Wiltshire FA Veterans' County Cup

Last season Cricklade Town had been beaten in the Final of the Wiltshire County FA Veterans’ Cup by Coate (now rebranded as Nationwide) and were looking to go one better this season when they met ExIntel at Green Lane in this season’s final on Friday night. ExIntel, who are in their very first season in Vets’ football, had reached the final with victories over AFC Swindon, Trowbridge Town Tigers and Bishops Cannings. Cricklade’s path to the final meanwhile had seen them receive a walkover in the First Round over Devizes Town and then defeat Melksham Town, Penhill United and cup holders Nationwide, avenging last season’s cup final defeat.

Cricklade started the brighter of the two sides with TJ Bohane invariably involved in much of their attacking play. He went close with a header from a Steve Bizley cross and then again with a shot across goal from the right-hand side of the area that went just the wrong side of the post. The pressure eventually paid off with Cricklade getting themselves in front with a well taken goal. A long clearance from Steve Bizley saw Bohane take advantage of a poor defensive header to hold the ball up and then lay off a pass into the path of Phil Corcoran on the left-hand side of the box. Corcoran turned his defender before curling a shot into the top right-hand corner of the net giving the ExIntel keeper no chance.

ExIntel went close to an equaliser when they were awarded a free kick just outside the area. Richie Wells took responsibility for the kick and his excellent effort went close to finding the back of the net, coming back off the crossbar before being cleared to safety and it remained just the one goal in it at half time.

Whilst Cricklade had created the better chances in the opening half, it was a different story after the break as ExIntel went in search of an equaliser. A corner from the right from Adrian Male went close to going straight into the net, the ball coming back off the crossbar before being cleared to safety as Cricklade retained that narrow lead. ExIntel went close again when Alex Rudd was put in behind the Cricklade defence, but his side footed shot came back off the post as Cricklade once again had a lucky escape.

At the other end Cricklade went close to adding a second when Nick Stanley was dispossessed on the edge of the Cricklade box and Cricklade broke at speed, Ben Brown combining with Aaron Maximen to put Bohane in the clear down the right-hand side, his low cross into the box was met by Maximen but his powerful shot went just wide of the post.

ExIntel continued to push for an equaliser, but Cricklade held out to secure that narrow victory which saw them lift the County Cup for the very first time with Cricklade’s Steve Bizley being named the man of the match by the Wiltshire FA. ExIntel,  who had lost 3-0 and 4-1 to Cricklade in the league, had run their opponents close in this third encounter of the season, hitting the frame of the goal on those three occasions, and will no doubt look to build on this excellent performance in their final four league games of the season. Your Sport Swindon were at the game with their cameras and subscribers can view the highlights by clicking on the Your Sport Swindon logo below. Full details of this season's competition is also shown below.

Mid Wiltshire Division

With it being half term week, there was just the one league game this week, with Melksham Town looking to play catch-up with their fixtures in the Mid Wiltshire Division when they entertained Calne Town at the Oakfield Stadium. It was to prove to be a good night for the home side as they secured a 3-1 win to go top of the table and maintain their unbeaten start to the season in the league. On target for Melksham were the division’s leading scorer Gary Higdon with goal number 22 of the season, Ashley Groves and Tom Robinson with the other two Melksham goals, George Brown with the reply for Calne Town. The win for Melksham saw them go one point ahead of Durrington with a game in hand, with Devizes Town three points behind them, with Devizes having a game in hand over Melksham and with the two sides still to play each other this season.

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