Action from the 2-2 draw between Calne Town Res & Trowbridge Town

(picture courtesy of Alwyn Bodman)

Premier Division

It would prove to be a week of midweek draws in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with four of the six games played on Tuesday night all finishing all square and then both the games on Wednesday night also resulting in drawn games.

One of the two sides to win on Tuesday night were Faringdon Town and, with other results going their way, the victory was enough to see them climb from fourth spot to become the new leaders of the division, although they have played two more games than Swindon Supermarine Dev. Tuesday night saw them entertain near neighbours Shrivenham. The equivalent fixture last season had been the night Faringdon played their first league game under their new floodlights and Shrivenham had spoiled the party that night with a narrow win which had kick-started their own season. This time round it was once again a close encounter but, on this occasion, it was Faringdon who came out on top, a solitary strike from Corey Cullen on 67 minutes being enough to give Faringdon the three points and avenge that defeat last season. Faringdon are on the same points as Swindon Supermarine Dev with an identical goal difference but head the division by reason of scoring more goals, with the two sides set to meet next Tuesday.

The other side to win on Tuesday night were Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development who remain unbeaten away from home in their four fixtures to date, their latest success on the road being a 3-0 win against Park United at Corsham Town’s Secure Stadium. Toby Parker gave the visitors a 1-0 lead before Sam Case then doubled the lead from a free kick, his fifth goal of the campaign. Park put the visitors under sustained pressure in the second half but some resolute defending from the visitors meant they were unable to find a way through. Park then had a player sent-off and the visitors then made sure of all three points with a breakaway goal through substitute George Staten on his return to the side to make the final score 3-0, the win seeing them end the week in sixth spot in the table.

The other four games on Tuesday night all finished level with the game at Down Ampney being notable for the fact that Cricklade Town goalkeeper Harrison Ellis was one of the two goal scorers in the 1-1 draw, his long clearance beating his opposite number, Jack Wallis. Paddy Cripps was on target with the Down Ampney goal, his fifth of the season. Cricklade went close on a couple of occasions to getting a second striking both the post and the crossbar but in the end the two sides had to settle for a point apiece.

It was a similar score line at Letcombe where Jordan Davies was another player to score his fifth goal of the season as he gave Letcombe the lead against Purton Kingsdown. However, an equaliser from Aidan Miller gave Purton Kingsdown a share of the points. For the second consecutive game Letcombe were to finish with just ten men after Callum Hendry picked up a second yellow card.  

At the bottom end of the table neither side was able to find the back of the net in the game between Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves and Devizes Town Reserves as the two defences came out on top in a rare 0-0 draw at this level.

There were goals though in the other game played at Bremhill View on Tuesday night involving the two sides at the foot of the table, where Trowbridge Town  were Calne Town Reserves visitors. George Bendle put the visitors Trowbridge Town in front on 20 minutes with a volley from inside the box, but Kierron Kiff had Calne Town back level on the half hour mark, the Calne striker capitalising on some poor defending to equalise. It remained all square at the break. Calne went in front for the first time in the game seven minutes into the second half with a goal from the penalty spot, Kiff putting the spot kick away for his second of the game.  It would remain 2-1 to the home side until 17 minutes from time when Trowbridge’s Martin Johnson was brought down in the box resulting in the award of another penalty. Bendle took responsibility for the kick and matched Kiff’s feat of getting two goals including one from the penalty spot to level matters up at 2-2. Both sides had chances to get the winner, Calne hit the crossbar and then Trowbridge had two chances in the final minute, a shot from Harvey Frisby going just wide of the post and Bendle then having a golden chance for his hat trick but firing straight at the Calne keeper as it finished 2-2.

The two games on Wednesday night featured four teams who are expected to feature heavily in the battle for league honours this season. Both Larkhall Athletic Development and Melksham Town Reserves had the chance to move top of the table with a win. On the 3G at Plain Ham Larkhall Athletic Development’s visitors were Shrewton United for what looked to be the top game of the week, and it certainly lived up to its billing. Shrewton went one up within a minute of the game starting, a quick free kick from distance from Tom Plank catching out the Larkhall keeper to give the visitors an early lead.  After that the first half was largely dominated by the home side but they were unable to find the back of the net mainly due to the performance of Shrewton keeper Cameron Miller who pulled off a string of fine saves, most notably from Ben Wickens and Arlo Stone. The second half was more open but still with the home side pushing to get themselves back on level terms. Substitute Ben Whitson went close to getting that elusive equalise forcing Miller into another excellent save to maintain his sides lead. Miller again thwarted Wickens before then pushing over a drive from Matthew Bowman as Larkhall continued to go in search of an equaliser. Miller was finally beaten on 65 minutes, Larkhall breaking out of defence with Stone finding James Horrocks whose deft touch put James Okell away and he made no mistake to level matters up at 1-1. The closing minutes saw Larkhall pushing for the winner, a free kick from Stone going inches wide. Then right at the death, Miller once again pulled off a stunning save to deny Bowman with the final kick of the game.

The other game on Wednesday night saw Melksham Town Reserves up against Pewsey Vale. Both sides only defeat of the season had come at the hands of Swindon Supermarine Development and a win for Melksham won have seen them move above Supermarine at the top. However, with Pewsey on a five-game unbeaten run it was always going to be a close encounter, and it proved to be just that as the two sides shared six goals and the points. It was a good night for Pewsey’s Josh Fowler who scored a hat-trick to double his tally for the season, Matt Robinson with two and one from Nick Taylor in reply for Melksham Town Reserves. Pewsey secured the point despite having Rory Sellick sent off for a second yellow card. The point for Melksham sees them sat in fourth spot a point behind new leaders Faringdon Town whilst for Pewsey Vale  that is now four draws in seven games as they sit in seventh spot, five points behind Faringdon Town.

Division One

There was just the one game played in Division One in midweek, but it was an important game at the top of the table between league leaders Fairford Town Reserves and Marlborough Town who are hoping to be promoted back to the Premier Division come the end of the season. It was to prove to be Fairford’s night. Alec Gawthropp put them one up within two minutes, but the lead did not last long, Josh De Souza bringing Marlborough back level four minutes later. Fairford went back in front thanks to a Miles Arnold goal but once again the lead was short lived, with De Souza bagging his second of the game to level matters up at 2-2. However, two goals in the space of two minutes from Gawthropp saw Fairford go 4-2 up with less than half an hour gone, Gawthropp completing a quick-fire hat-trick. There was still time for one more before the break, Daniel Thomas adding a fifth for Fairford to give them a 5-2 lead at half time. That would be the end of the night’s scoring until the very final minute of the game, as Marlborough rallied after the break, but they were to eventually concede a sixth, substitute Liam Wood with that last minute goal to make the final score 6-2 as Fairford opened up a four-point lead at the top of the table.

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