Action from the Fountain Trophies Senior Cup Semi Final game between Down Ampney and Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves, as Lewis Baston strikes for goal with his effort being turned around the post for a corner by Bemerton keeper Jamie Jones

Premier Division

Saturday saw Kintbury Rangers crowned champions of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division for the second time, having previously lifted the title in Season 2017-18. The title race could have been decided in midweek when Kintbury were home to the only side who at the time could catch them, Letcombe, on Tuesday night. A first half goal from Danny Hale had seen Kintbury lead 1-0 at the break and well in command, but second half goals late on from Letcombe substitutes Calum Pryce and Owen Shaw turned things completely around to see Kintbury lose for the second consecutive game and ensure the title race would be extended at least until Saturday.  

Saturday saw Kintbury Rangers  at home again with relegation threatened Salisbury Development the visitors. After two consecutive defeats Kintbury nerves would not have been helped when Ferhat Canlier continued his recent good form in front of goal putting Salisbury 1-0 up from a free kick with 18 minutes on the clock. Kintbury got themselves back on level terms nine minutes before the break, a ball over the top finding Geroge Armstrong who made no mistake to level matters up at 1-1 going into the break. Kintbury then got themselves in front for the first time in the game five minutes after the restart, Oli Denner putting them 2-1 up.  They made sure of the three points 20 minutes from time when Aaron Voller headed home to put Kintbury 3-1 up. They saw out the closing stages without conceding to claim the three points which would be enough to give them the title unless Letcombe also won, which would have meant the title race would have continued into the following week. However, when news came through that Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development had held Letcombe to a 0-0 draw Kintbury were confirmed as champions meaning the celebrations could begin. Congratulations to Kintbury Rangers from all at the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League on their title success, a title that is thoroughly deserved and they have clearly been the outstanding team from the off this season. The title success will mean elevation to Step 6 with the likely destination expected to be the Wessex League.

Well done also to Letcombe for putting pressure on Letcombe from the very start and maintaining that pressure for so long into the season. It was unfortunate that their pitch issues meant they are behind with their fixtures, but those issues are now behind them as they look to secure runners-up spot in their first season in the league. Their game against Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development had seen them in the ascendancy for most of the game but an inspired performance from the visitors keeper Adam House, who had started the season as an outfield player, coupled with some dogged defending by his teammates ensured a share of the spoils for the visitors and a vital point in their quest to retain their Premier Division status.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, it has been a good week for Pewsey Vale. Last Saturday saw them win 5-0 away at Calne Town Reserves to register their third straight win and they followed that victory up in midweek with another, goals from Josh Fowler and Andy Rossiter securing a 2-0 away win over Malmesbury Victoria Development. On Saturday they were home to a Shrivenham side who had hit a bad run of form just as they had got themselves up into the top three, losing three straight games ahead of their trip to Pewsey. The two sides respective runs continued on Saturday as Pewsey made it five straight wins, goals from Josh Fowler, Alex Golder and Andy Rossiter securing a 3-1 win, Brad Hirst with the reply for Shrivenham. Those two goals for Josh Fowler on Wednesday and Saturday took his adjusted total for the season to 31 and sole leadership of the Premier Division goal scoring chart. Those trio of wins for Pewsey this week sees them sitting in third spot in the table five points behind Letcombe but having played two more games, and two points ahead of Kingsdown.

On the subject of Kingsdown, they are another of the Premier Division sides who are having a good run of late, they travelled to Park United on Saturday unbeaten in seven and that run now extends to eight games following a 1-1 draw at Stanley Park, Kieran O’Daly with his seventh goal of the season for Kingsdown, Jake Angell with the Park United goal. Park United now sit in tenth place in the table after this draw, but are just four points behind fourth placed Kingsdown in a congested middle of the table as the sides compete for a top five finish come the end of the season.

Melksham Town Reserves and Trowbridge Town are two of the sides who join Park United on 42 points after this week’s round of games. The two sides had met on Tuesday night at the Oakfield Stadium, and it had proved to be Trowbridge’s night as they made the short journey back home with the three points in the bag following a 4-2 success. There were four different scorers for Trowbridge Jacob Gardner, Martin Johnson, Owen Pearce and Ben Wickens all finding the back of the net, Ollie Farrell and Nick Taylor with the Melksham goals. However, on Saturday both teams would be on the wrong end of results. Melksham Town Reserves were again at home with another local derby, with Calne Town Reserves the visitors. After a run of three straight defeats Calne had slipped back into possible danger at the bottom end of the table but a hat-trick from Jack Smith in a 3-1 win eased those concerns and all but confirmed another season in the Premier Division for Tom Boakes' side as they moved above both Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development and Larkhall Athletic Development. In reply for Melksham there was another goal from Ollie Farrell. Melksham slipped to ninth place in the table following these two defeats.

