After the dust had settled following today’s games it is very much advantage Trowbridge Town in the race for the Premier Division title. In midweek Trowbridge had moved back top of the table with a hard fought 2-0 away win against Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. Two headed goals, one in each half from Liam Milburn and James Rustell securing the victory. Milburn had given them a half time lead heading in from a cross from Connor McKay the ball going in off the underside of the crossbar. Whilst Trowbridge dominated possession it was not all one-way traffic and they had goalkeeper Kierran Ramsey to thank for keeping their lead intact midway through the second half when he saved spectacularly from a half-volley from Zach Pettifer. Trowbridge made sure of the points 15 minutes from time when James Rustell got on the end of a Charlie Barber cross to head in at the far post from just outside the six-yard box. Your Sport Swindon were at the game and subscribers can view the highlights by clicking on the link below or from the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the website.

Trowbridge Town followed that midweek win with a home victory over Malmesbury Vics Development. It was pretty even for the first 15 minutes but once Trowbridge got themselves in front, they went on to effectively wrap up the game by half time. They went in front from a free kick that was fired in by Liam Milburn, the Malmesbury keeper failing to keep the ball out, tipping it into his own net. Trowbridge then doubled their lead almost immediately with Milburn once again the scorer, this time he lobbed the keeper from the edge of the box to make it 2-0. Two minutes later it was three, the other scorer from midweek James Rustell getting himself on the score sheet heading in just under the crossbar. Once again it took Trowbridge just two minutes to score again, Rustell again the scorer with another header to make it four goals in a five-minute spell. Malmesbury were then able to steady the ship and were able to see out the rest of the half without conceding again. It was a much improved second half for the visitors, they pulled one back through Joe Tranter within five minutes of the restart, but the damage had been done in that five minute spell midway through the first half and Trowbridge safely navigated the remaining 40 minutes without conceding again to secure three more vital points in their quest for the title. After the final whistle news came through that Devizes had failed to win and that the destiny of the title was now very much in Trowbridge's own hands.

Devizes Town had started the day as the only side in the league with an unbeaten record. That unblemished record has finally come to an end in their 25^th game of the season, with their near neighbours Melksham Town becoming the first side to lower their colours this season. A solitary goal from Jake Dodge, his 13^th of the season for Melksham, was the difference between the two sides.  That is now four wins in their last five games for Melksham whose run of improved form now sees them sat in 12^th place in the table having spent virtually all season at the bottom. With three games to go against sides who are also in the relegation battle Melksham look like their late run of form could see them finish outside the bottom three, something that did not look possible shortly after Justin Flowers had taken over the hot seat. The defeat for Devizes sees then four points adrift of Trowbridge and the pressure is now very much on them ahead of Monday’s big encounter with the league leaders. Devizes really need a win now on Monday although Trowbridge do still have some tricky looking fixtures still to come, but Ryan Bagg’s side will go into Monday’s encounter knowing all the pressure is now on Devizes.

Melksham Town Res celebrate Jake Dodge's winning goal

(picture courtesy of David Giles)

More action from Devizes Town v Melksham Town Res

(picture courtesy of David Giles)

Whilst focus was very much on the top two in the title race the top match on paper this weekend looked to be the game between the two teams just below them in the table, Pewsey Vale and Wroughton. Pewsey Vale had gone above Wroughton into third spot in midweek with an impressive 5-1 away win at Calne Town Reserves. Two goals from both Lee Himsworth and Stanley Pagett plus one from Jude Cawley did the damage with four of the five goals coming in the first half. A much-improved showing from Calne in the second half saw them pull one back through Zac Bruce but the damage had been done in that first 45. That was five straight wins for Pewsey ahead of today’s encounter with Wroughton.

Wroughton and Pewsey Vale are chasing third place in the league behind the runaway top two and a win today was important in that battle for third place. The game certainly did not disappoint its pre-match billing. It was fairly even for the first 20 minutes, but it was the visitors who got themselves in front on 25 minutes, Luke Saunders slotting home after neat set-up play down the left flank and a one-two with Jonny Davoille to give Wroughton the lead.  Ten minutes later Wroughton doubled their lead a ball into the box from Davoille found Aaron Maximen but his side foot shot came back off the crossbar, Chris Flanagan crossed the ball back in and Dave Harmer knocked it into the net from the edge of the six-yard box for 2-0. Wroughton went into the half time break in total control with Pewsey struggling to make any impact on the Wroughton goal.   

