Larkhall Athletic Development who went 2nd in the table with a 4-1 win at Wroughton

Premier Division

Shrewton United went into their game away at Shrivenham knowing that victory would confirm them as champions of the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League for Season 2025-26. However, things did not go to plan for George Plank’s side as two first half goals from Kieran Sutton put Shrivenham 2-0 up at the break. Shrewton had the wind behind them in the second half, but it took until 20 minutes from time for them to create any real chance of note, Lewis Cross forcing Shrivenham keeper Lewis Fox into making a good save. Eight minutes later Shrewton went close again with an effort being cleared off the line and for once the normally prolific Shrewton side failed to find the back of the net and they remain stuck on 99 league goals for the season as it finished 2-0 to Shrivenham. Shrewton United’s final game of the season on Saturday 25^th April could well now end up being a title decider if Larkhall Athletic Development win their game in hand over the leaders next week when they entertain Pewsey Vale at the Plain Ham.

Swindon Supermarine Development’s chances of pipping Shrewton to the title were ended on Saturday when they were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Letcombe, this despite Letcombe ending the game with just nine men. The two dropped points and results elsewhere meant Swindon Supermarine fell from second place in the table down to third place. 

The result that caused that displacement was Larkhall Athletic Development’s 4-1 win away at Wroughton in another game that saw the visitors end the game with nine men following the sending off of two Larkhall players, both players picking up two yellow cards. The first half was a tense affair as players from both sides struggled to adapt to the strong wind. Ben Wickens and James Okell both had early chances for visitors Larkhall but the game was largely contained to the midfield and the two sides turned round at the break with the game still awaiting the first goal. The second half was a much more open affair, Larkhall encouraged by the half time scores elsewhere, came out with real intent. Two minutes into the second half they made the breakthrough, a cushioned pass from Wickens allowing James Horrocks to fire home. Two minutes later Wickens went from provider to scorer, running through and forcing the ball home off a Wroughton defender for 2-0. Wroughton sought to get back into the game and managed to reduce the arrears on the hour mark, a lovely left foot half volley from Matty Horsell making it 2-1. However, it didn’t take the visitors long to restore their two-goal cushion, as five minutes later Arlo Stone got on the end of a Horrocks flick on from a long throw to make it 3-1. Twenty minutes from time Larkhall found themselves down to ten men as substitute James Payton, who had been on the field for just 90 seconds in total, picked up two yellow cards, one for time wasting and the other for kicking the ball away. Ten minutes from time both sides were to see players sent off, Harvey Kendrick was shown two yellow cards in the space of ten seconds for something he said, and he was followed by the Wroughton’s Jamie Pidgeon for a similar offence, meaning Larkhall would have just nine men for the closing ten minutes with Wroughton also playing those closing stages without a full complement of players. Even with just nine men, Larkhall continued to threaten and Ben Wickens ran through and lobbed the keeper to make it 4-1 for the visitors to round-off results wise what had been a good afternoon for Larkhall, although they will now have to do without two of their regular players for the visit of Pewsey Vale next Saturday in a what is a must-win game.

Melksham Town Reserves lost ground on Shrivenham in the battle for fourth place when they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development, Jack Smith getting the goal for Melksham, his fifth for his new club since joining Melksham from Calne Town Reserves, and Max Spackman with the reply for the visitors who became the second side this season, after Trowbridge Town, to complete their Premier Division fixtures.  

Pewsey Vale moved above Letcombe into sixth place in the table with a narrow 2-1 home win over Purton Kingsdown, Josh Fowler bagging goal number 27 of the season to go clear at the top of the Premier Division goal scoring chart and a goal from distance from Ollie Morris for the other Pewsey goal, Ollie While with his eleventh of the season in reply for Purton Kingsdown.

Pewsey Vale's Josh Fowler seen here in action against Devizes Town Res earlier in the season who took his goal tally for the season to 27 on Saturday with one in the 2-1 win over Purton Kingsdown (picture courtesy of David Giles)

Max Spackman who scored for Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev in their 1-1 draw with Melksham Town Reserves

There were two important games at the bottom end of the Premier Division table. Down Ampney did their chances of survival the power of good by winning 2-0 at home against bottom side Calne Town Reserves to open up a four-point gap over Wroughton with both sides having three games still to play. On target for Down Ampney in what was their third straight win were Connor Hibbs and Jake Collis, the latter getting his fifth goal in just six appearances for Down Ampney.

