Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
 Trowbridge & Larkhall Drop Points,
First Win of Season for Marlborough

    Action from Devizes Town's 8-2 win over Melksham Town Res (picture courtesy of Simon Lawrence)

League leaders Trowbridge Town were looking to make it a perfect dozen when they entertained fifth placed Kintbury Rangers at The Daykin Estates Ground this afternoon. Although Trowbridge went into the game having won all eleven of their previous league games, they knew that their record against Kintbury was not a good one with Trowbridge having never beaten their Berkshire opponents, indeed Kintbury had won five of the six meetings prior to this afternoon’s encounter. In a tight first half a solitary goal from Scott Baker gave Trowbridge the edge at half time, Baker getting on the end of a cross from player manager Jamie Jordan for his 15th goal of the season. Whilst both teams created chances in the second half it remained 1-0 until ten minutes from time when Liam Cusack scored an equaliser for the visitors Kintbury as it finished all square at 1-1. The first dropped points by Trowbridge Town this season and they still have yet to defeat Kintbury in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League after seven attempts.

    Scott Baker who scored Trowbridge's goal in the 1-1 draw with Kintbury Rangers

Devizes Town went into their game against Melksham Town Reserves hoping to take their number of victories this season into double figures having won nine of their opening ten games, a draw with third placed Wroughton the only dropped points so far this season. In contrast opponents Melksham had lost nine of their opening ten games but had given league leaders Trowbridge Town a tough game last Saturday and Craig Kent was hopeful that his side could do the same against the other title contenders. Unfortunately for the Melksham manager his young side were unable to match last week’s performance and in the end were beaten comfortably by an in-form Devizes side who ran our 8-2 winners. Recently signed Rhys Talmash led the way for Devizes scoring a hat-trick, there were two for both Jay Walters and Jack Baker, with a goal from Jack Hopper rounding off the scoring for Devizes. Melksham’s two goals were scored by Brandon-Lee Vincent and Cameron Pearce.

Rhys Talmash who scored a hat-trick for Devizes in their 8-2 win over Melksham, and Melksham's Cameron Pearce who scored one of the Melksham goals takes on the Devizes defence (pictures courtesy of Simon Lawrence)

Third place Pewsey Vale travelled to Bath to take on Odd Down Development looking to extend an unbeaten run that stretched to four games ahead of todays encounter, the last three of which had all been won. Pewsey had maintained a clean sheet in all four games of that unbeaten run, but they were unable to maintain that record this afternoon as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat. This was only Odd Down’s second win of the season, and it lifted them out of the bottom three at the expense of Salisbury FC Development.
Fourth placed Wroughton made the short journey to Royal Wootton Bassett looking to keep in touch with the top two. With just one defeat in their opening nine games, that away at league leaders Trowbridge, Wroughton have sent a clear message that they intend to be challenging for honours this season. After a really poor start that saw them lose all of their first five games, last season's champions Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development came into the game on an unbeaten run of five games that had seen them keep their opponents out in each of their last four fixtures. The home side went in front in the fifth minute from the penalty spot, George Lance putting the spot kick away. From then on, they relied on some dogged defensive play and a little bit of luck to extend that run of clean sheets to five games and inflict a second defeat of the season on Wroughton. Wroughton clearly do not enjoy their visits to the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground as that is their third consecutive defeat at their opponent’s ground. It will be interesting to see if Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development can maintain their recent defensive record next week when they travel to high flying Devizes Town.

  George Lance whose penalty gave RWBT Dev all three points against Wroughton (picture courtesy of Carlos Green)

Calne Town Reserves started the day in sixth spot in the table looking to close the gap to the five sides above them with a win away at bottom of the table Marlborough Town. Marlborough had given a good account of themselves in the Wiltshire Senior Cup in midweek (see below) and had also secured a point away at Calne back in August in the first meeting between the two sides but were still looking for their first win of the season. In the return game the two sides served up a seven goal thriller with Marlborough edging it by the odd goal to register that first win. On target for Marlborough were Harry Womersley who bagged a brace, Jake Farrell on his return to the club he served so well in the past, and Dan Burke. Kian Fulford scored twice for Calne, taking his total for the season to five, with the third Calne goal coming courtesy of an own goal. The win for Marlborough lifted them off the bottom of the table.
After a fantastic start to the season that had seen them win four and draw one of their opening five games in August, Frome Collegians’ season had started to come off the rails with four straight defeats in the league coupled with an exit from the Somerset Senior Cup. In an effort to halt the slide manager Karl Freeman had signed Liam Milburn from Westbury United Reserves who made his debut in their away game at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium against Salisbury FC Development. It was visitors Frome who got themselves in front on 20 minutes, Morgan Marsh heading in at the back post from a Max Biddiscombe cross to make it 1-0 to Frome. The same player then doubled the visitors lead just after the hour mark. Frome went close to extending their lead further five minutes later but Jack Newman’s effort came back off the frame of the goal. There was to be no further goals as Frome saw out the closing stages without conceding to record their first win since the 27th of August and move up one place in the table into sixth spot.

