League Cup

The first Ladies League Cup Final under the banner of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League will fittingly feature the current top two sides in the Premier Division following Sunday’s cup semi-finals but both the beaten semi finalists pushed their opponents all the way.  

At Bemerton, league leaders Bemerton Heath Harlequins hosted AFC Brislington who are another side having a good season, currently sitting in third place in the table and also through to the semi-final of the Somerset County Cup. When the two sides had met in the second week of the season at Brislington in the league, Bemerton had returned with all three points following a 4-0 win, but it was to be a much closer affair in the cup semi final. Indeed, it needed penalties to settle matters as the two sides couldn’t be separated at the end of 90 minutes, both sides scoring three times in an entertaining 3-3 draw. AFC Brislington led 3-2 going into the final minute of the game but conceded a penalty to give Bemerton the chance of sending the tie itself to penalties. The spot kick was duly put away to level matters up and hence the need for the shootout.   Two more goals for Leanne Griffiths-Lower making it five for her so far in the cup and taking her season total in all competitions to 13, with Imogen Brady getting the other Bemerton goal, making it five in the cup for her also and 27 in total in all competitions for the division’s leading goal scorer. In reply for AFC Brislington there were two more goals for their leading scorer Rhianna Ben-Carew, as she also moved onto 13 for the season, Clarice Rice with the other AFC Brislington goal.  In the penalty shootout it was Bemerton who held their nerve to emerge victorious 5-4 at the end of the spot kick contest. Last season Bemerton had reached the League Cup Final in the last season under the Wiltshire Women’s & Girls League, losing 4-2 in the final to Corsham Town, and will be hoping to go one better this season. AFC Brislington meanwhile will have a second attempt to make a cup final when they meet Weston Super Mare from the South West Regional Women’s League Division One South in the semi-final of the Somerset Junior Cup on Sunday 16^th March.

Bemerton's opponents in the final, which is to be played on Sunday 23^rd March at the Sustain Stadium, home of Royal Wootton Bassett Town FC, will be Highworth Town who overcame Melksham Town in their semi-final at the Oakfield Stadium on Sunday. In a first half of limited chances, the two sides turned around at the break with the game still awaiting its first goal. It was Highworth who got themselves in front early in the second half, Erin Pearce firing home from a free kick to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Highworth them doubled their lead when substitute Baeley Foster headed in and Highworth then made sure they did not concede at the other end to book their place in the final after what had been a tight contest between the two Premier Division sides. 

Premier Division

In addition to the two cup games there were also two games in the league in the Premier Division. On an afternoon of close affairs, Kingsdown consolidated their fourth-place position in the table with a narrow 3-2 away win at Westbury Youth.  Kingsdown’s Stephanie Quince and Westbury’s Megan Ayliffe both scored twice for their respective sides with Charlotte Robinson also getting on the score sheet for Kingsdown as they completed a league double over Westbury Youth.  Barbara Swan was at the game with her camera and more of her pictures can be found on the League Facebook Group Page.

The other Premier Division game was also a close affair with bottom of the table FC Chippenham putting up a spirited performance against Calne Town, keeping the score level at 0-0 until the hour mark when Megan Hamill finally broke the deadlock with a goal for Calne. Calne then scored a second 15 minutes from time through Isobell Satchell and the same player then made sure of the points for the home side with a third as Calne ran out 3-0 winners to open up a five point gap over Westbury Youth and ease their relegation concerns, just as their men’s Reserve side had done the day before on a good weekend for the club in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. 

Development Division

There was a full schedule of league fixtures played in the Development Division on Sunday and the race for honours continues to be an exciting one with just four points separating the top five sides. Marlborough Town continue to lead the way but they were held to a 3-3 draw by fifth placed Malmesbury Vics at Elcot Lane. On target for Marlborough were Erin Robinson, Zelie Rowland and Lily Wain, with Laura Deacon, Melanie Lister and a tenth of the season from Lisa Lane in reply for Malmesbury.

It also finished honours even in the game between third place Trowbridge Wanderers and South Newton & Barford Hornets, the side just below Wanderers in the table. Kelly Church scoring for South Newton & Barford in the 1-1 draw, Erin Wilkins with the goal for Trowbridge Wanderers, both goals coming in the first half.  

The only side in the top five to win on Sunday were second placed Salisbury  who had a convincing home win over bottom of the table Ferndale Rodbourne. Leading 4-0 at the break, Salisbury added a further five goals without replay after half time to secure a convincing 9-0 win on the 3G at Sarum. Nicole Kirkman led the way scoring a hat-trick with the remaining six goals being shared around the side with Samantha Deacon, Barbara Brown, Leanne Ford, Hannah Owen, Danica Pomroy and Angela Collins all getting their name on the score sheet. The win for Salisbury saw them move to within a point of Marlborough but the have played two games more and have just four games to play, including a visit from the league leaders at the end of the month.

The only other winners in the Division on Sunday were Staverton Rangers, two early goals in the first 15 minutes of the match from Phoebe Vick giving them a 2-0 home win over Blunsdon to move to within four points of their beaten opponents with the two sides set to meet in the return at Blunsdon a week on Sunday when Staverton will be hoping to complete a league double.

Next Sunday's Games

This coming Sunday in the Premier Division league leaders Bemerton Heath Harlequins are away at Calne Town looking to maintain their perfect record in the league which has seen them win all of their opening nine league fixtures. Second place Highworth Town, for the second week running, are up against Melksham Town, this time the game is at Highworth Recreation Ground in the league and another close contest is anticipated between the two sides. Swindon Supermarine and AFC Brislington will be both hoping to secure away wins when they travel to FC Chippenham and Westbury Youth respectively. AFC Brislington have twice beaten Westbury this season already by big scores, but Westbury’s last two games have been close affairs, and a much closer contest is anticipated this coming Sunday. Swindon Supermarine and FC Chippenham will be meeting for the first time this season.

Three of the top five in the Development Division are on the road against sides at the other end of the table and all will start favourites to return with the three points, leaders Marlborough Town visit bottom of the table Ferndale Rodbourne, second placed Salisbury travel to the north of the county to take on Blunsdon, whilst South Newton & Barford Hornets make a similar journey to play Kingsdown Development. The only one of the top five at home are Trowbridge Wanderers who entertain Staverton Rangers with Malmesbury Vics being the side without a fixture this week in the nine team division.