Wiltshire Senior Cup

The big game of the week was the semi final of the prestigious Wiltshire Senior Cup, the oldest of the Wiltshire FA cup competitions which includes Swindon Town and virtually all of the top clubs in Wiltshire amongst its previous winners. The semi final tie was at Swindon Supermarine and saw Premier Division sides Wroughton and Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development up against each other. It would prove to be a game of limited chances with the two sides very much cancelling each other out over the 90 minutes. The chances that came the way of each side generally involved their leading scorers, Wroughton’s Jonathan Peachey-Score and Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development’s Flynn Walters, either in the build-up play or in the final attempt at goal. It was the relegation threatened Royal Wootton Bassett who created the early first half chances. A free kick from Walters causing problems in the Wroughton defence but nobody was able to get a clear shot on goal and the danger was cleared by the Wroughton back line. Next up a move down the right flank saw the ball played into Wroughton box, eventually reaching the feet of Mani Mesas, who held the ball up before laying it back to Afonso Ferreira but he scuffed his shot which ended up going well wide of the post. At the other end Peachey-Score was off target with the first real chance that came his way, a ball over the top from Max Scholefield found him on the left-hand side of the opposition box, Peachey-Score cutting in before hitting a shot which sailed high and wide of the goal. Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development full back Oliver Smith was the next to have a sight of goal, the ball falling to him after a challenge from Walters on the edge of the Wroughton box, but his low shot was another that went well wide without troubling Wroughton keeper Luke Kuczynski. The last real chance of the first half once again involved Peachey-Score, a ball from the right from Kassa Anderson finding Peachey-Score on the edge of the box, he turned his defender before firing a shot straight at keeper Adam House who was well positioned to pull off the save and then see his defence clear the ball to safety.

The first real chance of the second half fell to Wroughton, a short pass from Anderson finding Aaron Maximen on the edge of the box and his turn and shot saw the ball just go the wrong side of the post as it remained 0-0. At the other end Kuczynski did well to punch a close range effort from Jonny Aitkenhead from the edge of the six-yard box over the bar. The closest either side went to finding the back of the net in 90 minutes came when a quick break out from defence saw Peachey-Score get away from the Royal Wootton Bassett Town defence before forcing House into an excellent save to push the ball away to safety. Another half chance at the other end saw George Staten put Walters in the clear but a great recovering tackle just before he prepared to pull the trigger once again ensured it remained 0-0 and the final whistle meant penalties would be needed to decide matters.

Wroughton had beaten Amesbury Town in the Second Round in a penalty shootout and once again demonstrated their proficiency from 12 yards, whilst nerves possibly got the better of their opponents. George Lance, Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s usual penalty taker hit the post with his effort. Peachey-Score then followed and the Wroughton striker made no mistake firing high into the top corner of the net giving House no chance. Mani Mesas then saw his spot kick saved by Wroughton keeper Kuczynski and when Max Scholefield made no mistake with penalty number two for Wroughton the pressure was on Walters to make sure he kept his side in the contest, but he fired way over, meaning if Wroughton scored their third they would be through. Experienced campaigner and Wroughton legend Shane Hibbert took the responsibility and fired home to send Wroughton into their second Wiltshire Senior Cup final in three seasons where they will meet the winner of this coming week’s semi final between Warminster Town and Devizes Town. Congratulations to Wroughton and commiserations to Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development after a valiant effort. Their attentions must now turn to retaining their Premier Division status in their remaining league games. Your Sport Swindon were at the game with their cameras and subscribers can view highlights and interviews with the two team's managers by clicking on the Your Sport Swindon logo below:

Fountain Trophies Senior Cup

This week saw three of the Fountain Trophies quarter final ties take place with the fourth set to be played at the Plain Ham, home of Larkhall Athletic Development, this coming Wednesday. The cup action got underway on Tuesday night in Salisbury where Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves took on Bratton in the first of what was four Premier Division sides taking on Division One opponents for a place in the semi finals. The game was a milestone game for Bemerton manager Jay Madden, the game being his 200^th in charge of Bemerton’s reserve side.  It was to prove to be his sides night as his players paid tribute to him with a fine performance to progress to the next round, as two goals from Samuel Butt plus one from Archie Downes saw Bemerton Heath Harlequins through to the last four of this season’s competition.  Ahead of Saturday’s two cup ties it was 1-0 to the Premier Division over Division One.

