Kintbury Rangers ahead of their 3-1 win away at Letcombe that saw them open up a seven point lead at the top

The big match of the day in the Premier Division was at Letcombe where the visitors were league leaders Kintbury Rangers who started the day four points clear of second placed Letcombe. With just 16 miles between the two clubs this was something of a local derby that attracted a crowd of 66 on a warm sunny afternoon. The opening ten minutes saw the two sides size each other up looking to maintain possession but without really creating any opportunities in front of goal. The first real chance of the game came on 12 minutes, Xavi Diaz letting fly with a half chance from the edge of the box which went wide of the goal without testing Charlie McCready in the Kintbury goal. Ten minutes later the lively Diaz got behind the Kintbury back line, but McCready was quick off his line to smoother the ball away for a corner. The first real chance that Kintbury created at the other end was when they broke down the right-hand side and the cross to the far post just eluded Kye Williams and it remained 0-0. Just after the half hour mark, they had their first real strike on goal when the ball fell to Jake Allen on the edge of the box, after a free kick into the box had initially been cleared by the Letcombe defence. However, Allen saw his shot sail well over the bar. A minute later he was presented with another opportunity after Tom Mahoney played the ball into him, but this time Allen’s weak shot was easily held by Harry Whitehead in the Letcombe goal. Kintbury were now on top and the deadlock was finally broken ten minutes from half time but it took a penalty to produce the goal, the penalty being given after Mahoney was upended in the box by Whitehead. Kye Williams took responsibility for the spot kick and his powerful spot kick gave Whitehead no chance as Kintbury took the lead. Four minutes from the break Letcombe went close to getting back on level terms but Calum Pryce wasted the chance after good work from strike partner Ben Cleary. Cleary then went close himself, Kieran Kerby who was playing as a full back, went on a run down the right and his cross from close to the corner flag found Cleary but McCready did enough to ensure the shot went the wrong side of the far post. There was time for one last effort for Letcombe to get back on level terms before the break, Pryce cutting in from the left and just curling a shot just over as the teams turned around with just the one goal in it.

Letcombe started the second half as they had ended the first, taking the game to the visitors and they were back on level terms within three minutes of the restart, Callum Henry firing in a shot from the edge of the box into the corner of the net for 1-1. Three minutes later at the other end Kintbury went close when a shot from Allen led to appeals that the ball had crossed the line, but the claims were waved away, and it remained all square. The next real chance fell the way of the home side, substitute Archie Brew seeing his effort from the edge of the box go just wide of the far post on 54 minutes. It remained all square until 18 minutes from time and it would be the visitors Kintbury who went back in front capitalising on an error from the home side when the ball was given away in their own half and Williams found himself in on goal and made no mistake to register his second of the game. Eight minutes later it got even better for the visitors with Letcombe once again the architects of their own downfall. A header back towards his own goal by a Letcombe defender went straight to Williams who was standing in an offside position who lobbed the outrushing Whitehead for a hat-trick goal. Whilst the assistant referee put his flag up the ball had clearly been played back to Williams by a Letcombe player and referee Rhiannon Stevens correctly overruled her assistant and allowed the goal to stand resulting in a 3-1 lead to Kintbury.  Kintbury were now very much on top, and man of the match Williams went close on two more occasions in the closing stages of the game, clipping the crossbar with one effort from the edge of the box and then shooting just wide after a powerful run through the middle. An excellent game of football between two very good sides that was well officiated. In the end Kintbury were deserved winners as they extended their unbeaten start to the season and opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the table. Your Sport Swindon were present with their camera and subscribers can view highlights of the game by clicking on the link below or the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the League Website.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division there were five games which were all settled by one goal margins again demonstrating how competitive the league is this season. After going two games without a win, Pewsey Vale returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over third in the table Melksham Town Reserves, Rory England scoring the all-important goal on his return to the side after missing the last two games. Despite the defeat Melksham stay third but Pewsey moved to within two points of their beaten opponents with the win.

