After all the bad weather at the start of the calendar year, it is pleasing to report that a full programme of eleven games were played this afternoon, six in the Premier Division, two in Division 1 and three in the Fountain Trophies Cup.

With Devizes Town engaged in cup action Trowbridge Town had the chance to increase their lead at the top of the table and they took full advantage with a clinical performance against Marlborough Town. Recent signing James Rustell had opened his account in the win at Shrewton the previous week and he was again the star of the show smashing a hat-trick to earn the man-of-the match award presented by new chairman Andy Meaden. Also on the score sheet for Trowbridge in their 6-0 win were Charlie Barber, who bagged a brace, and Dan Sibley. Trowbridge have regrouped and responded  in a positive way since their issues at the back end of the last calendar year, having now won four straight games since the management team and a sizeable proportion of the squad defected to the Hellenic League side Bradford Town. Unbeaten Trowbridge have now won 18 of their opening 19 league games and have opened up a five-point lead at the top of the table.

After starting the season with five draws in their opening eight league fixtures, Blunsdon had been on a tremendous run of late that had seen them converting those draws into victories, winning eight and drawing one of their nine fixtures prior to today’s visit from Pewsey Vale. It was visitors Pewsey who had the better of things in the first half, leading 1-0 at half time thanks to a headed goal from Liam Edmondson, Edmondson getting on the end of a free kick. They doubled their lead five minutes into the second half, Andy Rossiter with his eighth of the season. Unfortunately for the visitors Blunsdon upped their game as the second half wore on and got themselves back into the match just after the hour mark thanks to a Sean Creeley goal. Blunsdon pushed for an equaliser and it eventually  came through Jack Hargreaves as Pewsey ran out of steam. Whilst having allowed a two-goal lead to be surrendered, Pewsey were able to hold out in the closing stages, despite some heavy Blunsdon pressure, to ensure a share of the spoils, thus ending Blunsdon’s winning run. The point was enough to enable Blunsdon to hold onto that third spot in what is turning out to be an impressive first season at senior level.

Wroughton started the day in fourth place and were hoping to put behind them the heavy defeat they suffered last week at the hands of Blunsdon. Today they visited another in-form side in fifth placed Frome Collegians. Collegians had won five games on the bounce ahead of today’s encounter and a win would see them move above Wroughton into that fourth spot. However, it was the visitors  Wroughton who went in front within the first five minutes, the division’s leading scorer Jonathan Peachey-Score with his 29^th goal of the season. It remained 1-0 to Wroughton at the break but it was to be a different story in the second half. Frome Collegians were back on level terms within a minute of the restart, Max Biddiscombe putting away a penalty to make it 1-1. Three minutes later Collegians went in front for the first time in the game, Dean Caslake with the goal. The lead did not last long though as Peachey-Score bagged his second of the game, taking his total to an impressive 30 goals. Shortly after Frome Collegians regained the lead with the best goal of the game, the ball falling to Biddiscombe 20-yards out following a corner and he fired a screamer into the corner of the net for 3-2. Further goals from Theo Sing and a second of the game for Caslake put Frome well and truly in the driving seat. Despite a late consolation goal for Wroughton from Sam Long, Frome were comfortable winners in the end to stretch that winning run to six games and elevation to that fourth spot. Manager Karl Freeman will be hoping that his side continue to paint such a good picture in the closing months of the season.

The young Calne Town team are another side having a good season and travelled to Odd Down (Bath) Development looking to climb into the top six with a win against their struggling opponents. Whilst not at their best, goals from Zach Bruce and Eddie Summers, Bruce scoring for the second week running, were enough to secure a 2-0 win. It was also mission accomplished in terms of moving up into the top six as, with Pewsey dropping points against Blunsdon and Kintbury Rangers in cup action, Calne moved above them both.

The new look Shrewton United have started the calendar year well and today were up against a Malmesbury Vics Development side that had returned to action last week with a win against Pewsey. They started well again at the Recreation Ground, taking the lead thanks to a seventh of the season from Joe Tranter. However, two goals from Sam Webb plus one from Lewis Woodhead saw Shrewton come back strongly to lead 3-1. Malmesbury then had the chance to reduce the deficit before half time with the award of a penalty but Sam Parker failed to find the net with his spot kick and it remained 3-1 at the break. Shrewton started the second half strongly and two further goals from Webb, saw Shrewton 5-1 to the good. Having missed that spot kick Parker then redeemed himself with a second for Malmesbury before Tranter then netted his second of the game and eighth of the season to set up the possibility of a late comeback. Despite being on top in the closing stages Malmesbury ran out of time and were unable to add to their tally as it finished 5-3 to Shrewton. The win saw Shrewton move up three places and out of the bottom three.

