It was an eventful week in the Under 18 Floodlight Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with five games scheduled but only three ending up being completed, although one other game went close to completion and will now be the subject of discussion at the next Discipline Meeting.
On Thursday night the two completed games that night saw last season’s top two sides, champions Kintbury Rangers and runners-up Royal Wootton Bassett Town both pick up away victories. Kintbury Rangers were at bottom of the table Bradford Town who had pushed Calne Town all the way the previous week. Last season’s champions were always in control of this one though, and two goals in each half saw them return with all three points courtesy of a 4-0 win. Rhys Atkins put them 2-0 up at half time and second half goals from Josh Luckett and Aydan Hutchings ensured there would be no Bradford Town comeback. The win saw Kintbury move up to joint second place in the table although Bristol Manor Farm would move back above them with a win on Friday night.
The same night Royal Wootton Bassett Town made the short trip along the A3102 to take on near neighbours Calne Town. The last game between the two sides, last season’s U18 League Cup semi-final had seen Calne win 3-1 on their way to lifting the cup and they were hoping to pick up another victory over the team from down the road. Royal Wootton Bassett Town had the consolation last season of pipping Calne to that runners-up spot by a single point and games between the two sides are normally a tight affair. In a good first half for the visitors, Sam Case put Royal Wootton Bassett Town 1-0 up before Jamie Wright doubled their lead. Calne pulled one back before half time through an own goal and the two sides went into the break with the visitors holding a slender lead. Both teams created chances after the break, but Royal Wootton Bassett Town made sure of all three points with a goal from leading scorer Joe Beavis who notched his seventh goal of the season as the visitors ran out 3-1 winners to move top of the table.
The other game on Thursday night was at Radstock Town who are behind with their fixtures due to County Cup commitments with the Youth Cup in Somerset, unlike Wiltshire, being played in midweek. Radstock were up against FC Chippenham in what was only the fourth league game of the season for Radstock. It was going well for the home side with Radstock 3-1 up with 17 minutes to go when a power surge caused the floodlights to trip. A reboot of the floodlights was undertaken with the home club advising that it would take a little while for the lights to come back on fully. The teams and officials waited whilst the reboot was done, however, with the lights not yet on, after consulting with the away side, the referee abandoned the game. As the sides were about to leave the pitch the lights came back on but the decision to abandon was not reversed. The matter will now be discussed at the next Discipline Committee meeting, with the possibility of the score at the time of the abandonment being allowed to stand or the game replayed, both scenarios being permitted under the League rules. The three Radstock goals had been scored by James Redfearn, Lex Southall and Sonny Clayton, Jack Burchell with the FC Chippenham goal.
The game between Kingsdown and Melksham Town was postponed with Melksham unable to raise a side.
The final game of the week was on Friday night when Wims 11 met Bristol Manor Farm who went into the game with four wins from their opening four fixtures. They extended that winning run to five games but were made to work hard for the three points by their opponents. A solitary goal on 35 minutes from Evan Howse was all that separated the sides on the night as Bristol Manor Farm returned to the top of the table.
Bristol Manor Farm were back in action again on Sunday when they met Port of Bristol in the Gloucestershire FA Youth Shield. Penalties were needed to settle matters after it had finished 3-3, Louis Smith scoring twice and Leyton Thompson with the other Manor Farm goal. The penalty shootout saw Manor Farm come out on top winning 5-4 to progress to the next round.
26 November 2023
