Swindon Supermarine Dev the early leaders in the Premier Division

(picture courtesy of Swindon Supermarine Dev)

Premier Division

The early leaders in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League are newly promoted Swindon Supermarine Development who made it three wins from three games, all by one goal margins, with a 3-2 win away at Melksham Town Reserves. Melksham had come from behind to win their opening two fixtures but on this occasion, it would be Swindon Supermarine who would achieve that feat, resulting in Melksham’s first dropped points of the season. Trailing 2-1 at half time to goals from Nick Taylor and Sam Dowell, Supermarine came back strongly in the second half to edge out their opponents thanks to goals from Thomas Phillips, Jack Payne and Jed Phillips. Melksham dropped down to fourth place as a result of the defeat.

Letcombe’s 100% winning start to the season came to and end on Saturday as a result of a late equaliser for Cricklade Town in an entertaining 4-4 draw at the Leisure Centre. Cricklade led 3-1 at half time thanks to two more goals from Lewis Bexon-Shaw, one from the penalty spot, the opener having been scored by Nick Craft, Kieran Kerby with a long-range effort for the visitors to level matters up at 1-1. However, the second half saw Letcombe come back strongly to score three times through Jordan Davies, Oscar Griffiths and Kyle Cross to lead 4-3 going into the closing stages. However, Cricklade secured a point late on, Joseph Gargett grabbing the equaliser five minutes from time. Despite dropping two points, results elsewhere saw Letcombe climb a place into second spot in the table ahead of Tuesday night’s top of the table clash with Swindon Supermarine Dev. Cricklade are back in action on Wednesday when they visit Shrivenham.

Purton Kingsdown were another side dropping their first points of the season when they fell to a 4-1 home defeat at the hands of Park United who have responded well to their opening day defeat against Down Ampney, registering back-to-back wins against Trowbridge Town and now Purton Kingsdown. On target for Park United were Lewis McCarron, Ben Pring, Nick Chandler and a debut goal from Zac Bruce, Ben Payne with the reply for Purton Kingsdown. The win for Park saw them climb up to fifth place in the table ahead of Tuesday’s encounter with unbeaten Faringdon Town at the Southbank Ground.  Meanwhile Purton Kingsdown dropped to seventh spot ahead of their short midweek journey to the Weir Field to take on manager Adrian Wilkinson’s former club Wroughton, where Wilkinson will be looking for an immediate response from his side to their first defeat of the season.

Down Ampney bounced back from their defeat in midweek to register their second win of the season on Saturday in a competitive and entertaining game at home to Shrewton United. In difficult windy conditions it was Shrewton who got themselves in front on 23 minutes, Charlie Utterson setting up Kian Tydeman, who dummied to shoot putting his defender and keeper on the ground and then fired into an empty net for 1-0. Down Ampney got themselves back on level terms ten minutes before the break, a fine deep cross was headed back across the goal, struck the post and was tapped in by Paddy Cripps. Both sides had chances to go in front before the break but turned around all square and with all to play for in the second half. Down Ampney went in front for the first time eight minutes into the second half. Another high cross into the box was missed by the defender allowing George Bailey to guide a cushioned header back across goal and into the net. It remained that way until 15 minutes from time, a driving run from goal scorer Tydeman saw him set up Charlie Pyke who fired under the advancing Down Ampney keeper Jack Wallis to level matters up at 2-2. Parity did not last long though as Down Ampney were back in front within two minutes, another cross to the far post being met with a powerful header from captain Sam Dibble at the far post to regain the lead with what proved to be the winner.

Faringdon Town’s good start under new manager Josh Forth continued on Saturday at home against Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. A first half goal from James Taylor gave Faringdon an interval lead but the visitors came back to take a share of the points with a second half goal through Sam Case, his second of the season. Farringdon’s unbeaten record will probably face its sternest test so far this season with that midweek trip to Park United.

Highest scorers of the day were Shrivenham who ended their run of two straight defeats with a comfortable 6-1 home win over Calne Town Reserves. Kai Richardson led the way bagging a brace with further goals from Josh McGory, Josh Seller, Robbie Hendry and Matt Purcell, Kierron Kiff with the consolation goal for Calne Town Reserves. Calne, who have lost all three games so far, have another tough fixture this Tuesday evening when they entertain Down Ampney whilst Shrivenham have that visit from Cricklade Town.

Pewsey Vale were another side to register a big win to get their season up and running, scoring five unanswered goals at home to Devizes Town Reserves. Last season’s leading scorer Josh Fowler scored twice, with two also for Israel Onibudo, Andy Rossiter with the other Pewsey goal. Pewsey Vale are home again on Tuesday night when they host Shrewton United, whilst Devizes will look to secure their first points of the season when they entertain Larkhall Athletic Development, although Larkhall come into the game on the back of two straight wins to open their season.

Wroughton, like Calne Town Reserves and Devizes Town Reserves, have had a difficult start to the season and were beaten on their own ground for the second time in the week when they were defeated 2-1 by Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves on Saturday. Two first half goals from Morgan Harvey and Harry Guy were enough to give Bemerton the win, Josh Hockin with his second of the week in reply for Wroughton. Wroughton have that visit from Purton Kingsdown on Wednesday, whilst Bemerton Heath Harlequins travel to Melksham Town Reserves the same night.

Division One

In Division One Stratton started the day as the early league leaders but had an afternoon to forget as they fell to a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Kintbury Rangers Reserves. An impressive first half from the visitors saw them lead 3-0 at the break thanks to goals from Tiago Piexoto, Ben Wright and Charlie Allsop. They added one more in the second half, Luke Conner slotting home a penalty to complete a comfortable win and register their first points of the season.

With Stratton losing there are now just four teams who remain unbeaten in the division with the top three all on maximum points from two games. The new early leaders of the division are Redhouse who were another side to secure a 4-0 win on Saturday, the Swindon based side defeating Pewsey Vale on the 3G at Moredon in the late kick-off. Two goals from Hayden Watson and one apiece for Ricardo Teixeira and Jack Duffy giving Redhouse the points with the new leaders yet to a concede a goal in their games to date and with nine at the other end head the division on goal difference.

Fairford Town Reserves are another side to have scored nine in their opening two games and sit second in the table after goals from Aston Garland, Eden Griffin and Ashton Wallace gave them a narrow 3-2 win over Bishops Cannings, Oliver Barnes and Ethan Howard scoring for Bishops Cannings. Fairford will look to make it three wins from three this coming Wednesday when they travel to the Flying Monk Ground to take on Malmesbury Vics Dev. For Bishops Cannings who had such a good 2024-25 campaign that is now two defeats in two and they have another tough game on Tuesday night when league leaders Redhouse visit Green Lane.

The third team on six points at the top of the table are Bradford Town Reserves. Whilst the top two have been scoring for fun, Bradford have secured their two victories by scoring just the one goal in each game and then making sure they did not concede at the other end. Their latest win on Saturday came at the expense of Lambourn Sports, Luke Willmott with the all-important goal.

The other game played in the division on Saturday saw Purton Kingsdown Reserves and Shrivenham Dev share six goals and the points, Roberto Cinquegrani, Isaac Osazuwa and Tyler Preedy with the goals for Purton Kingsdown Reserves and Matt Slevin, Jamie McGahey and Jon Hunnings with the Shrivenham goals. The point for Purton Kingsdown Reserves sees them sit fourth in the table after their opening two games.

Unfortunately, the game between Great Western and Westbury United Reserves was postponed with Westbury unable to raise a side.

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