Once again it was to prove to be another wet weekend in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. Whilst Division One was particularly hit hard by postponements, in the Premier Division just one fixture was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch but unfortunately it involved the two sides who have played the least number of games, Malmesbury Victoria Development  and Letcombe. Credit to the groundsman at the other grounds that saw games played on grass pitches this weekend with the games at Kingsdown, Melksham, Shrivenham and Trowbridge all getting the go ahead due to the hard work of the club groundsmen.  

Prior to today’s games, the league table showed a lot of changes following the disappointing withdrawal of Blunsdon and the expunging of the 22 games they had played before their withdrawal.  League leaders Kintbury Rangers had benefited as they had not played Blunsdon before their withdrawal and with second place Letcombe having beaten Blunsdon twice, Kintbury’s lead at the top had been had been extended to 20 points. With Kintbury without a game this weekend though, the chasing pack had the chance to reduce that lead at the top but unfortunately for Letcombe the postponement of their trip to Malmesbury meant they missed out on the chance to erode that lead.

Wroughton started the day in third place in the table and were another side looking to close the gap to Kintbury when they visited Larkhall Athletic Development. Despite fielding a strong side, it was to be a disappointing afternoon for Ben Jarrett and Nick Salter’s side on the 3G at Plain Ham. Larkhall have spent most of the season in the relegation zone but have been in great form of late and went into the game against Wroughton on the back of three straight victories, although the recent 6-1 win over Blunsdon was one of the games expunged following Blunsdon’s demise. They extended that winning run with their best performance and result of the season. First half goals from Harley Prior, Angus Williamson and Ben Riccio put them in a commanding position and a fourth from Judah Oyelumade after the break saw Larkhall secure an excellent 4-1 win over a Wroughton side competing for honours at the top of the table, Kassa Anderson with the Wroughton goal. The win for Larkhall saw them move to within a point of Salisbury Development, the side just outside the relegation zone in the adjusted league table. With six games to go they have every chance of escaping the drop if they maintain their current form in those six games.  Results elsewhere saw Wroughton slip a couple of places in the table.

One of the two sides to move above Wroughton were Shrivenham  who were one of the beneficiaries of Blunsdon’s withdrawal having lost to them back in September. On Saturday Shrivenham were home to Calne Town Reserves and the two sides were involved in a close encounter on a heavy pitch at the Ian Richardson Football Ground. A solitary goal from Shrivenham’s Jacon Newdick saw Shrivenham lead 1-0 at the break with all still to play for in the second half. Calne’s leading scorer Jack Smith brought Calne back level early in the second half but Newdick restored the home side’s lead before adding a third to complete his hat-trick to secure the three points for the home side who had started the week in seventh place in the table but end it in third spot following this latest win and the points expunged from some from some of their rivals.

Park United also moved above Wroughton with a 2-0 home win over Salisbury Development at Stanley Park. They went in front with an early goal from the penalty spot, Zac Hillier putting away the penalty with just five minutes gone. They doubled their lead when Jack Sterling fired in for his first goal of the season on 24 minutes. It remained 2-0 at the break and with neither side able to find the back of the net in the second half it was to finish that way. The win for Park sees them occupy fourth spot in the adjusted table, just one point below Shrivenham and two points ahead of Wroughton. The defeat for Salisbury, coupled with that Larkhall win over Wroughton, leaves them just one point above the drop zone and very much involved in the relegation battle along with Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development who are two points above them in the table with both teams having eight games left to play.

Kingsdown moved up a place in the table to seventh spot making it five games unbeaten in the league with a convincing 5-1 win over Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves who had also been in a good run of form that had seen them move away from the bottom end of the table with four straight wins. That run of victories was brought to an end by a rampant Kingsdown side, Kieran O’Daly led the way scoring twice with further goals from Ollie While, Antonio Gerrish and Aiden Miller. Kingsdown are now level on points with Shrewton United and just one behind Wroughton in a congested middle of the table which sees just three points separating six sides. Despite the defeat Bemerton sit in ninth place in the table, one point below Kingsdown.

Melksham Town Reserves are level on points with both Shrewton United and Kingsdown but dropped out of the top five after they were beaten 1-0 at home by Pewsey Vale. Pewsey had been one of a number of clubs to lose six points from Blunsdon’s demise so the three points gained at Melksham’s expense were most welcome although they still sit in tenth place in the table having started the week in sixth spot before they lost those six points from the Blunsdon games. The all-important goal was scored by leading scorer Josh Fowler who had also seen four of his goals wiped from the record books earlier in the week. Pewsey are now one point behind Bemerton but have at least one game in hand over all of the four sides immediately above them in the table.

