Corsham Print
Wiltshire Senior League
 Trowbridge Win Again,
But Devizes Held by RWBT Dev

    Action from Devizes Town's 2-2 draw with Royal W. Bassett Town Dev (picture courtesy of David Giles)

 Despite the heavy rain on Friday there was a full schedule of eight games in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League this weekend with league leaders Trowbridge Town making the short journey for their local derby with Frome Collegians. When the two sides had met back at the end of August Trowbridge had edged it 3-1 and were looking to complete a league double over their near neighbours. With manager Jamie Jordan away on best man duties at a wedding he was probably as nervous as the bridegroom as he waited details of how his side were doing this afternoon and a tight first half would not have helped his nerves. It had certainly been an even first half but the decisive moment in the game came just before half time when Ben Wickens was brought down by Lawrence Ludgate outside the box when clear of the Frome defence, with Ludgate being sent off and the award of a free kick just outside the box. George Walker-Wiltshire, whose brother Max was playing for Frome, took the free kick and curled it round the wall and into the net to make it 1-0 to Trowbridge. Second half saw Trowbridge take full advantage of the extra man. Five minutes after the restart they doubled their lead through Dan Sibley. Further goals from leading scorer Ben Wickens plus a fourth of the season from Jordan Pinder made sure of the points and a happy absent manager who got to prepare for that big speech knowing his side had done well without him.

    Ben Wickens (picture courtesy of Martin Pearce) and Jordan Pinder who both scored in Trowbridge's 4-0 win over Frome

The Trowbridge manager’s afternoon was made even better with the news that nearest rivals Devizes Town had dropped points, but it could have been even better. Visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development had started their defence of the league title poorly, losing all of their opening five games. However, the appointment of Mark Simpkins has turned things around and they travelled to Devizes on the back of a six-game unbeaten run and were aiming to become only the second side to take points off Devizes this season. It was the visitors who had much the better of the first half and led 1-0 at the break thanks to a third goal of the season from Mani Mesas midway through the first half. Devizes stepped up their game after the break, but it was the visitors Royal Wootton Bassett who doubled their lead just before the hour mark, substitute Kevin Lartey scoring within moments of his introduction. It remained 2-0 until 15 minutes from time when Devizes pulled one back through Kassa Anderson and then scored again three minutes before the end of normal time, Logan Anning with the equalising goal.  Devizes went in search of a winner in a long period of added time, but the Royal Wootton Bassett Town defence held out to some away with a well-earned point against their high-flying opponents to extend that unbeaten run to seven games. For Devizes that is now 12 games unbeaten, but the dropped points mean they are now five points behind leaders Trowbridge but with a game in hand.

Devizes' Kassa Anderson (picture courtesy of David Giles) and RWBT Dev's Mani Mesas (picture Carlos Green) who both scored their sides opening goals this afternoon in the 2-2 draw

Both Wroughton and Pewsey Vale had suffered narrow 1-0 defeats last week and were looking to get their title chances back on track when they met at the Weir Field. Last season Pewsey had done the doble over Wroughton but found themselves one down after 20 minutes thanks to goal from Wroughton youngster Bertie Jaques-Matthias. Visitors Pewsey got themselves back on level terms ten minutes before the break through Wayne House, House netting his third goal of the season. Both sides created opportunities in the second half with Pewsey going the closest when they hit the woodwork but neither side were able to find the net again and had to settle for a point apiece. With results elsewhere Pewsey slipped one place in the table to fourth whilst Wroughton remained in fifth spot.
Moving above Pewsey Vale into third spot in the table are Kintbury Rangers but they were made to work hard for all three points at home against Stratton Juniors. Whilst Kintbury had the better of things in the first half, both sides created chances but the two teams turned round at the break with the game still looking for its first goal. It was a similar story after the break with both sides creating and spurning chances, but the deadlock was finally broken by Kintbury Rangers Charlie Allsop with his fourth goal of the campaign with what proved to be the only goal of the game. A good effort from the Swindon based side Stratton but they fell just short in the end. With results elsewhere Stratton dropped a couple of places in the table as a result of the defeat.

