County Cup Semi Final

The second semi final of the Wiltshire County FA Veterans’ County Cup took place on Tuesday night in what was a repeat of last season’s final between Nationwide (previously known as Coate) and Cricklade Town. Back in April Coate had won 2-0 at Melksham’ Oakfield Stadium but Cricklade Town were to avenge that defeat on Tuesday night ta New College, although penalties were once again needed to decide which side would progress to the final. As in the first semi final neither side was able to find the back of the net meaning penalties were required to settle matters. Despite having had two players in the sin bin it was to be Cricklade Town who prevailed in the penalty shootout, winning 5-4 to take their place in the final against ExIntel which is scheduled for Friday 21^st February at Green Lane.

The full details of the cup competition to date are shown below:

North Wiltshire Division

With Nationwide in County Cup action Redhouse had the chance to return to the top of the North Wiltshire Division with a win against FS Swindon. FS Swindon have spent most of the season at the bottom of the table and had only moved off that bottom spot last week with an impressive 3-2 win over County Cup finalists ExIntel. They carried on that much improved form and ran Redhouse close, eventually falling to a narrow 2-1 defeat that was enough to see Redhouse return to the top of the table. On target for Darren Grace’s side were Michael Jones and a 15^th of the season from David Pratt, Jordan McCalla with the goal for FS Swindon.

The previous night at Moredon AFC Swindon had secured their best result of the season with a 3-1 win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town who have now lost four straight games. First half goals from Andrew Copland and Kris Russell put AFC ahead at the break and they added a third ten minutes from time through Richard Bailey to make sure of the points, Andrew Huggins with the Royal Wootton Bassett Town goal.

On Thursday night there was a close encounter between Swindon Rovers and ExIntel at Moredon with some late drama just as it looked as though Swindon Rovers would take all three points. Taiwo Abolarin had put Rovers 1-0 up at the break and Sean Lewis then doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half. ExIntel pulled one back three minutes later through Richard Wells and then in the final minute of the match James Joyce grabbed an equaliser to ensure a share of the points for ExIntel. The point apiece saw ExIntel remain fourth in the table and Swindon Rovers remained in sixth spot.

Chiseldon were meant to be in League Cup action at Moredon against Westbury United on Wednesday night but unfortunately Westbury became the latest side to be unable to raise a side in the cup, calling off on the day of the game. This meant that Chiseldon were given a walkover into the next out and Westbury will find they will have a pitch fee to pick up along with any league fine due to the late call off. In the end just three of the eight Second Round ties were actually staged, and changes are expected for next season’s cup competition.

Mid Wiltshire Division

The improvement in the weather this week meant that all five of the scheduled league games in the Mid Wiltshire Division went ahead. The action got underway on Monday night and it saw Durrington move level on points with Devizes Town at the top of the table although by the end of the week Devizes would move a point clear at the top. Durrington were away to Trowbridge Town Tigers at Selwood Academy and they returned home with all three points courtesy of a 4-0 win. Star of the show was Shaune Smith who helped himself to a hat-trick to move his total for the season to five, Toby Watson with the other goal.

The same night Radstock Town continued their recent improved form picking up their second win of the season with a narrow 2-1 win over Calne Town at MOD Lyenham, Jack Broadway and Adam Pugsley with the Radstock goals, Chris Robinson with the Calne goal. The win for Radstock saw them climb above Bishops Cannings in the table into ninth place.

The following night Melksham Town maintained their unbeaten start to the league season with an emphatic 13-0 away win against Amesbury Junior Badgers. It was a good night for Melksham’s Gary Higdon as he helped himself to seven goals to take over at the top of the Division’s goal scoring chart. The other six goals were shared around the team with one apiece for Michael Harrison, Aaron Ledgister, Nick Ridout, Tom Robinson, Luke Turvey and Adam Young. Melksham are now up to third spot, six points adrift of leaders Devizes Town, with two games in hand over the two sides above them in the table.

The same night at Green Lane, Chippenham Town Youth continued their recent good form with a 3-0 win over Bishops Cannings in game between two sides based out of Green Lane. That is now back-to-back wins for Chippenham and just one defeat in their last five league games. On target for Chippenham were Robert Burton with two and Craig Fisher.

The final game of the week was on Friday night at Green Lane with Devizes Town looking maintain their perfect start to the league season against an in-form Warminster Town. Since the return of James Vincent Warminster Town have seen their results improve and he was once again on the score sheet as Warminster became the first side to take points off Devizes this season as it finished 1-1, Josh Brigham with the goal for Devizes. The point for Devizes was enough to see them move back clear at the top of the table but Melksham still have those two games in hand and Devizes have now dropped the same number of points as Melksham. It is shaping up to be a tight contest between these two and Durrington for the league title. David Giles was at the game with his camera and more of his excellent pictures can be found on the League Facebook Group page.

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