Wroughton made it 12 straight wins in the league with a victory over visitors Marlborough Town. An early goal in the first couple of minutes from Louis O’Shea set the leaders on their way but that was to be the only goal of the first half as the visitors Marlborough prevented the league leaders playing their normal flowing football with a battling first half display. Wroughton stepped up their game after the break and in a repeat of the opening half Louis O’Shea bagged his second of the game within a couple of minutes of the re-start. Now playing some excellent flowing football Wroughton extended their lead with a goal from Aaron Maximen with a well taken finish after some neat build up play. Leading scorer Shane Hibbert, who had been quiet for most of the game, then won his side a penalty with about 15 minutes to play and the striker took the penalty himself to move his tally onto 19 for the season. In the closing stages veteran Ryan Banks pulled one back for Marlborough Town, scoring following a corner, as it finished 4-1 to Wroughton and made it a perfect dozen in the league for the leaders. Wroughton now have a big week ahead. On Tuesday night they travel to Laverstock & Ford to take on the Sydenham’s Wessex League side in the quarter final of the prestigious Wiltshire Senior Cup before a top of the table clash with Purton on Saturday at the Red House.
The sides in second and third spot, Corsham Town Reserves and Shrewton United, were both without a game giving Purton in fourth place the opportunity to break into the top three with a win at Stratton Juniors. When the sides had met at the Red House in the opening week of the season Purton had won comfortably by three goals to nil and it was a good afternoon in Swindon for the Red House side as they completed the league double over Stratton with another win by a three-goal margin. This time Purton scored four with Stratton getting just the one in reply. On target for Purton were Tom McCulloch with two, Chris Avery and recent signing Sam Ockwell, who has been with from Hellenic Premier League side Shrivenham up until now. Scott Garrett was on target for Stratton Juniors, scoring his fifth of the campaign. The win lifted Purton one place in the table into third spot, level on points with second place Corsham Town Reserves having played one more game. For Stratton they will look to end their recent run of defeats next week at Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development.
Kintbury Rangers moved to within a point of fourth placed Shrewton United with a 5-1 away win at Ludgershall Sports. The goals were shared around the team with five different scorers, Alex Smith, Callum Budd, Fabio Pinto, Danny Lachacz and Tom Mahoney all finding the net as Kintbury won for the fourth consecutive game. On target for Ludgershall was David Cotter, last season’s top scorer, who has recently re-signed for the club. Kintbury are now unbeaten in the last six ahead of another big clash at the top end of the table next week when they travel to Shrewton United. For Ludgershall Sports also a big game next week as they end the calendar year with a big local derby against Marlborough Town.
There was an entertaining game at Frome where the Collegians met Cricklade Town for the first time. Frome Collegians started well and were 2-0 up at one stage before the visitors staged a comeback to eventually win 4-3, ending a run of six straight defeats in all competitions. Jason Tatum, who had fired a hat-trick last week, was once again amongst the goals bagging a brace, the other Cricklade goals coming through Bradley Farrell and Jonathan Peachey-Score, the latter notching his 12th of the season. In reply for the Collegians, Ben Griffiths scored twice and Barry Sandquest with his seventh of the season with the other. The win lifted Cricklade Town a couple of places in the table to 9th, moving above both today’s opponents and Malmesbury Victoria Development.
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development climbed one place in the table with a narrow win over near neighbours Malmesbury Victoria Development. A goal from Royal Wootton Bassett’s Dale Richards was all that separated the side at the break. Josh Bolton then extended the home side’s lead early in the second half before Richards scored again to put the home side in command at 3-0. However, two quick goals from Jake Fortune and Mani Roper for Malmesbury, the latter scoring from the penalty spot against the side he recently left to join the Vics, meant a few anxious moments for the home side in the closing minutes but they stopped the visitors adding to their tally to run out 3-2 winners.
Melksham Town Reserves are on a good run of form of late. Going into their game against Pewsey Vale at the InfiLED Stadium they were unbeaten in five in all competitions and they extended that unbeaten run to six with a comfortable 4-1 win. Harvey Flippance moved into double figures with his 10th of the season, Dan Sibley bagged a brace with the other Melksham goal coming courtesy of Seth Wain. Craig Simmons replied for Pewsey, scoring for the second consecutive week following his transfer from Marlborough Town.
The scheduled game between Trowbridge Town and Holt was postponed.