The Under 18 Floodlight Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League finally got underway last week with three league games played plus one in the prestigious FA Youth Cup. The one game in the FA Youth Cup saw the final representative from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League exit the competition, Radstock Town going out of the competition after losing 5-1 at home against Cheltenham Saracens. The game had been rearranged following the failure of the floodlights at Radstock the previous week that had caused the abandonment of the original tie. When the game was restaged Cheltenham proved too strong for Radstock, Jayden Purnell with the Radstock goal.

Three other teams had entered this season’s FA Youth Cup, the three teams being Bradford Town, Bristol Manor Farm and Royal Wootton Bassett Town. The first two teams had met each other in the Extra Preliminary Round with Bristol Manor Farm winning 3-1 at Bradford Town thanks to two goals from Levelle Bishop and one from Corey Stock, Harry Douchet with the Bradford Town goal. Next up for Bristol Manor Farm in the Preliminary Round were Mangotsfield United but their interest in the competition was ended when they fell to a 2-0 defeat to the South West Counties Youth League side.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town had received a bye to the Preliminary Round where they met Tuffley Rovers but fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat in an entertaining tie. Returning to the national competition this season, Nick Warren's side got off to a super start as Fin Smith put them ahead inside the opening ten minutes. Seizing on a loose Tuffley pass, Joe Beavis let loose from 25 yards but saw his effort parried but Smith was on hand to sweep home the rebound into the bottom corner. However, Rovers equalised through Ethan Walters as half time neared. Racing onto a ball over the top, he produced a neat finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area. A second half own goal put Tuffley ahead for the first time in the game and despite pushing hard for an equaliser Royal Wootton Bassett Town were unable to find a second and also exited the competition.

The league season got underway on Monday 11^th September at a new venue for the league with last season’s runners-up Royal Wootton Bassett Town making the trip into Bristol to play new side to the league Bristol Manor Farm. Bristol Manor Farm look like they will be a force to reckon with in the division this season as two goals from Levelle Bishop plus further strikes from Alfie Partridge, Leyton Thompson and Charlie Williams secured a 5-0 opening night win for Manor Farm on their league debut.

On the Thursday night another new side to the league, Wims 11 also got their season off to a winning start with a 2-1 success away at Bradford Town thanks to two goals from Billy Wimble, Joel Kirby with the reply for Bradford Town.

The third new side to the league FC Chippenham, who were champions last time they entered the League in Season 2020-21, also got their campaign off to a winning start edging out Melksham Town by the odd goal in five at Stanley Park. Two goals from Harry Brain plus one from Cameron Ladner-Poole for FC Chippenham, Dayston Allison and Dean Kamanga replying for visitors Melksham.

With Calne Town having seen their game against Radstock postponed due to the restaging of the FA Youth Cup tie, a late attempt was made to give them a league game against Kingsdown who had seen their fixture with Kintbury Rangers scheduled for the Friday night also postponed. Unfortunately the two sides could not agree a night that worked for both sides and the game did not go ahead.