The foggy scene at Kintbury Rangers for their Fountain TRophies Cup tie against Trowbridge Town

(picture courtesy of Matthew Meaden)

On a bitterly cold afternoon with lingering fog for most of the afternoon and with multiple games postponed in other local leagues, the pleasant surprise was that eight games involving sides from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League went ahead on Saturday.

League leaders Kintbury Rangers were involved in cup action with last season’s league champions Trowbridge Town their opponents in the Fountain Trophies Cup at the Recreation Ground. Kintbury had the better of things in the first half, but it was the visitors who went closest to breaking the deadlock, Liam Milburn seeing his free kick turned away by Kintbury keeper Charlie McCready at full stretch and then Dan Plank seeing his header when the ball was crossed back into the box cleared off the line.  Having had a narrow escape four minutes later the home side were in front, Tom Mahoney with the the goal which came on the half hour mark. Both teams had chances before the break, but it remained just the one goal at half time. Kintbury again had the better of things in the opening salvos of the second half but were unable to add to that goal until 16 minutes from time, when Matt Peddar scored from close range to make it 2-0. That extended lead did not last long though as Trowbridge replied within three minutes, Leigh Rogers firing in from close range to make it 2-1. Trowbridge pushed for an equaliser and Milburn went close five minutes from time, his shot from a tight angle being well saved by McCready in the Kintbury goal. However, Kintbury ended any hope of Trowbridge sending the game into extra time when a minute from time a wayward Josh Howlett header was punished by Kintbury's leading scorer George Armstong, with his 23rd of the campaign,to make it 3-1. Kintbury will be home to Ludgershall Sports in the quarter final.

Kintbury Rangers who progressed to the quarter final of the Fountain Trophies Cup with a 3-1 win over Trowbridge Town

Three of the six scheduled Premier Division games got the go ahead with one of those involving second place Amesbury Town who were looking to close the gap to leaders Kintbury Rangers. Their visitors were Salisbury Development who had made the short journey out of the city to play Amesbury for the second consecutive week having lost 4-0 to Amesbury seven days earlier in the Fountain Trophies Cup. They were once again left defeated but did give their title chasing opponents a fright early on, taking the lead through Harrison Mealing. Amesbury got themselves back on level terms 25 minutes in, an Ally McCracken cross from a free kick finding Robbie Owen who headed into the top corner for 1-1. Three minutes later Amesbury went in front for the first time, an Owen cross finding Aaron Moore who headed home for 2-1. They increased their lead eight minutes from half time, a corner from Kieron LeBrun being met by the head of Jack Vallis to make it 3-1. Salisbury got themselves what appeared to be a foothold back in the game two minutes before the break when they were awarded a penalty which was duly despatched by Jamie Wintle with his third goal of the season to send the teams into the break with Amesbury leading by just the one goal. Whilst that first half had been reasonably close, it was to be a different story after the break as Amesbury hit five more goals without reply to complete what in the end was an emphatic win. A second half hat-trick from Aaron Moore gave him four for the game, Jack Vallis notched a second of the game, with the other goal coming from Kieron LeBrun. The win saw Amesbury move to within a point of leaders Kintbury with a game in hand.

Wroughton went into their home game with Malmesbury Victoria Development on the back of a three-game unbeaten run which had seen them win their last two games. They extended that unbeaten run to four games but were forced to share the points in an entertaining six goal game. On target for Wroughton were Aaron Maximen, who scored for the fourth straight game, Max Scholefield and leading scorer Jonathan Peachey-Score, whilst all three of Malmesbury’s goals were scored by Jake Pinnell. Both teams remained in the same position in the league table as they occupied at the start of the day, Wroughton in ninth spot and Malmesbury in 14^th place.

The final league game to take place was at the Ian Richardson Football Ground where Shrivenham entertained Calne Town Reserves. It was to be a good afternoon for Shrivenham who picked up their seventh win of the season, Brad Hirst firing a hat-trick in their 3-0 win. The win lifted Shrivenham up into tenth place in the table, moving above Blunsdon.

There was just one game in Division One to survive the cold weather and it involved the league leaders Faringdon Town who were home to Shrivenham Development. It was to be a good afternoon for the leaders who smashed eight unanswered goals to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table. Leading 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Kyle Bowyer and Jamie Broadfield, Faringdon stepped up their game in the second half adding six more goals. Two more from Jamie Broadfield saw him complete his hat-trick, with the other four goals coming through Raymond Lovell, George James, Peter Fletcher and Matt Pill.. 

Faringdon Town who had a big 8-0 win over Shrivenham Dev to extend their lead at the top of the table

In the Wiltshire Junior Cup two sides from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, Bratton and Kingsdown Development were up against each other guaranteeing at least one team from the league in the quarter final. It was to prove to be a comfortable afternoon for Bratton. However, Kingsdown held them at bay until seven minutes from half time, when a short corner routine saw Matthew Dew fire in from the edge of the area to make it 1-0. They doubled their lead two minutes before the break, a ball from Ryan Stevens found Jack Booth who beat a couple of Kingsdown defenders before slotting home for 2-0. Early in the second half Bratton went further in front, a shot from Jack Booth was deflected to Billal Karmouni who headed home for 3-0. Karmouni and Booth then both scored their second goals of the game to put Bratton 5-0 up to effectively end the tie as a contest and, whilst Kingsdown did pull one back through Harry Komisarek, a sixth for the home side from Toby Murden made the final score 6-1 to Bratton.  Bratton will be away to Trowbridge & District League Division Two side Semington Magpies in the quarter final.

Both Purton and Cricklade suffered defeat in their Junior Cup fixtures. Cricklade Town had switched their game against Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves to the 3G pitch at New College to ensure their game went ahead but they would not be rewarded for their efforts as it was the Salisbury based side that progress to the next round scoring three unanswered goals to knock Cricklade out of the competition.

Purton were away to Trowbridge & District League Division One leaders Seend United. Seend have just about won the Trowbridge & District League title already, needing just one win from their final two league games to secure that honour and could have the title wrapped up by Christmas. They proved too strong on the afternoon for Matt Bennett’s side, securing a 2-0 win as Purton suffered cup defeat for the second week running.

Marlborough Town’s home fixture with Sherston Town and Park United’s home fixture against Redlynch & Woodfalls were both postponed due to frozen pitches and will now be played next Saturday meaning another week of rescheduled games in Division One.

2 December 2023