Captain Mauel Mesas whose two goals were the difference between the two sides in a 2-0 win for RWBT Dev over Calne Town Res
Premier Division
Once again the weather decimated the fixtures in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with just the one game played, although that was one more than in Division One where all six games were postponed due to waterlogged pitches. It was not just waterlogged pitches that were the problem this weekend, the weather also caused the postponement of a game on a 3G pitch, with heavy overnight snow in Bath leading to the game between Larkhall Athletic Development and Amesbury Town also having to be postponed. This was frustrating for both sides after they had hastily agreed to reverse the two fixtures between the sides to give the game the chance of going ahead on the 3G at Odd Down Sports Ground, only for the overnight snow to scupper the effort put in by the two sides to get the game on.
The Christmas card scene that caused the postponement of the game at the top end of the table between Larkhall Ath Dev and Amesbury Town.
(picture courtesy of James Riccio)
Elsewhere it was waterlogged pitches that caused the postponement of games, with this picture showing a saturated Marlborough Town pitch
(picture courtesy of Sara Newman)
The one game that did go ahead was on the 3G at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground where Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development entertained Calne Town Reserves in Royal Wootton Bassett's penultimate home game of the season. On a bitterly cold day the two young sides played some neat passing football in the opening half without creating too many chances at either end. It was no surprise that it would need a set piece for the deadlock to be broken. A corner from the right taken by Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s Harry Walters found the head of Manuel Mesas at the far post and his header came down off the underside of the crossbar and into the net for 1-0 to the home side. They almost doubled their lead a minute later a poor clearance from Calne keeper Bailey Leach went straight to Walters but his attempted chip from distance went sailing over the bar. It remained just the one goal in the opening forty-five in what had been a sporting contest between the two sides, well officiated by Patrick Butler and his two assistants.
Two goal hero Mani Mesas clears one at the other end from a Calne corner.
More action from RWBT Dev's 2-0 win over Calne Town Res
Royal Wootton Bassett Town came out for the second half looking to quickly extend their lead and went close on two occasions in the opening minutes of the half. Firstly Nathanial Bell had a golden chance but his shot from just inside the area was spectacularly blocked on line by Calne Town defender Matt Ashman to prevent his side falling further behind. The resulting corner came to nothing for the home side. Three minutes later Bell was involved again, cutting in from the left and feeding Matt Capel whose shot sailed over the bar when a bit more composure could well have seen him find the net. The home side were to double their lead though, and once again it came from another corner. The corner was once again from the right hand side and was once again met by Mesas but this time, with the corner being hard and low into the box, it was met on the half volley by Mesas whose shot flew into the net giving Leach in the Calne goal no chance. Royal Wootton Bassett Town pushed for another with a series of chances that went just the wrong side of the posts or crossbar. However, it it was not all one-way traffic. Calne’s best hope always looked to be the lively Jack Smith, but he was given few, if any, clear cut chances by the home defence with both Zach Pettifer and Adam House, doing an excellent job in keeping the Calne forward at bay. The best chance that came his way was a free kick just outside the box, but it came to nothing, and the home side were able to celebrate a clean sheet to go with the three points in a 2-0 win. The victory lifted Royal Wootton Bassett Town above Larkhall Athletic Development into fourth spot, but Larkhall have eight games in hand and are only two points behind.
In midweek the outstanding Cup Quarter Final game between Melksham Town Reserves and Wroughton was postponed for a third time due to a waterlogged pitch. The two sides will try again this coming Tuesday, hoping to get the game played at the fourth attempt.
Division One
All games scheduled in Division One this weekend were postponed due to waterlogged pitches. All but one have already been re-arranged and FA Full-Time updated.
2 March 2024
