It was not to be for Wroughton in the final of the Wiltshire FA’s Senior County Cup on Wednesday night as they fell to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Step 6 side Devizes Town who are one of the three Wiltshire clubs who could well be involved in the end of season play-offs in the Western League. Wednesday night’s final was played at Chippenham Town in front of a sizeable crowd. The opening 25 minutes of the final was a fairly even with chances at both ends. Wroughton’s first real chance of the half came when Kassa Anderson was brought down on the edge of the box. Anderson took responsibility for the resulting free kick but sent it high and wide of the goal without troubling Devizes keeper Dominic Oakes.

Devizes first sight of goal came when a long ball over the top found Jacob Reader on the left hand side of the box, he cut inside but fired his shot high and wide of the goal. At the other end Aaron Maximen had a half chance for Wroughton with a header after Devizes failed to clear their lines but the Wroughton striker didn’t get enough on the header, and it was easily claimed by Oakes. The best chance of the half up to that point then fell the way of Devizes. A searching ball down the right found Jack Baker and his powerful run down the right flank ended with a low cross into the box which found Luke Hopper but twice the Devizes striker was denied by quick reactions from Wroughton keeper Luke Kuczynski. Kuczynski was again called into action shortly afterwards, doing well to keep out another dangerous low cross into the box as Devizes started to impose themselves on the game and put the Wroughton goal under intense pressure. The goal eventually came just after the half hour mark. A ball over the top from Devizes captain Jon Bazley put Devizes striker and assistant manager Luke Hopper in the clear beyond the Wroughton back line, he calmly rounded keeper Kuczynski before firing home for 1-0 to Devizes. It remained that way at the break.

Wroughton went close to getting themselves back on level terms early in the second half when an overhead kick from leading scorer Jonathan Peachey-Score forced Oates to dive at full stretch to make the save and deny the Wroughton striker. However, it would be Devizes who got the second goal on the hour mark in somewhat controversial circumstances, Tadhg O’Callaghan being adjudged to have brought down Jacob Reader when it looked like he clearly got the ball first before connecting with the player. Having already been booked it could have been even worse for O’Callaghan but no card was shown on this occasion to the Wroughton player, although one would follow shortly after for a foul on Jack Hopper but there was to be no dismissal. Hopper took responsibility for the penalty firing low into the bottom corner of the net past Kuczynski, although the Wroughton keeper guessed the right way but was beaten by the accuracy of the placement by Hopper.

Devizes were now very much in the ascendancy, substitute Kieran Gleed forcing Kuczynski into an excellent full stretch save to keep his side in the game with a low shot from the edge of the box. Gleed would then be involved in the goal that effectively ended Wroughton’s hopes of getting back in the game. His corner from the right hand side to the far post was headed home by captain Bazley under challenge from Maximen to give Devizes a 3-0 lead.

Devizes continued to push for more goals. Baker dispossessed Peachey-Score on the edge of the Devizes box and quickly played a through ball to Gleed but the Devizes substitutes effort on goal went well wide of the far post. Gleed probably should have done better from another quick Devizes break out from defence which saw the speedy winger get behind the Wroughton defence, his final ball across eventually finding Reader after a neat lay off from Jamie Walters. Reader then put Gleed in on goal with a defence splitting pass with just Kuczynski to beat but the Devizes man put his shot the wrong side of the post. Walters then went close to getting a fourth for Devizes. Another corner to the far post from Gleed found the head of Walters but his header back across goal struck the frame of the goal and was cleared to safety by the Wroughton defence. Devizes went close again when a long kick out from keeper Oakes put Declan McStravick in behind the Wroughton defence with just Kuczynski to beat but the Wroughton keeper did well to save with his feet to deny Devizes another goal. McStravick was again put clean through shortly after from another long ball out of defence, but on this occasion his half volley went just wide of the far post. Another golden chance came Devizes way shortly after when Wroughton gave the ball away on the edge of their own box following a goal kick, the ball falling to Gleed who set up Finley Palmer, but he rushed his shot and failed to trouble Kuczynski. There were to be no further goals as it finished 3-0 on the night with Devizes Town deserved winners. Wroughton will almost certainly feel hard done by with that second goal, but Devizes were impressive going forward once they got themselves in front and showed why they are up there challenging for promotion to the Western League Premier Division.

Congratulations to Devizes Town on winning the cup for the first time since Season 1978-79 and winning their first silverware since winning the Western League Division One title back in Season 1999-2000. It is also well done to Wroughton for reaching the final for the second time in three seasons.

David Giles was at the game with his camera and more pictures from the game can be found on the Devizes Town website   which can also be accessed from the League Facebook Group page. Your Sport Swindon were also at the game with their cameras and subscribers can view highlights by clicking on the Your Sport Swindon logo below: