Action from Bemerton Heath Harlequins Res 3-2 win away at Shrewton United (picture courtesy of Tony Smith)

Premier Division

Wroughton started the night on Tuesday as league leaders as they made the short journey to the Sustain Stadium at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground to take on Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. It didn’t start too well for the visitors as they found themselves trailing to two goals from Dale Richards and Ben Spackman. However, they got themselves a foothold back in the game following a free-kick into the box which was not dealt with by the home defence and put away by Jonny Davoille. Wroughton upped their game after the restart and got themselves back on level terms thanks to a Ryan Major goal after a determined run by Jonathan Peachey-Score found Major who made it 2-2. It got even better for Wroughton shortly after, a long punt up field should have been dealt with by keeper Dan West but as he came out to collect the ball, he was outjumped by Aaron Maximen who put the ball away to give Wroughton a 3-2 lead. After conceding two quick goals in succession the home side responded well and went in search of an equaliser. That third goal was to eventually come with Ben Spackman finishing off a good move for his second of the game and level matters up at 3-3. The home side then sensed the chance to inflict a first defeat of the season on the leaders and twice had the ball in the net only to see both goals struck-off by flags from the referee’s assistant. The first was after Mani Mesas had fired in and the second when Chris Head broke through and squared the ball back to Dale Richards to run onto and put away only for the goal to again be struck off for an offside flag.  In the end the two sides had to settle for a share of the points as Wroughton maintained their unbeaten start to the season and Royal Wootton Bassett Town moved onto four points, all of which have come at home so far this season.  

With Wroughton dropping points, Letcombe took full advantage to move above them to head the table following a 4-2 home win over Shrivenham. They took an early lead when a break down the left ended with a cross into the box from Kieran Kerby that found its way to Xavi Diaz at the back post, and he fired in for 1-0. However, Shrivenham were quickly back on level terms, James Hirst bringing his side back level. Letcombe were back in front though before the break, Ben Cleary capitalising on a defensive mistake to cooly stroke the ball into the net from the edge of the box for 2-1 to Letcombe at the break. Shrivenham got themselves back into the game for a second time early in the second half through Jacob Newdick who was returning from suspension following his sending off against Trowbridge. Having lost their lead for a second time Letcombe stepped up their game and a second of the game from Cleary and one from Jack Daley in a much improved second half performance saw them pick up three vital points to move top of the table with their fifth win in six games. Shrivenham who have had some tough fixtures to start the season, playing four of the current top six in their opening five games, will now go looking for their first win of the season when they entertain Park United on Saturday.

Shrewton United had a great start to their local derby against Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves in front of a bumper crowd of 154 at the Recreation Ground. They were in front within a minute of the start thanks to an individual goal from Lewis Cross. Bemerton got themselves back on level terms just before the half hour mark, Marcus Smith scoring from the edge of the box following a short corner routine and it remained 1-1 at the break. Josh Hoey then put Bemerton in front for the first time in the game early in the second half getting on the end of a ball to the far post to make it 2-1 to Bemerton. Bemerton sought to get a third, but it would be Shrewton who got the next goal, just after the hour mark, Charlie Utterson firing into the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box. Parity did not last long though as Bemerton got themselves back in front 20 minutes from time, a ball into James McSorley saw him round the keeper and put the ball away to give Bemerton a 3-2 lead. Although Shrewton pushed for an equaliser that was to be the end of the night’s scoring as it finished 3-2 to Bemerton who moved level on points with their beaten opponents after an entertaining and sporting contest between the two sides which drew special praise from the referee after the game.

More of Tony's pictures can be found at www.efc.smugmug.com

There was also an entertaining game at Woodmarsh where Trowbridge Town were up against one of the promoted sides Park United. It started well for the home side as they went in front with just nine minutes on the clock, former Trowbridge keeper Kierran Ramsey failing to hold a George Bendle shot and Nick Taylor being on hand to tap in the loose ball for 1-0 to Trowbridge.  Two minutes later Trowbridge doubled their lead and once again it was Taylor who did the damage, curling in a short from the left-hand side of the 18-yard box into the top corner of the net for 2-0. It remained that way until nine minutes before half time when Park pulled one back, Rhys Talmash controlling a ball to the edge of the box on his chest before smashing a right footed shot from just inside the box into the top corner of the net for 2-1. It remained that way at the break. Ten minutes into the second half Park were back on level terms, a ball over the top found Talmash who outpaced the Trowbridge back line and then lobbed Trowbridge keeper Cameron Miller.  Three minutes later it got even better for Park and Talmash in particular, another great strike from the edge of the box by Talmash flew into the top corner of the net to make it 3-2 to Park and a hat-trick for the Park striker.  Three became four for Talmash as a poor defensive header by Trowbridge saw the ball go straight to Talmash on the edge of the box who hit it on the volley to make it 4-2 to Park with another strike. Trowbridge sought to get themselves back in the game and pulled one back from a corner bundled in at the far post by Jake Samuel to make it 4-3. It remained that way as the game moved into injury time but there was to be late drama. Running into the area Kieran Baggs was brought down and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Something must have been said in the Park dugout as the assistant referee called over the referee Neil Hawker and a red card was shown. Eventually James Cox got to take the penalty looking to save a point for Trowbridge, but Ramsey in the Park goal came back to haunt his former club with a save that ensured a win for Park, with the referee blowing the final whistle almost immediately after the penalty save. A second win of the season for Park which saw them climb to tenth place whilst Trowbridge slipped to sixth place following their second defeat of the season.

