Action from Westbury's 6-2 win over Barford Hornets

(picture courtesy of Barbara Swan)

Premier Division

The opening Sunday in the Ladies Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League saw Melksham Town, Marlborough Town and Westbury all register big wins in their opening games of the season.

Melksham Town entertained Purton Kingsdown in their opening game of the season. In last season’s equivalent fixture back in April Purton Kingsdown had returned to Swindon with all three points courtesy of a narrow 2-1 victory that also saw them complete a league double over Melksham. In this season’s first fixture between the two sides Melksham avenged those two defeats with a big 7-2 win. Star of the show was Izzy McGuinness who notched a hat-trick, Lily Baker bagged a brace and there were further goals from Nicholle Duncan and India Mulliss.

Newly promoted Marlborough Town had actually got their season underway the previous Sunday when they made their debut in the Women’s FA Cup. They went mightily close to progressing to the next round as they drew 2-2 with Yateley United from the Thames Valley Counties League in the Preliminary Round of this prestigious national competition, meaning penalties were needed to settle matters. Unfortunately for Marlborough it was Yateley who held their nerve in the spot kick contest, winning 4-2 to progress to the First Qualifying Round. On Sunday Marlborough Town visited Swindon Supermarine in their opening league fixture of the 2025-26 campaign. It was close affair in the first half with the teams turning round all square at 2-2 with all still to play for. The second half would belong to Marlborough though, as four unanswered goals saw them run out 6-2 winners. Isabella Cox and Izzy Kirwan both scored twice, with last season’s leading scorer Sienna Lewis and Lily Wain getting the other two Marlborough goals. The two first half goals for Swindon Supermarine were scored by Shannon Whiteley and Maddison Fox.

Barbara and Alan Swan were at the Marlborough Town v Yateley United FA Cup game and more of their excellent pictures from this game can be found on the League Group Facebook Page.

Another side to register an opening day 6-2 away win was Westbury in their game at another of the newly promoted sides, Barford Hornets. Last season Westbury had struggled in the Premier Division, winning just one game that counted in the final table after the table had been adjusted for withdrawals, but they certainly justified their desire to stay in the Premier Division with an impressive opening day performance. As with the game at Swindon Supermarine, the two teams turned round all square at 2-2, Elisha Taylor and Lauren Baggot with the goals for the Hornets. Second half saw Westbury take command scoring four times without reply to take the three points and get their season off to a winning start. Alice Bevan scored twice and there were further goals from Tiffany Crockford-Ward, Naomi Tippetts, Megan Ayliffe and Sarah Cross.

Barbara and Alan Swan were at the Barford Hornets v Westbury game and more of their excellent pictures from this game can be found on the League Group Facebook Page.

Another newly promoted side, Trowbridge Wanderers were Highworth Town’s visitors at the Rec. Last season Highworth had finished in third spot and reached the cup final but in the summer saw four players depart to join FC Abbey Meads, with others leaving to join other clubs, and will be in something of a rebuild this season. Their encounter with Trowbridge Wanderers would prove to be a tight and entertaining affair. The visitors Trowbridge went in front from an excellent free kick from distance from Jenna Sawyer that just went under the crossbar beating the Highworth keeper. Trowbridge then continued to threaten the Highworth goal in that first half as they went in search of a second with the home side remaining a threat on the break. However, a well marshalled Trowbridge back line caught the home side forwards offside on several occasions and it was just the one goal in it at half time. Highworth had a much better second half though, equalising through Lucy March. That was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring with a point apiece a fair reflection of a competitive and entertaining encounter.

Despite fielding those signings from Highworth Town plus the players who had played for Purton last season in the South West Regional Women’s League last season, FC Abbey Meads fell to defeat in their opening game in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, going down 3-1 against new side Keynsham Town “A” on the 3G at Moredon. Two goals from Rose Thompson plus one from Kerry Bartlett did the damage for Keynsham, substitute Amelia Fowles with the goal for FC Abbey Meads.

Division One

There were four games played in the Ladies Division One on the opening Sunday of the season. The game at St Lukes Academy featured two of the new sides to the league this season, Stratton  and Bishops Cannings, who were playing their first ever competitive fixture. The two sides produced an entertaining game. Paige Brazier put visitors Bishops Cannings ahead with just eight minutes on the clock and it would remain that way until just before half time, when Brazier added a second to give Bishops Cannings a 2-0 half time lead. Second half saw Stratton come back strongly scoring two of their own through Katy Farr but two more from Brazier to give her four in the game meant it was Bishops Cannings who returned home with all three points. The two sides are set to meet again in the County Cup later in the month.

Having missed out on a top three finish by just a single point last season, Salisbury will be aiming to finish in the top three this coming season. They got off to a winning start away at Purton Kingsdown Reserves. Salisbury took the game to the home side from the off and quickly went in front, Melissa Penn getting on the end of a cross from the right to put Salisbury 1-0 up. Salisbury continued to have the upper hand and doubled their lead when a surging run down the wing by Georgina Salt was followed by a pinpoint cross that found Samantha Deacon who made no mistake to make it 2-0 at the break. Second half again saw Salisbury in control, and they went further ahead when last season’s top scorer Nicole Webster opened her account for the season, getting on the end of another ball into the box to make it 3-0. Despite going 3-0 down Purton Kingsdown fought back hard and got a foothold back in the game scoring from a long-range free kick. They then added a second on the break to reduce the deficit further, Claire Baker and Whitney Millhench with the two Purton Kingsdown goals. However, any chance of a comeback was dashed when Webster scored her second of the game to put Salisbury 4-2 ahead as they opened the season on a winning note.

There was a high-scoring game at Elcot Lane where new side Marlborough Town Reserves entertained Malmesbury Vics, with the two sides sharing nine goals with Malmesbury eventually edging it by the odd goal. Lisa Lane bagged a brace for Malmesbury with Emilee Collier, Amelie Gray and Shona Watt also getting on the score sheet. In reply for Marlborough there were two goals from Kitty Bevan and one from Victoria Goldson and Rhiannon Williams. 

There was a  close local derby game in Swindon on Sunday as Ferndale Rodbourne entertained Blunsdon at Southbrook Rec. Ferndale led 1-0 at half time thanks to an early Charlotte Lancaster strike. However, Blunsdon turned things around in the second half, goals from Lyndsey Plant and substitute Chloe Bailey putting them 2-1 up. Blunsdon had chances to extend their lead but were then to rue those missed chances when Ferndale levelled matters up thanks to an own goal as it finished 2-2.

The game between FC Chippenham and Durrington was postponed with Durrington unable to raise a side.

Wiltshire FA County Cup

The draw for the First Round of the Wiltshire FA County Cup was made today by the Wiltshire FA and the full draw is shown below. The First Round games are scheduled to be played on Sunday 21st September.