from scorer to provider as he set up Andy Rossiter for his ninth goal of the campaign with just seven minutes on the clock. Shrewton got themselves back into the game when a corner taken by Michael Glasson was returned to him and he curled a shot from out wide into the net for 2-1. They were to find themselves back two down at the break though as Oscar Middleton was sent tumbling in the box and James Guthrie stepped up to put the penalty away for his second of the game to make it 3-1 to Pewsey at the interval. After going those three weeks without a game Pewsey ran out of steam a bit in the second half and Shrewton came back into it with Sam Webb scoring his ninth of the season to reduce the arrears. Shrewton were unable to find an equaliser though as it finished 3-2 to Pewsey who moved to within a point of fifth placed Blunsdon with a game in hand.

After a good start to the season and an excellent run in their County Cup Kintbury Rangers have gone off the boil a little in recent weeks and went into their game today with Marlborough Town having won just two of their last nine games in all competitions. Included in that run was a 2-0 away defeat at today’s opponents Marlborough Town at the end of November which Kintbury were looking to avenge when the sides met at the Recreation Ground this afternoon. The teams turned round at the break with the game still looking for its first goal and few would have predicted the avalanche of goals that would come in the second half. Marlborough’s Tom Womersley broke the deadlock early in the second half before Dan Burke doubled the Marlborough advantage with his fifth goal of the campaign. Kintbury came back at Marlborough with goals from Craig Bruce and Aidan Maycock before Josh Wallin put them ahead for the first time in the game. With Marlborough having had Andrew Neale sent off and down to ten men it looked like Kintbury would end that run of form as they continued to lead 3-2 with the game moving into injury time. Marlborough Town, and in particular Jake Farrell, had other ideas though as two late strikes from their leading scorer turned things round and saw Marlborough win 4-3 to complete a league double over Kintbury. The win could be vital for Marlborough in their relegation battle given they had played more games than the other sides at the bottom end of the table. Tonight they sit in 11^th spot with three games to go including games against fellow strugglers Stratton Juniors and Melksham Town Reserves and a final match against near neighbours Pewsey Vale still to come.

The final game played saw a resurgent Salisbury FC Development continue their great form of late with a 2-0 away win over Malmesbury Victoria Development. Having defeated the same side a fortnight ago Mark Winter’s side completed a quick-fire double over the Vics. On target for Salisbury were Abdul Razak and Harry Mealing, the win seeing Salisbury move seven points clear of the bottom three sides.

The game between Blunsdon and Odd Down (Bath) Development was postponed following the tragic news of the passing of Odd Down manager Mark Brown during the week. Odd Down are set to pay tribute to their late manager at next week’s fixture against Malmesbury Victoria Development and the thoughts of everyone at the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League are with his family and Odd Down (Bath) Football Club at this sad time.

Division 1

It was another one of those weekends in Division One where the top four were all playing each other and it is the top two who are now looking comfortable at the top of the table as both leaders Kingsdown Lions and Larkhall Athletic Development both secured victories. Second placed Larkhall Athletic Development left it late in their away game at Devizes Town Reserves. The only goal of the game came 15 minutes from time, Arinze-Tross Nonyelu getting on the end of a Lewis Dixon corner to head home for what proved to be the winner. Before that goal Larkhall had created several chances on a wet pitch but none had been taken but Nonyelu made sure of the points with his third goal of the season. The win allowed Larkhall to open up an eight point gap over Devizes, and also Ludgershall, with Larkhall having two games in hand over both sides and now very close to achieving promotion.

Even closer to promotion are Kingsdown Lions who avenged their recent defeat at the hands of Ludgershall Sports with a hard-fought 2-1 away win in South Wiltshire this afternoon in what was an entertaining and close encounter. Tyler Wilkinson gave the visitors an early lead, scoring in the first few minutes of the game before having to leave the pitch with an injury. However, Ludgershall were deservedly back on level terms before the break, Luke Holden with the equaliser. Kingsdown stepped up their game in the second half and the winner came midway through the second forty-five, Ollie Hunt firing in a free-kick to make it 2-1. Ludgershall pushed for an equaliser but Kingsdown held out for the precious three points which mean they are now just a point away from achieving promotion. With Purton to play at home next week Kingsdown are expected to complete the job next Saturday.  

Purton prepared for that game next week with Kingsdown with a final meeting of the season with Pewsey Vale Development, the side just above them in the table. Following Kintbury Rangers Development withdrawal from the league the only three victories Pewsey Vale had to their name ahead of today's match were the three earlier games against Purton and today they competed a clean sweep of victories over the Red House based side with a 5-2 success. On target for Pewsey were Dominic Terrett, who bagged a brace and doubled his total for the season, player-manager Kierron Kiff, Jay Rondon and Ben Hayward, Ethan Harris and Ryan Dent replying for Purton.

18 March 2023