After the break in fixtures last week caused by half term school holidays, this week saw the Second Round of the Wiltshire County FA's Veteran's County Cup taking centre stage, with six ties scheduled but, in the end, just five being played, with Amesbury Junior Badgers from the Mid Wiltshire Division conceding their tie against Chiseldon from the North Wiltshire Division.
Nationwide, the current County Cup holders from the North Wiltshire Division, had a comfortable evening on Tuesday night at Green Lane, scoring eight times without reply against Chippenham Town from the Mid Wiltshire Division. Both Marc Merritt and Vince McMackin scored twice, with Andrew Goodchild, Adam Rudman and Joe Anderson also getting on the scoresheet in the 8-0 win. Nationwide will be home to fellow North Wiltshire Division side Chiseldon in the Quarter Final, Chiseldon progressing without having a kick a ball as noted above.
It was to prove to be a good week for the North Wiltshire Division sides with the North also winning the tie of the round on Monday night at the Oakfield Stadium where goals from Stuart Hughes and Godfrey Chisanga gave last season’s beaten finalists Cricklade Town a 2-0 win over Mid Wiltshire Division side Melksham Town in a battle between two sides who are unbeaten in their respective division in league fixtures.
On Tuesday night there was an all-North Wiltshire Division tie between Penhill United and Stratton Juniors. When the two sides had met in the opening league fixture of the season, Stratton had led 2-0 at half time only to see Penhill comeback scoring three in the second half to take the points. It was something of a more one-sided affair in Tuesday night’s county cup fixture with Penhill running out 6-2 winners. Jamie Ashby led the way for Penhill scoring a hat-trick with further goals from Chris Angell, Steve Bunting and Gary Macieszonek. Penhill will now be away to Cricklade in the Quarter Final in another all-North Wiltshire Division contest.
There was another all-North Wiltshire Division tie on Wednesday night at Moredon where AFC Swindon entertained ExIntel. AFC Swindon led 1-0 at the break thanks to an Andy Philpott goal but ExIntel turned things around in the second half scoring twice through John Horgan and Lewis Bryant to progress to the last eight. ExIntel will be home to Trowbridge Town Tigers from the Mid Wiltshire Division in the next round, the Tigers having been given a bye to the Quarter Final after Redlynch & Woodfalls withdrew from the cup.
Friday night saw the final tie of the week and it involved two sides from the Mid Wiltshire Division, Westbury United and Warminster Town. It was a close encounter that finished all square at the end of normal time, penalties being required to settle matters after it had finished 2-2. The penalty shoot-out saw Westbury United emerge victorious 4-3 to progress to the Quarter Final where they will meet the winner of the one outstanding tie between another two Mid Wiltshire Division sides, Bishops Cannings and Durrington, who meet at Green Lane this coming Tuesday.
The Quarter Final ties are all scheduled to take place in the first week of December. Full results to date and the Quarter Final draw is shown below:
In addition to the County Cup fixtures there were also two league games played, one in each division. In the North Wiltshire Division, Redhouse joined Cricklade Town at the top of the table after a comfortable 5-2 win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Last season’s top scorer for Redhouse David Pratt led the way scoring a hat-trick, Fred Galrito and Nigel Baker with the other Redhouse goals, Jeremy Newton and Stuart Davidson replying for Royal Wootton Bassett Town.
The one game played in the Mid Wiltshire Division also saw the winning side move top of the table as Trowbridge Town Tigers picked up their sixth league win in eight games to go three points clear at the top of the table, although they have played more games than anyone else in the division. Their latest victory came in a close encounter with Radstock Town, Trowbridge winning by the odd goal in five. On target for Trowbridge in the 3-2 win were Johnathan Wilkins, Clifford Sakyi and Robert Mitchell. Radstock remain bottom of the table for now but having pushed the league leaders all the way that second win of the season cannot be too far away.
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10 November 2024
