Premier Division

Sky Sports may have their Super Sunday, but Saturday was something of a Super Saturday in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League as the top two teams, Shrewton United and Larkhall Athletic Development, went head-to-head for the league title and, in the case of Larkhall Athletic Development, with potential promotion also at stake. Shrewton United had led the table all season but nine straight wins in the league for Larkhall Athletic Development had seen Larkhall move to within just two points of the leaders ahead of the showdown between the two on Saturday. Unfortunately, a failed ground grading meant Shrewton would be unable to be promoted back to Step 6 of the National League System where they had spent ten seasons between 2003-04 and 2012-13.  Larkhall knew they must win if they were to secure the league title and guarantee promotion to Step 6. A draw would give Shrewton the title and Larkhall would then be susceptible to being overtaken by Swindon Supermarine Development if Supermarine won their final game of the season away to Wroughton in the battle for runners-up spot. With that failed ground grading for Shrewton that second place is expected be enough to give the team promotion to Step 6 depending on ground grading outcomes.

On a warm sunny afternoon Shrewton started on the front foot putting Larkhall under pressure early on with a series of long throws and set pieces into the box looking to utilise the aerial power of Jack Vallis and Josh Moore. The best chance in the opening exchanges came from one such throw in, the ball was flicked-on by Vallis finding the feet of Moore in front of goal on the edge of the six-yard box, but he failed to connect properly and find the back of the net.  However, an assistants’ flag meant the goal would have been disallowed for an offside even if he had put the ball away. Larkhall weathered the early storm and began to look dangerous going forward themselves. James Horrocks headed wide, before James Okell shot just wide of the far post when well placed. Larkhall continued to press and Ben Riccio then saw his volley blocked as the visitors pushed hard for the opener.  Larkhall then went close five minutes before half time, Ben Wickens seeing his header strike the top of the crossbar. The deadlock was finally broken in injury time at the end of the half, and the breakthrough went Shrewton’s way somewhat against the run of play. It was no surprise that the goal came from another of those dangerous set-pieces, yet another long throw causing confusion in the Larkhall defence, hitting a defender and bouncing into the net with a Larkhall defender on the line trying to keep the ball out with a hand and luckily for him, in a way, that the ball had already crossed the line else Larkhall could have been playing the whole of the season half with ten men.

Larkhall Ath Dev putting the Shrewton goal under pressure in the first half

Shrewton United take the lead just before half time thanks to an own goal following one of many dangerous long throws.

The second half continued to be a tight affair with limited clear-cut chances being created at either end, with the game largely contained to a midfield battle. Shrewton sat deep and Larkhall struggled to penetrate against a well-marshalled experienced Shrewton backline.  With time running out, Larkhall threw men forward which left gaps which Shrewton sought to exploit on the break. One such break came five minutes from time, a quick ball out of defence found Tom Plank down the right flank, he ran at the Larkhall defence, twisting and turning before beating the final defender who caught him bringing him down in the box with a penalty awarded. The experienced Justin Bennett took responsibility for the penalty and fired into the bottom left corner of the net giving Kit Bond in the Larkhall goal no chance to make it 2-0 to Shrewton. Despite the setback Larkhall continued to try and get back into the game and pulled one back a few minutes later, James Horrocks getting on the end of an Arlo Stone cross from a free kick to head home to make it 2-1.  Larkhall continued to push for an equaliser with Cameron Miller in the Shrewton goal making two late saves, but the home side defended well to avoid conceding again to secure the win and the league title. The final whistle saw mass jubilation from the home sides players, management and supporters with Shrewton having finally got over the line in what had turned into an enthralling title race that had gone right down to the wire. Shrewton United were presented with the league winners’ trophy and medals by League Chairman Brian Busson. It was fitting that captain Charlie Utterson was joined by Bridget, the daughter of former Shrewton manager and chairman Stuart Withers so tragically killed whilst on his milk round in November 2024, in receiving the winner’s trophy. Congratulations to manager George Plank and his players on winning the title, this is the fourth time Shrewton have lifted the trophy, the last occasion being back in Season 2002-03. Commiserations to Larkhall for just falling short and their day was made worse with the news coming through from Wroughton that they had been pipped for runners-up spot. They will now look to bounce back a week on Saturday when they look to win the Fountain Trophies Cup for the second time when they take on Melksham Town Reserves in the final at Devizes Town. More photos from this game will be on the League Facebook Group Page in due course.

Larkhall Ath Dev keeper Kit Bond fails to get to Justin Bennett's penalty as Shrewton United went 2-0 up

James Horrocks pulls one back for Larkhall with a header from a free kick

Swindon Supermarine Development’s final game of the season involved a short trip across town to take on Wroughton in game which had ramifications for both sides in terms of their seasons. For Swindon Supermarine a win would mean they could finish runners-up if Larkhall failed to beat Shrewton, whilst Wroughton needed three points to give them a chance of getting out of the relegation zone if results elsewhere went their way. It started well for Wroughton as they took the lead within two minutes of the start through Jordan Cobb. The lead did not last long through as Jed Afenyo had Supermarine back level with just seven minutes gone. Leading scorer Tom Phillips then doubled the Supermarine lead midway through the half as Supermarine went into the half time break holding a slender one goal lead. No doubt buoyed by the news coming through from Shrewton, Supermarine came out for the second half fired up and a storming display saw them score four unanswered goals to run out 6-1 winners. Ryan Alexander made it 3-1 just after the half hour mark. Rowan Doyle then scored a fourth for the visitors and then two further goals right at the end of the game through Alexander, with his second of the game, and Rhys Simpkins gave the final score line amore emphatic look to it. We now await to see if the FA confirm Swindon Supermarine Development’s promotion in what has been a massively successful first season at Feeder League level for Matt Roberts and his young side.

