Amesbury Town, Wiltshire Senior Cup Runners-up Season 2023-24 (picture courtesy of the Wiltshire County FA)
Wiltshire Senior Cup
It was not to be for
Amesbury Town in the final of the Wiltshire FA’s Senior County Cup at Bemerton Heath Harlequins on Wednesday night, but they went oh so close, taking cup holders
Downton all the way to a penalty shootout in front of a bumper crowd of around 300. For Downton, who are set to take part in the end of season play-offs for promotion to Step 5, that is now three seasons in a row that they have lifted the cup.
Both sides had chances in the opening 45 minutes, but the teams turned round with the game still looking for its first goal. That goal was to go the way of Downton just after the hour mark, a powerful shot from the edge of the box was saved by Amesbury keeper Mike Horne but the ball came back of the post and Shaun Prentice was on hand to put the ball into the net for 1-0 to Downton. The lead did not last long through as Amesbury were back on level terms within three minutes. A long ball up field found Ally McCracken who fired into the bottom corner of the net for 1-1. Amesbury had some great chances to get the winner in normal time but with neither side able to find that elusive second goal the game went to penalties. Unfortunately for Amesbury it was Downton who were deadly with their spot kicks to run out 4-1 winners and lift the cup for that third time in a row. Congratulations to Downton on winning the cup once again but it is also well done to Amesbury for making the final of this prestigious competition and take a side who could be playing at Step 5 next season all the way. Amesbury will now focus on their main aim of achieving promotion back to Step 6 but also look to make the final of the Fountain Trophies Cup where they will aimk to overcome Larkhall Athletic Development in order to participate in a second cup final this season.
Premier Division
It was a busy night of action on Tuesday night in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with five games played with all of the four sides just behind Amesbury in the table having winning nights.
For the second game running Kintbury Rangers were involved in a game with just the one goal in it and once again they were on the right side of the score line. On Saturday they had defeated Royal Wootton Bassett Town Dev 1-0, and they repeated that score line on their visit to Calne Town Reserves, Kye Williams with the only goal of the game which closed the gap at the top of the table to eight points, with Kintbury still having two games in hand.
Third placed Pewsey Vale also closed the gap to leaders Amesbury Town with a 4-0 home win over a young Malmesbury Vics Development side. It was a good night for the England brothers as Rory scored twice and Ben also finding the net, Lee Himsworth with the other Pewsey goal.
Larkhall Athletic Development in fourth spot also secured another three points in their quest for promotion as they ran out 3-1 winners against Shrewton United thanks to two goals from Raphael Oppong and one from Angus Williamson, Lewis Cross with his 15th of the season in reply for Shrewton. Shrewton are set to be the first team to complete their fixtures this coming Saturday when they travel to Wroughton, Larkhall meanwhile still have seven to play and are also still in the Fountain Trophies Cup.
There was also a win for fifth placed Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development away to Kingsdown on the 3G at Kingsdown School. Two more goals for leading scorer Nathaniel Bell, taking his total for the season to 20 plus an own goal in a 3-1 win.
Salisbury Development and
Ludgershall Sports, the two sides at the wrong end of the table, met at the Ray McEnhill Stadium on Tuesday night in a big game in their fight to avoid relegation. It was to prove to be Salisbury’s night as their recent resurgence, which has now seen them take seven points from their last three games, continued. Two goals from Archie Ingram and one David Bazen and leading scorer Dyllan Roocroft did the damage for Salisbury. The win for Salisbury saw them open up a six-point gap over their beaten opponents and move to within seven points of the team above them, Malmesbury Vics Development.
Rory England (Pewsey Vale) and Nathaniel Bell (RWBT Dev) who both scored twice for their respective teams in midweek
Division One
There was just the one game in midweek in Division One and it saw Purton entertain Lambourn Sports. It went the way of Purton who consolidated their fourth place position with a 3-0 win to move within a point of Devizes Town Reserves with two games in hand. On target for Matt Bennett's side were Alex Hammond, Devan Bryan and Gio Wrona who continued his rich vein of form in front of goal in recent games. That is now five for Wrona in Purton's last two games.
Another goal for Gio Wrona in Purton's 3-0 win over Lambourn Sports
11 April 2024