Park United had been on a good run of form winning four of their previous five games ahead of their visit to Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. In contrast the home side were without a win in five games, but that run was ended in another game that saw just the one goal, Ryan Withers scoring the Royal Wootton Bassett goal midway through the second half with a well taken finish. The second win of the season for Royal Wootton Bassett lifted them out of the bottom four places, whilst Park slipped three places to ninth spot.   

The third 1-0 game of the day was down in the South of the county where Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves were involved in their fourth 1-0 game of the season, visitors Trowbridge Town going home with all three points as, on this occasion Bemerton, were on the wrong side of that 1-0 score line. The solitary goal came on 20 minutes and unfortunately for Bemerton it was one of their own defenders who headed in a Jamie Lyons cross into his own net for what turned out in the end to be the winning goal. Trowbridge had several chances to extend their lead, but none were taken, whilst at the other end new signing Rob Brown was forced into one save at point-blank range to deny the visitors an equaliser. A second successive win for Trowbridge saw them climb a couple of places in the table ahead of an important week for the club.

More of Tony Smith's pictures from this game can be found at www.efc.smugmug.com and more of Alwyn Bodman's pictures from this game can be viewed on the League Facebook Group page.

Wroughton remain in fourth spot in the table but are now just a point behind Melksham Town Reserves after a narrow 4-3 victory over Blunsdon in an entertaining affair marred by a bad leg break suffered by Blunsdon player Josh Gale which will require surgery. All from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League wish Josh a speedy recovery. The game itself saw Blunsdon lead three times through goals from Eliot Wheatley, Josh Gale and John O’Donoghue but on each occasion Wroughton came back to level matters up through Aaron Maximen as he helped himself to a hat-trick. Wroughton then scored a fourth with what proved to be the winner through Francesco Michienzi to take the three points and remain just that one point outside the top three.

The fifth game of the day to be settled by a one goal margin was at Calne Town Reserves where Salisbury Development were the visitors. Salisbury had exited the Wiltshire Senior Cup in midweek losing 3-1 against Western League side Devizes Town in a game switched to Devizes. Despite the defeat Salisbury had given a good account of themselves, with the third Devizes goal only coming in the final minute of the game with Salisbury having gone close to getting an equaliser on several occasions. On Saturday it started well for Salisbury at Calne, Harry Guy firing them in front although Calne were back on level terms by the break thanks to a penalty in the final minute of the half that was put away by Sean Bailey. It remained a tight affair throughout the second half but two goals for Calne through Jack Smith and Tom Gates, with just the one for Salisbury scored by Daniel Bazen saw Calne extend their unbeaten run to five games as they moved up to seventh spot in the table.

Kingsdown moved up to sixth place in the table with their third straight win, this latest victory coming in the first league game played on Larkhall Athletic Development’s new 3G pitch. Goals from Louis O’Shea, Ben Payne and a seventh of the season from Ollie While did the damage for Kingsdown. After two home defeats in a row, having lost in the County Cup last week, Larkhall will be hoping to get their first win on their new pitch this coming Wednesday when they entertain Malmesbury Victoria Development.

Biggest winners of the day were Shrewton United who hit 12 unanswered goals at home against Malmesbury Victoria Development who had their keeper sent off for a handball outside the area with just 15 minutes on the clock and the score still 0-0. Three minutes later Shrewton were in front, Cameron Wildman firing in to put Shrewton 1-0 up. It remained just the one goal until just after the half hour mark when Charlie Jackson doubled Shrewton’s lead. Further goals from Charlie Utterson and a second for Jackson in the closing minutes of the half saw Shrewton go into the half time break four goals up. Second half saw Shrewton take full advantage of having the extra man and Malmesbury’s lack of a recognised keeper by scoring eight more. Two more for Jackson to take his total for the day to four, a hat-trick for Brennan Knowles, two for Jordan Cross plus one from Aidan Compton completed the scoring. Shrewton remain in 11^th place and Malmesbury remain the only side without a point after seven defeats in their opening seven fixtures, all of which have been played away from home. 

Shrivenham were involved in County Cup action in the First Round of the Charles Twelftree Trophy and they progressed to the Second Round courtesy of a 5-0 away win at Compton to join Kintbury Rangers, Faringdon and Letcombe in that Second Round draw. Brad Hirst hit a hat-trick and there was one apiece for Kieran Sutton and Jacob Newdick. The Second Round is scheduled for Saturday 12^th October.

