With league leaders Kintbury Rangers seeing their trip to Trowbridge Town postponed, the only game this weekend in the end to fall victim to the wet weather, the chasing pack had the chance to close the gap at the top of the table. Elsewhere all the hard work of the various ground staff during the week saw their games pass late fitness tests allowing the games to go ahead despite the difficult conditions that continue to hit the region.

Letcombe have had serious issues with their drainage which has necessitated a lot of work and expense to enable them to return home after having made contingency plans to play elsewhere if their pitch issues continued. Their home game against Park United got the green light to go ahead enabling them to play their first game on home turf since the middle of November. Visitors Park had several players missing for this game and were forced to field something of a makeshift side to be able to fulfil the fixture.  Its started well for the home side as the pacey Kieran Kerby put them one up with a goal in the first minute of the match. They had a golden chance to double their lead when they were awarded a penalty, but leading scorer Ben Cleary spurned the chance from the spot, and it remained 1-0 at the break. Letcombe would come to rue that penalty miss as the experienced Adam Mitchell brought Park back into the game with his eighth goal of the season in the league and twelfth in all competitions. The same player then scored again to give his side the lead for the first time before completing his hat-trick to give his side a two-goal cushion. Whilst Callum Henry pulled one back for Letcombe there was to be no equaliser as they fell to only to their fourth defeat of the season. This was also only their second defeat at home this season, the only other side to have come away from Letcombe with all three points prior to this game being league leaders Kintbury Rangers. The win for Park kept them in the race for honours, one point behind Wroughton and five behind their beaten opponents but having played more games than all the sides above them in the table.

Wroughton started the day in third spot in the table and were looking to bounce back from last week’s narrow defeat at the hands of Kintbury Rangers. They had missed Aaron Maximen’s physical presence last week, but he was back in their side for the visit of Shrewton United. On a heavy pitch it was difficult for either side to create any clear cut chances but as the first half progressed Wroughton started to put the visitors goal under pressure, Jonny Davoile going close with a shot from the edge of the box after good build up play involving Maximen and Jonathan Peachey-Score, but an excellent save from Shrewton keeper  Sam Gillott turned Davoile’s shot around the post. Given the heavy conditions it is no surprise that it took a set play to break the deadlock, Wroughton’s Kassa Anderson heading in from a Peachey-Score corner to give the home side the lead ten minutes before the break. It remained just the one goal in it until 25 minutes from time when a ball into the feet of Maximen on the edge of the Shrewton saw the Wroughton striker turn and hit an unstoppable shot that flew into the net past Gillott to double Wroughton’s lead. Maximen then went close to his second and Wroughton’s third when he dispossessed a Shrewton defender midway in his own half, but his audacious chip sailed over the bar, and it remained 2-0. It was not all one-way traffic through as Shrewton sought to get themselves back in the game but starting to create chances at the other end but without really troubling Luke Kuczynski in the Wroughton goal. It was Wroughton who went closest to getting another goal, the normally reliable Peachey-Score firing wide of the goal when clean through as it finished 2-0 to the home side. The win for Wroughton saw them move to within four points of second placed Letcombe but having played two games more. Your Sport Swindon were at the game with their cameras and subscribers can view highlights of the game by clicking on the Your Sport Swindon logo below.

When Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development had met Melksham Town at the Oakfield Stadium back in October Mark Simpkins side had led 2-1 at one point only to end the game on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline come the final whistle. It was to be a similar story in the return game at the Sustain Stadium. Last week Dylan Griffin had scored all four goals for his new side in their win at Park and the Royal Wootton Bassett Town striker carried on where he left off last week giving his side the lead on his home debut. Louis Millard got Melksham back on level terms with his first goal of the season only for Griffin to restore the home side’s lead with his second of the game which saw his side lead 2-1 at the break. As had been the case in that earlier meeting, Melksham had the better of things in the second half and goals from Olly Clarke and Jake Dodge saw Justin Flower’s side turn things round against Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development for the second time this season to complete a league double over their opponents. The win for Melksham saw them climb three places in the table to fifth spot, three points behind Park United with a game in hand. Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development meanwhile remain just above the relegation zone, having played more games than the sides around them with the exception of Larkhall Athletic Development.

Pewsey Vale slipped below Melksham following a surprise home defeat at the hands of a resurgent Larkhall Athletic Development who made it two league wins on the bounce and three straight wins in all competitions following their 2-1 win, avenging the 4-1 home defeat they suffered at the hands of Pewsey at the end of October. Both Larkhall goals were scored by James Okell who took his total for the season to nine, the experienced Liam Edmondson with the Pewsey Vale goal in reply. Larkhall are now just one point behind Salisbury Development who sit just above the relegation zone, although Larkhall have played three more games than the side just above them.