Trowbridge Town meanwhile were home to rivals Shrewton United at The Stairway Joinery Ground with visitors Shrewton looking to complete a league double over Trowbridge having won 3-1 at the Recreation Ground back in November. It started well for Shrewton, Charlie Utterson putting them ahead with just four minutes on the clock. The lead did not last long though as Trowbridge were back on level terms ten minutes later, Marley Clark firing into the top corner with a shot from the edge of the area. It remained that way until the final minute of the half when Shrewton’s Jordan Cross capitalised on some poor defending to put his side back in front. There was to be more drama in injury time at the end of the half though, Ryan Baggs and Harry Cade combining to set up Charlie Maddison for an equaliser for Trowbridge with virtually the last kick of the half.   The second half carried on where the first half had left off, Lewis Cross heading Shrewton back in front for a third time from a corner within two minutes of the restart. Once again, the lead did not last long as Trowbridge equalised for a third time just three minutes later, Ben Wickens capitalising on indecisiveness in the Shrewton United defence to bring Trowbridge back level once again. Ten minutes later, just before the hour mark, Shrewton were back in front for a fourth time, Jordan Cross finding Lewis Cross who turned and fired into the bottom corner for 4-3. This time there was to be no comeback from Trowbridge as Shrewton battled away to ensure they did not let the lead slip for a fourth time. Trowbridge’s cause was not helped when they had Lewis Harford sent off five minutes from time. The win for Shrewton United saw them climb into the top five, two points ahead of their beaten opponents with both sides having four games to play. Both Martin Pearce and Alwyn Bodman were at this game and both their excellent pictures can be accessed from the League Facebook Group page.

After last week’s surprise defeat away at Salisbury Development, Wroughton returned to winning ways ahead of Wednesday’s big Wiltshire Senior Cup Final against Devizes Town at Chippenham Town, with a comfortable 5-0 home win over relegation threatened Faringdon Town. The goals were shared around the team with one apiece for Aaron Maximen, Nathan Barbato, Jonathan Coppock, Kassa Anderson and Jonathan Peachey-Score, the latter taking his adjusted total for the season to 29. The win for Wroughton sees them sat in sixth spot in the table, a point behind Shrewton United and a point ahead of the four sides on 42 points.  Faringdon meanwhile now have just two games to go against Larkhall Athletic Development and bottom of the table Malmesbury Vics Development, both away from home with Faringdon yet to win in the league on their travels all season. They probably need to win them both to have any chance of staying up, even then that might not be enough given their inferior goal difference, and they look to be in serious danger of relegation back to Division One after just one season.

Fountain Trophies Senior Cup

The first of the two Fountain Trophies League Cup semi finals took place on Saturday with Division One side Down Ampney looking to claim another Premier Division scalp when they took on Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves. In very difficult windy conditions on a bumpy pitch, the early exchanges saw little by way of quality football as the two sides tried to adapt to the difficult conditions. With the strong wind behind them Down Ampney proceeded to play a long ball out of defence and invariably it went straight to the Bemerton keeper Jamie Jones or out for a goal kick. They did go close on a couple of occasions to getting an early goal though, a corner from the left coming back off the post before being cleared to safety and then an excellent ball into the box from Charlie McCuish finding Lewis Baston and his shot on the half volley was spectacularly turned away by Jones in the Bemerton goal for a corner.  It was Bemerton playing against the wind who, then created a couple of chances of their own at the other end.  The first saw Darnell Tarley turn on the edge of the box and fire in a low shot but it went straight to keeper Nathan Townsend in the Down Ampney goal. Ethan Trigwell then found himself in the clear following a neat passing move down the left flank, but Townsend was quick off his line to close down the Bemerton player and make the save. Tarley then had another golden chance for Bemerton when a ball over the top fell nicely for him, but his effort was easily gathered by Townsend.   At the other end Down Ampney went close to getting themselves in front on 27 minutes, Harry Sealey with a shot from distance just going over the bar. Lewis Baston then went close for the home side with a header from a free kick, his effort going just wide of the post. The deadlock was finally broken on 37 minutes, a long ball out of defence from George Bailey finding Sealey down the right flank, keeper Jones came off his line to close down the Down Ampney winger but then hesitated before he could get close and Sealey lobbed the keeper with the ball nestling in the far side of the net for 1-0 to the home side. Bemerton went close to getting an equaliser three minutes before the break, a goal kick from Jones was headed on by Dean Reynolds into the path of Archie Ingram but his effort on goal was well saved by Townsend with an outstretched leg to protect his sides lead going into the half time break.

