Action from the big game at the bottom end of the table between Malmesbury Vics Dev & Salisbury Dev
Premier Division
This weekend’s fixtures in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League got underway on Friday night with a Premier Division encounter between Calne Town Reserves and Larkhall Athletic Development. Fourth placed Larkhall were looking to close in on the top three sides with a win ahead of Saturdays round of games. It was mission accomplished for James Riccio’s side as two goals from the much-travelled Rhys Talmash and one from Raphael Oppong to add to the two goals he scored in midweek in a 3-1 win for Larkhall. The win for Larkhall saw them move to within four points of Pewsey Vale ahead of Pewsey’s visit to second placed Kintbury Rangers the next day.
Rhys Talmash (2) and Raphael Oppong (picture courtesy of Alwyn Bodman) who scored the goals for Larkhall in their 3-1 win over Calne Town Res
Saturday’s big game was at Kintbury Recreation Ground where second placed Kintbury Rangers were up against the side just below them in the table Pewsey Vale. When the two had met back in August Kintbury had been comfortable 3-0 winners but Pewsey came into the game on the back of a four-game unbeaten run and knew that a win would see them move to within a point of their opponents. It was visitors Pewsey who were to go in front, Connor Marsden firing in a free kick to give his side a 1-0 lead at half time. Pewsey doubled that lead after the break and once again the goal came from a Marsdon free kick as the Pewsey striker bagged a brace on the day. Luke Gray pulled one back for Kintbury, but Pewsey held out to exact revenge for that earlier defeat to move to within a point of their beaten opponents.
The defeat for Kintbury could have severely dented their title aspirations but for the fact that
Amesbury Town were also falling to defeat at home against
Shrivenham. Visitors Shrivenham went in front on 25 minutes, a ball out to the wing finding James Hirst in space and he fired in from distance to give his side a 1-0 lead at the break. League leaders Amesbury were back on level terms within three minutes of the restart though, leading scorer Josh Moore breaking down the left to put away his 31st goal of the season to level matters up. Amesbury went in search of a winner but were then caught on the break two minutes from time, Finnlay Hopkins finding the bottom corner of the net with what proved to be a winner for Shrivenham. Another impressive result for Shrivenham who could yet achieve a top five finish in their first season in the league. With both the top two losing Pewsey’s win at Kintbury closed the gap but the destiny of the title remains in Amesbury’s own hands, win all four of their remaining games and the title will be theirs but they have some tricky looking fixtures still to come, with Larkhall Athletic Development to play twice, Kingsdown and Blunsdon .
Trowbridge Town were back at Woodmarsh after being forced to play their last three games on hired grounds and they went into their clash with
Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development unbeaten in 2024. Visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town were also in good form though, having won three of their last four games and looking to do the double over Trowbridge having won 3-2 at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground back in October. It started well for the visitors as goals from Flynn Walters and Spencer Bowen gave them a 2-0 half time lead. Trowbridge came back at them after the break and George Bendle reduced the deficit within four minutes of the restart. Despite chances at both ends that was to be the end of the scoring as Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development brought that unbeaten run for Trowbridge since the turn of the year to an end.
George Bendle (Trowbridge Town) and Flynn Walters (RWBT Dev) who both were on target for their respective sides in RWBT Dev's 2-1 win at Trowbridge (pictures courtesy of Alwyn Bodman)
Shrewton United
became the first team in the Premier Division to complete their fixtures when they travelled to the Weir Field to take on
Wroughton. When the two sides had met back at the beginning of September Shrewton had edged a close game 2-1. It started well for them in the return fixture, a goal five minutes from half time from Charlie Utterson saw them lead 1-0 at the break. Wroughton got themselves back into the game early in the second half, Kassa Anderson with the goal. However, Charlie Jackson put the visitors back in front and a third from Shrewton’s leading scorer Lewis Cross, with his 16th of the season, made sure of all three points for the visitors. The win for Shrewton removed any fears of them slipping into the bottom two places ensuring their place in the Premier Division for next season. Well done to Shrewton on getting their games played in this most difficult of seasons, they had originally been scheduled to finish their games at the end of March and are within a fortnight of that scheduled finish date whilst others still have ten games to go.
Melksham Town Reserves and Blunsdon met for the third time this season having also played each other in the Wiltshire Senior Cup. Blunsdon had won comfortably at the Oakfield Stadium back in August, but Melksham had avenged that defeat in the County Cup, winning on penalties after it had finished 1-1 in a game also played at Melksham. As with the cup encounter the return league fixture was to prove a close affair. Goalless at the break Tom Dowell put Melksham ahead on 65 minutes, a long ball out of defence finding Melksham’s leading scorer who fired his side in front with his 13th of the season. It remained just the one goal in the game until ten minutes from time, some neat work from Harry Hillerby set up Jamie Pidgeon to score the equaliser for Blunsdon and ensure the points were shared.
Ahead of Saturdays fixtures, Kingsdown still had eleven games still to play and with continuing issues with their pitch at Southbrook Recreation Ground were forced to sacrifice their Development Team game and stage the first team game against Ludgershall Sports on the 3G at Kingsdown School. Kingsdown had been beaten twice on the 3G in their last two games and went into the encounter with Ludgershall having not won in four. That run was brought to an end with a 4-2 win over the side at the bottom of the table, on target for Kingsdown were Ollie While, Kieran O’Daly, Kyle Parker and an own goal, Tom Gee and Harvey White replying for Ludgershall.
