After a couple of weeks where the focus was on the Wiltshire FA’s Veterans’ County Cup, attention this week switched to the League Cup competition with five ties scheduled although one did not go ahead in the end.

One of those ties played was the one outstanding game from Round One between Devizes Town from the Mid Wiltshire Division and Coate from the North Wiltshire Division. Twice postponed due to a waterlogged pitch saw the game re-arranged for the 3G at Green Lane where there was no risk of the game falling victim to another call off due to an unplayable pitch. Coate went into the game as one of two Veterans’ teams in the two divisions who have yet to suffer a defeat prior to this week’s games and they maintained that unblemished record in a close contest with their Mid Wiltshire Division opponents. A goal from Brady Lilley put them 1-0 up but Devizes were back on level terms before the break, Jamie Mullings with the equaliser for Devizes. The games winning goal came eight minutes from time and it went the way of Coate, former Forest Green Rovers player Paul Stonehouse getting the goal that saw his side through to Round 2 and maintained their unbeaten record in all competitions. Coate will up against Swindon Old Boys in that Round 2 fixture with the game set for next week, replacing the scheduled league game between the two sides.

The same night at Green Lane the game between Coate and Devizes had been proceeded by a Second-Round tie that was once again an inter-divisional encounter between Penhill United from the North Wiltshire Division and Calne Town from the Mid Wiltshire Division. It was to prove to be another close encounter which was decided by a solitary goal scored by Penhill’s Steve Bunting four minutes before half time.

The same night Durrington were scheduled to host Redhouse but an apparent mix-up between the home side and the hosting venue meant the game was postponed on the day of the game and will now be discussed at the next Discipline Meeting.

The big game of the Second Round was on Tuesday night at the Corinium Stadium, home of Cirencester Town where Cricklade Town, last season’s champions of the North Wiltshire Division, were up against Melksham Town, last season’s champions of the Mid Wiltshire Division and current cup holders. Cricklade had won the cup the season before Melksham so, as well as being a game between the two champions last season, but also the last two winners of the cup. Continuing the trend of the previous night it was to be the team from the North who were to have the better of things, a single goal from Stephen Bizley being enough to see Cricklade through to the next round and knock last season’s winners out of this season’s competition. Melksham had also been the other team to start the week with an unblemished record but the cup defeat means that Coate are now the only side unbeaten in all competitions so far this season.

The North’s domination of the week’s cup games came to an end on Wednesday night at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground where Royal Wootton Bassett Town from the North Wiltshire Division were up against Corsham Town from the Mid Wiltshire Division. It was a closely contested first half with both sides seeking to identify opposition strengths and weaknesses. Bassett started with having the better possession, but Corsham finished the half looking more likely to break the deadlock with some good attacks down the flanks, but the sides turned around with the game still looking for its opening goal. Corsham started the second half where they had left off at the end of the first half and that goal duly came five minutes after the restart. A poor defensive clearance saw the ball fall to Ross Lye on the edge of the box in a central position, his powerful shot was well saved by the Royal Wootton Bassett Town keeper Chris Stevens, but his parry was pushed out to the corner of the six-yard box and was smartly put away on the half volley by Nat Auckland for 1-0. It remained a tight affair with little between the two teams, but Corsham gave themselves a two-goal cushion ten minutes from time. A ball into Simon Gray’s feet saw the striker with his back to goal inside the box, a smart turn was followed by snapshot that somehow squirmed under keeper Stevens to give Corsham breathing space. Royal Wootton Bassett Town then had claims for a penalty following a coming together between Steve Yeardley and the Corsham keeper which saw both booked but the penalty appeals were turned away.  A couple of injuries caused a Corsham reshuffle which unsettled their back line, and, on another day, Royal Wootton Bassett Town could and should have pulled one back which would have made the last five minutes interesting, but the make-shift defensive line held firm to safely see out the closing stages to give Corsham the win. Your Sport Swindon were there with their cameras and subscribers can view the highlights by clicking on the link below or from the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the League Website where all the games covered by Your Sport Swindon can be accessed.

As well as the cup games this week there were two league games in the North Wiltshire Division on Tuesday night. After seeing their one victory this season wiped from the record books following the withdrawal of Nomads, Blunsdon were finally celebrating their first points of the season after a narrow 1-0 win over Swindon Rovers at New College, Chris Quinton with the only goal of the game. The win saw Blunsdon climb off the bottom of the table, moving above both their beaten opponents and Stratton Juniors.

The same night Chiseldon and AFC Swindon were up against each other at Green Lane, Devizes and goals from Richie Miles and Adam O’Keeffe saw Chiseldon take the three points thanks to a 2-0 win which saw them close the gap to the four teams above them in the table.