It was something of a frustrating week in the Veterans’ Divisions of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with four games postponed and awarded with teams unable to raise a side to fulfil matches. After their latest postponement, having failed to raise a side for three of their last four games, Winsley decided to call it a day due to a what Secretary Ant Ottaviano described as a “lack of commitment from players”. This withdrawal is disappointing after both the League and the Wiltshire FA had gone out of the way to ensure the group of players could continue as a side after their issues with the main Bradford Town club. In the Mid Wiltshire Division, Durrington also conceded an away game for the third time this season, Trowbridge Town Tigers receiving the three points,  but hopefully Durrington will continue and see out the season.

Whilst two games in the Division did not go ahead three games did get played in the Mid Wiltshire Division with both Corsham Town and Melksham Town picking up big wins at the top of the table. Leaders Corsham Town were up against Chippenham Town. Having defeated them 2-0 the previous month they were looking to complete a league double over one of the sides whose only defeat to date was that one against Corsham. It was mission accomplished for Chris Jones side as two goals from Jamie Lyons and one from each of Liam Ralph, Josh Brigham and Simon Gray secured a 5-1 win to complete that quick-fire league double.

Melksham Town remained in touch with the league leaders after a comfortable win of their own over bottom of the table Amesbury Junior Badgers. Kris Beasley was the star of the show smashing a hat-trick, Nick Ridout bagged a brace to move onto six for the season, with Tom Staddon getting the other Melksham goal, Salah Elkady with the consolation goal for Amesbury Junior.

On Monday night there had been an entertaining game at MOD Lyneham where Calne Town and Westbury United shared four goals and the points. Calne led 1-0 at the break but were pegged back in the second half and had to settle for a point in the end. On target for Calne were Chris Pitman and Kieran McLaughlin, Dale Rowland and Scott Walford replying for Westbury United.

There were also two games awarded involving teams from the North Wiltshire Division, one in the League Cup and one in the league. That league fixture was scheduled to be at Cricklade Town where Stratton Juniors were the expected visitors, but Stratton became the third side to call off a game against Cricklade due to being unable to raise a side. Very frustrating for all at Cricklade and serious thought needs again to be given to establishing either a Premier Division in the Veterans’ category or, if enough new teams join the league, two regional Premier Divisions, as too many sides are now calling off against the leading sides. The cup game that ended up being awarded was the scheduled League Cup fixture between Swindon Old Boys and Coate which ended up being awarded to Coate after Swindon Old Boys were unable to raise a side. Attempts on Tuesday afternoon to arrange for Coate and Cricklade to play each other in a league game utilising one of the booked facilities unfortunately were unsuccessful.

In the end just two games were played in the North Wiltshire Division this week. On Tuesday night Swindon Rovers and AFC Swindon met at Green Lane. In an entertaining game Rovers eventually edged it 3-1 thanks to goals from Tim Hughes, Pete Byrne and Sean Lewis, John Burchell with the AFC Swindon goal.

The other game that took place was on Wednesday night at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground where league leaders Redhouse were looking to defend their unbeaten record in the league against Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Whilst Redhouse maintained that unbeaten league record they dropped a couple of points as they were held to a 1-1 draw, Steve Shaw with the Royal Wootton Bassett Town goal and Leigh Brown with the goal for Redhouse. The result left Redhouse one point ahead of Cricklade Town after ten games for the two sides. Both can be overtaken by Coate who sit ten points behind Redhouse but have four games in hand and are also unbeaten in all competitions so far this season.