Premier Division

It is as you were at both ends of the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League as this weekends round of games saw wins for both the top two sides, whilst at the other end of the table all of the four teams in the relegation zone were defeated.

League leaders Kintbury Rangers were involved in a close game at the Recreation Ground where their visitors were Melksham Town Reserves. A first half goal from Kintbury’s Tom Beal was all that separated the two sides as Kintbury maintained their eleven-point lead at the top of the table but having played two games more than second placed Letcombe.

Letcombe kept the pressure on Kintbury when they made the relatively short 18-mile journey to Sutton Park to take on Blunsdon  who had lost 9-1 in their last outing and were keen to pick up points to try and escape the relegation zone.  Whilst they would improve on that result it was to be another tough afternoon for Blunsdon as they felt to a 6-1 defeat. Leading scorer Ben Cleary set Letcombe on their way firing them in front after good work by Xavi Diaz. Diaz then went from provider to scorer, getting on the end of a long clearance from keeper Harry Whitehead, rounding the keeper and firing in for 2-0. Diaz added a third for Letcombe with his second of the game before Cleary also bagged a brace to make it 4-0 after being put in by Jordi Davies. That is now 15 for the season for Letcombe’s leading scorer. Diaz rounded off an excellent afternoon for the Letcombe winger with a hat-trick goal to put Letcombe 5-0 up. Letcombe were to go on and score one more, Kieran Kerby getting his eleventh of the season to put Letcombe six goals ahead. There was to be a late consolation for Blunsdon but even that was scored by a Letcombe player, Luke Faircloth putting the ball into his own net to make the final score 6-1 to the visitors. Letcombe are back in action in midweek when they travel to Calne Town Reserves for the third attempt at staging their Fountain Trophies Cup Second Round tie.

It has been a good week for Wroughton. In midweek they moved to within two points of Park United into fourth place in the table with a 3-0 away win at struggling Faringdon Town. On a fog bound night all three goals came in the first half. Two more goals for leading scorer Jonathan Peachey-Score saw him move onto 24 for the season, Bonsa Teshome with the other Wroughton goal. Having closed the gap to Park in midweek, Saturday saw Wroughton looking to move above them with a win at Stanley Park. Park meanwhile were looking to bounce back from last week’s heavy home defeat at the hands of Shrivenham. It started well for Park as goals from Ben Pring, his 17^th of the season, and Ben Selman put Park 2-0 to the good. However, Wroughton got a foothold back in the game with goal number 25 from Peachey-Score and a second of the season from influential midfield player Max Scholefield brought them back level. There was to be a winner on the day, and it was to go Wroughton's way, as Peachey-Score completed the turnaround with his second of the game and goal number 26 of the season to give his side a six-point haul for the week as they took over that third spot in the table from their beaten opponents.

Shrewton United had surprised a few with their application for promotion to Step 6 but certainly set out their credentials for a top five finish with a resounding away win at Pewsey Vale. Pewsey had not played since the end of November, whilst Shrewton had played twice in December and had also staged a friendly in midweek to get minutes into their players legs. That friendly certainly reaped its rewards as George Plank’s side returned from the Recreation Ground with all three points following an impressive 5-0 win over the side who had sat three places above them at the start of the day but clearly suffered from the lack of competitive action. Star of the show was Morgan Aldridge, Shrewton’s recent signing from Andover New Street, who scored a hat-trick on his debut, with further goals from Lewis Cross and Charlie Utterson. The win for Shrewton saw them complete the league double over Pewsey and move above their beaten opponents into sixth place, and are now just one point outside the top five.

Just two points and one place separated Shrivenham and Kingsdown in the table ahead of their game at Kingsdown School, switched to the 3G due to issues with the pitch at Southbrook Rec. The game unfortunately would not go the full duration. After having given his side a 1-0 lead Shrivenham’s Alex Harrison was later seriously injured with a suspected double fracture of his leg and the game was abandoned with an ambulance called. The ambulance did not arrive for some time and the Shrivenham club put out on social media their thanks to Kingsdown manager Adrian Wilkinson and his players and referee Steve Southam for their support and empathy given to the injured player and how the situation was handled. All at the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League wish Alex a full and speedy recovery from this serious injury.

