Whilst Kintbury Rangers are looking odds on to lift the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division title this season, at the other end of the table things are getting very interesting in the battle to avoid the drop, with three of the seventeen teams set to be relegated at the end of the season, this after Blunsdon withdrew from the league hence reducing the teams to be relegated from four to three. There was a vital game in midweek at Malmesbury where Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development made the short journey along the B4042 to take on Malmesbury Vics Development. When the sides had met back in October a late Flynn Walters goal had given Royal Wootton Bassett Town the three points and they were looking to complete a league double to ease their relegation fears. The game started on what was already a heavy Malmesbury pitch at the Flying Monk, the pitch having staged a first team game the previous night, and heavy rain after the break made the difficult conditions even worse for both sides. It was the visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development who created the early chances, Dale Richards forcing a save from the Malmesbury keeper Rhys Simpkins as early as the second minute. Richards should have put the visitors 1-0 up ten minutes in when presented with a golden chance from just six yards out but somehow, he managed to fire over the bar when it looked easier to score, and it remained 0-0. Three minutes later Richards set up Flynn Walters for another good chance but the visitors leading scorer saw his shot deflected for a corner. It was not all one-way traffic though and at the other end a long throw into the box from Ciaran Lyon caused all kinds of problems in the visitors defence but it was eventually cleared in what was Malmesbury’s best chance of the half. Eight minutes before the break Walters once again went close for Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev but his shot from distance went just wide of the post and the teams turned round at the break at 0-0 and all to play for.

Ten minutes into the second half Malmesbury were nearly gifted an opener by the Royal Wootton Bassett Town keeper Dan West, his miskick going straight to Sam Parker but Parker’s shot towards an empty net went just the wrong side of the post. Malmesbury went close again a minute later, Rob Collier getting clean through on goal, but his powerfully hit shot went over the bar. At the other end Walters went close to breaking the deadlock on 64 minutes when a ball over the top saw him through in on goal, but Simpkins saved with his feet to prevent the home side from going behind. A goal was coming though and five minutes later the deadlock was broken, and it was the home side who got themselves in front. A free kick from Collier was lofted into the box and Parker rose above the visitor’s defence to head into the far top corner of the net past West. A minute later things went from bad to worse for the visitors when substitute Charlie Hancock fired in a second for Malmesbury. To their credit the visitors kept trying to play their football but on such a heavy pitch a more direct approach may have been more appropriate. They had a golden chance to get a foothold back in the game 13 minutes from time when Walters was put through on goal, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post. Five minutes from time they had another great chance when Toby Parker was put clean through in on goal, but he also fired wide of the post. In the final minute Walters again found himself clean through on goal but hit his shot over the bar. Just as it looked as though they would draw a blank on the night despite creating numerous chances they did finally find the back of the net deep into injury time, Walters with the goal when again he was put in on goal and this time made no mistake but it was all too little too late as Malmesbury saw out the closing seconds to secure their first three points of the season having been deducted points for failing to fulfil fixtures earlier in the season. For the visitors a disappointing result that could prove costly come the end of the season.  

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development had the chance to bounce back from that midweek defeat at Malmesbury when they entertained an in-form Kingsdown side on the 3G at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground on Saturday. Kingsdown came into the game on the back of two consecutive victories and were unbeaten in the league in 2025. The two teams turned around at half time with the game still looking for the first goal with the home very much in the game. However, after the break Kingsdown upped their game and goals from Josh Atwell and Antonio Gerrish saw Kingsdown claim the three points which saw them climb up to fifth place in the table. For the home side that is now three defeats in a row and results elsewhere saw them slip a place in the table and they are now just above the relegation zone and in serious danger of the drop with the sides below them in the table all having games in hand. 

The side moving above them in the table and moving out of the relegation zone were Larkhall Athletic Development who have found their form just at the right time. They were home to Calne Town Reserves, who could yet find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle. It started well for Calne, Darcy Garner firing them in front, but Larkhall came back strongly to score four times to run out 4-1 winners and make it four straight wins in all competitions, which would have been five but for Blunsdon’s withdrawal. Two goals for Angus Williamson plus one apiece for Andreas Smolka and Eddy Pope did the damage for Larkhall who climbed two places in the table as a result of their win.

