In the end there were just three league games played this week in the Under 18 Floodlight Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with the games between Wims 11 and Radstock Town and FC Chippenham versus Melksham Town both being postponed, the latter as a result of Melksham Town being unable to raise a side, becoming the first U18 fixture this season needing to be dealt with by the Discipline Committee.
In addition to the three league games, Kintbury Rangers were also involved in the Berks & Buck Youth Cup away at Binfield and put up a spirited performance, eventually going down 3-1 on a very wet evening against a very good Binfield side. Kintbury went in front early on, scoring moments after they had a good penalty shout turned away. This was to prove to be one of a number of decisions on the night that did not go their way. Binfield were back on level terms by the break though, the home side being awarded a penalty when a player went down in the box. Binfield made no mistake from the spot kick to go into half time with the game all square. Much of the second half was played in heavy rain and the pivotal moment in the match came in the 68th minute with the award of a penalty to Kintbury. Unfortunately for the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League side the Binfield keeper pulled off an excellent save and it remained all square. It didn't remain that way for long though as four minutes later Binfield went down the other end and went in front for the first time in the game thanks to a powerful shot from the edge of the box that went into the net off the crossbar for 2-1 to the home side. Kintbury then had a player dismissed and Binfield made sure of progress to the next round when they scored from a free kick from the edge of the box to make the final score 3-1 to the home side.
The same night there was one game played in the league at Green Lane, Devizes where Bishops Cannings and Devizes Town battled it out for local bragging rights in front of a large crowd in the Devizes derby. On Saturday when the two clubs men's sides had met in the Fountain Trophies Cup it was Devizes who had come out on top but on Monday night it was the youngsters of Bishops Cannings who were to get that winning feeling, 2-1 the final score as Bishops Cannings picked up their second league win of the season.
The two games on Thursday night saw the two joint leaders of the Division at the start of the night, Swindon Supermarine and Calne Town in action. Swindon Supermarine entertained an Amesbury Town side who were looking to build on their County Cup win on Sunday. On a cold evening two first half goals put Supermarine in the driving seat. A third goal early in the second half made sure of the points which, as a result of Calne dropping points, saw Swindon Supermarine go clear at the top of the table with their fifth win in five games.
Calne Town were also at home the same night with their visitors being Kintbury Rangers in what was a repeat of last season's U18 league cup final. Calne led 1-0 at the break thanks to a goal just after the half hour mark, but Kintbury got themselves back on level terms to ensure a share of the points in a 1-1 draw. This left Calne Town two points behind Swindon Supermarine having played one game more.
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.
11 October 2024