Trowbridge Town are another side who have applied for promotion and whilst they started the day down in eleventh spot, the gap in terms of points to that needed top five place was not that great given the congested middle of the table. After a barren run of just one win in their previous eight games, Trowbridge finally returned to winning ways with a 5-1 home success over Larkhall Athletic Development, to complete a league double over the Bath based side who were the only side they had beaten in that eight game spell. The game remained goalless until just after the half hour mark when former manager Ryan Baggs put the home side in front following a corner. The lead did not last long though as Arlo Stone on his debut had Larkhall back on level terms within two minutes of the Trowbridge opener. However, two minutes later Trowbridge were back in front, a free kick from captain Jamie Lyons finding the top corner of the net for 2-1 to Trowbridge. It remained that way until the stroke of half time when a ball through found Ben Wickens and the Trowbridge striker slotted home to give his side a two goal cushion going into the break. Five minutes after the restart it was effectively game over as George Bendle, picking the ball up on the edge of the box, beat his defender and fired in for a fourth Trowbridge goal. Trowbridge thought they had a fifth moments later when a cross from Jamie Jordan was headed in by Charlie Maddison, but the goal was ruled out for an offside. Larkhall were then given a golden chance to reduce the deficit when they were awarded a penalty on the hour mark but Stone, who was having an eventful debut, hit the post with his spot kick. It was not Larkhall's day in front of goal as they had also failed to take a couple of one-one-one chances. The game was then put beyond Larkhall 17 minutes from time, Charlie Maddison finding the back of the net again from a Jamie Jordan cross and this time it counted as his side finished 5-1 winners. The win for Trowbridge saw them climb one place in the table, but they are just four points adrift of fifth place, with a game in hand over four of the five sides immediately above them in the table. Both teams will be in Fountain Trophies Cup action this coming week, Larkhall will host Melksham Town Reserves on Wednesday night in a repeat of last season’s cup final in a game switched to Larkhall following two previous postponements. Then on Saturday Trowbridge Town will host Pewsey Vale as the sides attempt for the second time to play their Second Round game.

There were two big games impacting the bottom end of the table with Royal Wootton Bassett Town entertaining Faringdon Town at the Sustain Stadium and Salisbury up against Malmesbury Vics Development at Bulford. Royal Wootton Bassett Town started the day five points above the drop zone and six points ahead of scheduled opponents Faringdon Town, although Faringdon had played three games less. In an evenly matched game between two sides in terms of possession and chances, one side was to prove to be more efficient in front of goal to claim the three points and that was the home side Royal Wootton Bassett Town. They went in front with just seven minutes on the clock and there was an element of good fortune about the goal as what looked like a cross from the right from leading scorer Flynn Walters deceived Faringdon keeper Jack Gibson and ended up in the far top corner of the net for 1-0. Royal Wootton Bassett then doubled their lead when a ball over the top found Mani Mesas who beat his defender and then placed a shot past Gibson into the far bottom corner of the net for 2-0. The home side buoyed by the two goals went in search of a third and two minutes later Walters went close again, firing just over after neat interplay involving Mesas and Dale Richards. Both sides continued to enjoy plenty of possession but when the visitors did put the home side under pressure from balls into the box, they found home keeper Adam House in commanding form coming to claim and successfully take all of the crosses and corners and it remained 2-0 at the break. Seven minutes into the second half the home side went further in front after a corner into the box eluded keeper Gibson and his defenders and was headed in at the back post by Mesas for his second of the game. To their credit Faringdon continued to try and get themselves back into the game and, with the home side seemingly thinking the game was won, started to put the home side under sustained pressure. They went close to pulling one back 18 minutes from time when a free kick was acrobatically turned over by House. However, from the resulting corner Luke Davenport found the back of the net with House this time unable to prevent the ball going in as Faringdon pulled one back. Faringdon continued to pressurise the home goal and Matthew Bibby went close ten minutes from time with an effort from outside the box that went just over. Five minutes later skipper Raymond Lovell had a header that went just wide. Royal Wootton Bassett saw out the closing minutes to register a 3-1 win and three vital points to avoid the drop. Faringdon meanwhile remain in the drop zone and are still without a win away from home with just two points on their travels.

The other game impacting the relegation saw Salisbury Development ease their relegation concerns with a 5-0 home victory over bottom side Malmesbury Victoria FC Dev. An early goal from Harry Guy with just four minutes gone was enough to give the home side a lead at the break. They upped their game after the restart and added four more goals to complete a comfortable win to open up a six point gap between them and the relegation zone. Harry Guy completed his hat-trick with further goals from Naman Gurung and Jack Stacey. With four games against the current bottom four still to come for Salisbury, plus games against both Bemerton Heath Harlequins and Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development who are also at the wrong end of the table, Salisbury will be starting to sit more comfortably.