Saturday saw both Cricklade Town and Lambourn Sports looking to knock out Premier Division sides. With the strong side that Cricklade Town have assembled this season, packed with experienced players who only last season were playing at Step 5 and 6, their domination of Division One this season coupled with their win in the Wiltshire Junior Cup,  it would probably be wrong to say they were looking to cause an upset against Premier Division opponents as a lot of people would have seen them as favourites to beat Calne Town Reserves. It was to prove to be a close encounter with Cricklade eventually getting the better of their Premier Division opponents by a one goal margin. Cricklade went in front on 14 minutes a cross from Harry Ayres being turned into his own net by a Calne defender. However, Calne were back on level terms seven minutes later, Harry Stiles scoring from a free kick to level matters up at 1-1. Just before the hour mark Calne found themselves down to ten men with a player sent off and an award of a penalty to Cricklade. Harry Ayres took responsibility for the spot kick but saw his penalty saved and it remained 1-1 until eight minutes from time when substitute Ryan Latham restored Cricklade’s lead with what proved to be the winning goal to send Cricklade Town through to the semi final.

The second tie on Saturday where a Division One side was looking to get the better of a Premier Division opponent was at The Stairway Joinery Ground where Lambourn Sports were Trowbridge Town’s visitors. It proved to be an entertaining game for the large crowd at Trowbridge, although the majority would have been disappointed by the final outcome. The home side got off to a great start, Charlie Maddison putting them ahead in the very first minute of the game with a header from a Jamie Lyons corner. Trowbridge went in search of a second but were pegged back against the run of play, Lambourn equalising 15 minutes in through leading scorer Lewis Shaw. Seven minutes later it got even better for Lambourn when they were awarded a penalty. However, Trowbridge keeper Jack Amor saved the initial spot kick, but Shaw put away the rebound for his second of the game. Parity was to be restored by half time though, Harry Cade getting his first senior goal for Trowbridge in injury time at the end of the half, getting on the end of ball in from Lyons to make it 2-2 at the break. The introduction of former Corsham Town manager Kieran Baggs at half time was to have an immediate impact at the start of the second half as Baggs scored twice in the first four minutes of the half to put his side 4-2 ahead and seemingly on course for the next round, although Lambourn had other ideas. Dillon Gibbs pulled one back for the visitors just before the hour mark and then fired in his second of the game with a shot from distance to level matters up at 4-4. Just as it looked like penalties would be needed to settle matters, two minutes from time Shaw tapped in a fifth for Lambourn after the ball had come back off the bar to put them 5-4 ahead and complete his hat-trick. With so little time left there was no way back for Trowbridge. So after three quarter final ties it is Division One sides two Premier Division sides one with that final tie to come on Wednesday night.

More of Alwyn's pictures from the Trowbridge Town v Lambourn Sports game can be found on the League Facebook Group Page.

Premier Division

There had been league action in midweek as Malmesbury Victoria Development  continued to play catch up with their fixtures following what has been an extremely difficult season for the club with ongoing pitch problems. They are now back at the Flying Monk and this week staged three games on consecutive nights, on Tuesday they played a game in the Hellenic League Floodlit Cup and on Thursday a game in the Hellenic Premier Division, with their Development team’s league fixture against Trowbridge Town sandwiched in between. Unfortunately for Malmesbury all three games were lost. On Wednesday night Trowbridge Town climbed up into sixth place in the Premier Division table thanks to a 2-0 win. Jake Samuel had given Trowbridge the lead just before the half hour mark with a shot into the top corner of the net and Ben Wickens finally making sure of the three points a minute from time with shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner of the net.

