Whilst the frozen pitches seem to be behind us for the time being, the latest problem is now waterlogged pitches with heavy overnight rain seeing half of the scheduled games in the Premier Division postponed. The postponed games included leaders Trowbridge Town’s trip to Royal Wootton Bassett Town. With Trowbridge inactive second placed Devizes Town took full advantage, securing a comfortable 7-0 win over a Stratton Juniors side who were below strength with a few cases of Covid within the camp. Devizes leading scorer Derek Wheeler led the way scoring a hat-trick to take his total for the season to 16, Jamie Walters scored his ninth goal of the campaign and there were further goals from Kieron Gleed and Jack Baker, who both moved their totals onto five for the season, and Dan Skinner. Credit to Stratton Juniors for battling away in difficult wet and heavy conditions as they fell to their eighth straight defeat. They will be hoping to end that barren run when they travel to bottom of the table Melksham Town Reserves next week, with manager Neil Lee hopeful that he will be able to field some of his recent signings made during the Christmas break. The win for Devizes sees them move to within two points of leaders Trowbridge Town and, with Trowbridge in cup action next week, they have the chance to take over at the top. However, they will have tough opponents in Wroughton, one of the two sides to have taken points off them so far this season.

Derek Wheeler who hit a hat-trick and Jack Baker who was also amongst the goals in Devizes 7-0 win over Stratton Juniors (pictures courtesy of David Giles)

Two teams much in need of a win met at Shrewton Recreation Ground. Home side Shrewton United had lost four games on the bounce and opponents Pewsey Vale, whilst sat in sixth spot in the table, had lost three games in a row, albeit against three of the leading sides in the division. Shrewton had consolidated their two sides in the week and with several new signings are expecting a much better second half to the season. It was a close affair in front of a healthy crowd with the home side Shrewton taking the lead just after the half hour mark, Sam Webb heading in from a Jack Steggles cross. Pewsey had a number of chances, but it remained 1-0 at the break. Pewsey got themselves back into the game around the hour mark, Oscar Middleton with his first goal of the campaign. Both sides had chances to take all three points but, in the end, had to settle for a point apiece. The point for Pewsey saw them move level on points with fifth placed Blunsdon whilst for Shrewton the point saw them climb two places and out of the bottom three.

The big game at the bottom end of the table was at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium where Salisbury FC Development entertained bottom of the table Melksham Town Reserves. Salisbury went into the game with Melksham with a 100% winning record from the three previous meetings between the sides, including a 2-1 win at the Oakfield Stadium in November. It had been close that day and it was the same in the return with a solitary goal from Salisbury’s Dyllan Roocroft, this after good work from man-of-the match Carson Arnold, being all that separated the two sides. The defeat left Melksham six points adrift at the bottom of the table. With Melksham having now played the equal most games of any team in the division they are going to need to start picking up points quickly if they are to avoid the drop and they will be hoping to start by getting something from that game with Stratton Juniors next week.

There was League Cup action down in Frome where Frome Collegians hosted Marlborough Town in the Second Round of the Fountain Trophies Cup. The sides had met twice in the league already this season and both matches had produced close affairs that had both been settled by one goal margins, with one win apiece. With Frome’s main pitch waterlogged the game was switched to the 3G pitch at Selwood Academy and the home side were rewarded for their efforts in ensuring the game went ahead by securing a 5-2 win. Frome’s leading scorer Jack Newman was the star of the show scoring four times to take his total for the season to 14, a first of the season from Theo Sing round-off the scoring for Frome. Jake Farrell with both of the Marlborough Town goals in reply as he moved onto seven for the season. Farrell clearly likes playing Frome as he had also bagged a brace in Marlborough’s 2-1 league win over Frome back in November. The win for Frome sees them join Wroughton as the two teams through to the last eight so far.

Kintbury Rangers were involved in County Cup action in the 3^rd Round of the Berks & Bucks FA Charles Twelftree Trophy. Their opponents were Britwell, the league leaders in the Premier Division of the East Berkshire Football League in a game switched to Burnham FC’s impressive 1878 Stadium with its new state-of-the art 3G artificial pitch guaranteeing that the game would go ahead after two postponements before Christmas. It turned out to be a good afternoon for Kintbury. Kye Williams put them 1-0 up and whilst Britwell had the chance to level before half-time from the penalty spot, Kintbury keeper Kyle Clough pulled off a save to send his side into the break one goal to the good. It could have been even better for Kintbury as Aidan Maycock had a couple of chances to extend the lead but it remained all still to play for at the interval. Kintbury gave themselves some breathing space 15 minutes from time when Charlie Allsop doubled their lead. Kintbury then saw out the closing stages without conceding to progress to Round 4 where they will be away to Maidenhead Town in a game that is now scheduled to be played on 21^st January with the Round put back a week by the Berks & Bucks FA due to the two weeks of postponements in December.

Whilst it was a good afternoon for Kintbury Rangers in outside competitions it was not such a good day for Ludgershall Sports in the Wiltshire Junior Cup quarter final. Despite taking an early lead through Marcus Read they found in-form Dorset League Division 4 side D.I. United too strong as the visitors scored six times without reply  to run out 6-1 winners to progress to the semi-final. For D.I. United that is now eight straight wins, and they will take some stopping in this cup competition. With cup interest ended for the season Ludgershall can now focus on the league in what is turning out to be a very interesting title and promotion race in Division 1.

The two scheduled league games in Division 1 were both postponed.

7 January 2023