After last week’s first defeat of the season Trowbridge Town were looking to bounce back and maintain their lead at the top of the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League but had a tough looking fixture with the visit of Blunsdon to the Daykin Estates Ground at Woodmarsh. The last time Blunsdon had lost in the league was back on the 24^th of September when Trowbridge had left Sutton Park with all three points following a 2-0 win. Since then Blunsdon had gone on an eleven game unbeaten run in the league and had also progressed through two rounds of the Fountain Trophies Cup. Nine of those eleven games had been won which had seen Blunsdon climb to third spot in the league table and unless Trowbridge delivered a response to last week’s defeat there was a real danger that they could lose two on the bounce. Manager Ryan Baggs certainly got a response from his players. Dan Jordan put them ahead early on, but Blunsdon pulled it back to 1-1 with a goal from Robert Curtis having earlier gone close to an equaliser when a shot from Eliot Wheatley came back off the crossbar. Trowbridge restored their lead before the break, Charlie Barber getting on the end of a Liam Milburn cross after good build up play involving debutant Conner McKay. Early in the second half Trowbridge were given the chance to extend their lead from the penalty spot and whilst the Blunsdon keeper Harrison Ellis almost pulled off a tremendous save from Charlie Barber’s spot kick the ball ricocheted into the net for 3-1. Trowbridge then added a fourth through Ollie Dew to effectively secure the three points, but Blunsdon did pull one back, leading scorer Eliot Wheatley scoring direct from a corner. Having been involved in the set-up play for the second goal Connor McKay rounded off a successful debut for Trowbridge with a fifth goal to make the final score 5-2 to ensure that it is Trowbridge who go into next week’s top of the table encounter with Devizes Town at the head of the division.

More action from Trowbridge Town's 5-2 win over Blunsdon

(pictures courtesy of Martin Pearce)

More of Martin Pearce's excellent photos from this game can be found on the League's Facebook Group using this LINK.

Devizes Town made sure they go into that game next week just one point below the leaders following a 5-0 win against Salisbury FC Development. Before the game, as a mark of respect, the two sides held a minute’s silence following the sad passing of Devizes Town striker Derek Wheeler’s father. All at the Wiltshire Senior League pass on our condolences to Derek for his sad loss. Whilst the final 5-0 score looks a convincing win in the end, Salisbury had plenty of possession during the game but were punished for giving the ball away in dangerous areas on occasions. Experienced forward Jamal Chevolleau led the way for Devizes helping himself to a hat-trick with the other two goals coming through Jamie Walters and Kieron Gleed as Devizes recorded victory number 18 in the league. Looking forward to next week’s top of the table clash, Devizes certainly possess a potent strike force now in the shape of Chevolleau, Derek Wheeler and Rhys Talmash and with Trowbridge also the division’s leading scorers, just seven short of 100 goals already, next week’s game at the Daykin Estates Ground could well be a close but high scoring affair.

Devizes Town's hat-trick hero Jamal Chevelleau takes on the Salisbury defence & Rhys talmash looking to win the ball in Devizes Town's 5-0 win over Salisbury FC Dev (pictures courtesy of David Giles).

More of David Giles excellent photos from this game can be found on the League's Facebook Group using this LINK.

The match between Stratton Juniors and Frome Collegians was curtailed two minutes from time following the collapse of one of the Stratton Juniors players. Thanks to the quick response from both dugouts to the situation the player was put in the recovery position whilst an ambulance was called which thankfully was not long in arriving. We understand from speaking to Stratton manager Neil Lee last night that the player was allowed to leave hospital last night and all at the Wiltshire Senior League wish him a speedy recovery. Well done to both sides for reacting so quickly to such a serious situation. At the time that the game was brought to a premature end Frome Collegians were leading 6-0  thanks to goals from Jack Newman (2), Max Biddiscombe, Barry Sandquest, Dean Caslake and Lee Handford. In accordance with League rules a decision regarding whether the result will stand will be made at the upcoming Management Committee meeting, but with both teams having already confirmed they are happy with the score at the time of the abandonment to stand and entered the result in Full-Time, the current league table reflects the 6-0 score.

There was a big game at the bottom end of the table this weekend involving Marlborough Town and Odd Down Development. Both sides find themselves embroiled in a relegation battle that involves up to eight sides. This game was a proverbial six pointer and it is Odd Down who will be celebrating after a 4-1 away win lifted them out of the bottom three. Goals from Jack O’Brien, his fifth of the season, plus further strikes from Dylan Hatt, Ryan Rudland and an own goal did the damage for Odd Down, substitute Jake Farrell replying for Marlborough Town with his 11^th goal of the season.

The other two games in the Premier Division both finished all square at 1-1. Shrewton United took the lead in their game against Melksham Town Reserves through Ben Jenks but Melksham equalised through Jake Dodge after the visitors had been awarded a penalty. The initial spot kick was saved but Dodge put the rebound away to ensure a share of the points for Melksham.

It was also 1-1 at the Flying Monk where Malmesbury Victoria Development were able to play their first home league game since 19 November following the flooding of the Flying Monk Ground with Calne Town Reserves the visitors. Calne had the better of things in the first half, although Malmesbury did hit the bar and the post and also had a goal disallowed for offside, but a solitary goal from Edward Summers saw Calne Town Reserves lead at the break. Malmesbury stepped up their game after the interval and it was 17-year-old substitute Luc Dangerfield (pictured below) who got them back on level terms scoring his first goal in only his second appearance for the club at senior level, both apperances coming from the substitute bench.

On a difficult weekend for a number of our clubs for non-football related reasons the game between Kintbury Rangers and Wroughton was postponed following a bereavement at Kintbury. The thoughts of everyone involved in the Wiltshire Senior League are with family and friends.

There was again a full round of games in Division 1 this week with the top game of the weekend the meeting between fourth placed Ludgershall Sports and second in the table Larkhall Athletic Development. The sides were meeting for the fourth and final time this season. Larkhall had won two of the previous meetings with the other game being drawn and they made it a hat-trick of wins this afternoon following a 3-0 win. On target for Larkhall were Thierry Swaby, Farley McDowell and captain Charlie Saunders who bagged his 15^th of the campaign.

Kingsdown Lions travelled to Pewsey Vale Development looking to maintain their lead at the top of the table. This was the third meeting of the season between the sides with Kingsdown having won both the previous two games with Pewsey having failed to score against Kingsdown in those two games. Pewsey Vale Dev once again failed to find the net but a clean sheet for only the second time this season saw them take a useful point from the game. For Kingsdown it was two points dropped in their quest for the title. Larkhall now trail them by nine points but with four games in hand it means the destiny of the title is in Larkhall’s own hands, win all nine of their remaining league games and they would be champions. However, due to postponements over the winter months they still have yet to play Devizes Town Reserves and also have another meeting with Kingsdown still to come so there is a long way to go in the Division 1 title race.

Third placed Devizes Town Reserves kept in touch with the top two with a comfortable 7-0 away win at struggling Purton. Leading scorer Tyler Smith registered a hat-trick for the second time this season against Purton who will be sick of the sight of the Devizes striker. The other Devizes goals were scored by Kieron Tarrant (2), Jordan Tarrant and an own goal. In the adjusted league table following Kintbury Rangers Development’s withdrawal, Devizes remain two points behind Larkhall but having played two games more.

25 February 2023