Games in the Under 18 Floodlight Division spanned the whole of the working week again last week, commencing on Monday night at Green Lane when Bishops Cannings entertained Wims 11. It started well for Bishops Cannings who went 2-0 up only to concede on the stroke of half time to lead 2-1 at the break. However, a much improved second half from the Swindon based side saw them score four times without reply to take the three points. That is now two wins from their opening three games for a Wims side who are expected to be up amongst the challengers for the title this season.
After losing to Wims the previous week, Calne Town returned to winning ways on Thursday night with a 2-0 home win over Amesbury Town to join Wims, Devizes Town, FC Chippenham and Swindon Supermarine on six points, with Devizes Town and FC Chippenham set to meet the following night. Amesbury meanwhile are still looking for their first points after losing their opening two games.
The same night the champions for the past two seasons Kintbury Rangers picked up their first points of the season with a 5-3 away win at Melksham Town with all five Kintbury goals coming in the second half.
The final league game of the week was on Friday night at Stanley Park with two sides, FC Chippenham and Devizes Town, who had won both of their opening two games up against each other with one or both set to go top of the league by the end of the night. That honour goes to FC Chippenham who made it three wins from their opening three games thanks to a 3-1 score line. The win saw FC Chippenham move three points clear at the top of the table whilst Devizes remain joint second along with three other clubs on six points. FC Chippenham and Swindon Supermarine both have won all their games so far with the only other unbeaten side being Radstock Town who have yet to play a league game.
On the subject of Radstock Town, they were involved in the FA Youth Cup First Round Qualifying on Thursday night and were up against Swindon Supermarine’s South West Counties side, who are the current leaders of that league. It was a tight affair that Swindon Supermarine in the end edged by the odd goal as they ran out 2-1 winners, thus ending Radstock's interest in this season's competition.
This coming week there are set to be five league games with two on Monday night and then three on Thursday. On Monday night Kintbury Rangers will look to make it two wins on the bounce when they entertain league leaders FC Chippenham, weather permitting given that there is an amber weather warning for Monday. The other game is on the 3G at Green Lane and sees Radstock Town get their league campaign up and running when they take on Westbury United. The three games on Thursday see an all Swindon affair when Swindon Supermarine play Wims 11, Bishops Cannings travel south to take on Amesbury whilst the final game is at Calne Town where Devizes Town are the visitors looking to bounce back from Friday night’s defeat.
Please note that there will no longer be the usual roundups of games, pictures nor list of leading goal scorers in the Under 18 Division this coming season by order of the FA. If this is causing disappointment with your players, who we know like to see their goal scoring exploits publicised, please take the matter up with the Wilts FA as we are just doing as we have been told. We have given them are strong views on the matter.
In writing this week's results summary it was particularly galling to note that the FA's own website has a match report on England's recent Under 18 game against Portugal with a full match report naming not only the scorers but listing the two teams. We would have thought they should be practicing what they preach.
23 September 2024