Kintbury Rangers edged ever closer to their second Premier Division league title, having won the league for the first time back in Season 2017-18, achieving win number 22 of the season at Faringdon Town on Saturday to remain unbeaten in the league this season. With seven games to go they now need just eight more points to claim the title although with their superior goal difference, in reality seven points would be enough. Whilst goal scorers usually get the headlines, Kintbury’s success has also been built on a mean defence led by goalkeeper Charlie McCready who has seen just nine goals put past him in 25 league games, a remarkable record at this level. Kintbury have kept a clean sheet in 18 Premier Division fixtures this season including another one this Saturday at Faringdon. With Faringdon desperate for points at the other end of the table Kintbury were made to work hard for their latest win, with the two sides turning around at half time with the game still without a goal. Kintbury thought they had a penalty a minute before half time but an assistant’s flag for offside in the build up saw the penalty, initially awarded by the referee, denied. It remained 0-0 until the hour mark when Kintbury finally got themselves in front, a quick break out of defence was well finished by George Armstrong. Faringdon went close to getting a quick equaliser a Matthew Pill free kick into the box finding the head of Liam Hares but his attempt went just over. Fifteen minutes from time Kintbury skipper Jesse Bowers went close to doubling his sides lead but the Kintbury captain was denied by Faringdon keeper Jack Gibson diving at full stretch to turn the ball over the bar. Kintbury would not be denied for long though. Following a succession of corners the ball found its way into the back of the net with centre back Terry Patton getting the last touch to give his side a 2-0 lead. Kintbury made sure there would be no late comeback from Faringdon four minutes from time when Bowers fired home with his fifth goal of the season getting on the end of a great ball into the box to make the final score 3-0 to Kintbury. Faringdon remain deep in relegation trouble following this latest defeat having now completed their home fixtures and with four games away from home to finish the season, with Faringdon yet to win on the road this season. The first three look to be difficult games against in-form sides Kingsdown, Larkhall Athletic Development and Wroughton, before they finish the season away at bottom of the table Malmesbury Victoria Development.

Letcombe ensured the gap to Kintbury Rangers did not get any bigger with a 2-0 home win over Wiltshire Senior Cup finalists Wroughton, both goals coming through their leading scorer Ben Cleary, that is now 17 for the season after the Letcombe striker saw five of his goals lost when Blunson withdrew from the league. With Kintbury in action in midweek and then again next Saturday, by the time Letcombe play Kintbury for the second time on Tuesday 25^th March, Letcombe could find that Kintbury just need to avoid defeat against them for Kintbury to secure that title that very evening.

In addition to Faringdon’s game there were two other sides deep in relegation trouble who were in action this weekend, with Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development home to Pewsey Vale at the Sustain Stadium and Salisbury Development away to Melksham Town Reserves. Both were doing well at half time in their respective games but for both things were to take a turn for the worse in the second half. At Royal Wootton Bassett, the home side were looking to bounce back from Tuesday night's narrow Wiltshire Senior Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Wroughton and another good defensive display ensured  it remained goalless at the break. However, two second half goals from Pewsey Vale’s leading scorer Josh Fowler gave Pewsey a 2-0 win, the first a well taken goal and the second when he capitalised on a poor back pass. The victory for Pewsey saw them move up to seventh spot in the table just three points off third place and with games in hand over all of the four sides immediately above them in the table. The defeat for Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development leaves them still in a real battle to avoid the drop, but they would be grateful to know that the two sides just below them in the table had also lost on Saturday but know they will need to pick up points if they are to remain outside the drop zone.

It was going even better for Salisbury Development at half time in their away game at Melksham Town Reserves. Salisbury led 1-0 at the break thanks to headed goal from Ferhat Canlier, the goal coming on the stroke of half time from a Harry Cooper corner. After winning that first half, Salisbury found themselves pegged back within a minute of the restart, Luke Curtis pulling Melksham back level. An improved second half showing from Justin Flowers’ Melksham side them saw them go in front for the first time 15 minutes from time through Nick Taylor. With Salisbury unable to find an equaliser in those final minutes the three points went the way of Melksham who moved up to fifth place, level on points with third placed Kingsdown and Shrivenham, with just three points separating six sides just below the top two. Salisbury remain second from bottom, a point behind Faringdon and four behind Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development but with a game in hand over both.