The final game of the day in the Premier Division was at the Flying Monk and it was an important game at the bottom end of the table between Malmesbury Vics Development and Salisbury Development. The young Salisbury side came into the game unbeaten in their last three games with Malmesbury realistically the only side they could catch to get out of the bottom two and knowing that they needed to keep that run going, ideally with a win. The importance of the game to both sides resulted in a cagey affair and a lack of composure when chances did come the way of either side in front of goal.
For the home side Joe Tranter and Beau Hicks looked to be the likely source of goals and Tranter went close on seven minutes firing just over from the edge of the box. Salisbury then quickly responded at the other end with a couple of good chances of their own, the first saw a shot from just inside the box being fired straight at Malmesbury keeper Dion Titcombe who comfortably made the save. The visitors then had a glorious chance on ten minutes when the ball fell to Robbie Johnson, but his effort went agonisingly just wide of the post. Ten minutes later Salisbury’s Will Page again went close for the visitors, his shot across the box again went just the wrong side of the far post. Malmesbury then had a chance of their own at the other end a lofted ball into the area saw Salisbury keeper Dylan Christie fail to catch the ball which spilled onto the head of Tranter who had been challenging for the ball and go slowly towards goal but this time it was the home side who saw their effort go just the wrong side of the post. Back down the other end a cross into the box found the head of Archie Ingram but his header went straight to keeper Titcombe who saved comfortably to keeper the score at 0-0.
It continued to be end-to-end with little between the sides. Malmesbury had a shout for a penalty three minutes before the break, but the appeals were quite rightly waved away. The half ended with the best chance of the game so far and it went the way of Salisbury. An error from Malmesbury keeper Titcombe saw him give the ball away to Ingram who was clean through on goal, but Titcombe redeemed himself with an excellent saw to deny the Salisbury striker and the teams turned round with the game still looking for the first goal.
Joe Tranter trys to elude a tackle from the Salisbury defence & Luke Corbiere goes close to breaking the deadlock but his effort went wide of the post
The game was to continue in a similar vein in the second half although fewer chances were created. Malmesbury went close five minutes after the restart when a low free kick from the left eluded everyone in the Salisbury 18-yard box finding Luke Corbiere at the far post, but he somehow put his effort wide of the post and it remained 0-0. As the game entered the final five minutes both teams pushed for a winner, Salisbury’s Will Page saw his effort well saved by Malmesbury keeper Titcombe and then at the other end Tranter went close from the edge of the box, but his powerful effort went just over the bar as the two sides had to settle for a point apiece. Of the two sides Malmesbury would probably be the happier of the two as Salisbury are now running out of games to get out of the bottom two positions. Indeed, they now need to win all three of their remaining games, all of which look tough games on paper, to get out of the bottom two positions.
Salisbury keeper Dylan Christie and Malmesbury keeper Dion Titcombe who both pulled off a number of saves to keep a clean sheet in the 0-0 draw.
Division One
There were just four games played in Division One. Unfortunately, Lambourn Sports were unable to raise a side once again, the seventh time this season this has happened, and the second time they have called off against Devizes Town Reserves who were once again left frustrated. With a number of sides having applied to join the division next season, and the division set to be fixed at 16 in number, it looks like there will be need to an election to see which teams will be allowed to participate and the sides who have continually postponed games this season due to a lack of players could find themselves no longer wanted by the other clubs, especially if they do not play all their games by the season end. Hopefully Lambourn will be able to fulfill their remaining games over the next few weeks starting with their game against Bratton this coming Tuesday. Faringdon Town saw their away trip to Kingsdown Development postponed so that Kingsdown’s first team game could be played on the 3G given the number of games Kingsdown first team still have to play and the hard close imposed on National League System Feeder Leagues like our Premier Division by the FA.
With Faringdon inactive league leaders Park United had the chance to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table with a win against Bishops Cannings who were playing their penultimate game of the season. Two goals from Ben Pring plus one each for Corey Harbour-Burgess and Garry Lock saw Park achieve that win, Florentin Boncioaga and Dominic Eardley replying for Bishops Cannings in a 4-2 victory for Park.
Purton who had won in midweek are starting to find some form and made it three wins in a row with a 2-1 away success at Bratton thanks to goals from Joe Herbert and Josh Connolly, Kye Teague with the Bratton goal. The win for Purton saw them move up to fourth spot a point behind Marlborough Town with a game in hand.
There was a close game at Pewsey Vale where Pewsey Vale Development entertained Kintbury Rangers Development. On the same day that the two clubs first teams were also playing each other, whilst Pewsey won the Premier Division fixture, the Division One game went the way of Kintbury. Goals from Charlie Allsop and a 17th of the season from Aiden Maycock secured a 2-1 win for the visitors, Israel Oniudo replying for Pewsey with his sixth goal of the season.
Cricklade Town are having a good end to the season, and they made it four games unbeaten, three have which had been won, with a 4-2 away success at bottom of the table
Stratton Juniors. The goals were shared around with Jake Allen, Chris Price, Jake Bailey and Josh Riggs all finding the net, for Riggs that is now 11 for the season. The two goals in reply for Stratton came through Max Willis and a 24th of the season from Corey Cullen.
13 April 2024
