Premier Division

Friday night’s cold snap put paid to all the games that were scheduled to be played on grass in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. Four league games did take place though with the 3G pitches at Stanley Park, the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, Bulford Camp and Kingsdown School showing the advantage of such surfaces at this time of the year.  

With the top two at the start of the day, Kintbury Rangers and Letcombe, both seeing their games postponed third placed Park United had the chance to move second in the table with victory over Faringdon Town and at the same time erode Kintbury’s lead at the top of the table. It was mission accomplished for Darrin Moss’ side as a goal in each half was enough to overcome a stubborn Faringdon side who are desperately in need of points at the other end of the table as they look to avoid relegation in their first season in the Premier Division. Park’s leading scorer Ben Pring broke the deadlock on 22 minutes, getting on the end of a cross into the Faringdon box and flicking the ball over Faringdon keeper Jack Gibson. That is now 16 for the season for Pring. It remained just the one goal in it at half time. Park finally gave themselves a two-goal cushion just after the hour mark, the goal coming just moments after Faringdon had gone close to equalising, new signing Louis Bouwers seeing his header come back off the crossbar to deny him a goal on his season debut. Moments later Park won a corner and, whilst the initial corner was cleared, it was a poor clearance allowing the ball to be played back into the box where centre half Charlie Norman was on hand to head home for his first league goal of the season for 2-0. Faringdon pushed to try and get a foothold back in the game but, despite having plenty of possession, they were unable to find a way through an organised Park defence as it finished with just the two goals for Park United. The win for Park saw them move above Letcombe into second place, one point ahead but having played three more games. The win also cut Kintbury Rangers lead at the top of the table to ten points, with Kintbury, who have applied for promotion to Step 6, now having a game in hand and who remain firm favourites for the title and promotion.

Kingsdown had been forced to move their game against Trowbridge Town to the 3G pitch at Kingsdown School, normally used by their Development side, with Shield & Dagger set to be at Southbrook Rec in the Wiltshire Junior Cup. In the end Southbrook was not playable due to a frozen pitch, with Shield & Dagger forced to move their game to the 3G at Moredon at short notice. Kingsdown's switch to the 3G effectively saved the fixture as it would otherwise have not gone ahead. The two sides produced an entertaining affair with its fair share of controversy on the artificial surface. Trowbridge came out of the blocks quickly and were in front with just five minutes on the clock, a cross from Charlie Maddison from the left was met by the head of Martin Johnson whose powerful header back of across goal went in off a Kingsdown defender attempting to clear it. Trowbridge doubled their lead on 19 minutes, winning the ball in midfield they broke quickly through James Cox whose pass across the box found Maddison, who went from provider to scorer, firing in for 2-0. It was not all one-way traffic though and Kingsdown went close when George Bendle was dispossessed in midfield and a powerful run by Finley Merchant ended with a shot that went just over. Kingsdown were not to be denied for long though, pulling one back just after the half hour mark. A ball over the top finding Ollie While who hit the ball first time on the half volley with the shot going under the body of Trowbridge keeper Rob Brown and into the net for 2-1. Trowbridge thought they had regained their two-goal advantage five minutes before the break when Johnson headed into the goal for a second time. However, on this occasion an assistant’s flag saw the goal ruled out for offside. Trowbridge then had one of their coaching staff sent off for comments made about the decision as the half finished with the visitors holding a slender advantage. 

It remained 2-1 until just after the hour mark when Kingsdown got themselves back on level terms. A ball over the top from Antonio Gerrish found While who ran on to fire home for his second of the game to make it 2-2. A minute later though, having created the chance for While, Gerrish found himself sent to the sin bin for dissent meaning Kingsdown had to play a man short for ten minutes. Trowbridge took advantage of the extra man and were back in front within five minutes of the temporary dismissal with a stunning goal. Picking the ball up from just inside the opposition half, Maddison hit a shot from distance that eluded the stretch of Kingsdown keeper Lewis Simmonds and sailed just under the crossbar and into the net for a stunning goal to put Trowbridge 3-2 up. The goal would have been a worthy winner of any game but there was to be further drama 12 minutes from time when Finley Merchant’s cross into the box was controversially adjudged to have struck the arm of Trowbridge Town’s Jamie Jordan and a penalty awarded. Liam Wilkinson fired the penalty powerfully straight down the middle giving Trowbridge keeper Rob Brown no chance to level matters up at 3-3. Both sides went in search of a winner with Trowbridge going the closest, Kingsdown keeper Simmonds doing well to push a free kick form Trowbridge captain Jamie Lyons onto the crossbar but there was to be no more goals as the two sides had to settle for a point apiece. Your Sport Swindon were at this game with their cameras and subscribers can view highlights from the game by clicking on the link below or by using the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the league website where all other games in the league covered by Your Sport Swindon can also be accessed. Alwyn Bodman was also at the game with his camera and more of his pictures can be found on the League Facebook Group page.

