As the season moved into its final few days once again the frustration of waterlogged pitches came back to play havoc with the fixtures in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League as just three of the scheduled eight Saturday fixtures went ahead. Revised dates for most of the postponed clubs have already been agreed between the two clubs and the league as we look to finish next Saturday.

Ahead of the games this weekend two matches were played in the Premier Division in midweek. On Wednesday night Kintbury Rangers and Wroughton met for the second time in the space of a couple of weeks. The first encounter had been a tight affair that saw five goals with Kintbury edging it by the odd goal and it was another close encounter in midweek. Wroughton went into the match on the back of a torrid run which had seen them go ten games without a win in all competitions. It didn’t start well at the Recreation Ground in Kintbury as they fell behind to goals from Jacques Tonge and Connor Markou to trail 2-0 at the interval. Although Wroughton were to pull one back in the second half through Dave Harmer they were unable to find a second equalising goal as that winless run extended to eleven games. 

It was another close game the following night at the Flying Monk Ground where Malmesbury Vics Dev’s visitors were Melksham Town Reserves who were playing their final game of the season. With both teams already safe there was nothing riding on the game, but the two teams served up an entertaining game settled by another wonder goal from Malmesbury’s Dale Richards. The home side Malmesbury went in front on the half hour mark, Kyle Witt getting on the end of a Callum Duckett cross from the left to volley home for what was the only goal in an even first half. Melksham Town Reserves were back on level terms within three minutes of the restart, a great through ball splitting the home defence for Jake Dodge to slot home for 1-1. As the game moved into the final five minutes it looked like the two sides would have to settle for a point apiece, but Richards had other thoughts, striking a powerful shot from 30 yards out to give Malmesbury all three points. Unfortunately for Malmesbury their scheduled game today against Shrewton United was one of those postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and they will try again next Thursday. Before that they have another game on Monday when Frome Collegians, who are chasing a third place finish, are the visitors.

Whilst the league title may have been already secured there is no stopping the Trowbridge Town machine as they racked up win number 26 in their final league outing of the season away at Kintbury Rangers. Kintbury have been in decent form of late, but they found Trowbridge, and in particular Jack Sterling, too hot to handle. Sterling scored twice in the opening eleven minutes to put Trowbridge 2-0 up. Trowbridge then went further ahead three minutes before half time through Charlie Barber but there was still time for one more goal in the half, Kintbury getting a foothold back into the game a minute before the break, as leading scorer Aidan Maycock netted his 15^th of the season. Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished within a minute of the restart, and it was that man Sterling again who fired in to complete his hat-trick and make it 4-1. Three minutes later Trowbridge were further ahead with a goal that was credited to James Rustell who deflected a Sterling shot into the Kintbury net for 5-1. Kintbury pulled one back just after the hour mark but that was as good as it got for the home side and Rustell rounded off a comfortable afternoon for the champions with his second of the game in the very last minute to make the final score 6-2 to Trowbridge. Trowbridge end the season on 80 points, six points clear of second placed Devizes Town and the division’s top scorers with 121 goals. Interestingly it is two less than last season, but it should be remembered that last season there were five teams at the bottom who conceded over 100 goals, and in one case over 200 goals, whilst this season there is just one who has shipped over 100 in what has been a much more competitive division this season. Today's game was also a special occasion for one of the match officals, Tony Sharkey a popular local referee was involved in his final game after 32 plus years as a referee. Enjoy your retirement Tony.

Whilst the top two places are decided the battle for third place took an interesting turn this afternoon. Pewsey Vale currently occupy that third spot and were playing their final game of the season knowing that victory this afternoon would guarantee them that third place. They were up against the young Salisbury FC Development side who had lost all the three previous encounters with Pewsey Vale since joining the league. That unwelcome record has now been brought to an end as goals from leading scorer Dyllan Roocroft and Felix Coles in an impressive performance from the young Salisbury side secured a deserved  2-1 win, Ben Rankin with the Pewsey goal.

Blunsdon started the day just two points behind Pewsey and were hoping for such a Pewsey slip up whilst they looked to get the better of Calne Town Reserves, both teams playing their final games of the season. However, it was something of a bad day at the office for Blunsdon as they fell to a 4-1 defeat on their own ground, two goals for both Jack Smith and Zach Bruce for Calne, Eliot Wheatley with his 21^st of the season for Blunsdon after good work from Nick Craft. Blunsdon remain fourth for now having finished their fixtures, with Frome Collegians two points behind them with two games to play and the only side who can overtake them. Whether they finish fourth or fifth it has certainly been a fantastic first season at senior level for Blunsdon which they will look back on with pride.

Frome Collegians were another side to see their game against Stratton Juniors postponed because of a waterlogged pitch but would have been delighted to hear the results in the games that did get played today. Their game against Stratton has been rearranged for next Saturday and Frome now know if they win that game and also win at Malmesbury on Monday that third place will be theirs. 

As well as that game between Malmesbury and Frome Collegians, Wroughton are also home to Shrewton on Bank Holiday Monday as two of the five remaining Premier Division fixtures are set to take place that day.

6 May 2023