Morgan Marsh who scored both goals for Frome Collegians in their 2-0 away win at Salisbury FC Dev

The final game in the Premier Division was at Shrewton Recreation Ground where Shrewton United’s visitors were Blunsdon, the divisions draw specialists who had drawn five of their opening ten fixtures ahead of today’s first ever meeting with Shrewton. There would be no addition to the list of drawn games as it was to very much be the visitor’s day, with striker Eliot Wheatley having a particularly good afternoon being involved in all Blunsdon’s goals. The opening goal came when a one-two between Wheatley and Ben Hillerby down the right-hand side saw Hillerby score to make it 1-0 to Blunsdon. The visitors then extended their lead when Wes Britten headed in from a Wheatley corner. Wheatley then went from provider to scorer, netting from the penalty spot after Danny Hale had won the penalty for Blunsdon. Wheatley’s enjoyable afternoon in the South of the County continued as he then scored Blunsdon’s fourth, Danny Hale with the assist. Wheatley rounded-off his afternoon’s work with a hat-trick goal after being set up by Sean Creeley as Blunsdon ran out 5-0 winners to climb a place in the table to seventh spot.

  Eliot Wheatley who was involved in all five Blunsdon goals in their 5-0 win over Shrewton United

There was a full round of fixtures in Division 1 with the top match of the day being the meeting between league leaders Ludgershall Sports and Larkhall Athletic, the latter going into today’s game with a 100% winning record, with three wins out of three. Whatever the result, with a six-point lead at the top at the start of the day, Ludgershall knew that they would still be top of the table come five o’clock, but the chasing pack are now a little closer after the two sides shared four goals and the points. It started well for Ludgershall, Adam Campbell heading the home side in front from a corner with his fourth goal of the season. However, Larkhall got themselves back on level terms and then went in front for the first time in the game, the two Larkhall goals coming from Kyle Norris and Harvey Kendrick. It looked like Larkhall would maintain that 100% winning start to the season but Ludgershall had other ideas and ensured the points would be shared when a cross from Ben Wyatt beat the Larkhall keeper to level matters up at 2-2 and the two sides had to settle for a point each. The point for Larkhall was enough to see them climb into third place in the table, with games in hand over the top two.

  Larkhall Athletic Development who dropped their first points of the season in the 2-2 draw with Ludgershall Sports

Devizes Town Reserves and Kingsdown Lions were both hoping to close the gap to the leaders when they met at Nursteed Road this afternoon.  Whilst Kingsdown generally had the better of things the game was ultimately decided by an own goal in Kingsdown’s favour, the Swindon side coming away with all three points despite being down to ten men for the final 20 minutes. The win saw them climb into second spot in the table five points behind Ludgershall Sports but with three games in hand.
The final game of the weekend in Division 1 saw the bottom two teams at the start of the day up against each other when Purton made the journey to Kintbury Recreation Ground to play Kintbury Rangers Development. A storming first half from the home side saw them lead 4-0 at the break thanks to two goals from Lloyd Ponsford, one from Ben Luckett and an own goal. Purton had a much improved second half and pulled one back through player manager Andrew Philpott, but Philpott’s side are still looking for their first points of the season as it finished 4-1 to Kintbury who moved level on points with Devizes Town Reserves, some eight points ahead of today’s beaten opponents Purton.

League Tables

Leading Scorers

Results & Next Week's Fixtures

Wiltshire Senior Cup

First Round & Second Round Draw

Two of the Premier Division sides were involved in the Wiltshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night but unfortunately it was not a good night for the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League as both Trowbridge Town and Marlborough Town exited the competition at the First Round stage. Trowbridge were away to Step 6 side Calne Town who play in the Uhlsport Hellenic League and fell behind on 23 minutes, Charlie Norman heading in at the back post from a free kick to make 1-0 to Calne. Trowbridge remained in the game and pushed hard for an equaliser, creating a number of chances, but the game was finally put beyond them three minutes from time, Josh Bright firing into the top left-hand corner of the net for 2-0.

Marlborough Town travelled to the Flying Monk to take on another Uhlsport Hellenic League side, Malmesbury Victoria. Marlborough, without a win in the league ahead of the game, gave a good account of themselves against their higher league opponents, eventually going down 5-2. After going 2-0 down, Marlborough pulled one back just before half time and then got themselves back on level terms from the penalty spot five minutes after the restart. However, three unanswered goals from the home side Malmesbury eventually saw off the spirited effort from Marlborough.
The scheduled game between Pewsey Vale and Shrewton United was postponed due to floodlight issues at Pewsey and the game will now be played on Saturday 29th October when the two sides were scheduled to meet each other in the league at Pewsey.
Including Pewsey and Shrewton, four Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League sides remain in the competition although it will become three once that First Round tie between Pewsey and Shrewton is completed. The Wiltshire FA have already made the draw for the quarter finals which sees Devizes Town travel to Wessex League side Downton, whilst Wroughton will be home to the winner of the Pewsey Vale v Shrewton United game guaranteeing the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League at least one semi-finalist. The full draw and results in the First Round is shown below:
15 October 2022
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