Despite that first half dominance, Pewsey Vale pulled a goal back early in the second half, Haydon Amor volleying in from a James Guthrie corner for 2-1. A controversial red card for Wroughton’s skipper Flanagan proved to be a crucial turning point in the game, Flanagan receiving a second yellow card for aledged time wasting. Pewsey then sought to take full advantage of the extra man and piled the pressure on the Wroughton goal. They got themselves back on level terms ten minutes from the final whistle, Andy Rossiter getting on the end of a hopeful ball into the box and firing in at the far post as the Wroughton defence were slow to react to the danger. The comeback was complete in the last minute when Rossiter fired into the far corner of the net for his second of the game and his 11^th of the season to give Pewsey a 3-2 win that few would have predicted based on that first half. Heartbreak for Wroughton who had looked in control until that controversial moment that saw Flanagan dismissed. The win extended Pewsey’s winning run and they opened up a four-point lead over Wroughton in the battle for third place, although Wroughton have a game in hand. Your Sport Swindon were again at this game and subscribers can view the highlights by clicking on the link below or from the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the website.

Kintbury Rangers and Frome Collegians are not out of the running for that third place, although Kintbury’s mini blip at the start of the calendar year means they cannot afford to drop many points from hereon in. Frome started the day three points behind Pewsey with a game in hand looking to bounce back from last week’s cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Devizes. It was the home side Kintbury who had the better of things in the first half but the teams turned round with the game still looking for its first goal. However, second half strikes from Luke Whelan and Charlie Allsop for Kintbury saw the Berkshire side take all three points courtesy of a 2-0 win. Following their defeat Frome remain two points behind Wroughton but are now six points adrift of Pewsey with that game in hand whilst Kintbury are two points behind Frome, with both sides still having seven games to play.

Brett Fairclough and Caleb Hollow who were both on target in Calne Town Res 3-1 win over Stratton Juniors

Shrewton United started the day second from bottom in the table and in much need of a win to avoid the drop. They made the journey to the north of the county hopeful of getting a result against an out-of-sorts Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development side that had lost three on the spin ahead of today’s visit from Shrewton. The game remained without a goal at half time but two second half goals from James Collins saw Shrewton leave with all three points, a vital win for them in their bid to avoid the drop. Despite the win they remain in the bottom three but moved above Odd Down (Bath) Development and level on points with the three teams above them in the congested bottom half of the table. For Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development that is now four straight defeats and with the teams at the bottom starting to pick up points they could do with a win to make sure they do not get sucked into the battle to avoid the drop.

Odd Down (Bath) Development entertained a Salisbury FC Development side who had defeated them 5-2 last month but a much better showing in the return game saw Odd Down come away with a vital point in their quest to avoid the drop. It was visitors Salisbury who took the lead five minutes before half-time. Abdul Razak has been in fine goal scoring form having scored in all of Salisbury’s last three games ahead of today's encounter and he extended that run with another making it five goals in four games to give Salisbury a half-time lead. Salisbury came under immense pressure from the home side in the second half but held out until seven minutes from time when substitute Finley Little scored an equaliser in what was the Under 18 players debut.  That goal and point could prove very important come the season end.

Division One

It has been a busy weekend for Larkhall Athletic Development with a a game on Good Friday and Easter Saturday and with another game to come on Easter Monday. Good Friday saw them entertain a struggling Purton side who travelled to Bath still to register a single point but with the respect of many for keeping going despite some heavy losses. They were to suffer yet another heavy defeat on Friday as they conceded 16 times against a rampant Larkhall side who secured promotion to the Premier Division as a result of the win. The goals were shared around the team with hat-tricks for both Josh Riccio and Thierry Swaby, Harvey Kendrick and Charlie Saunders both scored twice and there was one apiece for James Book, Jack Kelsey, James Payton, Farley McDowell, Tom Ricketts and Reuban Whitson.

Having secured promotion Larkhall now have the league title in their sights and at their own request played back-to back games with Pewsey Vale Development their visitors this afternoon in a game switched to the 3G at Odd Down with Larkhall's first team in action at Plain Ham. With a number of players back from university, Pewsey brought a strong squad to Bath and dominated the game in the opening 20 minutes. Larkhall gradually got themselves into the game and began to take charge and create chances. They went in front on 35 minutes when a Lewis Dixon cross was headed home by Thierry Swaby to give Larkhall a 1-0 half time lead. Larkhall continued at pace in the second half and extended their lead when Benji Riccio put the returning Tom Ricketts through and he cleverly rounded the keeper to make it 2-0 on 55 minutes. Larkhall went further ahead ten minutes later, captain Charlie Saunders fed Swaby who finished in style with a brilliant lob for 3-0. Pewsey Vale then grabbed a late consolation five minutes from time through Melvin Tatah, just reward for their part in what had been an entertaining encounter. The win saw Larkhall move to within three points of Kingsdown Lions at the top of the table and they could well be top of the table come Monday evening when they play Purton once again.

Larkhall Athletic Development who have this weekend secured promotion to the Premier Division

8 April 2023