Ben Cleary scores the opener for Letcombe in their 6-0 win over Calne Town Reserves

Premier Division

There were just five games in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League on Saturday with league champions Kintbury Rangers playing their final game of the season in what has been a brilliant season for the club when they made the relatively short trip to Shrivenham. They have dominated what has been a very tough and competitive division this season from the off and are worthy champions. As was the case at Trowbridge recently, Shrivenham gave the champions a guard of honour as they entered the pitch for their final game and also gave them some cases of beer after the game. It started well for the champions; Danny Hale giving them an early lead with his sixth goal of the season. However, James Hirst brought Shrivenham back level before the home side secured all three points with a second from Kai Richardson in a close encounter at the Ian Richardson Ground. The win for Shrivenham saw them climb one place to sixth spot in the table ahead of their own final game of the season on Monday against Trowbridge Town.

With Kintbury Rangers having already picked up the league winners’ trophy this Saturday it was the turn of runners-up Letcombe to be awarded the runners-up shield. Before that they entertained Calne Town Reserves, the side they had met in their very first game in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League on the opening day of the season. On that occasion it had been a warm sunny day and once again the sun shone on Saturday but there was also a strong wind that was to play its part in the afternoon’s proceedings. The opening half was an extremely tight contest with limited chances at either end. Letcombe’s leading scorer Ben Cleary should have done better when he was put clean through on 15 minutes but failed to find the target. Calne’s best chances of the half fell the way of former Malmesbury Vics Development player Beau Hicks. On 24 minutes a defence splitting pass saw him clear of the Letcombe back line but he was denied by an excellent save by Letcombe keeper Harry Whitehead. Two minutes later Hicks once again got the wrong side of the Letcombe defence down the right hand side but his shot across goal eluded his teammates and came to nothing. At the other end Letcombe had a couple of chances towards the end of the half, Cleary once again got in behind the defence but failed to get his shot away when he looked like he would score. Xavi Diaz then had a chance from a free kick on the edge of the box but his effort on goal went well over. As the half moved into added time the deadlock was to be broken in what was the 47^th minute of the half and it was no surprise that it was Letcombe’s leading scorer Cleary who made the breakthrough. A ball over the top down the right hand side saw Cleary run powerfully past his marker before firing past Lewis Clark in the Calne goal for 1-0. That was not to be the last drama of the half though. In what was the eighth minute of added time Letcombe scored a second, recent signing from Didcot Town Mckenzie Hedges finishing off a neat passing move for a goal on his season debut to make it 2-0 at the break. The score line was somewhat harsh on Calne Town Reserves who had matched their opponents’ stride for stride in the half.

The start of the second half saw Calne trying to get themselves back in the game and an early half chance saw them go close to pulling one back. Substitute Kieran Kennedy then had a good effort on goal but his shot across goal went just wide of the far post as Calne failed to make the breakthrough they needed. It was to be another substitute who was to then have an immediate impact after his introduction, Letcombe’s Kieran Kerby firing in within a minute of his introduction with virtually his first touch of the game. The game was then effectively ended as contest in bizarre fashion. Awarded a free kick ten yards in their own half, player-manager Luke Stone spotted Calne keeper Clark on the edge of the 18-yard box and took the free kick quickly and with a little help from the wind the ball sailed over the head of the Calne keeper and into the net for 4-0.  Late goals from Archie Brew and Xavi Diaz rounded off a good afternoon for Letcombe ahead of the presentation of their runners-up awards. League Chairman Brian Busson made the presentation of the runners-up shield and individual mementos to the Letcombe players. Congratulations to Letcombe on pushing the champions Kintbury all the way until the final month of the season. Letcombe are back in action on Monday when they entertain Kingsdown who sit one place behind them and currently lead the race for a third place finish. More pictures from this game will be posted on the League Facebook Group Page   in due course.