Division One

All six scheduled games in Division One of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League went ahead this weekend, and it was a good afternoon for all of the top four sides. The big game of the day was at Down Ampney where league leaders Cricklade Town were the visitors. Whilst Down Ampney started the day down in fifth spot, due to their long run in their County Cup, they had games in hand over all the sides above them in the table and after Cricklade had dropped the least number of points this season ahead of this weekend’s games. It started well for the home side as they went 2-0 up. They scored the opener on 21 minutes through Sam Dibble and then doubled their lead two minutes later, George Bailey with his tenth goal of the season. Cricklade responded well to falling behind though and pulled one back within a minute through Harry Ayres and then levelled matters up three minutes later with a second from Alex Hammond. Hammond then put Cricklade ahead for the first time in the game with a stunning strike for his second of the game to put Cricklade 3-2 up. It got even better for the visitors three minutes from the break, Callum Parsons winning a penalty which was duly despatched by Scott Chilcott to give Cricklade a 4-2 half time lead. Like in the first half Down Ampney had a good start to the second half pulling one back within six minutes of the restart to make it 4-3, Connor Hibbs with goal number 14 of the season. However, there was to be no comeback. Twenty minutes from time Harry Ayres bagged his second of the game scoring direct from a corner with Chris Jackson making sure the ball had gone in, but it was adjudged to have already crossed the line and was credited to Ayres. Ayres then completed his hat-trick seven minutes from time to make sure of the points and then added a seventh from Cricklade with his fourth of the game to round off a good afternoon for the league leaders.  

Second placed Devizes Town Reserves remain eleven points adrift of Cricklade Town following a comfortable 5-0 “home” win over Bradford Town Reserves. With their own ground still out of action due to a large sink hole, Devizes switched the game to the 3G at Green Lane and were rewarded for their proactivity by maintaining their unbeaten home record and securing their eighth home win in nine games. Star of the show was Jack Baker who helped himself to a hat-trick with further goals from Harvey Swain and Harrison Sartin.

Third placed Marlborough Town kept in touch with the top two with a 4-2 away win at Redhouse. Whilst Redhouse had plenty of possession and created plenty of chances the visitors Marlborough were more clinical in front of goal and left with all three points to complete a league double over Redhouse. On target for Marlborough were Connor Chilton, Harry Wolmersley, Dan Burke and Kieran Maidment, Kieran Dunne and Pete Amoni with the Redhouse goals.  

Bishops Cannings, who started the day in fourth place in the table, were playing their final away game of the season when they travelled into Swindon to take on Kingsdown Development.  It was to be a winning end to their away trips this season as they secured a 2-0 victory, both goals from Harry Drewitt and Anthony Freebody coming in the second half after the teams had turned around with the game still without a goal. The win for Bishops Cannings sees them remain two points behind Marlborough Town having played two more games and four points ahead of Down Ampney but Down Ampney have played seven fewer games. Bishops Cannings have just five games to play, all at home, starting with Down Ampney next week.

Another side with plenty of games in hand due to their County Cup run are Bratton who were another side who moved their game to a 3G pitch due to issues at their own ground, Bratton moving their match against Shrivenham Development to Beversbrook in Calne to enable the game to go ahead. Like Devizes they were rewarded for their proactivity with a victory, goals from Brandon Thompson, Lewis Wayman, Adam Kenich and Brandon Wheeler giving them a 4-2 win, Kieran Sutton with both Shrivenham goals.  

There was a big game at the bottom end of the table with Purton looking for their first points of the season when they made the short journey into Swindon to play an out of sorts Stratton Juniors who went into the game on the back of four straight defeats which had got bigger game by game with the last one being a 19-0 loss at the hands of league leaders Cricklade Town. It was to be a good afternoon for Stratton as they brought that miserable win to an end. Leading 4-0 at the break they looked on track for a comfortable afternoon, but Purton rallied in the second half and won the half 3-2 but the damage had been done in the first half and it was Stratton who claimed the three points. Ryan Wellend led the way for Stratton scoring four times for the home side, Jayden Wilson and Lewis Taylor with the other Stratton goals. For Purton there were two goals for Jacob Ryan and one for Darryl Herring in the 6-3 defeat.

County Cups

Kintbury Rangers Development were looking to make the final of the Berks & Bucks County FA David Grainge Trophy with Harchester Hawks standing in their way. With the pitch at the Recreation Ground still heavy after all the recent rain the game was switched to the 3G at Waingels College, Woodley. An excellent performance from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League side saw them cruise into the final thanks to a 6-1 win over their opponents from Division Three of the Thames Valley Premier League. Leading 3-0 at the break they further goals in the second half saw Kintbury safely through to the final. Harry Murtagh bagged a brace with the other goals coming through Charlie Adams, Charlie Allsop, Alfie David-Ellard and Luke Conner. Kintbury's opponents in the final will be Wraysbury Village from Division Two of the Thames Valley Premier League, a side who currently have a 100% winning record in their league games. They made it through to the final following a penalty shoot out after it had finished 2-2 in their semi final with Allied Community Elite, the other unbeaten side in the league and league leaders in Division Two of the Thames Valley Premier League.

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