When Calne Town Reserves had met Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development at Bremhill View back in September they had run out comfortable 5-0 winners. However, when Calne first team visited the Gerard Buxton Ground in the Wiltshire Senior Cup in November, Royal Wootton Bassett Town had caused a major upset by defeating the Step 6 side who are going well in Division One of the Jewson Western League and Royal Wootton Bassett were looking to follow that up with a defeat of the reserve side. Having played more games than all but one of the other sides in the division, Mark Simpkins side know they have to start putting points on the board quickly if they are to avoid the drop come the end of the season. They dominated proceedings in the first half, striking the frame of the goal on several occasions. The first such near miss was when Sam Case headed onto the crossbar from an Ollie Smith cross. It was another Smith cross that saw the home side go close again, Mani Mesas seeing his header towards goal striking the top of the crossbar and going over. Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev continued to press and went close again when a header from Ben Spackman was turned over the bar by the Calne keeper with a fine save. George Statton then went close to breaking the deadlock, his run down the left flank ending with a shot to the far post which skimmed the outside of the post. Despite the home side dominating proceedings, the two teams turned round at half time with the game still without a goal. The deadlock was finally broken in the second half, Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development’s leading scorer Flynn Walters beating the Calne defence to a flick on in midfield and then running with the ball to the edge of the Calne box before firing a low shot into the bottom far corner of the Calne net for 1-0 for and his 12th goal of the campaign. In the end that was to prove to be the difference between the two sides on the day as Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev picked up three vital points in their quest to avoid the drop. The win for Royal Wootton Bassett saw them climb above Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves and they are now also five points above the drop zone but have played more games than the sides around them. Your Sport Swindon were again at this game with their cameras and subscribers can view highlights from the game by clicking on the link below or by using the link on the Your Sport Swindon page of the league website where all other games in the league covered by Your Sport Swindon can also be accessed.

The final game of the day in the Premier Division was a massive game at the wrong end of the table involving two further Development sides who are involved in the relegation battle, Salisbury Development and Larkhall Athletic Development. When the sides had met at Bath in October, Salisbury had returned with all three points following a narrow 2-1 away win. The return match was another close encounter but a goal in each half ensured that Larkhall avenged that earlier defeat. Ben Riccio with a fine individual goal in the first half and a Kieran Taylor strike in the second half doing the damage for Larkhall. The win for Larkhall saw them move level on points with Faringdon Town and to within four points of their beaten opponents who now sit just above the relegation line, although Larkhall, like Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development, have played more games than the teams around them..

The scheduled games at Kintbury Rangers, Malmesbury Vics Dev, Shrewton United, Shrivenham and Wroughton were all postponed due to frozen pitches.

Division One

Due to a combination of postponed games due to frozen pitches and games scheduled in the Wiltshire Junior Cup just two league games went ahead.

With their first team scheduled to be at home, but with near neighbours Bishops Cannings playing away in the Wiltshire Junior Cup, Devizes Town Reserves were proactive in getting a game on, by booking the 3G pitch at Green Lane allowing a fixture against Kintbury Rangers Development to be brought forward. Devizes were rewarded for their efforts securing a 5-2 win over their opponents which saw them move up to third place in the table, above Bishops Cannings on goal difference but with three games in hand. Devizes also moved level on points with second placed Down Ampney but have played one game more than the second placed side. Leading 2-1 at the break Devizes scored three more goals in the second half to run out comfortable winners in the end. On target for Devizes were Theo Corbin with two, taking his total for the season to seven, Finley Palmer, Leigh Rogers and Jamie Walters, Charlie Allsop with both goals for visitors Kintbury taking his tally for the season into double figures. David Giles was at the game with his camera and more of his pictures can be found on the League Facebook Group page.

The other game played in the division was also on 3G, Redhouse  entertaining Purton at Moredon in a game that was pushed back to a later kick-off facilitate the game between Shield & Dagger and Semington Magpies in the Wiltshire Junior Cup. The Division One game very much went to form with Redhouse hitting eight unanswered goals past the bottom of the table side. Cameron Shrubb led the way helping himself to a hat-trick, taking his total for the season to 18, Charlie Chambers bagged a brace, with further goals from Paul Amoni, Daniel Axford and Hayden Watson. Purton had a golden chance to get one of their own from the penalty spot, but Redhouse keeper Paul Squires saved the spot kick to ensure his side achieved their third clean sheet of the season, two of which have been against Purton. Redhouse moved up one place in the table, overtaking Stratton Juniors as a result of their victory.

The scheduled games at Lambourn Sports, Marlborough Town, Pewsey Vale Dev and Stratton Juniors were all postponed due to frozen pitches.

Wiltshire Junior Cup

In the Wiltshire Junior Cup, Bratton finally got to play their Fourth Round game at the third attempt and it was to prove to be a comfortable afternoon for last season’s beaten finalists against Coleview from the Swindon & District League Premier Division. Two goals from both Jack Booth and Max Bishop plus further strikes from Matthew Mead and Joe Edwards securing a 6-0 win over the Swindon & District League side. Bratton will now be away to Laverstock & Ford Reserves in the quarter final.

Cricklade Town’s quarter final tie away to Wilton was postponed due to a frozen pitch and, assuming the Wiltshire FA follow their own rules, Cricklade will now be home in the restaged game next week.

The other side from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League involved in the quarter finals, Bishops Cannings, were unable to progress through to the last four going down 5-2 away to Tisbury United from the Dorset County League, Jack Spanswick with both of the Bishops Cannings goals.

The full schedule of games played so far this season in the Wiltshire Junior Cup and the remaining quarter final ties is shown below:.

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