More photos taken by Alwyn from this game can be found on the League Facebook Group Page.

Melksham Town Reserves made the short journey along the A3102 and returned with all three points following a 3-1 win over Calne Town Reserves. Last season former Trowbridge Town player Ben Wickens scored 16 goals for Bradford Town in the Western League and has dual-signed with Melksham Town Reserves this season. On Tuesday night he showed his potency in front of goal by scoring twice for Melksham in their win over Calne, Jake Dodge with the other Melksham goal, Joe Williamson with the reply for Calne Town Reserves.

After an opening day defeat at the hands of Trowbridge Town, Faringdon Town have been in good form on home turf at Tucker Park having beaten both Park United and Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development in successive home games. They made it three straight wins in front of their own fans with a 4-2 success over Blunsdon on Tuesday night with most of the damage being done in the first half. Faringdon took the lead on 13 minutes, last season’s leading scorer Kyle Bowyer getting on the end of a Daniel Lloyden cross. Adam Sly then made it 2-0 heading in from a corner on 20 minutes. It was soon 3-0, Peter Fletcher firing in from a free kick after Matthew Bibby had been fouled on the edge of the box. Faringdon extended their lead four minutes into the second half, Adam Sly volleying in from a Jamie Tuck cross to put Faringdon four up. Credit to Blunsdon who did not give up and pulled one back shortly after and then added a second in the closing stages on the game from a free kick, their two goals coming through Josh Gale and Eliot Wheatley.

There was a close game at Southbrook Rec where Kintbury Rangers were Kingsdown's visitors with visitors Kintbury eventually edging it by the odd goal in five to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. The victory for Kintbury saw them move third in the table as a result of their fourth win in their opening five games. Two goals for Kye Williams and one from Will Frank saw Kintbury home, Josh Atwell and Tyler Preddy with the two goals for the home side Kingsdown.

There was one game in the Premier Division on Wednesday night, and it saw Pewsey Vale looking to bounce back from successive defeats at the hands of Shrewton United and Wroughton when they entertained Salisbury Dev in a fixture reversed due to the Salisbury ground being unable to stage the game that night. It was to be mission accomplished for Mark Field’s side as leading scorer Josh Fowler helped himself to two more goals in a 5-2 win.  There were further Pewsey goals from James Guthrie and Brandon Vincent with an own goal completing the scoring for Pewsey who climbed one place in the table to fourth spot as a result of the win.Harry Guy scoring the two Salisbury goals in reply.

Division One

It was a night of goals galore in Division One on Tuesday night with 46 goals scored in the five games. It was a tough night for Purton who shipped 20 of those 46 goals away at Down Ampney. Charlie McCuish led the way helping himself to five, substitute Connor Hibbs hit a hat-trick, whilst Lewis Baston, Harvey Coster, Paddy Cripps, Jack Hulbert and George Bailey all bagged a brace and both Daniel Lambton and Harry Sealy scored one goal each in the 20-0 win. The big win for Down Ampney saw them climb up to third spot in the league table.

There was another big score at Elcot Lane where league leaders Marlborough Town entertained Stratton Juniors. Marlborough maintained their leadership of the division with an emphatic 9-1 victory. Having scored two on Saturday against Redhouse, Jake Farrell was once again amongst the goals in Marlborough’s latest win scoring four times, Alfie Jonhnstone netted two and there were further goals from Harry Womersley, Joshua De Souza and Hugh Clark. Stratton's consolation goal was scored by Daniel Bond.

A third side to pick up a big win on the night were Devizes Town Reserves who hit six unanswered goals to defeat much fancied Bratton who have now lost two of their opening five goals by six goal margins. Goals from Finley Palmer and Harvey Swain gave Devizes a 2-0 lead at half time. Swain scored a second after the break whilst Kieron Gleed hit a second half hattrick to round off a good night for Devizes which saw them move second in the table.

Shrivenham Development picked up a second win of the season at home against Redhouse. The teams turned round at the break all square at 1-1 but two unanswered second half goals secured the points for Shrivenham. Lewis Mokler scored one in each half for Shrivenham with Jamie Broadfield also scoring in the second half. Cameron Shrubb with the Redhouse goal. With the score at 2-1 Redhouse had the chance to level matters up from the penalty spot, but Shrivenham keeper Liam Keville saved the spot kick from Shrubb to maintain his sides lead.

The final game on Tuesday night was at Green Lane where Bishops Cannings entertained Bradford Town Reserves. Bishops Cannings have made a decent start to the new season and picked up their third win from their opening five games with a 4-2 come from behind success. Bradford Town Reserves led 1-0 at the break thanks to a goal from Wiktor Wnuk but second half goals from Jack Spanswick (2), Samuel Brewer and Ben Haffenden secured the three points for Bishops Cannings, Kieran Balchin with the second Bradford Town Reserves goal.

There was one game on Wednesday night when Kintbury Rangers Development took on Lambourn Sports at the Recreation Ground. Lambourn were looking to go level on points with second in the table Devizes Town Reserves with a win. After a first half of limited chances the two teams turned round at half time with the game still looking for its first goal.  The goals eventually came in the second half with both sides getting the one as the two teams had to settle for a point apiece, Sean Cook with the Kintbury goal and Kias Bonner-Shea with the Lambourn reply. The point gained by Lambourn still saw them move third in the table, two points adrift of Devizes.

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22 August 2024