Trowbridge Town were finally able to see action at Woodmarsh due to the hard work of their groundsman. They entertained relegation threatened Faringdon Town who went into the game without a win on the road in the league all season. That unwanted record remains but Faringdon went close to picking up that first win on the road in an entertaining affair on a heavy pitch at Woodmarsh,  which saw the two sides share six goals and the points. Leading scorer Kyle Bowyer put Faringdon ahead, heading in from close range on 13 minutes. In a lively start from the visitors, they went close to extending their lead seven minutes later, but the shot went just wide of the target. Two minutes later Trowbridge were back on level terms, Ben Wickens getting clear of the Faringdon defence and slotting the ball past Jack Gibson in the Faringdon goal. Having got themselves back on level terms Trowbridge then went in front for the first time in the game, Wickens going from scorer to provider setting up Matt Morris for a second goal for Trowbridge on the half hour mark. Despite chances at both ends, it remained 2-1 at the break with Trowbridge holding a slender lead. Faringdon were to get themselves back on level terms within five minutes of the restart though, the goal coming from the penalty spot after a handball by Ryan Baggs in the box. Bowyer took the responsibly for the penalty and fired home although Trowbridge’s young keeper Jack Amor got a hand to it and went close to saving it. It got even better for Faringdon 16 minutes from time when they went in front for the second time in the game, Liam Hares netting with his first goal of the season. Unfortunately for Faringdon they would not go on to secure that elusive first away win, with Wickens once again involved in the Trowbridge goal. His run down the wing and cross into the box saw him find youngster Corin Day who had a simple tap in for his first goal for the Trowbridge first team and an equaliser for his side. That was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring as the two sides had to settle for a point apiece. Trowbridge remain down in eleventh place but are just four points off fifth place so congested is that middle of the table. Faringdon meanwhile remain in the relegation positions but will probably view this as a point gained against a strong Trowbridge side rather than two dropped in their quest to avoid the drop as they embark on a run of home games that they will hope will see them accumulate enough points to climb out of the bottom four.

Division One

The wet weather took its toll on fixtures in Division One of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with three of the scheduled league games being postponed, with the game at Down Ampney, where Marlborough Town were the scheduled visitors, called off by the match official shortly before kick-off. Also postponed was Kintbury Rangers Development’s County Cup semi-final against Harchester Hawks which is now expected to take place next week. This left just one league game played plus the rescheduled Fountain Trophies Cup Second Round tie between Bratton and Redhouse.

In the league the only game to go ahead featured league leaders Cricklade Town,  who were away at Bishops Cannings, with the game never in doubt due to the weather given the 3G surface at Green Lane. It was the home side who took an early lead through Harry Drewiit, scoring his 16^th goal of the season with just six minutes on the clock. Cricklade Town got themselves back on level terms just before the half hour mark, Adam Bright firing in for his second of the season having opened his account in last week’s big win over Stratton Juniors. Cricklade went in front for the first time in the game a minute before half time, Ellis McSharry with the goal that saw Cricklade head into the half time interval with a slender 2-1 lead. Having scored a minute before the break, Cricklade scored again within a minute of the restart, Kane Lever putting the visitors 3-1 up. That was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring as Cricklade Town maintained their push for the title despite having several of their regular players missing.

The Fountain Trophies Cup Second Round game between Bratton  and Redhouse was finally played to completion at the third attempt. The first staging of the tie at Redhouse had seen the game abandoned by the referee due to the deteriorating conditions with Bratton comfortably in front. The second scheduled staging of the tie had then been postponed due to priority being given to a children’s side’s training session at the 3G venue at Moredon. Thankfully the tie finally got to go ahead this weekend at the third attempt having now been switched to be Bratton’s home tie under the cup rules. It was to prove to be a comfortable afternoon for the home side Bratton after visitors Redhouse had a player sent off in the first half. Goals from Adam Kenrich, Louis Wilkins, Brandon Thompson and Joe Whiteman gave Bratton a 4-0 half time lead. The second half saw them add a further three goals, Jack Booth with two and Lewis Wayman with the other, with Daniel Axford scoring a consolation goal for Redhouse. Bratton will now be away to Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves in the quarter final.

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