The big game at the bottom end of the table was at Merton Fields where Stratton Juniors visitors were Salisbury FC Development. Both teams have strengthened their squads in recent weeks and a close encounter was anticipated ahead of the game and so it proved. In a game played on a difficult pitch, goals from Felix Coles and Madison Wilkin  for Salisbury with just a solitary goal from Corey Cullen in reply for Stratton were enough to see Salisbury return south with all three points following a 2-1 win. Coles opened the scoring a minute before half time but Cullen equalised for Stratton. The winner from Wilkin came from the penalty spot five minutes from time, Wilkin winning the penalty and then putting the spot kick away. Despite the defeat Stratton Juniors remain just above the bottom three and three points behind Salisbury who remain in 11^th spot.

There were two games played in Division 1. The first saw leaders Kingsdown Lions made the short journey out of Swindon to take on bottom of the table Purton. The game very much went to form with the leaders smashing eleven unanswered goals past the struggling Purton side. Jordan Lea led the way for Kingsdown scoring four times, Aiden Miller hit a hat-trick, leading scorer Josh Barnfield bagged a brace to move into double figures for the season, and the scoring was completed by one apiece for Ollie Hunt and Ethan Lee. The win saw Kingsdown Lions open up a seven-point lead at the top of the table over Devizes Town Reserves and Ludgershall Sports.

Ludgershall Sports moved level on points with Devizes following a 4-2 home win over Pewsey Vale Development. On target for Ludgershall were Josh Moore, who scored twice, Nathan Strong and Lewis Pickernell. Next Saturday again sees two fixtures in the division with the top four up against each other for a weekend which could have a big say in the promotion race. Devizes Town Reserves host Kingsdown Lions, whilst Larkhall Athletic Development entertain Ludgershall.

Three of the four outstanding Second Round Fountain Trophies Cup ties were completed this afternoon with just one now left still to be played. On paper Devizes Town’s trip to Kintbury Rangers looked to be a potential banana skin for unbeaten Devizes. The two league encounters between the sides had been close affairs settled by a single goal margin in Devizes’ favour on both occasions. It was a different story when they met for the third time this season, and there was to be no cup upset,  as Devizes were comfortable 6-1 winners. Two goals apiece for Rhys Talmash, Kieron Gleed and substitute Jamal Chevolleau. Devizes will now be away to Division 1 leaders Kingsdown Lions in the quarter final on the 3G at Kingsdown School.

Devizes Town Reserves will not be joining their stable mates in the last eight, but they went pretty close. They were involved in a tight affair in an all Division 1 tie with Larkhall Athletic Development. A combination of some resolute defending, some excellent goalkeeping and rusty finishing from both sides saw the ninety minutes completed without a goal meaning extra time was needed. The stalemate continued deep into extra time. The deadlock was eventually broken five minutes from the end, Larkhall scoring through Thierry Swaby on his debut with what proved to be the winner to see them through to the last eight where they will be away to either Malmesbury Vics Development or Blunsdon.

The final Fountain Trophies Cup tie was at the Sustain Stadium where Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development entertained Melksham Town Reserves. When the two sides had met in November in the league, despite their bottom of the table position, Melksham had given the home side a tough game and it was a similar story in this cup encounter. Royal Wootton Bassett Town went in front somewhat against the run of play on 14 minutes, the experienced Stephen Robertson showing how deadly he can be inside the penalty box. Melksham Town were back on level terms on the half hour mark in somewhat bizarre circumstances. Zach Pettifer, who was on the edge of the centre circle just inside his own half,  in-explicitly sent a powerful back pass to his keeper Jack Rae which sailed over the keeper’s head and into the net for an own goal and 1-1. The home side made three substitutions at half time and there was an almost immediate impact at the start of the second half, two of them combining as they regained the lead, Alan de Paula getting on the end of a low Mani Mesas corner to make it 2-1 within three minutes of the restart. It was 3-1 shortly after, Pettifer atoning for his earlier own goal by crossing low and hard from the left and seeing his cross turned into his own net by a Melksham defender. Royal Wootton Bassett added a fourth just after the hour mark, Harry Walters with a fine individual goal, firing low into the far corner of the net past Melksham keeper Harry Pickering. Melksham gave themselves a chance of possibly forcing extra time with a second of the game 20 minutes from time, Jake Dodge eluding a shirt pull, with referee Graham Davis playing a good advantage allowing Dodge to get his shot away which Rae in the home goal failed to keep out to make it 4-2. Melksham were unable to create any further chances and it was the home side who went closest to adding to their total but there was to be no further goals as the two sides repeated the scoreline from that earlier league encounter. Royal Wootton Bassett Town will now be home to in-form Frome Collegians in the quarter final, a side they have lost heavily to twice this season in the league. Your Sport Swindon were at the game and subscribers can view highlights by clicking on the link below or accessing from the link on the Your Sport Swindon page on the League website.

Action from today's game between Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development and Melksham Town Reserves.

4 February 2023