Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
Premier Division Preview Season 2019-20
No. 8 - Melksham Town Res & Holt FC
With the new 2019-20 Season almost upon us, we look forward to the new season with a brief look at each of the teams in the Premier Division for Season 2019-20. The preview is based on pre-season discussions with the respective team managers as they look forward to the coming season. The final two featured teams are Melksham Town Res and new side Holt FC, last seasons champions of the Trowbridge & District League.
Melksham Town Res
Picture courtesy of Martin Pearce
Season 2018-19 Position
Melksham Town Res nearly matched Corsham Town Res’ achievement of going the whole season unbeaten in the league at their home ground last season but failed at the penultimate hurdle when title chasing Wroughton inflicted their only defeat at the InfiLED Stadium. Melksham Town Res had started the season in style with four straight wins and remained in the title race until the closing stages of the season, but a series of draws and that loss to Wroughton in their final five games saw them eventually finish in fourth place. They suffered somewhat at the end of the season from the upheaval caused by the departure of their first team manager.
In the Dugout
David Macey is another manager in charge for his second season. He will be assisted this coming season by Chris Carr.

David’s Aspirations for Coming Season
With the first team being in the Southern League and the facilities at Melksham being a big attraction for any player, David noted that the club expect to be in the top 6 each season. Based on their home form last season David commented that if his side had replicated that form on their travels they would have been in the top two. The problem last season was not only the loss of players to the first team at the end of the season, but also getting some of the more experienced players to travel away with the side. The side is being re-built for the coming season with an emphasis on young hungry players who are looking to progress to the first team and David hopes his new look side will improve on that away form this season.

Who Does David Expect to be Title Challengers?
The sides in and around Swindon, like Purton and Wroughton look strong and Shrewton United are always tough opponents with whom Melksham always have a good battle. Like a number of managers David commented that the league looks a lot stronger this coming season.

Key Summer Signings
Melksham have signed a number of promising youngsters ahead of the season. Harvey Flippance, who made 15 appearances for Pewsey Vale in the Hellenic League last season, has joined along with Conner McKay who spent last season with Warminster Town in the Western league where he hit six goals in 21 appearances. Another youngster that David expects to do well this season is Dan Sibley. Melksham have also secured the services of former Westbury striker Otis Young (pictured below), who was top scorer for Holt FC last season in their title triumph in the Trowbridge & District league with 23 goals.
Picture courtesy of Martin Pearce
Games David is Most Looking Forward To
The local derby games against Corsham Town Res and Trowbridge Town plus the games with Shrewton United which, as noted above, are always a good battle.

Bogey Side
Wroughton are the side who Melksham seem to struggle against with just three wins in the last 12 league fixtures between the sides.

Pre-Season
Melksham opened their pre-season with a 0-0 draw against Western league side Devizes Town. A 3-2 win over the Reserve team of Wessex League side Shaftesbury followed. The only defeat for Melksham in pre-season cane at the hands of Western League Corsham Town, the other two pre-season games seeing comfortable wins over local opposition in Marshfield (5-0) and Bromham (6-0).

Opening Fixtures
Melksham open away at Ludgershall before having four home games which, if they can replicate their home form from last season, is likely to see them off to a good start to the season. The full month’s fixtures are:

Sat 17-08-2019 Ludgershall Sports (A)
Tue 20-08-2019 Trowbridge Town (H)
Sat 24-08-2019 Purton (H)
Tue 27-08-2019 Corsham Town Res (H)
Sat 31-08-2019 Malmesbury Vics Dev (H)
Holt FC
Picture courtesy of Steve Green
Season 2018-19 Position
Holt were re-formed in Season 2017-18 in the Trowbridge & District League but can trace their bloodline back to the early days of football in Wiltshire when a side from Holt were the first to be formed in Wiltshire back in 1864.  The side from Holt were the fourth oldest side registered with the Football Association, registering a year after the oldest club in the country, Notts County. The current century has seen sides from Holt playing on both Saturday and Sundays come and go but the latest incarnation had a very successful first season in the Trowbridge & District League in Season 2017-18, winning the Division 2 title and gaining promotion to the top division. This early success was followed last season by another championship winning season as they took the Division 1 title in style, finishing six points clear of second placed Freshford United and losing just two league games all season. Holt will play their games at Westbury United’s ground this coming season.

In the Dugout
Dan Mercer who took his side to that Trowbridge & District League title last season will be back in the dugout this coming season.

Aspirations for Coming Season
Holt are very much an unknown quantity to their opponents this coming season and the manager himself also does not know how they will fare but feels that any village side which enters Wiltshire Senior football deserves to be respected and will surprise a few of the top sides this coming season.

Who Does Dan Expect to be Title Challengers?
No view was given on title challengers.

Key Summer Signings
Dan has a loyal group of players who have stayed after last season’s title winning season, but he has lost one key player in top scorer Otis Young, who scored 23 goals last season, and who has joined Melksham Town. Dan himself has made some shrewd signings with Wiltshire League experience including Sean Brereton, who hit 12 goals for Westbury Utd Res in Season 2017-18. He has also signed a number of Westbury United players on dual registration from his Western league landlords, with Jamie Jordan, Jordan Pinder, Lewis Porter, Daniel Price and Mark Robinson all signing for Holt in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League.
Action from Holt's pre-season friendly against Royal W.Bassett Town Dev, pictures courtesy of Steve Green
Games Most Looking Forward To
The local derby games against Trowbridge Town and Frome Collegians will clearly be the big ones for Holt.

Bogey Side
Yet to be ascertained.

Pre-Season
Holt’s pre-season results have improved as the start of the season has got closer. They started with three 4-1 defeats at the hands of Gillingham Town from the Dorset Premier League, Heytesbury from the Trowbridge & District League and Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev from our own league, before securing a 3-3 draw against Frome Town Sports. They picked up their first win in pre-season when they defeated Paragon United 2-0 in a recent game.

Opening Fixtures
Holt open with the visit of last season’s champions Wroughton and also play much fancied Purton and Shrewton United in their opening fixtures in what looks a tough opening month. The full month’s fixtures are:

Sat 17-08-2019 Wroughton (H)
Tue 20-08-2019 Frome Collegians (A)
Sat 24-08-2019 Malmesbury Vics Dev (H)
Tue 27-08-2019 Shrewton United (H)
Sat 31-08-2019 Purton (A)
Wednesday 14 August 2019
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