There was busy couple of nights of midweek fixtures in both the Premier Division and Division One of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League this week. Seven games were played on Tuesday night including the battle between the two champions from last season, Trowbridge Town, the current reigning Premier Division champions, and Larkhall Athletic Development who had won Division One last season. Larkhall had knocked Trowbridge Town out of last season’s Fountain Trophies Cup at the semi final stage and were looking to once again get the better of their opponents in what was both sides opening game of the season. It was a tight opening forty-five minutes which saw the two sides turn around with the game still looking for its first goal. The crowd didn’t have to wait too long in the second half though as within four minutes of the restart the deadlock was broken. Last season Thierry Swaby had scored one of the two goals in Larkhall’s cup win, and it was to be a good night for him again as not only did he put his side ahead, but he also doubled their lead. Trowbridge Town pulled one back through Stephen Fox, but Matt Bowman made sure it was Larkhall who got their season off to a winning start with a third as they completed a 3-1 win. Last season Trowbridge Town had started the season with eleven straight victories but for them it was defeat in their opener this time round and they will look to bounce back on Saturday when they meet Kintbury Rangers at Woodmarsh in another tricky looking fixture.

Kintbury Rangers warmed up for that game with a home fixture against Ludgershall Sports and it was another game that was without goals in the opening half, Kintbury’s Ali Thorp going closest to scoring but it remained 0-0 at the break. Unfortunately for Ludgershall it was to be a second half they will want to forget quickly as they were suffered two injuries within ten minutes of the restart, one of them very serious, just after they had made a series of substitutions that left them having to play with ten men. The serious injury was incurred by goalkeeper Keir Doherty which was later confirmed as a broken leg. All from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League wish Keir a full and speedy recovery from his injury. Kintbury got themselves in front just after the hour mark, Will Frank scoring from distance to put Kintbury ahead. Despite the numerical advantage it remained just the one goal until eight minutes from time when substitute Tom Mahoney headed in from close range for 2-0. Mahoney made sure of the points with a second in the final minute of normal time to make it 3-0 and then deep into injury time George Armstrong added a fourth to give something of a flattering score line which did not reflect how well Ludgershall had played on the night. That meant two wins from two for Kintbury who are joint top of the early table going into this weekend’s game with Trowbridge.

Wroughton are the second side to make it two wins from two and once again it was last season’s top scorer in the Premier Division, Jonathan Peachey-Score who did the damage, bagging a brace in a 4-2 home win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. The other Wroughton goals were scored by Jack Allen and Francesco Michienzi, Euan Spackman and Harry Walters with the goals for the visitors. Wroughton will next be back in action on Friday night in a game under lights when they travel to Malmesbury Victoria Development.

Wroughton’ opponents Malmesbury Victoria Development will go into that game on Friday night having picked up their first win of the season on Wednesday evening at home to Shrivenham. Top scorer for Malmesbury in each of the past three seasons, Joe Tranter looks like he means business again, Tranter helping himself to a hat-trick in a 3-0 win.

The third side to make it six points from two games are Pewsey Vale who were involved in a physical encounter with Amesbury Town which saw Jack Langdown dismissed for Amesbury. Like the games at Larkhall and Kintbury there were no goals in the first half but a second half strike from James Guthrie secured the points for Pewsey Vale. Pewsey are home to Larkhall Athletic Development on Saturday in what should be a good game between two sides with 100% winning records so far this season.

There was an entertaining game at Bremhill View where Calne Town Reserves visitors were near neighbours Melksham Town Reserves. It was to be a story of both late and early goals as Calne got themselves off to a flying start, Emmanuel Ali scoring as early as the fourth minute. However, it would then need a penalty a minute from time to make sure of the points, Kane Kauppinen putting the spot kick away to give Calne a 3-2 win. Calne’s other goal was scored by Davin Selkridge-Carty, Thomas Dowell and an own goal in reply for Melksham.