Kingsdown climbed one place in the table to eighth spot following an entertaining game at Bremhill View against Calne Town Reserves which saw the two sides serve up seven goals. Last week Kingsdown had been involved in a high scoring 3-3 draw at Kingsdown, but this week went one better scoring a fourth goal to emerge 4-3 winners. Two more goals for Ollie While saw him move onto 12 goals for the season, Kieran O’Daly and Antonio Gerrish with the other Kingsdown goals. In reply for Calne there was one goal apiece for Jack Smith, who took his tally for the season to 17, Josh Morse and Ryan Flynn. That is now three games without a win in the league for Calne who sit just two points above Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development but have four games in hand and it will be something of a surprise if they end up involved in the relegation battle.

It was to prove a good week for Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves  who were involved in two big games at the bottom end of the table against sides also in the potential relegation mix. On Wednesday night they hosted near neighbours Salisbury Development, 24 hours after the two club’s first teams had met in the semi-final of the Wiltshire Premier Shield. It had been Salisbury’s night in the Premier Shield but it was to prove to be Bemerton’s night in the battle between the clubs two second sides. They went ahead on 15 minutes from the penalty spot through Ryan Scott but were pegged back by a goal from Salisbury’s Henry Anoma who had made his first team debut the previous night in that Premier Shield fixture, the equaliser coming on 68 minutes. There was to be a winner though and it came ten minutes from time courtesy of an own goal. Despite having a man sent off, Bemerton saw out the closing stages without conceding to pick up three vital points to complete a league double over their near neighbours having won 2-0 at the Ray Mac back in the first week of the season.

On Saturday Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves  entertained bottom of the table Malmesbury Vics Development and it was to prove to be a much more comfortable 90 minutes for the home side as goals from Jim Ward, Ethan Trigwell, Hayden Wells and Josh Hoey, the latter two both getting their fourth goals of the season, secured a 4-0 win that saw Bemerton climb up to tenth spot. Bemerton are now 11 points clear of Larkhall who occupy the last potential relegation position, having played three games less than the Bath based side. The Bemerton management team will clearly be sleeping a lot better after this week’s six point haul.

There was another massive game down at the bottom of the table on Saturday when Faringdon Town  entertained fellow relegation threatened Salisbury Development  in another proverbial six-pointer. Salisbury were looking to bounce back from that narrow defeat in midweek at the hands of near neighbours Bemerton.  For Faringdon Town it was not quite a must-win game, but it was not far off from being so, and it did not start well for them as they fell behind with just six minutes on the clock, Henry Anoma with his second of the week with the goal for Salisbury. Faringdon went close to quickly getting an equaliser, Max Willis seeing his volley saved by the visiting keeper. They were not to be denied for long though, Kyle Bowyer setting up George James to shoot in with 17 minutes gone to restore parity. Faringdon went close to a second moments later, Jamie Tuck attempting a lob which saw the Salisbury keeper pull off a terrific save to keep his side level. Faringdon continued to have the better of things and went close when Max Willis saw a shot come back off the crossbar. They eventually went in front for the first time in the game on the half hour mark, a long throw was flicked on into the Salisbury box and leading scorer Bowyer took one touch before firing home for 2-1 and goal number 13 of the campaign for Bowyer. Faringdon continued to push for further goals and Bowyer was denied a second of the game when the Salisbury keeper made a good save after Bowyer was set up by Tuck. The two teams would turn around at the break with Faringdon holding that one goal advantage.  Salisbury were given a golden chance to get back on level terms six minutes into the second half when they were awarded a penalty. However, Faringdon keeper Jack Gibson pulled off a save to keep his side in front.  That penalty would prove crucial as Faringdon went further in front 20 minutes from time, although there was a slice of luck involved, a long throw from Jamie Broadfield being headed into his own net by a Salisbury defender. Two late goals for the home side rounded off a good day for the home side, Kyle Bowyer getting his second of the game three minutes from time to put Faringdon 4-1 up and then Mitchell Coombes adding a fifth in the last minute to make the final score 5-1 to Faringdon, their biggest win of the season and three vital points given their precarious position in the relegation zone.

Unfortunately, Blunsdon have advised that they are withdrawing their team from our Premier Division with immediate effect after having played 22 games, citing costs as the main reason for this decision. However, we know they have also been experiencing difficulties in getting player commitment to travel, with Swindon & District League player eligibility rules impeding the ability to move players between their two sides. The Management Committee are extremely disappointed with this decision and have taken advice from the FA Leagues Committee but have yet to formally discuss this withdrawal in committee. With Blunsdon having played less than 75% of their games their record will need to be expunged. No Blunsdon players will be permitted to transfer to another club until all monies owed have been paid to the league, including the fine for withdrawing from the league.

