Action from Amesbury Town's 4-2 win over Kintbury Rangers
The big game of the day in the Premier Division was at Bonnymead Park where league leaders Amesbury Town entertained Kintbury Rangers who started the day a point behind Amesbury in second place. Both sides knew that the game would have a big say in the ultimate destination of the league title this season, and the tension certainly got to the two sides in a first half, a half which saw plenty of endeavour and physicality but little football of any quality. In a first half of limited chances, there was a key moment of potential controversy just twelve minutes into the game when George Armstrong found himself the wrong side of the Amesbury defence and bearing down on goal. Amesbury keeper Mike Horne came rushing out and it saw Armstrong go tumbling over right on the edge of the area. Was he felled inside the box? Did the keeper even make contact with him? Referee Luke Fabry appeared to point to the spot but then consulted both assistant referees before concluding that Horne had connected with Armstrong but that the alleged infringement had taken place outside the box. Horne was shown a yellow card, and the resulting free kick came to nothing. Kintbury looked the more dangerous going forward in the first half and went close when a ball down the right found Tom Mahoney who outpaced the Amesbury full back and sent in a cross to the far post which was met by Armstrong, but his effort was blocked for a corner. Kintbury’s leading scorer Armstrong was looking the most likely to break the deadlock and he got behind the home defence again on the half hour mark but unfortunately for him he had just mistimed his run and was pulled back by an assistant’s flag. Kintbury’s Marcus Bucknall then became the second player in referee Fabry’s book for a late challenge on Amesbury’s leading scorer Josh Moore. He was soon joined in the book by Amesbury’s captain Jack Vallis who saw a card for a dangerous lunge in the middle of the park. There would be plenty more cards before the afternoon was over, as the game threatened to boil over at times but the teams turned round at the break with the game still looking for its first goal.
The fans did not have to wait long for the deadlock to be broken though as Amesbury went in front five minutes into the second half. After an initial corner was half cleared the ball was recycled into the box where Amesbury captain Jack Vallis was on hand to fire home from just a yard out after visiting keeper Charlie McCready failed to deal with the lofted ball back into the box. Kintbury’s Ben Luckett then became the latest player to pick up a yellow card after a very late challenge on Amesbury’s Danny Field. One of the Amesbury management team then also found himself in the referee’s book for comments made about the incident. Kintbury went close to getting back on level terms on 55 minutes, Vallis heading off his own line to prevent Kintbury drawing level.
Josh Moore on the ball, who scored twice in Amesbury's 4-2 win over Kintbury.
Kintbury keeeper Charlie McCready under pressure from an Amesbury attack.
Up until the hour mark Amesbury’s leading scorer Moore had not really featured. However, the first real piece of quality in the game saw him fire his side 2-0 ahead, Moore smashing home a wonder strike on the turn from the edge of the box after being fed by Tyler Brockway. Moore’s powerful shot ending up in the top far corner of the net giving McCready no chance in the Kintbury goal. Kintbury got themselves a foothold back in the game with 20 minutes to go when a pinpoint cross from the left wing from Mahoney found the head of Armstrong, whose well-directed downward header beat Horne to make it 2-1 and game on. However, Kintbury then started to lose their discipline with Terry Patton finding himself in the sin bin after continuing to rage at the assistant referee for not flagging for an offside when the attack had come to nothing in the end and his own side had just been given a goal kick! A needless ten-minute break for the midfield player which no doubt would have infuriated his management team. Despite having a numerical disadvantage Kintbury were now on top and continued to push forward and got themselves back on level terms when the ball was played into Kai Stubbs with his back to goal, who turned and fired into the bottom far corner of the net from the edge of the six-yard box. Unfortunately for his side, his overzealous celebration in the face of Jack Vallis resulted him picking up a second yellow card and a dismissal. With Patton still in the sin bin Kintbury were now down to nine men. Amesbury were to punish Kintbury for their ill-discipline, going back in front within two minutes, Matt Scott firing in at the far post after the visitors failed to clear a Ben Morris corner. Two members of the Kintbury management team then found themselves in the book joining the one from Amesbury who had been cautioned earlier in the game as referee Fabry was forced to add to the evening’s paperwork as tensions rose. It remained just the one goal in it until the final minute of the match but the game was put beyond doubt when Moore received the ball on the edge of the 18-yard box and fired into the bottom corner of the net leading to wild celebrations from the home players and fans who knew their side had avenged the 2-1 defeat they had suffered at the hands of Kintbury at the start of September. The win saw Amesbury move four points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand knowing that the destiny of the title is now in their own hands, win all their games and they will be crowned champions and achieve promotion back to Step 6 at the first attempt. There are still plenty of games to go though and Amesbury are back in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Calne Town Reserves.
Third placed Pewsey Vale were looking to remain in touch with the top two and for the second week running were involved in a tight game. They were up against a Wroughton side on a heavy and difficult pitch at the Wier Field. The game had only got the go ahead on the morning of the game and credit to the Wroughton club for ensuring the game went ahead when it looked most unlikely judging by the pictures on Friday afternoon. Pewsey led 2-0 thanks to goals from Andy Rossiter and Ben England and had chances to extend their lead. However, none were taken and Wroughton pulled one back through their leading scorer Jonathan Peachey-Score but there was to be no equaliser and Pewsey safely saw out the closing stages to secure all three points. The win saw Pewsey move to within two points of Kintbury Rangers with a game in hand and they remain very much in the title race, even though at this stage Amesbury look to now be the clear favourites.