Division One

With their nearest rivals otherwise engaged in County Cup action this weekend, Cricklade Town had the opportunity to increase their lead at the top of the table. However, it did not start well for the leaders as they found themselves 2-0 down with half an hour gone against Pewsey Vale Development. Pewsey went ahead from the penalty spot on 16 minutes and then adding a second on 26 minutes, Kieron Kiff and Ryan Lees with the goals. Cricklade finally found the right gear and pulled one back through Scott Chilcott just after the half hour mark. Three minutes later they were back on level terms, Levi Cox with goal number 17 of the season. Despite that poor start Cricklade would go into the half time break with a lead, a second for Chilcott three minutes before the break seeing Mani Roper’s side turn things around completely after going those two goals behind. A second for Cox seven minutes after the break gave Cricklade a two goal cushion and Chilcott made sure of the points 13 minutes from time, completing his hat-trick as Cricklade secured a 5-2 win to move eleven points clear at the top of the table, although second placed Down Ampney now have three games in hand.

Bishops Cannings climbed back up to third place in the table following a 3-3 draw against Redhouse at Green Lane, Will Cook, Jack Spanswick and goal number 24 of the season from Szymon Raczek for Bishops Cannings, Ryan Butler, Charlie Chambers and Cameron Shrubb with his 19^th of the season in reply for Redhouse. Bishops Cannings are now a point ahead of near neighbours Devizes Town Reserves and two points adrift of second place Down Ampney, but having played four games more than both sides.

Bradford Town Res opened up a five point gap between themselves and the bottom five in the division with a 3-0 away win at improving Purton. Corey Pugh put them ahead before Harry Ledbury doubled their lead with his sixth goal of the campaign. A third from Bartek Gorecki made sure of the points with a third but Purton will be encouraged by what was their lowest defeat of the season.

Kingsdown Development continue to be one of the form teams in the division as they made it six games unbeaten, five of which have been won, with a comfortable 5-0 away win in the Swindon derby against Stratton Juniors to complete a league double over their near neighbours. The goals were shared around the side with one apiece for Finn Broadbank, Roberto Cinquegrani, Eden Hewlett, Ollie Hunt and a ninth of the season from Josh Atwell. The latest win saw Kingsdown climb into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

Marlborough Town climbed one place in the table to fifth place after a hard fought 2-1 away win at Shrivenham Development. It was a good afternoon for the Womersley family with both Tom and Harry getting on the score sheet, Harry taking his total for the season into double figures, with Tom just two behind him in the goal scoring stakes. On target for Shrivenham was Kieron Sutton.

Fountain Trophies Cup

There is finally a second team who are through to join Bemerton Heath Harlequins Res in the quarter final of the Fountains Trophies Cup. After ten Second Round games had been postponed, some ties having been postponed more than once, another game has finally been played. The game this Saturday was an all Division one affair involving Devizes Town Reserves and Lambourn Sports. It would prove to be Lambourn’s afternoon as  they hit three goals without reply to progress to the last eight. Two goals for Kias Bonner-Shea plus one from Dillon Gibbs doing the damage for Lambourn Sports. Their opponents in the next round will be the winner of the all Premier Division tie between Trowbridge Town and Pewsey Vale next Saturday, with Lambourn again on their travels in the next round with the game expected to take place on 15 February, assuming next week’s Second Round tie is played.

County Cup Competitions

Three sides from Division One were all involved in the quarter final of their respective County Cup. Of the three just one, would make it through to the semi final but all three games were tight affairs. The one successful side were Kintbury Rangers Development who made it through to the last four of the Berks & Bucks David Grainge Junior Trophy with a narrow 2-1 away win against Grendon Rangers from the North Bucks District League Intermediate Division. All three goals came in the first half, in a half that was dominated by Kintbury but only yielded that narrow half time lead, Alfie Davis-Ellard with both Kintbury goals. There were to be no further goals as Kintbury progressed to the last four where they will be joined by three teams from the Thames Valley Premier League. Those three sides are Harchester Hawks from the Division Three, Wraysbury Village, the current leaders of Division Three, and Allied Community Elite, the leaders of Division Two of the Thames Valley Premier League.

Down Ampney went mightily close to progressing to the semi-final of the Gloucestershire Intermediate North County Cup in their tie against Hatherop, the current league leaders of the Witney & District League Division One. At the end of 90 minutes, it was all square with each side having scored three times meaning penalties were needed to decide matters. Unfortunately for the side from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League it would be Hatherop who came out on top, winning the shootout 3-2. The scorers for Down Ampney that took the game to penalties were Charlie McCuish with two, taking his total for the season to 23, and Lewis Baston.

In the Wiltshire Junior Cup, last season’s beaten finalists Bratton, will not be making it to a second consecutive county cup final as they fell to a narrow 3-2 defeat at the hands of Laverstock & Ford Reserves from the Hampshire Combination and Development League. Jack Booth continued his good goal scoring record in the competition with one of the Bratton goals, his sixth in this season’s cup, Matthew Mead with the other Bratton goal.

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18 January 2025