The final two fixtures, which were both played on Tuesday night, ended all square. In the game between two Somerset based sides, Odd Down (Bath) Development and Frome Collegians a goal from Odd Down’s Cameron Lucas was matched by a Laurence Ludgate effort for the Collegians as it finished 1-1.

It was a similar score line in the game at Sutton Park between Blunsdon and near neighbours Kingsdown, Rob Curtis netting for the home side Blunsdon, former Wroughton player Ollie While with the Kingsdown goal.

Faringdon Town are the early leaders of Division One after a 5-0 home win over Kintbury Rangers Dev at Tucker Park. Josh Forth set them on their way opening the scoring in the 23^rd minute, heading in from a Jamie Broadfield long throw. Faringdon doubled their lead from the penalty spot four minutes from half time, Adam Sly putting the spot kick away after Josh Forth had been brought down in the box. Faringdon quickly extended their lead two minutes after the restart, Kyle Bowyer slotting home after being put through by Jamie Tuck. They then went 4-0 up when Jamie Broadfield fired home this after a Liam Hares effort came back off the crossbar and Raymond Lovell’s follow up header had been saved before he set up Broadfield to fire home. There was still time for one more, Kyle Bowyer firing home with his second of the game to make the final score 5-0 and two wins from two with Faringdon who are yet to concede a goal and have leadership of the early table.

Another side to make it two wins from two are Purton who were involved in a big local derby with near neighbours Cricklade Town at the Leisure Centre. Cricklade had been the side without a fixture on Saturday and were looking to get their season off to a winning start against one of the fancied sides to do well this season. It was a typical local derby with plenty of drama, Purton having an early penalty appeal turned down. Cricklade were then involved in a potential penalty incident of their own and this time it was given, Josh Riggs making no mistake from the spot to give the home side the lead. Ashton Glover levelled for Purton after he managed to get behind the Cricklade back line to score with a clinical finish. Purton then had a second penalty appeal for handball turned down just before half time but the two sides went into the break with it all square at 1-1. The introduction of player-manager Matt Bennett in the second half was to swing the game in Purton’s favour as he caused the home side’s defence all kinds of problems. It was no surprise that it was he who put Purton ahead for the first time in the game, latching onto a long ball forward to race on and fire his side into the lead. After that he could have had two more but found Cricklade goalkeeper Will Gage in inspired form to deny him. Purton's Nick Stanley was also denied by the Cricklade keeper whist right at the end Cricklade came agonisingly close to scrambling an equaliser from a corner, but it finished 2-1 to Purton who maintained their 100% winning start to the season. Your Sport Swindon were at the game and subscribers can view the highlights by clicking on the link below or by using the link on the your Sport Swindon page of the League website.

The third side to make it two wins from two were Park United who were up against Bratton. It was another tight affair but Park United edged in front through Ben Pring before player manager Darrin Moss doubled their lead. Bratton’s hopes of getting something out of the match were not helped by having Matthew Dew sent off with just 35 minutes on the clock.  It finished 2-0 to Park United who will look to make three on the bounce when they travel to Cricklade Town on Saturday.

After losing their opening games Stratton Juniors bounced back in style against a young Kingsdown Development side with Corey Cullen the star of the show in a 5-2 win. Last season’s top scorer netted all five of the Stratton goals, Josh Atwell and Toby Tew with the Kingsdown goals.

After also falling to defeat on the opening day, Devizes Town Reserves bounced back in style with a comfortable 6-1 home win over Wroughton Development. Both Ollie Barnes and Cullen Wylie bagged a brace and there was one apiece for Harvey Swain and Harry Drewitt, Ashton Payne with the consolation goal for Wroughton.

More of David Giles excellent pictures from the Devizes Town Reserves v Wroughton Development game can be found on the League’s Facebook page.

The final game of the night saw it finish honours even in the game between Pewsey Vale Development and Bishops Cannings, Jay Roden with the Pewsey goal, Callum Garbutt on target for visitors Bishops Cannings in the 1-1 draw.

17 August 2023