Focus this week in the two Veterans’ Divisions was on the Wiltshire County FA Veterans’ County Cup with just the one league game being played, that league game being in the Mid Wiltshire Division where Westbury United and Trowbridge Town Tigers met at Green Lane. Trowbridge went into the game knowing that victory would see them move joint top of the table with Durrington, but things did not go to plan as they fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat. Wayne Wheeler put Westbury ahead in the first half and whilst Clifford Sakyi equalised for the Tigers 11 minutes from time, Westbury substitute Nicholas Ross scored a second for Westbury and what proved to be the winner. The victory for Westbury saw them move to within three points of their beaten opponents with a game in hand.
The County Cup got underway on Monday night with Mid Wiltshire side Calne Town hosting AFC Swindon from the North Wiltshire Division. It was to be the North’s night as early goals from Jason Conn and Andrew Copland were followed by a hat-trick from Andrew Philpott as AFC Swindon ran out 5-1 winners, Antony Doyle with the consolation goal for Calne.
The following night just two of the three scheduled games went ahead with Devizes Town forfeiting their game against Cricklade Town due to being unable to raise a side. One of the two remaining games was an all-North Division affair between cup holders Nationwide and a much-improved Swindon Rovers who are having a good season. It was tight in the first half with the two teams turning around with the game still looking for its first goal. The deadlock was finally broken nine minutes into the second half, substitute Vince McMackin scoring on his debut for Nationwide, having recently transferred from Cricklade Town having also started the season at Stratton Juniors. Nationwide ensured their defence of the cup they won last April remained on track with a second goal two minutes from time from Andrew Goodchild.
The other game on Tuesday night was something of a one-sided affair between FS Swindon from the North Wiltshire Division and the league leaders from the Mid Wiltshire Division, Durrington. The long journey back south would have been an enjoyable one as they registered a big 7-1 win to progress to the Second Round. The goals were shared around the side with Craig Lewis scoring twice to double his total for the season, with then one apiece for Jesse Walters, Steve Moore, Keith Darling, Luke Mason and Ben Reilly, the latter joining Lewis as Durrington’s top scorer so far this season on four goals.
On Wednesday night at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground there was something of a surprise result in the game between Redhouse and Penhill United. Two weeks previous, when the two sides had met in the league, Redhouse had been comfortable 3-0 winners but Penhill avenged that earlier defeat with a 1-0 cup victory, Peter Myall scoring what proved to be the winner just before half time. Whilst Redhouse pushed for an equaliser in the second half Penhill’s defence held firm to secure that place in the Second Round.
The final game of the round was on Friday night at Green Lane, and it produced another close encounter with penalties ultimately being needed to settle matters in the game between Bishops Cannings from the Mid Wiltshire Division and Royal Wootton Bassett Town from the North Wiltshire Division. It finished 1-1 at the end of normal time, Gavin Cook with the Royal Wootton Bassett Town goal and Jason Cole scoring for Bishops Cannings. In the penalty shoot out it was Bishops Cannings who held their nerve to progress to the Second Round, winning 4-3 on penalties. The Wiltshire FA have already made the draw and the Second Round ties along with a summary of all the results to date is shown below:
Next week it is once again cup action with the First Round ties in the League Cup set to take place.
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20 October 2024