Ryan Alexander who scored twice for Swindon Supermarine Dev in their 6-1 win away at Wroughton

Tom Phillips who took his adjusted goals total for the season to 20 with one in Swindon Supermarine Dev's 6-1 win

In the week Letcombe had announced that manager Luke Stone was stepping down at the end of the season. He could yet depart with a second top five finish in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League as his side won 3-0 on Saturday at home to Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves with the player-manager getting his name on the score sheet. Kyle Cross put Letcombe 1-0 up at the break and they doubled their lead when Kieran Kerby dispossessed the Bemerton keeper to slot the ball into an empty net for 2-0. Stone then added the third, adjudged to have got the last touch following a corner, to round off a good afternoon for his side. The win for Letcombe saw them move above Melksham Town Reserves into fifth place with both sides having the one game to play, Letcombe at home to Pewsey Vale next Saturday, whilst Melksham Town Reserves travel to Down Ampney the same day.

Whilst the focus was very much on the top end of the table there were also some other important games at the bottom end of the table with teams looking to secure points to guarantee their safety, although with hindsight the Wroughton defeat meant they would have been safe anyway. There was an early midday kick-off for Melksham Town Reserves game against Park United with Melksham also staging what was a title decider for the Trowbridge & District involving their development side. Park United went into the game knowing that a win would guarantee their Premier Division status for another season. It didn’t start well for Park as Melksham went ahead on 16 minutes through Jack Smith, his sixth goal for Melksham since joining from Calne Town Reserves, and they nearly doubled their lead a minute later with an identical move, but on this occasion the effort hit the crossbar, and it remained 1-0. Park's first real chance of the game came on the half hour mark, a free kick was brilliantly saved by the Melksham keeper, the shot being turned round the post for a corner. However, from the resulting corner parity was restored when Jamie Norman headed home for 1-1. Park had much the better of things in the second half as they pushed for a second and the win which would guarantee their safety. After several good chances, and with time running out they were to finally get that second goal ten minutes from time, Jamie Cunning getting on the end of a low cross into the box to fire home to give Park United a vital win that saw them climb to 12^th spot.

Down Ampney were also looking to secure their Premier Division status and had a tough looking home game against Pewsey Vale. It was to prove to be a good afternoon for the home side as they won for the fourth time in their last five games to ensure their Premier Division status with one game still to play, with that visit from Melksham Town Reserves next Saturday. On target for Down Ampney were George Bailey with two and Leon Morrison, Rory Selick with both the Pewsey Vale goals. The win for Down Ampney saw them move above Purton Kingsdown in the table into 13^th place and a win next week would see them end in 11^th spot in their first season back in the Premier Division after a lengthy absence.

Division One

In midweek Malmesbury Vics Development had kept alive their chances of finishing in third spot with a convincing 5-0 home win over Stratton. It was a good evening for Sam Parker who scored four of the Malmesbury goals to take his total for the season to 19, the other Malmesbury goal scorer was substitute Josh Hughes. The win saw Malmesbury climb above Bradford Town Reserves into that third place in the table ahead of their final game of the season on Saturday against Purton Kingsdown Reserves.

Unfortunately for Malmesbury they were unable to repeat that victory in their final game at home against Purton Kingsdown Reserves on Saturday, the two sides sharing the points following a 1-1 draw, Finn Broadbank scoring for the visitors and Robin Collier with the Malmesbury goal from the penalty spot.

Bradford Town Reserves went into their game on Saturday away to Pewsey Vale Development knowing they still had a mathematical but very unlikely chance of displacing second in the table Bishops Cannings due to their inferior goal difference. If they could win their two remaining games and score a hatful of goals, they could overhaul Bishops Cannings to take second place. They did get the win on Saturday, but it was to be by the narrowest of margins, a solitary strike from Kye Teague giving them the three points in a 1-0 win. With Malmesbury dropping those two points against Purton Kingsdown Reserves it meant that the win saw Bradford Town Reserves move back above Malmesbury in the table to seal promotion to the Premier Division. Whilst they still have a mathematical chance of overhauling Bishops Cannings they would need to win their final game by a 24-goal margin, which is somewhat unrealistic.

The other game on Saturday saw Shrivenham Development maintain their chance of a top six finish with a 2-0 home win over Faringdon Town Development thanks to goals from Ruben Lewis and Josh Seller. Shrivenham currently sit in eighth place with one more game to play, which is next Saturday at home to Redhouse. If they win that game, they would move above Redhouse and also Purton Kingsdown Reserves to claim that sixth place.

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