Mid Wiltshire DIvision

For the first time this season there was a full round of six matches in the Mid Wiltshire Veteran’s Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League and it saw a couple of teams drop points for the first time this season. Those two teams are the two new sides, Durrington and Warminster Town. Durrington had won all four of their opening fixtures but fell to their first defeat in the league on Monday night when they were beaten 2-0 by visitors Devizes Town. For Devizes it was also their first win of the season, but they have started the season with some tough fixtures and are expected to feature in the battle for honours this season. On target for Devizes in the 2-0 win were Jamie Mullings and Rhys Schell.

The other new side Warminster Town had started the season with three straight wins but were unable to find a way past a stubborn Winsley defence on Friday night at Weymouth Street. Winsley is a new name to the Veterans’ divisions. Due to disagreements with the main club at Bradford Town, the veterans’ side have separated from the club and are now playing under the Winsley name, and this was only their second game of the season. A thank you to the Wiltshire FA for assisting in sorting out what was a difficult situation and enabling football to continue to be played by the veterans’ side. In the end football is the winner here. Winsley will now be playing their games at Green Lane. Having won the league last season whilst at Bradford Town, the Winsley players will be hoping for another good season and registered their first point of the season following the draw at Warminster.

With the two new sides both losing their perfect records that now leaves just Melksham Town as the only side in the division with a 100% winning record. They maintained their perfect start to the season with a 2-0 away win against Westbury United at Meadow Lane, Lee Morgan and Tom Robinson with the Melksham goals. Martin Pearce was at the game with his camera and more of his excellent photos can be found on the League Facebook Group Page.

Action from the encounter between Westbury United

and Melksham Town

(pictures courtesy of Martin Pearce)

The new leaders of the division are Chippenham Town who maintained their excellent start to the season with a 7-0 win over Amesbury Junior Badgers in a game played at Melksham Town’s Oakfield Stadium. Steve Tweddle helped himself to a hat-trick, Phillip Baker added two more to his total to move onto seven for the season and there were further goals from Darren Chitty and Bryan O’Donnell.

Corsham Town bounced back from their defeat at the hands of Melksham Town in their last game with a 5-0 win over Radstock Town. The goals were shared around the side with one apiece for Ibrahim Bigger, Josh Brigham, James Lye, Liam Ralph and Adam Taylor. The win saw Corsham move up to fifth spot with games in hand against all the sides above them in the table.

The final game of the week in the Mid Wiltshire Division was at the bottom end of the table and it saw Calne Town pick up their first points of the season with a 2-1 away win at Trowbridge Town Tigers thanks to goals from Paul Maddox and Craig Pike, Robert Bitten replying for the Tigers.

North Wiltshire Division

It was also a busy week in the North Wiltshire Division with two games taking place on grass pitches in addition to the games played on the 3G hired pitches. One of the games played on grass saw new side Coate maintain their perfect start to the season with a 4-2 win over Stratton Juniors. Two early goals from Adam Rudman and Pete Sealey set them on their way, with further goals from Paul Stonehouse and a second for Rudman completing a third straight win for Coate, Jamie Ashby with both Stratton goals.

Another new side who have made a good start to the season are Penhill United who were 2-1 winners against Chiseldon at Chiseldon Recreation Ground on Tuesday night thanks to goals from Shane Davis and Lee Hollamby, Richie Mile replying for Chiseldon. That is now two wins from their opening three games for Penhill, their only defeat a narrow 1-0 reverse against Coate. 

The game played on the 3G at New College on Tuesday night saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town trail 2-0 to two Lee Holland goals for Swindon Rovers, but late goals from Steve Yeardley (2) and Sam Collier saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town claim all three points.

The final game of the week in the North Division was on Wednesday night at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground and it produced the most goals of any game this week in the two Veterans’ divisions. Two goals for both David Pratt and Dave Rendle plus further strikes from Fred Galrito and Ashley Bowes saw Redhouse win 6-3 against Swindon Old Boys. On target for Swindon Old Boys were Barry Dickens, Wayne Rickwood and Chris Allen. The win for Redhouse saw them move top of the table a point ahead of Coate and Royal Wootton Bassett Town.