It has not been a great start to 2025 in the two Ladies divisions of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League as the weather once again decimated the fixture schedule for a second week running. In the end just the one league game was played, the 3G pitch at Moredon enabling the Development Division game between Ferndale Rodbourne and Kingsdown Development to be played. Thankfully the Wiltshire County Cup game between Melksham Town and Purton from the South West Regional Women’s League Division One North was also finally played at the third attempt. Unfortunately, there would not be a happy ending for the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League side who did well to get the game on given the weather,  as the team who are struggling at the bottom end of the Step 6 Division put seven unanswered goals past Melksham to progress to the quarter final where they will meet another Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League side, Swindon Supermarine this coming Sunday.

In the one Development DIvision league game to go ahead, Kingsdown Development completed a league double over Ferndale Rodbourne winning 5-3, having also won the first meeting between the two sides 4-3 back in September. The win saw Kingsdown climb above their beaten opponents in the league table. Goals in the opening ten minutes from Keeva Morris and Katie Yeates set Kingsdown on their way and there were further goals from Hayley Shipp, Cassie Holberry and Hope Hedges. In reply for Ferndale, Karolina Haylock scored twice to take her tally for the season to seven, with Jodie Richardson netting her first of the season for the other Ferndale goal.

All other games scheduled for Sunday were postponed due to frozen pitches.

This coming weekend there will be just the one league game in the Ladies Premier Division as most of the division will be otherwise engaged in the quarter finals of the Wiltshire FA County Cup. In the one league game set to take place, Highworth Town have the chance to move above AFC Brislington into second place in the table if they can secure a win at home to Westbury Youth.

In those quarter finals of the County Cup, Premier Division league leaders Bemerton Heath Harlequins will be looking to complete a club double over Swindon Town, with their men’s side having already defeated Ian Holloway’s side in the men’s equivalent competition. In the last round of the women’s cup Swindon had fielded their Development side against Westbury, playing a league game on the same day in the FA Women’s National League, but have just the one game this coming Sunday and are expected to field a much stronger side in the quarter final as they look to defend the cup they won last season. Bemerton have won all seven of their league games so far this season, there only defeat so far coming against higher league opposition Sherbourne Town in the FA Cup.

As noted above Swindon Supermarine will be taking on higher league opponents as they make the short journey out of town to the Red House to play South West Regional Women’s League Division One North side Purton. Purton are currently struggling at the wrong end of their league table and , whilst they comfortably defeated Melksham Town last Sunday, Swindon Supermarine will fancy their chances of causing an upset against a side who reached the final of last season’s competition.

FC Chippenham were also set to play opposition from the South West Regional Women’s League Division One North but have already advised the Wiltshire FA that they cannot raise a side for their scheduled tie against Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

The final quarter final tie is an all Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League affair as Premier Division Calne Town entertain Trowbridge Wanderers, the leaders of the Development Division, guaranteeing the league at least one semi finalist. It will be interesting to see how Trowbridge Wanderers get on against their higher division opponents who they could very well be meeting in league fixtures next season if they can go on to achieve promotion at the end of the season.

In addition to the County Cup, the two outstanding ties in the First Round of the Ladies League Cup are also scheduled to take place with Development Division side Salisbury set to host Melksham Town, with the winner set to be at home to Ferndale Rodbourne in the quarter final next week.  The other tie set for Sunday is an all Development Division game between Blunsdon and South Newton & Barford Hornets, with the winner set to be at home to AFC Brislington next Sunday in the quarter final.

There are two Development Division league fixtures also on Sunday. Marlborough Town have the chance to take over from Trowbridge Wanderers at the top of the table if they can win away at Malmesbury Victoria. At the other end of the table Staverton Rangers have the opportunity to move off the bottom of the table if they can defeat the side just above them in the table, Ferndale Rodbourne.   

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