Pewsey Vale missed out on the chance of moving above Kingsdown into that third spot when they were beaten 4-1 away at Trowbridge Town, Trowbridge avenging the 7-0 defeat they had suffered in the opening week of the season. It had started well for Pewsey Vale though, Israel Onibudo firing them ahead in the very first minute of the game. Trowbridge got themselves back on level terms 20 minutes in through Charlie Maddison with goal number 11 of the season in all competitions for the Trowbridge striker. It remained that way until five minutes before the break when George Bendle fired the home side in front for the first time in the game, a ball over the top seeing Bendle beat the offside trap and make no mistake to put Trowbridge 2-1 up. The second half saw Pewsey push hard to get themselves back in the game but despite putting the Trowbridge goal under some pressure they could not find an equaliser. They fell further behind when substitute Aaron Seviour, their recent signing from Shepton Mallet, getting on the end of a George Bendle pass for a debut goal. It got even better for Seviour when he got his second of the game in injury time to make the final score 4-1 to Trowbridge.

Both Martin Pearce and Alwyn Bodman were at the game with their cameras and lots of pictures from this game can be viewed on the League Facebook Group Page.

With one game to go Shrewton United are looking good for a top five finish, this after a win over Park United in their final home game of the season. Charlie Utterson put Shrewton ahead on 16 minutes after being put through by Morgan Aldridge, Utterson finishing with a chip over the keeper. Aldridge then went from provider to scorer when he doubled Shrewton’s lead just before the half hour mark after good work by Dan Baulsom. It remained 2-0 at the break but Gary Lock gave Park hope of a comeback ten minutes into the second half when he reduced the deficit. However, Shrewton would be back in front within five minutes, Brennan Knowles setting up Jordan Cross to make it 3-1 to Shrewton United. That would be the end of the afternoon’s scoring as George Plank’s side registered their fourth win in their last five games. They end their season next Saturday away at bottom of the table where victory will guarantee them a top five finish.

Shrewton United who are on track for a top five finish

Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves bounced back from two consecutive defeats at the hands of Pewsey Vale at home last Saturday and then in midweek away at Calne Town Reserves with an impressive away showing at Malmesbury Vics Development. Two goals from Ethan Trigwell plus further goals from Ryan Scott, Joshua Hoey and Harry Rogers giving Bemerton a comfortable 5-0 win. The win for Bemerton saw them move above Park United into tenth place. They are back in action on Monday when they entertain Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development.

Bemerton's Tony Smith was at the game with his camera and more of his excellent pictures can be found on his website at efc.smugmug.com

Division One

With Cricklade Town in Fountain Trophies Cup semi final action, Devizes Town Reserves and Down Ampney both had the chance to reduce the gap at the top of the table, and in Devizes case actually move level on points with the league leaders. Both sides took full advantage of the opportunity recording big wins. Devizes Town Reserves made the short journey to Pewsey to take on Pewsey Vale Development and returned with all three points following an 8-0 win to improve their goal difference. Leading scorer Jordan Anning led the way helping himself to a hat-trick to take his impressive tally for the season to 34, both Finley Palmer and Tom-Wynn Davies bagged a brace and James Cox with the other Devizes goal. The win saw Devizes Town Reserves move level on 63 points with Cricklade Town at the top of the table, with Cricklade still top on goal difference. However, Devizes have played two more games than Cricklade with Cricklade needing seven points from their final four games to make sure of the title.

Down Ampney bounced back from their midweek defeat at Kintbury Rangers with a convincing 7-1 home win over Redhouse  and remain in the battle for honours but will need to win all their remaining games and hope the top two drop points in their own remaining games. Star of the show in the big win over Redhouse was Charlie McCuish who scored a hat-trick to take his tally to 36 and move to within one goal of the division’s leading scorer Szymon Raczek of Bishops Cannings. There were two more goals for strike partner Paddy Cripps who himself is not far behind on 27 goals with the other two goals coming through Connor Hibbs and George Bailey. The win sees Down Ampney remain nine points behind the top two but with two games in hand over Devizes.

