RWBT Dev who secured an excellent point against title chasing KIntbury Rangers

(picture courtesy of Jonathan Davis)

There were just two games this weekend in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, both games in the Premier Division being rearranged fixtures due to games being called off earlier in the season by Kintbury Rangers and Larkhall Athletic Development when they had been unable to raise a side. There were no such issues this weekend and the four sides produced two excellent games of football that were both tight affairs.

At the Gerard Buxton Ground, fourth placed Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development entertained second in the table Kintbury Rangers. Kintbury were looking to close the gap to league leaders Amesbury Town to just two points at what would be the halfway point in the season for the two leading sides. On a windy afternoon on the 3G the two sides served up a goal fest that saw eight goals scored. With the wind behind them it was the home side who went in front after a flick on from Flynn Walters from a Max Spackman throw found Kevin Lartey the wrong side of the Kintbury back line and he lobbed the advancing Charlie McCready from the right-hand side of the area to make it 1-0 to Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev. Kintbury thought they had got back on level terms when a shot from captain Carl Jenner was saved by keeper Dan West but George Armstrong was following up and put the ball away only to see the goal disallowed by an assistant referee’s flag for offside. The visitors were not to be denied for long though, a ball to the far post found Ross Lawrence and his shot from the right-hand side of the area deflected off Ben Spackman deceiving keeper West and nestled in the net for 1-1. However, the home side were to go into the half time break a goal to the good, Max Spackman restoring their lead after a short corner routine involving Spencer Bowen and Flynn Walters, the ball being returned to Bowen who’s cross into the box was missed by Ben Spackman, but brother Max was on hand at the far post to fire in for 2-1.

Whatever manager Danny Langford said to his side at half time interval certainly did the trick, as Kintbury came out for the second half fired up and were back on level terms within a minute of the restart. A kick out from his hands from keeper Charlie McCready, with the wind behind it, sailed over the home defence and put the Division’s leading scorer George Armstrong clear of the Royal Wootton Bassett Town defence and he made no mistake with a deft touch to level matters up at 2-2.  Despite having the advantage of the wind behind them and starting to create more chances on goal, Kintbury were to fall behind for the third time in the game. A ball down the right from Mani Mesas put Kevin Lartey in behind the Kintbury defence and his cut back found Flynn Walters whose left foot shot from the edge of the box beat McCready and nestled in the far bottom corner of the net for 3-2 to the home side and the third time they had held the lead in the game. However, once again that lead was pegged back and, as with the second goal, it was another long ball from the back that deceived the home defence. This time it was a free kick from captain Jenner that put George Armstrong clear of the defence and he spectacularly half-volleyed the ball home for his 24^th goal of the season. Kintbury now sensed victory and went in front for the first time in the game when Armstrong went from scorer to provider as Jesse Bowers headed home at the far post from Armstrong's cross to put Kintbury 4-3 up. Having gone behind for the first time in the game, the home side were then temporarily reduced to ten men when Zach Pettifer was sin binned. Kintbury went close on three occasions to extending their lead but, despite the numerical disadvantage, Royal Wootton Bassett Town were to score an equaliser of their own. Kevin Lartey, running at the visitor’s defence, saw the last man back off until he reached the edge of the area and he fired into the bottom far corner of the net for a fine solo goal to level matters up at 4-4. With the home side restored to a full complement of players they then went close to getting the winner a poor back pass seeing Bruno Martins one-on-one with McCready, but his shot went wide of the post and the two sides had to settle for a point apiece after an end-to-end game that could have gone either way. For Kintbury Rangers it was two points dropped as they now trail leaders Amesbury by four points with both teams having played 16 games and with Kintbury yet to visit Amesbury.

Your Sport Swindon were there with their cameras and subscribers can watch highlights of the game by clicking on the link below or the clicking on the link from the Your Sport Swindon page of the website where they can also access all the other games covered by Your Sport Swindon.

Whilst the game at Pewsey Recreation Ground, where third placed Pewsey Vale hosted Larkhall Athletic Development, could not match the goal tally of the game at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, the match between two sides who still have title aspirations of their own was another good game of football between two evenly matched sides. Pewsey Vale had the better of the possession in the first half but they didn’t really create any clear-cut chances to test the visitor’s keeper and the two sides turned round at half time with the game still waiting a goal. Again, the second half saw the two keepers rarely tested but the pivotal moment in the game came around the hour mark, a shot from Harley Prior beating returning Pewsey keeper Louie Latouche to put Larkhall ahead with what turned out to be the winning goal in a game of limited chances. Latouche was making his first appearance since the beginning of September but had no chance with the goal. Larkhall are back in action again on Boxing Day for the “Bath derby” against Odd Down (Bath) Development, with a 12:30 kick-off,  the game having been arranged between the two sides making use of League Rule 20 (B), with a large gate anticipated. A second win in the space of three days would see Larkhall move up to fifth spot in the table but, even through Odd Down are still looking for their first point of the season, Larkhall cannot take a win for granted as anything can happen in local derby games.

Fixture Amendments

Amendments have had to be made to fixtures in the early weeks of the New Year due to changes made by the Hellenic and Western Leagues in their fixtures. Additional games have also been added on 27th January and the League would like to thank the Swindon & DIstrict League for agreeing to free up a couple of venues on that day which has allowed more fixtures to be played in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League.

On a final note, all at the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League wish all our clubs, match officials, players registered with the league, sponsors, media partners and supporters a Merry Christmas.

23 December 2023