It was Wiltshire FA County Cup semi-final week in the Veteran’s with one game on Monday night and the second on Tuesday evening. On Monday night unbeaten Coate from the North Wiltshire Division were up against the Mid Wiltshire Division league leaders Corsham Town at Green Lane Devizes. With both teams going so well in their respective divisions a close encounter was anticipated, and it proved to be just that with the game ultimately decided by an early goal scored for Coate by Dan Kingsley.

Coate’s opponents in the final will be Cricklade Town who were 3-0 winners over Redlynch & Woodfalls from the Southampton League. Cricklade started at a pace scoring all three goals in the first half, Adam Smith with two and one for Phil Corcoran with the other. However, injuries to influential players Marcus Hall and Stuart Hemsley saw Cricklade lose some of that early momentum, but they safely saw out the remainder of the game to book their passage into the final. The final between the two sides from the North Wiltshire Division will take place at Melksham Town FC on Tuesday 6^th February.

It was a busy week for teams in the North Wiltshire Division as there were three games played in the league. On Tuesday night at New College Swindon Rovers picked up their second victory of the season with a 3-0 success over Stratton Juniors. There were two first half goals for Peter Byrne, doubling his total for the season, with substitute Chris Doyle adding a third five minutes from time to make sure of the points.

The same night Chiseldon and Blunsdon were up against each other at Green Lane and Blunsdon also picked up their second win of the season, 3-1 the final score in this one. Despite the defeat there was another goal for Chiseldon’s leading scorer Richie Miles.

The final game of the week was on Wednesday night at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground where AFC Swindon and Swindon Old Boys met for the second time this season. AFC Swindon had edged the earlier game by the odd goal in five and it was another close encounter in the return fixture with once again AFC Swindon coming out on top by the odd goal in a 2-1 win to complete a league double over Old Boys. Two second half goals from Jeremy Hope did the damage for AFC Swindon, Nick Zenonos with the reply for Swindon Old Boys.

Whilst it was a busy week in the North Wiltshire Division there was just the one game played in the Mid Wiltshire Division which saw Devizes Town defeat Westbury United 3-0 on Thursday night at Nursteed Road thanks to goals from Rhys Schell, Liam Hill and Nathan Vellenoweth. The win lifted Devizes three places in the table into fourth spot.

The games at Melksham Town and Radstock Town were both postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

The scheduled game at Selwood Academy between Trowbridge Town Tigers and Amesbury Junior Badgers was postponed in tragic circumstances following the sad passing of Frome Town United coach Sam Oatley at the venue after he had been taken ill at the end of the activity that had taken place on the pitch prior to our scheduled league fixture. Representatives from our clubs helped with providing immediate medical attention and calling an ambulance. Despite the attempts of the paramedics he sadly could not be saved.  The thoughts of everyone at the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League are with Sam’s family and his club at this difficult time.