The other game impacting the bottom was at Tucker Park where Faringdon Town entertained Park United who, like the home side, were battling to avoid the drop. Faringdon had been sucked into the relegation battle after failing to win in their previous five games but knew a win against Park United would be enough to guarantee their survival in what was their final game of the season. It was to prove to be a game of multiple chances at both ends of the pitch and it was surprising that there was just the one goal scored in the first half. It went the way of Faringdon, Liam Hares heading home after the ball was knocked back across the box from a corner kick. The second half once again saw plenty of chances at both ends and Park United got themselves back on level terms when Jamie Cunning smashed home a volley from just outside the 18-yard box giving the Faringdon keeper no chance. It remained all square with both sides pushing for a winner moving into the closing stages of the game. It would be Faringdon who eventually got themselves back in front with a stunning strike from Jack Moss, controlling the ball on the edge of the left-hand side of the 18-yard box, his second touch on the turn saw him fire an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net to give Faringdon a 2-1 lead. Faringdon made sure of all three points with a third from Morgan Watts, from a similar position to Moss’s goal he hit a low shot that looked to be going straight to the Park keeper but unfortunately for the keeper it bounced just in front of him and went under his dive and into the back of the net for 3-1 with Faringdon becoming the third side to complete their fixtures. The win for Faringdon Town confirmed their Premier Division status for another season and they certainly will not have to rely on any reprieve this season, their first season under new manager Josh Forth. Park United remain under the threat of relegation though with just the one game to go, a difficult looking away trip to Melksham Town Reserves and they could yet see both Wroughton and Down Ampney overtake them in the table if those two sides win their games in hand. Your Sport Swindon were at Faringdon with their cameras and subscribers can view the highlights by clicking on the Your Sport Swindon logo below.

The Fountain Trophies Cup

In midweek the second semi final in this season’s Fountain Trophies Cup final had taken place under the floodlights at the Meads of Melksham Community Football Stadium as Melksham Town Reserves took on near neighbours Calne Town Reserves. Whilst they have struggled in the league all season, Calne have saved their best performances for this competition, knocking out the two Shrivenham sides and also Trowbridge Town on their way to the semi-final. Whilst 12 places and 41 points separated the two sides in the league table ahead of the game, Calne Town Reserves once again pushed one of the leading sides in the division all the way, twice coming from behind to send the tie to penalties after it finished 2-2. Aron Byfield had given home side Melksham a 1-0 lead, but youngster Alex Greenouff restored parity with just 14 minutes gone. Matthew Purdy then restored Melksham’s lead five minutes later and it would remain 2-1 to the home side until 14 minutes from time when Greenouff bagged his second of the game with what proved to be the end of the scoring in normal time, meaning penalties would be needed to settle matters. It was the home side Melksham who held their nerve from the spot to progress to the final where they will meet Larkhall Athletic Development, in what will be a repeat of the Season 2023-24 Cup Final which Melksham won 2-0. Full details of this season's cup competition are shown below:

Division One

With some teams having already completed their fixtures there were three games played this week in Division One of the Corsham Print Wiltshire League two of which involved sides looking to try and overhaul Bishops Cannings to claim runners-up spot. On Wednesday night fourth placed Malmesbury Victoria Development entertained Marlborough Town, the side who sat just above them in the table. Come the end of the evening it was as you were at the start of the game as the two sides shared six goals and the points. For home side Malmesbury there was two for Joe Liddington and one for Robin Collier, whilst the Marlborough Town goals were scored by Riley Bailey, Jake Farrell and Max Sweetlove, with Malmesbury ending the game with ten men after Ciaran Lyons was sent off for two yellow cards. The two dropped points for Malmesbury mean that, whilst they can still catch Bishops Cannings by winning all of their four remaining games, they will have to also score plenty of goals in doing so, as Bishops Cannings have a 23 goals better goal difference.

The other team who can catch Bishops Cannings, Bradford Town Reserves, were in action on Saturday and were also involved in a close encounter with Purton Kingsdown Reserves. Harry Ledbury gave Bradford Town the lead in the first half, but Purton Kingsdown got themselves back on level terms early in the second half. Corey Pugh then restored the lead for Bradford Town and Kye Teague then gave them a two-goal cushion with a third. Purton Kingsdown pulled one back but a second of the game from Ledbury from the penalty spot put Bradford Town Reserves 4-2 up. Purton Kingsdown Reserves once again reduced the deficit but there was to be no equaliser as Bradford Town Reserves avoided conceding again to run out 4-3 winners to claim the three vital points. On target for Purton Kingsdown Reserves were Harry Daviews, Finn Broadbank and Josh Atwell. The win for Bradford Town Reserves saw them move above both Malmesbury Vics Development and Marlborough Town into third spot with four games to play. If Bradford Town win all four they can overhaul Bishops Cannings but have both Malmesbury and Marlborough Town to play in their next two games, starting with a visit from Malmesbury in midweek.

The other game played on Saturday saw Kintbury Rangers Reserves record their biggest win of the season as they put ten unanswered goals past Stratton. Aidan Maycock led the way with a hat-trick, both Journey Waters and Chalie Allsop bagged a brace, with further goals from Daniel Wyles, Bobby Canning and Muzi Mpofu. The win for Kintbury saw them climb one place in the table to tenth spot, moving above Pewsey Vale Development on goal difference.