Purton gave a good account of themselves in difficult circumstances last night when they lost narrowly to Western League Division One side Devizes Town in the final outstanding First Round tie in the prestigious Wiltshire Senior Cup. Purton have won the cup on seven previous occasions, the last triumph coming in 1994-94, but there is be no repeat of that cup win this season. The home side Devizes Town took the lead in the tie on 12 minutes, Jordan Anning putting Alistair Bradley through one on one with the Purton keeper and the Devizes player made no mistake to make it 1-0. Purton immediately pushed for an equaliser and went close on a couple of occasions. Meanwhile at the other end Samuel Dodds also went close to extending the Devizes lead. Already missing a number of key players, including George Drewitt, Will Backhouse and Tom McCulloch, Purton's cause was not helped when skipper Steven Keir was forced off injured after just 27 minutes. It remained 1-0 at the break.
In the second half Purton continued to push for an equaliser and went close on a number of occasions. Joe Dorey delivered three excellent balls into the Devizes box and Jack Duckers twice and then Chris Avery failed to take the chances that came their way from the Dorey passes. In the end Devizes held on to that slim lead given by the goal from Bradley and progress to the Second Round where they will travel to meet Trowbridge Town. In the end the three First Round ties saw two wins and one defeat for Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League sides and seven teams from the league will now be involved in the round of 16 which takes place next month.
Meanwhile, Purton will now be hoping that their injured players recover in time for Saturday's big Fountain Trophies Cup First Round tie against league leaders Wroughton. Whilst Wroughton have won all ten games played so far this season, Purton are something of a bogey side for them having won three of the four meetings in the league since Purton returned to the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League.
The revised Wiltshire Senior Cup Second Round draw after last night's result is as follows:
Laverstock & Ford v New College Swindon Shrewton United v Corsham Town Holt v Malmesbury Victoria Bemerton Heath H v Ludgershall Sports Downton v Warminster Town Stratton Juniors v Wroughton Cricklade Town v Calne Town* Trowbridge Town v Devizes Town
The games are scheuled to take place on either Tuesday 12th November or Saturday 16th November where the home side does not have floodlights.
*At the time of writing Cricklade Town and Calne Town are looking to switch their tie to Calne's ground so it can be played in midweek but are awaiting confirmation that this is acceptable from the Wiltshire FA.