Whilst their own chances of honours have ended, Bratton could yet have a big say in where those honours reside with their next three games against all of the top three, and all at Bratton, starting with the visit of Cricklade Town on Monday. They warmed up for that Bank Holiday Monday encounter with a 5-1 away win at bottom side Purton. Two more goals for Jack Booth and two also for Paul Gittins, with Joe Moloney getting the other Bratton goal. Purton’s scorer in what was their penultimate game of the season was Rhys Kirk. Purton end what has been another difficult season for the club with a home game against Kintbury Rangers Development on Monday.  The win for Bratton with four games to play sees them sit seven points behind Marlborough Town and eight behind Bishops Cannings, who have both completed their fixtures, with Lambourn Sports the other game in addition to those three fixtures against the top three sides.

Stratton Juniors needed to call up a few of their Vets’ side to fulfill their fixture at Bradford Town Reserves  and an impressive first half effort saw them holding Bradford Town Reserves 0-0 at half time. Bradford Town Reserves took command in the second half though, Lenny Gale opened the scoring before Dylan Berg doubled their lead. They then made sure of the three points with a third from Corey Pugh to run out 3-0 winners. The win coupled with a points deduction for Lambourn Sports saw Bradford Town Reserves move above Lambourn in the table. Stratton Juniors still have two to play including league leaders Cricklade Town, the other game another difficult looking game away at Kintbury Rangers Development. They are in a two-team battle to avoid the re-election zone with Pewsey Vale Development who also have to travel to Kintbury but also have two other games against Down Ampney and Shrivenham Development. The two sides both have 16 points but Pewsey’s superior goal difference could well end up being the deciding factor come the end of the season.

Kintbury Rangers Development were involved in their third game in five days due to their postponement of last Saturday’s game which had been hastily re-arranged for Thursday night with both them and opponents Bratton having played the least number of games in the division. Saturday saw Kintbury host Kingsdown Development  and it was Kintbury who led at half time thanks to a goal from Charlie Adams but Kingsdown turned things around after the break, goals from Josh Atwell, Finn Broadbank and Toby Tew securing a 3-1 win for Kingsdown who moved up to eighth place in the table as a result of the win.

Next Season

For anyone wishing to join Division 1, the Ladies’, U18’s or Veterans’ Divisions for season 2025/26, the closing date for applications is 30th April.



Please contact Jim Thorn at jim.thorn@wiltshireseniorleague.co.uk for an Application Form.

Fountain Trophies Cup

Saturday saw the second semi final of the Fountain Trophies Cup with Cricklade Town switching the tie against Lambourn Sports  to Cirencester Town’s Corinium Stadium and the 3G pitch. In the league Cricklade Town had done the double over Lambourn winning 3-0 at Lambourn and then 1-0 in the return which had also been played at the Corinium Stadium. It started well for Cricklade who went into the game seven places and 30 points above their opponents in the table, Levi Cox putting them 1-0 up on 15 minutes. After two close league games Lambourn Sports finally registered their first goal against Cricklade this season when Kias Bonner-Shea brought them back on level terms five minutes later. Parity did not last long though as Cricklade were awarded a penalty won for them by Scott Chilcott. It was Chilcott who took the resulting spot kick to fire his side back in front on 27 minutes. It remained 2-1 at the break. Cricklade extended their lead three minutes into the second half, the goal being credited to Scott Chilcott as his effort went in off a Lambourn player after a fine attacking move to make it 3-1 and Chilcott's second of the game. Cricklade continued to dominate, and Levi Cox made it 4-1 with his second of the game just before the hour mark. Cricklade rounded off an impressive performance with a fifth 13 minutes from time, Chris Jackson getting on the end of a corner at the far post, to register their biggest win in the three games this season against Lambourn and book their place in the final against Bemerton Heath Harlequins on Saturday 10^th May at Corsham Town. The final sees the last two winners of the Wiltshire Junior Cup up against each other. With Cricklade having already won the Wiltshire Junior Cup, and looking favourites for the Division One title, the treble is now very much on for Mani Roper's side.

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