Division One

After reaching the Wiltshire Junior Cup final last week, Cricklade Town returned to league action with a visit from Stratton Juniors for what was the first meeting of the season between the two sides. Cricklade got off to a blistering start, returning Josh Parsons putting them 1-0 up in the first 25 seconds of the match. Parsons was at it again three minutes later doubling their lead. He then completed a quick-fire hat-trick with a third with just 12 minutes on the clock. Two more goals for Parsons and one apiece from Parker Fisher, Adam Bright and Alex Hammond saw Cricklade lead 8-0 at the break and possibly heading for their biggest win of the season. That was to be confirmed in the second half as they scored a further 11 unanswered goals to run out 19-0 winners bettering their result earlier in the season against Purton where the visitors had scored a goal in reply to Cricklade’s 19 that day. There were four more goals for Parsons in the second half to take his total for the season to 29 as he regained the leadership of the division’s goal scoring chart, brother Callum also got on the score sheet, Lee Hayford scored a hat-trick, Fisher bagged his second of the game with further goals from Tom Steele and Harry Ayres to complete the rout. A bad day at the office for Stratton Juniors who fell to their heaviest defeat since joining the league. The big win also saw Cricklade become the first side in either division to pass the century mark in terms of total league goals for the season.

Devizes Town Reserves started the afternoon in second place in the table ahead of a tricky looking away fixture at Kintbury Rangers Development who were playing their final league game before next week’s big County Cup semi-final against Harchester Hawks. It started well for the home side as goals from Charlie Adams and Alfie Davis-Ellard gave Kintbury a 2-0 half time lead. However, it was a different story after the break as goals from Liam Moffat, Rowan Anning and goal number 20 of the season for Jordan Anning completely turned things around for the visitors as they ran out 3-2 winners. The win for Devizes saw them remain eight points adrift of Cricklade Town with a game in hand.

Marlborough Town were home to Bradford Town Reserves looking to maintain their own interest in the title race and goals from Harry Womersley and Ben Tylee saw them lead 2-1 at the break. Wiktor Wnuk, with his sixth goal of the season, had brought Bradford Town level before Marlborough restored their lead to go into half time with that narrow one goal advantage. It remained a tight affair for the whole of the second half and there was to be late drama when Bradford Town Res thought they had secured a share of the spoils with a second goal right at the end of the game, however a flag for offside saw the goal struck off as Marlborough took all three points courtesy of a 2-1 win.

Bishops Cannings moved up to fourth place in the table with a big win away from home at Purton. They had put 18 goals past Purton in the first meeting of the season back in September and an improved showing from Purton saw them restrict their opponents to just seven goals in the return fixture. Harry Drewitt led the way for Bishops Cannings helping himself to a hat-trick, leading scorer Szymon Raczek scored twice to take his total for the season to 26, with the other two goals coming through Sam Ferguson and an own goal as it finished 7-0 to the visitors.

There were also plenty of goals in the game between Down Ampney and Bratton, both sides looking to make up ground after extended runs in their respective county cup competitions. Down Ampney led 3-1 thanks to two goals from Paddy Cripps and one from Harry Yeates going into the closing stages of the match but two late goals for the visitors saw them come away with a point following a 3-3 draw. On target for Bratton were Louis Wilkins, Jack Hayward and Adam Kenich. The two points dropped saw Down Ampney drop a place down to fifth place in the table, but they are just the one point behind Bishops Cannings with six games in hand.

After defeats at the hands of Devizes Town Reserves and Marlborough Town in their last two games, Kingsdown Development returned to winning ways with an impressive 2-1 away win at Lambourn Sports to avenge the 6-3 defeat they suffered at the start of the season in the first meeting between the two sides. Leading 1-0 at the break, Lambourn got themselves back on level terms with an equaliser from leading scorer Lewis Shaw with his 22^nd goal of the season but a late winner for Kingsdown made sure of all three points for the visitors. Ollie Hunt and a fifth of the season from Finn Broadbank with the goals for Kingsdown Development who moved to within five points of their beaten opponents with both teams having seven games to play.

There was a close affair at the bottom end of the table between Redhouse and Shrivenham Development where a solitary goal from Redhouse’s Kieren Dunne was all that separated the two sides at the end of the game. The win for Redhouse saw them open up a seven-point gap over their beaten opponents and are now comfortably clear of the re-election zone and are also unbeaten in the four games they have played in the current calendar year.