After their Fountain Trophies Cup win in midweek Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves continued their good form since the start of the new calendar year, which has seen them lose just twice in 2025, with a 3-1 home win over Park United. Goals from Alfie Ingram, Ryan Scott and Archie Ingram, all scoring their third goals of the season, securing the three points for Bemerton, Ben Selman with the reply for Park who slipped down to tenth place as a result of this latest defeat, and are now just one point ahead of Bemerton.

More of Tony Smith's pictures from this game can be found at www.efc.smugmug.com

Division One

With Cricklade Town otherwise engaged with their Fountain Trophies Cup tie, the other sides in Division One had another chance to close the gap at the top of the table with Devizes Town and Down Ampney both taking full advantage. Down Ampney were home to Bradford Town Reserves and did their goal difference a power of good with a thumping 8-0 win. Leading 6-0 at the break two more goals in the second half rounded off a successful afternoon for the side based just over the border in Gloucestershire. There were hat-tricks for both Charlie McCuish and Paddy Cripps, who have now scored 50 goals between them, McCuish is now on 27 for the season and Cripps 23. The other two Down Ampney goals were scored by Archie Benge and Harry Sealey. Come the end of the season, the battle for honours could well come down to goal difference and by inflicting Bradford Town’s heaviest defeat of the season Down Ampney improved theirs considerably.

The big game of the day in the division though was the meeting at Nursteed Road of second placed Devizes Town Reserves and Marlborough Town who started the day in third spot. When the two sides had met in week two of the season back in August Marlborough had edged a close game 2-1 but Devizes avenged that earlier defeat securing a comfortable 4-1 win thanks to goals from Kieran Gleed, Liam Moffat, Theo Drewitt and a 21^st of the season from Jordan Anning, Harry Womersley with the Marlborough Town goal. The win for Devizes saw them move to within six points of leaders Cricklade Town having played one game more, whilst Marlborough Town slipped one place to fourth spot.

With Marlborough Town losing, Bishops Cannings climbed up to third spot with a 5-1 home win over Pewsey Vale Development. Ben Haffenden set them on their way with the opener after just eight minutes, but Ryan Lees had Pewsey Vale back level on 22 minutes, successfully converting a penalty kick to make it 1-1. Bishops Cannings would, however, go into the break with a slender lead, Ethan Howard putting them back in front a minute before half time. The second half would belong to Bishops Cannings though as the home side scored three unanswered goals to take all three points, two second goals for Oliver Barnes and one from Alistair Bradley inflicting the damage on Pewsey.

Another side scoring plenty of goals were Kingsdown Development  in their game against bottom of the table Purton, however all six were scored in the second half with Kingsdown finding themselves trailing 1-0 at the break to a goal from Purton’s Jacob Ryan. Kingsdown upped their game after the break and turned things round to run out 6-1 winners, a result that didn’t look likely at half time. Joseph Cameron led the way with a hat-trick with the other three goals coming through Liam Geraghty, Connor Taylor-Harrison and Louis O’Shea.  

Shrivenham Development  moved further away from the bottom three with an excellent 2-1 home win over Bratton thanks to goals from Lewis Mokler and Brad Ellis, Jack Booth with goal number 17 of the season replying for Bratton. Shrivenham are now six points clear of Stratton Juniors and nine points ahead of second from bottom Pewsey Vale Development after securing what was their sixth win of the season.  

The final game of the afternoon in the division saw the two defences come out on top in the game between Kintbury Rangers Development and Redhouse as the two sides had to settle for a point apiece with neither side managing to find the back of the net.

Registration Deadline

Clubs are reminded that the deadline for registering and transferring players for Season 2024-25 is 31st March 2025.

Next Season

Thoughts are now turning to next season. Whilst promotion to the Premier Division is governed by our Feeder League Agreement with the District Leagues and the Hellenic League, teams are currently free to apply to join any of the leagues in the area below our Premier Division. Based on current numbers and applications we are expecting to run with a full complement of 16 teams next season in our Division 1, but we are still open to consider new applicants whilst we consider our options for next season below the Premier Division. The deadline for application is April 30^th. Any team interested should contact League Secretray Jim Thorn at the following email address: jim.thorn@wiltshireseniorleague.co.uk

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