North Wiltshire Division

With league leaders Redhouse without a game, Cricklade Town and Nationwide had the opportunity to reduce the gap at the top of the table and both took full advantage of the opportunity, both registering 4-0 wins. At the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground on Wednesday night goals from TJ Bohane, Phil Corcoran, Stuart Hughes and James Tinsley gave Cricklade Town their 4-0 win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town.  The win for Cricklade saw them move to within one point of Redhouse at the top of the table, with Cricklade having four games in hand and Redhouse just the one to play. Cricklade remain favourites to hold onto the league title they won last season.

On Thursday night Nationwide matched Cricklade’s result as two goals from Paul Stonehouse and further goals from Pete Sealey and Mason Worthington defeated AFC Swindon. The 4-0 win for Nationwide saw them remain six points behind Cricklade with both sides having five games to play, including two games against each other. The action in the Division had got underway on Tuesday night with games at New College and Moredon.

At New College, bottom side FS Swindon avoided defeat for the fourth time this season, securing a point following a 1-1 draw with Chiseldon. Craig Kelly had put Chiseldon in front but an equaliser from Adam Price ensured a share of the points. The result means that FS Swindon will now finish bottom of the table but their points tally will be the highest that a team finishing bottom has accumulated since the North Wiltshire Veterans’ Division was established and their improved results in the second half of the season bodes well for next season.

Later that same evening at Moredon, Swindon Rovers secured win number eight of the season with a narrow 3-2 victory over Penhill United to move to within two points of their beaten opponents with the two sides set to meet again at the beginning of April. Two goals from Andrew Mark and one from Luke Wilson secured the win, Harry Etheridge and Chris Angell with the goals for Penhill.

With the season drawing to a close, teams are reminded that if they do not intend running next season, they need to notify League Secretary Jim Thorn by 31^st March to avoid a fine under Rule 11(A). With potential new sides looking to join we also need clarity over the number as we currently only have sufficient pitch slots to cater for an 11-team competition. This season has confirmed that with cup competitions, the maximum number of Vets teams in a division needs to be 12 if the season commences in September. If we increase up to 12 in the North Division next season, one team will need to secure their own pitch the same way that Cricklade Town have done.

Mid Wiltshire Division

Action in the Mid Wiltshire Division commenced on Monday night and it saw unbeaten Melksham Town maintain that unblemished record with a 2-0 away win at Selwood Academy against Trowbridge Town Tigers, Ashley Groves and Gary Higdon getting the Melksham goals. That is now 26 for the season for Higdon. The win saw Melksham Town join Devizes Town at the top of the table.

The following night at Green Lane Westbury United made it three games unbeaten with a 5-0 victory over Bishops Cannings with five different scorers with Marek Miszta, Nicholas Ross, Dale Rowland, Peter Sturman and Luke Smith all finding the back of the net. Westbury climbed a place in the table as a result of the win into sixth place, just a point behind Trowbridge Town Tigers with four games in hand.

Durrington picked up three points to maintain their title challenge but not in the way they would have wanted, Chippenham Town gifting them the three points as they were unable to fulfil a fixture for the fourth time this season in all competitions.

There were two games on Friday night to complete the week’s round of fixtures and Devizes Town returned to the top of the table with a hard fought 2-1 against Amesbury Junior Badgers who nearly caused a major upset. Badgers led 1-0 thanks to a first half goal from Lee Bates but two goals in the final five minutes of the match saved Devizes blushes, substitute Douglas Dickson levelling matters up before Rhys Schell scored a winner three minutes from time to give Devizes the three points and sole leadership of the division for now.

The same night Warminster Town maintained their recent good form with a fourth straight win with a goal in each half in a 2-0 win over Calne Town, Lee Davidson and James Vincent with the Warminster goals. So, a win for all of the top four sides in the division this week as the season moves into its closing stages.

Despite a warning from Secretary Jim Thorn to all clubs in the Veterans’ and Under 18s divisions about the use of Green Lane regarding encroachment on training sessions of other users and bad language at the venue, there was another incident at an Under 18 Division game and the Wiltshire FA are now seriously considering stopping staging games in both our Under 18s and Veterans’ divisions. An email was sent last night with the matter escalated by the facilities team Green Lane copying in the CEO of the Wiltshire FA. This would mean teams currently playing their home games at Green Lane would need to find alternative grounds if they wish to continue next season and if they cannot find a ground we may end up with a smaller division with less games for everyone next season, so please could all teams take on board the warning that Jim issued last week.

As with the North Wiltshire Division, teams are reminded that if they do not intend running next season, they need to notify League Secretary Jim Thorn by 31st March to avoid a fine under Rule 11(A).