Just two games in the Under 18 Floodlight Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League survived the cold and wet weather this week and both were unsurprisingly played on 3G pitches. Somewhat worryingly, of the 31 U18 league games that have been played so far this season in the division, just 12 games have been played on grass despite more teams playing on grass than 3G. When the fixture statistics as at the end of December were presented at the recent Management Committee meeting (see below) it was noted that the U18 Division was the only one where fewer matches had been played than at the same stage last season. However, it has not just been the weather that has caused this issue, an increased participation in County Cup competitions has also been a driver. Hopefully, with most of the County Cup impact now diminished, the weather will improve at the back end of January and into February allowing more games to be played and avoid teams having to play more than one game a week to finish the season by the season end date set at the AGM of Friday 3rd May.
One of the two games played this week featured the team that has played the least league games so far, Radstock Town. On a bitterly cold evening they travelled to Royal Wootton Bassett Town for what was only their fourth league game of the season. Royal Wootton Bassett started brightly, and Rhys Westlake had an early golden chance for the home side but saw his effort from close range go wide of the far post. The home side were to go in front though, a cross from the right by Finlay Skittrall was spilled by the Radstock keeper allowing Jamie Wright to pounce and put the ball away for 1-0. They doubled their lead when a clearance out of defence found Joe Beavis who, despite the presence of three defenders, controlled the ball, checked left and then fired into the net for a well taken goal and 2-0. Westlake then had another chance to increase the home side’s lead when put through with just the keeper to beat but an excellent save with his feet by the Radstock keeper stopped his side going further behind. Westlake was then again denied by the keeper with a header from a corner but although he got power on the header it was straight at the keeper and easily dealt with. The visitors didn’t really create any clear-cut chances in the first half, the home side limiting them to shots from distance which rarely troubled the home defence.
Radstock upped their game at the start of the second half and started to look like they might get themselves back into the game. After a couple of half chances they were only denied an opener by an acrobatic save by Royal Wootton Bassett Town keeper Tom Davis and it remained 2-0. Radstock continued to press and somehow the home defence survived a couple of goalmouth scrambles without conceding. After coming under some pressure, the home side gave themselves more breathing space when a ball into Junior Zumaro from Rhys Westlake saw him produce a great turn on the edge of the box and fire in for 3-0 to the home side. Credit to Radstock who, despite this latest setback, continued to try and get something out of the game and were eventually rewarded when a cross from the right was cleared straight into the path of Harry Grimsey and whilst Davis was able to get a hand on his shot, he was unable to prevent it going into the net off the far post. Buoyed by the goal Radstock continued to push for a second but the home side held out to take all three points and move joint second in the table level on points with Bristol Manor Farm and two points adrift of leaders Kintbury Rangers, although Royal Wootton Bassett have played more games than the other two sides. Your Sport Swindon were at the game with their cameras and subscribers can view match highlights by clicking on the link below or by clicking on the link from the Your Sport Swindon page of the League website which also has links to all the other games in the League which have been covered by Your Sport Swindon.
FC Chippenham have been involved in some high scoring games this season and went into their game on Friday night at home to Wims 11 on the back of two 4-4 draws. Once again Friday night was to see them involved in yet another highly entertaining and high scoring game, even surpassing the two 4-4 results. The first goal of the evening was something special, Wims’ Josh Briggs scoring from the halfway line with an audacious shot having seen the FC Chippenham keeper off his line. The same player then doubled his sides lead with a side footed shot to make it 2-0. Wims continued to press forward, and Drew McIntosh went close to a third for the visitors when put clean through with just the keeper to beat he fired just over the bar. However, he made no mistake with his next effort on goal, firing in for 3-0 from the edge of the penalty box. The teams turned round at the break with Wims seemingly in total control of the match.
Whatever FC Chippenham manager Ben Newson said to his team at half time it certainly did the trick as they came out for the second half looking like a different side. A shot from Aimar Hamzic-Petite from just outside the area gave the home side a foothold in the game as he made it 3-1. They then had keeper Lewis Clark to thank for keeping them in the match when he pulled off a spectacular save to deny Bobby Lee from extending Wims lead. The home side then reduced the deficit to just a single goal when Darcy Garner scored with a shot into the far corner of the net from the left-hand side of the 18-yard box for 3-2, with FC Chippenham now looking the more likely of the two sides to go on and win the game. Indeed, they were soon to back on level terms. Wims keeper James Stigwood spilled a cross into the box with the ball falling to Hamzic-Petite who turned his defender and hit a powerful shot that Stigwood got his hand to but the ball came back off the post falling to Thomas Collings who was following up, and he made no mistake to make it 3-3 and all to play for. The home side then went close to going in front for the first time in the game, a powerfully hit shot from Hamzic-Petite striking the cross bar. Having squandered a three-goal lead Wims upped their game and went back in front with a well taken goal from leading scorer Billy Wimble to make it 4-3. The goals just kept coming in the highly entertaining encounter. FC Chippenham restored parity once again when Thomas Collings scored his second of the game after a shot had come back off the crossbar. Were FC Chippenham heading for a third straight 4-4 draw? The answer was a resounding no as Billy Wimble once again put Wims in front, the visitors leading scorer netting for the 12th time this season, although with two of his goals coming against Bradford Town this total is now reduced to ten with Bradford’s record being expunged. Despite falling behind yet again FC Chippenham were not despondent and went in search of an equaliser yet again and it came with a well taken volley from Hartley Newson, Newson getting on the end of a cross into the box from the right wing to level matters up at 5-5. Having never been behind all game Wims had a scare in the closing stages when FC Chippenham had the ball in the net again but a flag from the assistant referee saw the goal disallowed for offside. In the closing minutes the better chances came the way of FC Chippenham but there was to be no further scoring in what had been an enthralling match between the two sides. After the two teams had shared ten goals it meant that games involving FC Chippenham this season are averaging seven goals a game and they are certainly providing entertainment for their supporters.
Your Sport Swindon were again at the game with their cameras and subscribers can view match highlights of this entertaining encounter by clicking on the link below or by clicking on the link from the Your Sport Swindon page of the League website which also has links to all the other games in the League which have been covered by Your Sport Swindon.
Your Sport Swindon were at both Under 18 Floodlight Division games played this week and as noted above highlights from both games can be viewed by subscribers using the links from this page or the links on the dedicated Your Sport Swindon page on our website, which has links to all the games in our league that they have covered. In addition to the match highlights, by taking out a subscription you will be given access to the exclusive interviews with the team managers of our sides in our Premier and Division One which also incorporate the preview for the forthcoming games at the weekend. Subscribe now for just £5 a month or £25 annually using the links on Your Sport Swindon's own website.
21 January 2024
