Premier Division

With league leaders Shrewton United without a game this weekend, focus switched to the two sides immediately below them in the table who are battling out for promotion to Step 6 with Shrewton, we understand, having failed the ground grading requirements for promotion. Larkhall Athletic Development also had the chance to line up what would be a title decider next week if they could beat Pewsey Vale, something they had not managed to do in 90 minutes in the two previous meetings this season, drawing 1-1 in the league at Pewsey and then 2-2 in the cup on Pewsey’s last visit to the Plain Ham, although Larkhall did eventually win the penalty shootout on their way to another cup final. Saturday’s encounter would finally see Larkhall get the better of Pewsey over 90 minutes. As in recent games Larkhall started the game brightly and went close early on through Arlo Stone who was put in one-on-one with the keeper but saw his chipped effort go wide of the post. The Pewsey keeper then made a fine save to deny James Okell. Larkhall continued to pressurise the Pewsey goal and Angus Williamson shot over when well-placed before Ben Riccio then saw his effort on goal smothered when it looked like he might score. The opening goal finally came on the half hour mark when a Stone corner was headed home by James Horrocks. Larkhall continued to be in the ascendency for the remainder of the half but there was just the one goal in it at half time. Pewsey came much more into the game after the restart as they went in search of an equaliser. However, Larkhall gave themselves a two-goal cushion on 55 minutes, Ben Wickens crossing for Horrocks to grab his second of the game to make it 2-0. The remainder of the game was largely contained to midfield as Larkhall were content to see out the game and secure three vital points in their quest for honours. The win sets up a mouth-watering title decider next week away to Shrewton United where Larkhall know they will need to defeat the league leaders to not only win the title but also guarantee promotion to Step 6 next season.

Meanwhile Swindon Supermarine Development found themselves trailing at half time to a goal from Tom Feest in their encounter away at Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves who are guaranteed to finish in one of the potential relegation spots. It remained 1-0 until just after the hour mark when Supermarine’s Sam Sanger got on the end of cross into the box to level matters up at 1-1. Twenty minutes from time Swindon Supermarine went in front for the first time in the game, Jamie White firing home from close range to put his side in front for what would be three vital points in their quest for promotion if it stayed that way. They then made sure of all three points two minutes from time when Rhys Simpkins, who normally plays in goal, came on and grabbed a third for the visitors with a shot from the edge of the 18-yard box. The win sees Swindon Supermarine Development remain a point behind Larkhall Athletic Development with both teams having one game to play, that game for Swindon Supermarine being a trip to the Weir Field next Saturday to play Wroughton who will also be very much in need of three points as they are fighting hard to avoid ending the season in the potential relegation zone. A win for Swindon Supermarine next week and if Larkhall fail to beat Shrewton would see Supermarine finish second and put them in pole position for promotion to Step 6.

There were two games in midweek in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League including an important game at the bottom end of the table between Wroughton and Calne Town Reserves. It would prove to be a close game decided by a solitary goal from Wroughton’s Finlei Ponting to give his side three vital points in their battle to avoid the drop. The win for Wroughton saw them move to within a point of both Down Ampney and Park United the two sides immediately above them in the table.

The other league game in midweek saw Letcombe avenge their Fountain Trophies Cup defeat last month at the hands of Melksham Town Reserves on their return to the Oakfields Stadium. Goals from Owen Shaw and Oscar Griffiths secured a 2-1 win for Letcombe which saw them move above Pewsey Vale into sixth spot and within five points of their beaten opponents with a game in hand. Tom Dowell with the Melksham Town Reserves goal.

Saturday saw both Wroughton and Letcombe looking to build on their midweek victories when they met at Bassett Road. An early goal from Jordan Davies, taking his adjusted total for the season into double figures, put Letcombe ahead. James Webster then doubled the home sides lead before Nick Craft pulled one back for Wroughton to give them hope of salvaging something from the game. Those hopes were dashed when Oscar Griffiths scored a third for Letcombe to make sure of the three points courtesy of a 3-1 win to complete a good week for his side. The two wins for Letcombe see them now just two points behind fifth placed Melksham Town Reserves as they look to secure a top five finish for the second consecutive season since joining the league. For Wroughton the defeat means they stay just below the guaranteed safety line with one game to go a tough looking fixture at home to Swindon Supermarine next Saturday with their opponents still chasing runners-up and potential promotion to Step 6.

