This week’s action in the two Veterans’ divisions of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League was dominated by fixtures in the First Round of the Wiltshire County FA’s Veterans’ County Cup.

The tie of the round was the meeting between cup holders and Mid Wiltshire Division leaders Melksham Town and North Wiltshire Division leaders Redhouse. The two sides had met last season in the League Cup final when penalties were needed to settle matters and once again it was a tight affair that ultimately required penalties once again to see who progressed to Round 2 of this years' competition. Melksham led 1-0 at half time thanks to a Nick Ridout goal but an equaliser from Dave Pratt meant that those spot kicks were once again needed. As had been the case in the cup final it was Melksham who emerged victorious from the shootout, so the holders remain on track to retain the cup they have won in two of the last three seasons. Melksham Town will now be away to Warminster Town in the Second Round.

Last season’s beaten finalists Royal Wootton Bassett Town are also safely through to Round 2 after a comfortable 6-1 win over Stratton Juniors who have had a change of manager with Neil Lee taking over from Alun Rossiter. The goals for Royal Wootton Bassett Town were shared around the team with one apiece for Steve Shaw, Jeremy Newton, Ben Gould, Greg Richardson, Mark Simpkins and Mark King, Vince McMackin with the solitary goal for Stratton. Royal Wootton Bassett Town will be home to Southampton League side Redlynch & Woodfalls in the Second Round. Redlynch & Woodfalls progressed to Round 2 when Penhill United conceded their First Round tie.

Mid Wiltshire Division side Chippenham Town, who currently sit second in their division, also had a comfortable evening in their First Round tie against Swindon Old Boys from the North Wiltshire Division running out 7-1 winners to line up what should be an evenly matched tie with Coate in Round 2. Ryan Nichols, Darren Chitty and Rob Pocock all scored twice and there was one from Gino De Antonis. Coate have won all five of their league fixtures so far in the North Wiltshire Division.

Amesbury Junior Badgers have been having a tough time of things in league games and Devizes Town would have been expecting to progress to Round 2 from their tie but, although losing again, Amesbury made Devizes work hard for the win. In the end two goals from Stephen Campbell and one from Robert Mitchell, with a solitary goal for the Badgers from Jon Miller in reply, were enough to see Devizes into the next round courtesy of a 3-1 win. Devizes will be up against Winsley in the Second Round.

Calne Town are another Mid Wiltshire Division side who will be in that Second Round after a 3-2 home win over Blunsdon from the North Wiltshire Division thanks to goals from Chris Pitman, Dean Slade and Paul Maddox. They will be away to Corsham Town in that Second Round. Corsham progressed to Round 2 after Durrington conceded their First Round tie as a result of a number of their players being part of the Redlynch & Woodfalls team who are also playing in the cup competition.

The final tie in the First Round saw AFC Swindon continue their good start to the season with a 3-1 win over fellow North Wiltshire Division side Chiseldon. On target for AFC Swindon were Andrew Copland, an own goal and Robert Sawyer, Dean Hughes with the Chiseldon goal. The reward for the win for AFC Swindon is a Second Round tie away to Cricklade Town. AFC Swindon have never beaten Cricklade Town but having pushed them all the way in their recent league game, they will go into the game with nothing to fear against last season’s North Wiltshire Division champions. The full draw for the Second Round is shown below:

In addition to the County Cup games there were also three games in the league, one in the North Wiltshire Division and two in the Mid Wiltshire Division. The game in the North involved Cricklade Town who moved to within a point of Redhouse at the top of the table with a 5-0 win over Penhill United. Two goals for TJ Bohane plus further strikes from Godfrey Chisanga, Tom Dingle and Bradley Clarke did the damage for Cricklade.

In the Mid Wiltshire Division goals from Louis Sparey, James Vincent and Greg Lewis helped Warminster Town to move level on points with Melksham Town at the top of the table following a 3-1 win over Trowbridge Town Tigers, Clifford Sayki with the reply for Tigers.

The other league game in the division between Radstock Town and Westbury United finished all square at 1-1, Phillip Hampson with the Westbury United goal.

Next week’s fixtures will once again be dominated by cup games, although this time it is the League Cup which takes centre stage.