Division One

In Division One it was a good afternoon for all of the top three sides. League leaders Cricklade Town were at home against Redhouse and made it seven wins from seven games thanks to a 3-0 win which in reality could and should have been a lot more. They went in front on 12 minutes, Levi Cox finally putting the ball away after initially scuffing an open goal but getting another chance as he lay on the floor and Redhouse failed to clear the ball. Cricklade then lay siege to the Redhouse goal for much of the remainder of the half. Callum Parsons did have the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Parsons continued to pull the strings for Cricklade and went close on a couple of occasions, but the teams turned around at half time with just the one goal in it. Eight minutes into the second half Cox doubled Cricklade’s lead with his second of the game, a through ball from Zak Robinson putting him clear of the Redhouse defence and this time he was clinical in front of goal stroking the ball into the bottom corner of the net for 2-0. Four minutes later Cricklade extended their lead, and it was no surprise that it was the influential Parsons with the goal. Cricklade were awarded a free-kick in a central position on the edge of the 18-yard box and Parsons curled the ball round the wall and whilst the Redhouse keeper got a hand to it he was unable to keep it out as Cricklade went 3-0 in front. Cricklade continued to create multiple chances, Scott Chilcott missed a sitter and Cox then blazed over when a hat-trick opportunity beckoned. The closest Cricklade went to adding to their tally was when Parsons hit the post and then went close with another free kick in an almost identical position to the one that yielded his goal. It was not all one way traffic though as Redhouse did create a few chances of their own but never really troubled the Cricklade keeper as it finished 3-0. This was another game where Your Sport Swindon were present with their camera and subscribers can view highlights of the game by clicking on the link below or the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the League Website.

Lambourn Sports remained just the one point behind Cricklade with a 3-1 home win over a hard-working young Pewsey Vale Development side. Visitors Pewsey went in front through Lewis Clarke but goals from Dan Reynolds, Kias Bonner-Shea and a tenth of the season from Lewis Shaw secured the points for Lambourn. Whilst just a point behind Cricklade Lambourn have played two more games than the league leaders. Cricklade will play one of their games in hand on Wednesday night when they entertain Bishops Cannings at the Corinium Stadium, home of Cirencester Town.

Third placed Down Ampney remained in touch with the top two with a comprehensive 7-0 win over struggling Stratton Juniors. Star of the show was Charlie McCuish who scored four to take his total for the season to 13, whilst Harvey Coster hit a hat-trick to move his own personal tally to eight.  Down Ampney have now scored 52 goals in just eight league games and are a point behind Lambourn with a game in hand.

Bishops Cannings warmed up for that midweek encounter with Cricklade with a hard fought 3-2 win away at Kintbury Rangers Development. Leading 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Kieran Chivers and Ben Haffenden, Kintbury Rangers came back strongly in the second half, scoring twice through Charlie Allsop and Harry Murtagh but a third for Bishops Cannings from Szymon Raczek 17 minutes from time secured the points for Bishops Cannings. The win for Bishops Cannings saw them move up to fourth place in the table.

The other two games in Division One between Bratton and Marlborough Town, and Devizes Town Reserves and Shrivenham Dev both ended in 1-1 draws. At Devizes the home side went in front when an initial penalty was saved but Jordan Anning was on hand to put in the rebound for his fourth goal of the season. It remained 1-0 until ten minutes from time when Bradley Ellis got on the end of a long clearance from his keeper and chipped the Devizes keeper to level matters up and ensure a share of the spoils for the visitors. Credit to referee Andrew Bell for completing the game despite a knee injury suffered during the game.

As well as this week’s league fixtures there was also the first game of the season in the Fountain Trophies Cup and it saw the two sides at the bottom of the Division One table, Purton and Kingsdown Development, battling it out for the right to play Kingsdown’s first team in the Second Round. After a 4-0 win for Kingsdown Development it will be an all Kingsdown affair in that Second Round as two goals from Ramon Faruq plus further strikes from Eden Hewlett and Finn Broadbank set up that inhouse contest in Round Two.

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15 September 2024