The other game impacting the battle to avoid the drop on Saturday saw Down Ampney entertain Shrivenham at Broadleaze. The two sides turned around at the break with the game still awaiting the first goal. The deadlock was finally broken midway through the second half, Kieran Sutton who has been in a rich vein of form of late, firing visitors Shrivenham ahead with what would prove to be the only goal of the game. The win for Shrivenham in their final game of the season sees them sit in fourth place in the table with only Melksham Town Reserves now able to catch them. Melksham would need to win both their two final games against Park United and Down Ampney and also improve their goal difference by seven goals in the process to displace Shrivenham. The defeat for Down Ampney sees them still susceptible to falling below the guaranteed safety line, for now they remain one point above Wroughton with two games to play, that fixture with Melksham and another tough looking fixture against Pewsey Vale with both games at Down Ampney.

Devizes Town Reserves continued their excellent second half to the season with a 5-2 away win over bottom side Calne Town Reserves to end their season on a winning note. The two sides turned around at the break all square at 2-2 but three unanswered second half goals for Devizes saw them return home with all three points. Fin Palmer led the way for Devizes scoring a hat-trick with Harrison Sartin getting their other two goals, Darcy Garner and Ryan Flynn on target for Calne Town. The win for Devizes saw them move above Trowbridge Town to secure a mid-table finish in their first season back in the Premier Division, the best performance of any of last season's three promoted sides.

Division One

As with the Premier Division there were two games in midweek in Division One with the big game of the week being the fixture between Bradford Town Reserves and Malmesbury Vics Development, two sides who were involved in the promotion battle. A close encounter was anticipated, and it proved to be just that with a solitary goal from Finn Young giving Bradford Town Reserves all three points which meant their challenge for runners-up remained on track. The defeat for Malmesbury Vics Development though, effectively ended their chance of honours but they could still pip Bradford Town Reserves to one of the promotion spots were Bradford Town to slip up in two of their remaining three games and Malmesbury win all three of their remaining games, with both in action on Saturday.

The second game in midweek was at Kintbury where Kintbury Rangers Reserves took on Purton Kingsdown Reserves. Purton Kingsdown had won the first fixture between the two sides 2-1 back in October and they were to repeat that result in the return game, second half goals from Finn Broadbank and Joe Cameron completing a come from behind win and the league double over Kintbury. This after Jake McQuilkin, with an early strike, had given Kintbury Rangers a half time lead.

Bradford Town Reserves were back in action on Saturday in another game against a side at the top end of the division, their trip to Marlborough Town being one of three games in the division on Saturday. It did not start well for Bradford Town as they fell behind to an early goal from Marlborough Town’s Jake Farrell and it remained 1-0 at the break. Bradford Town Reserves got themselves back into the game midway through the second half, the equalising goal coming from the penalty spot, Logan Cassidy putting the spot kick away to level matters up at 1-1. Ryan Stevens then put the visitors Bradford Town in front but a late equaliser from Harry Womersley meant it finished all square at 2-2. The two dropped points for Bradford Town Reserves now mean, that whilst they can still catch second placed Bishops Cannings by winning their final two games against Pewsey Vale Development and Kintbury Rangers Reserves, but they would need to overcome a 24-goal adverse goal difference in the process, which is very unlikely.

Those two dropped points by Bradford Town Reserves meant that Malmesbury Vics Development maintained their outside chance of a top three finish if Bradford Town Reserves slip up again in those final two games with a 4-0 away win at Shrivenham Development. Goals from Sam Parker, Jasper Robinson and sixth of the season from Joe Tranter plus an own goal did the damage for Malmesbury. Malmesbury remain three points behind Bradford Town Reserves, also with two games to play at home to Stratton and Purton Kingsdown Reserves.

Redhouse still have their eyes on a top six finish, and they enhanced their chances of overtaking Purton Kingsdown Reserves with a 4-1 win away at Pewsey Vale Development thanks to a hat-trick from Nathan Barbato plus one from Luis Martins. For now Redhouse remain in seventh place one point behind Purton Kingsdown Reserves with both teams having one game to play, Purton Kingsdown with that trip to Malmesbury Vics and Redhouse with an away game at Shrivenham Dev.

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