Cricklade Town - Vets' League Cup Winners Season 2025-26

League Cup Final

Last Monday saw the final of the Veterans’ League Cup at Calne Town FC, and it was an all-North Wiltshire Division affair between this season’s league champions Nationwide and Cricklade Town, the previous league champions, and the winners of the Wiltshire FA County Cup which they won for the second consecutive season last month. Cricklade are also still involved in the battle for runners-up this season behind Nationwide.

On the way to the final, both finalists had a bye in the First Round in this season’s competition due to where they finished in the league the previous season.

In the Second Round both teams had tough looking fixtures. Nationwide were up against Durrington from the Mid Wiltshire Division in what was a repeat of last season’s League Cup final. Nationwide avenged that Season 2024-25 cup final defeat with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Neil Snow and Mason Worthington which made that long journey to the south of the county worthwhile. Cricklade Town meanwhile were up against Penhill United, a team they would end up playing four times during the season, with the two sides making it through to the final of the Wiltshire County FA Veterans’ County Cup. In the League Cup Cricklade ran out comfortable 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Stuart Hughes, Adam Smith and Dean Wilson, but there were to be much closer affairs in the three other meetings. 

Both Nationwide and Cricklade were to then have comfortable wins at the Quarter Final stage. Cricklade Town again won 3-0 against North Wiltshire Division opponents in the shape of ExIntel. On target for Cricklade were Nick Craft, Marcus Hall and Ben Snook. Nationwide meanwhile scored five without reply in their tie against Calne Town from the Mid Wiltshire Division, Richie Miles helping himself to a hat-trick with further goals coming through Adam Devine and Simon Olding.  

These results set up two inter-divisional semi-finals involving what at the time were the top two teams from each division, with the two divisional leaders, Nationwide and Devizes Town playing each other, with the two sides sat second in the table, Melksham Town and Cricklade Town meeting in the other semi-final. Both games were tight affairs settled by a one goal margin, Cricklade Town beating Melksham Town on their own ground 1-0 thanks to a goal from Nick Craft and Nationwide defeating Devizes Town 2-1, again on their own patch, Adam Rudman and Richie Miles with the goals which set up the all-North Wiltshire Division final. For Nationwide this was their third consecutive League Cup final having beaten Westbury United back in Season 2023-24 when playing as Coate, as well as suffering that cup final defeat last season at the hands of Durrington.

As expected, the final was another close game, with two of the best veteran’s sides in the county producing a high-quality match which was played in a sporting manner throughout. 0-0 at the break, Cricklade Town got themselves in front early in the second half, leading scorer Sam Collier heading home from a corner. It was from another such corner that Cricklade then extended their lead, the corner flicking off Chris Greenough with Ben Brown being credited with the final touch that saw the ball end up in the back of the Nationwide net. Cricklade then had a golden chance to extend their lead, Nick Craft squaring to Stuart Hughes, but he was unable to find the back of the net. At the other end, Nationwide’s best chance fell to their leading scorer Adam Rudman but he saw his effort turned around the post by Cricklade keeper Dion Titcombe. A well marshalled back line then saw Cricklade see out the remaining minutes of the second half without conceding to win the cup for the second time, having won the inaugural League Cup competition back in Season 2021-22. The winners and runners-up trophies and the cup were presented by League Chairman Brian Busson and League Secretary Jim Thorn. Well done to Cricklade on their cup success and Nationwide on making that third final in a row, although they will no doubt be disappointed that they could not complete a league and cup double this season.

To view a PDF copy of the cup final programme please click on the picture of the programme cover below:

North Wiltshire Division

Just two games were played in the North Wiltshire Veterans Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League last week with ExIntel unable to raise a side for the fourth time this season for their scheduled fixture against league champions Nationwide, the second time they have failed to fulfil the Nationwide fixture. The Discipline Committee will decide whether the game needs to be rescheduled, or the points awarded given the limited time left until the season end.

The two games that were played saw Purton Kingsdown win their tenth game of the season defeating Stratton 4-1. Unfortunately, the game had to be brought to an early end due to a broken leg suffered by Purton Kingsdown player Rory Sproule and all at the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League wish him a speedy recovery.

The other game played saw Redhouse complete their league fixtures with a narrow 2-1 win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town thanks to goals from Jason Milhench and David Pratt, Chris Head with his 14^th of the season with the Royal Wootton Bassett Town goal. The win for Redhouse saw them move into second spot three points clear of Cricklade Town who have one game to play against Purton Kingsdown which is scheduled for this coming Tuesday. If Cricklade win then a play-off will be needed for runners-up spot in the divison.  

Mid Wiltshire Division

There top two in the Mid Wiltshire Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League both got to play their games this last week and both were involved in tight affairs against their respective opponents, with both eventually securing all three points courtesy of single goal margin victories. Devizes Town were away to Radstock Town and a solitary second half goal from Tom Slater was all that separated the two sides as Devizes Town made it 15 league wins from 15 games to maintain their six-point lead over Melksham Town at the top of the table.

Melksham Town maintained their own title chances with a 2-1 away win at Warminster Town thanks to two goals from Daniel King, Chris Steele with the Warminster reply. This coming Thursday sees Melksham Town travel to Devizes knowing nothing less than a win will do if they are to have any chance of denying Devizes the league title. If they win and defeat Radstock Town in their other outstanding game a play-off would again be needed this time for the league title.