Tonight sees the third staging of a Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Veterans League Cup Final with the Final being held at Melksham Town FC for the second consecutive season. The League Directors, Officers and Management Committee would like to congratulate both Westbury United and Coate on reaching tonight’s final and thank Melksham Town for the use of Oakfield Stadium for the second season running.

Tonight’s final sees a representative from both the Mid Wiltshire Veterans’ Division and the North Wiltshire Veterans’ Division contest the final for the second season running. However, we will see a new name on the trophy as both teams are appearing in the Cup Final for the first time.

Westbury United currently sit in sixth place in the Mid Wiltshire Division with just one game to play. They have reserved their best form this season for this cup competition knocking out two of the fancied sides in Winsley (basically made up of last season’s Mid Wiltshire Division champions Bradford Town) and Cricklade Town, previous winners of the cup, Cricklade having won the inaugural cup final back in 2021-22. In the First Round they needed penalties to progress to the next round after it finished 1-1 against Winsley, Kane Scott with the goal. Next up were Trowbridge Tigers and it was a more comfortable passage through to the Quarter Final as two goals from both Wayne Wheeler and Dale Rowland secured a 4-0 win. In that Quarter Final Westbury met opposition from the North Wilts Division for the first time and goals from Pete Ayton, Paul Beavers and Dale Rowland saw them win 3-0 to progress to the last four. That semi-final saw them up against much fancied Cricklade Town but a solitary goal from Rowland was enough to set up tonight’s final against Coate.

Coate meanwhile are a new club to the league who are having a tremendous first season in the league. Not only are they in tonight’s League Cup Final but they have also made the final of the Wiltshire FA’s Veterans’ County Cup where they will meet Cricklade Town. That final had been scheduled to take place back in February but, like many games this season, was postponed due to the wet weather that has seriously impacted the current season’s fixtures and is now scheduled to take place next week.

Coate’s passage through to tonight’s final started against Mid Wiltshire Division opposition in Devizes Town. Goals from Brady Lilley and Paul Stonehouse secured a narrow 2-1 win through to the Second Round where they were set to play Swindon Old Boys. However, Old Boys were unable to raise a side for the game and the tie was awarded to Coate. The Quarter Final saw them up against fellow North Division side Penhill United. The two league games between the two sides had both been close run affairs decided by a single goal on both occasions, Coate winning both games. It was another close-run thing in the third encounter between the sides, once again won by Coate, although Penhill United did find the net on this occasion, Shane Hibbert with their goal. However, goals from Andrew Goodchild and Neil Snow ensured Coate maintained their unbeaten run in all competitions at the time which extended to 13 games. In the semi-final they were up against fellow North Wiltshire Division title challengers Redhouse and goals from Adam Rudman and Pete Monks in a 2-0 win saw them safely through to tonight’s final.



As well as their success in the two cups, Coate are also still very much involved in the title race in the North Wiltshire Veterans’ Division and currently sit in third place with two games to play. They sit two points behind leaders Cricklade and one point behind Redhouse who they meet at the beginning of May. Given Coate’s record this season they will start as favourites for this cup final here tonight but as noted above, Westbury United have reserved their best form for this cup competition. It certainly has the makings of an excellent cup final.

Tonight’s game kicks-off at 7:45PM and admission to the game is £3, which will include a programme.

19 April 2024