Wiltshire FA County Cup
The quarter final games in the Wiltshire County FA dominated this week’s action involving sides from the two Veterans’ Divisions of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. On Tuesday night current cup holders Nationwide, who won the competition last season playing as Coate, had a comfortable passage through to the last four on Tuesday night winning 6-0 against fellow North Wiltshire Division side Chiseldon. Paul Stonehouse led the way for the cup holders helping himself to a hattrick with further goals from Marc Merritt, Pete Sealey and an own goal.
The same night, last season’s beaten finalists, Cricklade Town, also made it through to the last four but it was a close-run thing in another all-North Wiltshire Division tie against Penhill United at Cirencester Town. Neither side was able to find the back of the net in open play meaning that penalties were needed to settle matters and Cricklade won the penalty shootout 5-4 to progress to the semi-final.
The following night there was an inter-divisional tie between ExIntel from the North Wiltshire Division and Trowbridge Town Tigers from the Mid Wiltshire Division. When the Veterans’ category was first started in Season 2019-20 Trowbridge had played in the competition in a single division based predominantly around the Swindon area. It was not to be a happy return to Swindon for the Tigers, going down to a solitary early strike from Lewis Bryant. Bryant scored what turned out to be the only goal of the game with just seven minutes elapsed as ExIntel became the third side from the North Wiltshire Division through to the semi final.
The final quarter final tie was on Friday night at Green Lane and it was an all Mid Wiltshire Division affair between Bishops Cannings and Westbury United, guaranteeing the division at least one semi finalist. Unfortunately the game did not go the full duration due to an injury to the Bishops Cannings goalkeeper that forced the game to be abandoned. Thankfully after a visit to the hospital we understand the keeper is on the mend with no serious damage but will be out for a while and all at the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League wish him a speedy recovery. At the time of the abandonment his side Bishops Cannings led 3-0 thanks to two goals from Adam Bewley and one from David Mountford, with Westbury United also having had a player sent off. We now await advice from the Wiltshire FA as to whether the result at the time of the abandonment will stand or whether the game will need to be replayed.
League Games
In addition to the County Cup games there were two league matches in the North Wiltshire Division and four in the Mid Wiltshire Division.
In the North Wiltshire Division, AFC Swindon picked up their third win of the season with a narrow 2-1 success against Stratton Juniors at Moredon on Tuesday night thanks to goals from Andy Philpott and Andrew Copland, Shane Dodson with the reply for Stratton Juniors. AFC Swindon remained in eighth place but closed the gap to the sides just above them in the table.
The following night Redhouse moved back top of the table in the North Wiltshire Division with a 4-0 win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Two more goals for leading scorer David Pratt plus one apiece for Michael Jones and Dean Hughes as Redhouse moved two points clear of Nationwide in second place but having played two more games.
The big game in the Mid Wiltshire Division was at the Oakfield Stadium, Melksham and the meeting of two sides, Melksham Town and Durrington, who started Monday night as unbeaten in league games prior to the fixture. It was to prove to be Melksham’s night as goals from Dean Flockton, Gary Higdon and Tom Robinson secured a 3-1 win for the home side to maintain their unbeaten start to the league season, Toby Watson with the solitary reply for Durrington who saw their unbeaten record end.
The same night Calne Town ended Warminster Town’s recent good run which had seen them win their last four games in all competitions, including a 5-0 win over Calne in the Veterans’ County Cup. On Monday night Calne avenged that cup defeat, a solitary goal from Paul Maddox giving them the three points in a 1-0 victory.
The following night Devizes Town went three points clear at the top of the table with a big 10-0 win away at Amesbury Junior Badgers. The division’s leading scorer Rhys Schell led the way helping himself to four more goals, Kieron Kiff scored a hattrick on his debut, all three goals coming in the second half, with Ray King, Ryan Banks and Tim Saye getting the other Devizes goals. Devizes have now won all seven of their league games to date and have only conceded two goals in those seven games as well as being the division’s top scorers with 33 goals in those seven games with Schell having netted 16 of those goals.
The same night Chippenham Town and Radstock Town fought out a 1-1 draw to share the points from their game, Darren Chitty with the Chippenham goal and Ben Cherry with the reply for Radstock Town. The point for Chippenham saw them remain in eighth spot whilst the point for Radstock saw them move level on points with Amesbury Junior Badgers at the bottom of the table.
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8 December 2024