   Charlie Allsop who scored the only goal of the game in Kintbury's 1-0 win over Stratton Juniors

Blunsdon moved up to sixth spot in the table with a second consecutive win which also made it three wins in their last four games. Their latest success was a 4-1 home win over bottom of the table Melksham Town Reserves. The goals were shared around with one apiece for Sean Creeley, Harry Hillerby, Nick Craft and substitute Tyler Sheppard, Reuben Rule replying with the Melksham goal, his third for the Reserves in the Premier Division adding to the five the youngster has scored for the Under 18 Floodlit side. The win lifted Blunsdon one place in the table.
It was a good afternoon for Calne Town Reserves who recorded their biggest win of the season, and it was a particularly good afternoon for Brett Fairclough who scored four of their goals in an 8-0 win over Salisbury FC Development. Also on target for Calne were Harrison Sartin who bagged a brace, Eddie Summers and Caleb Hollow. The big win did wonders for Calne’s goal difference sending it positive as they moved up a place in the table to seventh.
There were also plenty of goals at Shrewton Recreation Ground where home side United shared nine goals with visitors Marlborough Town.  Over the 20 plus seasons that Shrewton United have spent in the Premier Division they have not only scored plenty of goals they have also always prided themselves on keeping it tight at the back, conceding on average less than 1.5 goals per game. However, it has been a different story this season with Jesse Walters identifying it as a problem with his side averaging just short of four goals conceded per game this season. A storming first half at the Recreation Ground this afternoon saw them 5-1 up at half-time Dalitso Mandson scoring four and the manager himself also getting on the score sheet. However, veteran player-manager Walters tweaked a hamstring and was forced to go off after half an hour. His presence was certainly missed in the second half as Marlborough Town came back strong against Shrewton scoring three unanswered goals to make it 5-4. Marlborough came close to scoring an equaliser and in the end fell just short of getting something out of what proved to be an entertaining game. Marlborough's goals were scored by Luke Little from the penalty spot, Keiran Maidment, George Wiley and Simon Neale. Shrewton will be hoping they can improve their defensive showing next week when they meet Pewsey Vale in the one outstanding Wiltshire Senior Cup First Round tie. 
Malmesbury Victoria Development were back in action this afternoon after a week’s break with Odd Down (Bath) Development the visitors to the Flying Monk Ground.  In a physical encounter Malmesbury went ahead in the seventh minute, centre back Rory Smith heading in from a corner. That was to be the only goal of the first half. Visitors Odd Down were back on level terms within five minutes of the restart from the penalty spot after an alleged handball in the box. Aidan Maslen put the spot kick away to make it 1-1. Malmesbury went back in front just before the hour mark. A well worked move down the left-hand side saw the ball fall to Joe Tranter who slotted home at the near post to make it 2-1 to Malmesbury. It remained tight for the remainder of the contest with Malmesbury having to play with ten men for period after Gareth Jones was sent to the sin bin. However, Odd Down were unable to take advantage of the extra man and Malmesbury held out for three valuable points that saw them move up to ninth place in the table.

Rory Smith and Joe Tranter who scored the two goals in Malmesbury's narrow 2-1 win over Odd Down development

There were just two games in Division One this week and with leaders Ludgershall Sports inactive, the chasing pack were looking to close the gap at the top of the table. Second placed Kingsdown Lions had little trouble at home against bottom side Purton. First half goals from Josh Barnfield and Harry Gillett saw Kingsdown lead 2-1 at the break and they added three more in the second half through Scott Stone, Harrison Jordan and Ollie Hunt to run out comfortable 5-1 winners. Purton's consolation goal was scored by Elliott Aberhams. Kingsdown Lions manager Adie Wilkinson noted that it could have been a lot more as his side warmed up for next week’s rescheduled Wiltshire Junior Cup tie next week against Shield & Dagger after the original tie was abandoned. The win for Kingsdown saw them move to within two points of Ludgershall at the top of the table with two games in hand.
Pewsey Vale Development and Larkhall Athletic Development started the day level on points, although Pewsey had played three more games than today’s opponents. When they had met two weeks ago Larkhall had won 3-1 and it was another close encounter, with Larkhall edging it by the odd goal on this occasion with a 3-2 win. On target for unbeaten Larkhall were Sam Whitson, James Payton and Charlie Saunders, player manager Kieron Kiff scoring both of the two Pewsey Vale goals. The win saw Larkhall move to within four points of leaders Ludgershall with four games in hand.

Watch out for more insights regarding this weekend’s games, including interviews with some of the managers, on Your Sport Swindon’s website later in the week.

League Tables

Leading Scorers

Results & Next Week's Fixtures

22 October 2022
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