The two semi finals in the Veterans’ County Cup had both required penalties to settle matters and this week it was the turn of the League Cup to require spot kicks to decide matters as the first of the quarter final ties took place. Penhill United and Nationwide, both from the North Wiltshire Veterans’ Division, were up against each other at Moredon. The one league game between the two sides this season had been a tight affair settled by a solitary early goal from Nationwide’s Paul Stonehouse and the cup encounter between the two was again to prove to be a close encounter. A strike from Pete Sealey gave Nationwide the lead but an equaliser two minutes from time for Penhill from Peter Myall meant penalties would be needed to decide matters. Nationwide held their nerve in the spot kick shoot-out scoring four times with just two successful penalties for Penhill meaning it was the current cup holders, who last season played under the Coate name,  who progressed to the semi final of the cup that they won for the first time last April.

North Wiltshire Division

Meanwhile in the league in the North Wiltshire Division, Redhouse extended their lead at the top of the table but not in the way would have liked as opponents ExIntel  were unable to raise a side and forfeited the scheduled game at Moredon on Wednesday night, only the second time this has happened in the North Division this season but on both occasions Redhouse have been the innocent victims.

Thankfully three games did get played in the North Wiltshire Division. On Thursday night Cricklade Town  closed the gap to second placed Nationwide with a comfortable 5-0 win over Stratton Juniors in a rare home fixture for Cricklade away from Cirencester Town, the game taking place at Moredon. Two goals from Marcus Hall plus further goals from Stuart Hughes, Aaron Maximen and Matt Richards did the damage for Cricklade who moved to within three points of Nationwide with a game in hand.

Chiseldon  have improved as the season has progressed and, after their recent narrow defeat at the hands of Nationwide, returned to winning ways in the league with a 2-1 success over Swindon Rovers at New College. Lee Wilson put Swindon Rovers ahead midway through the first half and it remained that way until eleven minutes into the second half when Engjell Molla brought Chiseldon back level. There was to be a dramatic end to the game though as Adam O’Keeffe scored a last-minute winner to give Chiseldon their fourth win of the season. The win for Chiseldon saw them climb one place in the table to seventh spot, just three points behind their beaten opponents with both teams having eight games to play.

The other game played in the North Wiltshire Division saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town continue their recent poor form, falling to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of FS Swindon and having both Gavin Cook and Josh Connolly sent off for two yellow cards apiece. Star of the show for FS Swindon, as they picked up only their second win of the season, was Tom Brown who helped himself to a hat-trick, Calum Dunn with the other FS Swindon goal, substitute Greg Richardson with the Royal Wootton Bassett Town goal. That is now five straight defeats for Martin Ohrlands side who continue to slip down the table and now sit in eighth place.

Mid Wiltshire Division

The two games on Monday night in the Mid Wiltshire Division saw plenty of goals with 14 in total scored. Biggest winners of the night were Radstock Town who hit nine unanswered goals past struggling Amesbury Junior Badgers. Jack Broadway led the way for Radstock helping himself to a hat-trick, James Billing bagged a brace with further goals from Alastair Cox, Ben Padfield, Adam Pugsley and substitute Michael Perry. The win for Radstock opened up a four point cap between them and Bishops Cannings and a six point gap over their beaten opponents at the bottom end of the table.

At the other end of the table Melksham Town maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable 5-0 home win over Trowbridge Town Tigers. The Division’s leading scorer Gary Higdon bagged three more goals to take his total for the season to 20 with the other two goals coming through Tom Robinson and Ian Dowell. Melksham end the week still six points adrift of leaders Devizes Town but with two games in hand.

There was a close encounter on Tuesday night at Green Lane where Chippenham Town Youth  entertained Calne Town. The two sides had started the evening level on points and had drawn 0-0 in the first meeting between the sides back in September and it was to be another tight game decided in the end by just a single goal margin as Calne Town returned home with all three points following a 2-1 success.  It was all square at 1-1 at the break but Calne added a second goal in the second half to secure the three points, Paul Maddox and Chris Pitman with the Calne goals, Craig Fisher with the Chippenham goal. The win for Calne saw them move above their beaten opponents into seventh spot in the table.

Wednesday night saw a clash at the top end of the table at Bulford with Durrington hosting an in-form Warminster Town side who came into the game on the back of an impressive draw with league leaders Devizes Town the previous week. They continued their recent good form with a narrow 2-1 victory, becoming only the second side to defeat Durrington in the league this season, also avenging the 3-1 defeat they had suffered at the hands of Durrington at the beginning of the season. Carl Clarke and Louis Sparey with the two Warminster Town goals, Craig Lewis on target for Durrington.

Unfortunately, the final scheduled game of the week did not take place on Friday with Westbury United  once again unable to field a side for the third time in their last four games, handing leaders Devizes Town  the three points with there now being serious doubts over Westbury’s continued participation in the division.