The second half saw Bemerton with the strong wind behind them and the visitors started on the front foot as they went in search of an equaliser. Dean Reynolds went close on two occasions, firstly with a shot which went just wide of the post, and then with a header from a corner which again went just wide of the post. An equaliser was coming and when it did it was special strike from Alfie Ingram, the ball falling to him 25 yards from goal and his low and powerful shot flew into the bottom far corner of the net to level matters up at 1-1.  Despite playing against the wind, Down Ampney were still a threat on the break, and it was from one such break that they would restore their lead against the run of play. A defence splitting pass from George Bailey put Archie Benge in on the right-hand side of the 18-yard box and his cross to the far post was met by leading scorer Charlie McCuish for goal number 30 of the season to put his side 2-1 up.  Having fallen behind again Bemerton went in search of a second equaliser and started to put the Down Ampney goal under sustained pressure. Ethan Trigwell went close to getting them back on level terms heading just over but they were soon back on level terms. The goal came when Down Ampney failed to properly clear a corner, the ball falling to Alfie Ingram who fired home for his second of the game to make it 2-2. Both teams went in search of a winner in the closing stages with chances at both ends in what had been an entertaining affair in difficult conditions. Just when it looked like there would need to be penalties to settle matters there was late drama. Following another ball into the box that Down Ampney failed to clear, the ball fell to substitute Hayden Wells who fired home to break Down Ampney hearts and see Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves into the final on Saturday 10^th May at Corsham Town FC. Congratulations to Bemerton on reaching the final and commiserations to Down Ampney who ran the Premier Division side really close, with fine margins eventually settling matters in favour of the South Wiltshire side. Both Tony Smith and Mark Smedley were at the game with their cameras. Tony’s excellent pictures can be found on his website at efc.smugmug.com and Mark’s will be on the League Facebook Group page in die course. Your Sport Swindon were also at the game with their cameras and highlights can be viewed by subscribers by clicking on the Your Sport Swindon logo below:

Division One

Cricklade Town maintained their six point lead at the top of the Division One table with a 4-0 away win at Kingsdown Development, avenging one of the two defeats they have suffered so far this season having lost 3-2 to Kingsdown back in November at Cirencester. First half goals from Luke Cordery and a 19^th of the season from Scott Chilcott put Cricklade Town 2-0 up at half time. Adam Bright then put Cricklade 3-0 up before Harry Ayres added a fourth from the penalty spot to compete a comfortable win for Cricklade.

Devizes Town Reserves ensured the lead at the top did not get any bigger with an impressive 7-2 away win on the 3G at Moredon. Leading 4-2 at the break three unanswered goals in the second half saw Devizes complete a league double over Redhouse having won 3-1 on the opening day of the season at Nursteed Road. James Cox led the way scoring a hat-trick, Jordan Anning bagged a brace to take his total for the season to 28 and there were further goals from Tom Wynn-Davies and Harvey Swain.

Marlborough Town climbed one place in the table to fourth spot following a 4-0 home win over near neighbours Pewsey Vale Development. Josh De Souza missed last week’s heavy defeat away at Down Ampney, but he had an enjoyable afternoon on his return to the side firing a hat-trick with Harry Womersley with his 16^th of the season getting the other Marlborough goal. Marlborough moved to within a point of third placed Bishops Cannings with a game in hand, but with just two games to go they are unlikely to finish higher than their current position given the games in hand that the two teams just below them in the table, Down Ampney and Bratton, have over them.  

Bratton are up to seventh place in the table following a comfortable 7-0 win over bottom of the table Purton. Leading scored Jack Booth notched a hat-trick to take his tally for the season to 23, and there were further goals from Louis Wilkins, Lewis Wayman, Joe Whiteman and finally manager Jake Packer, who came on as a late substitute to score his first goal of the season. Bratton remain 11 points behind Down Ampney having played the same number of games whilst and 13 behind Marlborough but with six games in hand over the fourth placed side.

The final league game of the day between Shrivenham Development and Kintbury Rangers Development finished honours even with both sides finding the net once, both goals coming in the second half, Kieran Sutton with the Shrivenham goal, Charlie Adams with the Kintbury goal. The point for Shrivenham saw them move above Redhouse on goal difference.

Registration Deadline

Clubs are reminded that Monday (31st March) is the last day for player registrations and transfers.

For exclusive insight from the team managers of our clubs read Your Sport's Swindon weekly coverage of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. For details of how to subscribe see the advert below.