Fourth place Royal Wootton Bassett Town have hit a bad run of form. They went into their game at Shrivenham on the back of two straight defeats whilst Shrivenham in contrast came into the game having won their last two games. Those respective runs were extended by one game as Shrivenham secured a 2-0 win that saw them move up to seventh place in the table. Shrivenham had the better of things in the first half but could not turn the possession and created chances into goals and it remained goalless at the break. Shrivenham finally went in front through a well worked team goal, Kieran Sutton unselfishly setting up Charlie Hampson for the opener. The visitors pushed for an equaliser but a defensive error at the back by Ben Spackman saw him disposed by Finnlay Hopkins who neatly chipped the keeper to make it 2-0 ending any hope of a comeback. Shrivenham are now just three points behind their beaten opponents with three games in hand. Your Sport Swindon were there with their cameras and subscribers can view highlights of the game by clicking on the link below or accessing the game from the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the League website where you can also access all the other games covered by Your Sport Swindon.
After losing to Shrivenham last time out, Melksham Town Reserves returned to winning ways ahead of next week’s cup quarter final game against Wroughton with a comfortable 5-1 victory over Shrewton United. Star of the show was Elliot Haffenden who scored four of the five Melksham goals, Jake Dodge with the other Melksham goal, Charlie Utterson with the consolation goal for Shrewton United.The win saw Melksham move above their beaten opponents in the table.
Another side returning to winning ways were Blunsdon. After consecutive 2-1 defeats at the hands of Larkhall Athletic Development and Calne Town Reserves they returned from their trip to the south of the country with all three points following a 2-0 win over a much improved young Salisbury Dev side. Eliot Wheatley put them ahead on 22 minutes scoring direct from a corner and the same player extended their lead a minute before the break. That was to be the end of the afternoons scoring as Blunsdon moved to within two points of fourth placed Royal Wootton Bassett Town.
Larkhall Athletic Development made it three wins in a row with a 2-1 away success at Ludgershall Sports. On another heavy difficult pitch, Larkhall were always in control but, despite plenty of chances, could only create the one goal in the first half, Sam Whitson putting them in front ten minutes before the break. Whitson then extended their lead midway through the second half after being set up by Matt Morris. Ludgershall’s attempts to get back into the game were not helped by having a player sent off 15 minutes from time. Larkhall themselves were then also reduced to ten men on 90 minutes when substitute Louis Morris picked up a second yellow card. Ludgershall took advantage pulling one back in injury time through Thomas Finn setting up a tense final three minutes, but Larkhall held out to secure all three points. They are now just two points behind Royal Wootton Bassett Town in fourth spot but have a massive seven games in hand.
Division One
There were five games played in Division One this weekend. League leaders Park United were away to Pewsey Vale Development and maintained their lead at the top of the table thanks to a 2-0 victory. Experienced Adam Mitchell put Park United 1-0 up before a long-range effort from Charlie Norman made sure of the three points for the leaders.
Faringdon Town kept the pressure on the league leaders with a hard-fought victory over Wiltshire Junior Cup finalists Bratton. They took the lead after just nine minutes, a Matt Pill corner going straight into the net off the far post. They doubled their lead when Bratton were temporarily reduced to ten men due to a sin-bin offence. Faringdon took advantage of the extra man as Jamie Broadfield got on the end of another Faringdon corner to make it 2-0. Faringdon went further in front three minutes before the break and once again it was Broadfield with the goal, the striker getting on the end of a Kyle Bowyer cross to make it 3-0 at the interval. Whilst Bratton pulled one back early in the second half, Faringdon restored their three-goal advantage just before the hour mark, Matt Pill picking up the ball 25 yards from goal, beating his marker and then firing in with a powerful shot to make it 4-1. However, there was a quick response from Bratton, a free-kick from distance somehow eluding the clutches of Faringdon keeper Jack Gibson to find its way into the net for 4-2. That was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring as Faringdon safely saw out the remaining minutes to secure all three points.
With Purton calling out their game against Devizes Town FC due to a Covid outbreak in their squad, which will now need to be discussed by the Discipline Committtee, it meant Marlborough Town had the chance to move above both Devizes and Purton in the league table if they could secure a win away against Cricklade Town. With the continued wet weather Cricklade had booked the 3G at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground to enable the game to go ahead and Marlborough once again demonstrated a liking for the artificial surface. Having won away at Kingsdown last month on the 3G at Kingsdown School, a hat-trick from the Division’s leading scorer Jake Farrell, who took his total for the season to 27, plus two from Harry Womersley helped Marlborough to a 5-3 win at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground. On target for Cricklade were Jake Allen, Ryan Major and Josh Riggs. The win saw Marlborough Town move up into that third spot.
Biggest winners of the day were Kintbury Rangers Development who smashed seven unanswered goals past Bishops Cannings to complete a league double over the Devizes based side. Aiden Maycock led the way helping himself to a hat-trick, Harry Murtagh bagged a brace with the other goals coming through Theo Pennicott-Brown and an own goal.
Another side completing a league double were Lambourn Sports. Having defeated Stratton Juniors 3-2 at Lambourn back in October they repeated that victory with a 5-2 away success in the return fixture. Harry Meeky scored twice with further goals from Chris Redford, Miquel Brown and Zach Grounsell, Lewis Sandwith and Sam Lowrie in reply for Stratton to remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
17 February 2024
