North Wiltshire Division

With Cricklade Town the team without a game this week, Nationwide and ExIntel both had the chance to move clear at the top of the North Wiltshire Veterans’ Division. On Wednesday night at Moredon things looked to be going well for Nationwide as goals from Adam Rudman and Thomas Steptoe put them 2-0 up against Royal Wootton Bassett Town with just 13 minutes on the clock. However, Royal Wootton Bassett Town came back strongly in the second half to score two goals of their own through Josh Connolly to level matters up at 2-2. Despite having Richie Saunders sent off for a second yellow card Royal Wootton Bassett Town held out to become the first side to take points off Nationwide. However, because of the results elsewhere the point for Nationwide was enough to send them top of the table.

The same night at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, ExIntel also dropped their first points of the season when they fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at the hands of last season’s runners-up Redhouse. ExIntel scored their goal as early as the fourth minute of the game, Richard Clark with the goal, but goals from last season’s top scorer David Pratt and Dean Hughes ensured Redhouse maintained their winning start to the new season. Redhouse are in a group of four teams on six points, a point behind Nationwide with a game in hand.

Biggest winners of the week were Penhill United who scored nine goals without replay on Thursday night against new side FS Swindon who have now lost all three of their opening games. There were hat-tricks for both Jamei Ashby and Lee Hollamby with further goals Chris Flanagan, Chris Allen and Gary Macieszonek in Penhill’s emphatic win.

The two games on Tuesday night saw three of the four teams looking for their first points of the season and two of the teams were to get themselves off the mark. At New College AFC Swindon were comfortable winners over Stratton Juniors to get their season up and running. Two second half goals from Andrew Copland and a last-minute effort from Gareth Walton to add to the first half goal from Andy Philpott did the damage for AFC Swindon. AFC Swindon moved up to eighth spot as a result of the win whilst Stratton Juniors, like FS Swindon, remain without a point after their three opening fixtures.

The other game on Tuesday night at Moredon saw Swindon Rovers and Chiseldon up against each other with Chiseldon still looking for their first point of the season after opening the season with two defeats. It was goalless at the break, but Craig Johnson fired Swindon Rovers in front eight minutes into the second half but Chiseldon got something out of the game with an equaliser five minutes from time through Adam O’Keeffe.

Mid Wiltshire Division

Action in the Mid Wiltshire Division got underway on Monday night and it saw a rare 0-0 draw in Veterans’ football between Calne Town and Chippenham Town at MOD Lyneham.

The following night Amesbury Junior Badger, who went the whole of last season without picking up any points, were gifted three points when Radstock Town were unable to field a side for the game at Tidworth.

The same night saw the big game at the top of the table involving last season’s champions Corsham Town and last season’s runners-up Melksham Town who both went into the game having secured the points from their first two games of the season. It was to be Melksham’s night at Green Lane, particularly in the second half. The teams turned around with the score at half time all level at 1-1 but four unanswered second half goals for Melksham saw them avenge the 3-0 defeat they suffered in last season’s corresponding fixture. The goals were shared around the team with one apiece for Robert Cousins, Aaron Ledgister, Tom Robinson, Steve Tweddle and substitute James Taylor, Jonathan Scott with that first half goal for Corsham.

On Thursday night at Nursteed Road, Devizes Town made it two wins from two with a 4-1 victory over Westbury United, with both Rhys Schell and Chris Allen both scoring twice for the home side, Dale Rowland with a consolation goal for Westbury in the final minute of the game. Devizes look like they could be one of the main title contenders for Melksham this season, with the two teams set to meet this coming Monday at Melksham.  David Giles was at the game with his camera and his excellent pictures from the game can be viewed on the League Facebook Page.

There were two games on Friday night to complete the action in the Mid Wiltshire Division. At Green Lane Bishops Cannings hosted Trowbridge Town Tigers and the game remained without a goal until four minutes from time when Tigers Clifford Sakyi broke the deadlock to give Trowbridge a second win of the season.

The other game on Friday night was at Warminster Town where the home side entertained Durrington who also look to be serious title contenders this season. The teams turned round with the game still looking for its first goal but second half goals from Ben Reilly, Toby Watson and David Whittaker for Durrington, with just one in reply for Warminster, gave Durrington all three points and maintained their winning start to the season.

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22 September 2024