Premier Division

Few who saw the results come through at five o’clock on Saturday would have appreciated how close Swindon Supermarine Development were to dropping their first points of the season away at Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. The fact that their perfect record is still intact is down to some resolute defending when under pressure during the second half and some clinical finishing, including two wonder strikes in injury time at the end of the game. The home side Royal Wootton Bassett Town started the game well with Prince Nyongolo causing the Supermarine defence all kinds of problems down the left-hand side early on. However, it would be the visitors Swindon Supermarine who got themselves in front on six minutes. An intended back-pass from Noah Cranswick-Coates fell well short of keeper Lewis Clark and Ryan Alexander nipped in to square to Tom Phillips to slide home for his eighth goal of the season. It got even better for the visitors on 14 minutes when an Evan Black effort came off the head of the unfortunate Cranswick-Coates, who was having an afternoon he will quickly want to forget, and looped over keeper Lewis and into the net off the far post for 2-0. Despite going two down to the league leaders the home side pressed hard to get themselves back in the game and were rewarded five minutes after going two down when Matt Capel cut in from the left and curled his shot past Matt Goldfinch in the Supermarine goal for 2-1. Ten minutes later parity was restored and it was Nyongolo, who was having a good first half, with the goal with a powerful free kick from outside the box that beat Goldfinch to level matters up at 2-2.

The second half continued to be competitive with both teams creating chances. As the half wore on the home side Royal Wootton Bassett started to get in the ascendancy creating the better chances and winning several corners. They laid siege to the Supermarine goal but a combination of some great saves by Goldfinch and a couple of outstanding blocks from his defenders when it looked like the home side would score meant it remained 2-2. Three minutes from time a free kick out of defence was well controlled by Black who played a neat one-two on the edge of the home box to find himself in the clear and finish in style to restore the lead for Swindon Supermarine. The home side sought to get back on level terms but were to then concede two more in injury time. In the 92^nd minute Supermarine were awarded a free kick 25 yards out and Cheldon Valere took responsibility for the free kick and curled a beauty into the top corner of Clark’s net giving the Royal Wootton Bassett Town keeper no chance with a perfectly placed strike. There was still time for one more, Valere cutting in from the left and curling one into the top corner on the other side of the net, again giving Clark no chance with what was the very last kick of the game, as the referee blew the final whistle as soon as the goal went in. A 5-2 win for the unbeaten league leaders to maintain their perfect start but they knew they had been severely tested on the day by the home side, and the final score did not reflect the overall balance of play over the afternoon. Swindon Supermarine will look to make it a perfect ten from ten when they entertain bottom of the table Trowbridge Town on Wednesday whilst Royal Wootton Bassett Town will look to bounce back when they take on Letcombe at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground on Tuesday night. More pictures from Saturday's game will be on the League Facebook Group Page   in due course.

Second place Larkhall Athletic Development  were seeking to keep the pressure on Swindon Supermarine Dev ahead of the meeting of the two sides next Saturday. Larkhall were away at Down Ampney and in difficult windy conditions they maintained their recent good form with a 2-1 away win. There was little between the two sides in the opening 15 minutes, but the visitors started to get on top and went close on 20 minutes, James Horrocks heading just wide of the post. It didn't take long for another chance to come his way and this time he made no mistake, James Okell's curling cross was headed home by Horrocks to give Larkhall the lead. Larkhall doubled their lead before half time when Arlo Stone was upended in the box and Horrocks dispatched the penalty for his second of the game and a 2-0 half time lead for Larkhall. The home side came out more energised in the second half as they sought to get a foothold back in the game as they put the Larkhall defence under pressure. They were finally rewarded for their efforts on the hour mark, a ball was helped back into the box from distance from Samuel Dibble caught the wind and drifted over the head of Larkhall keeper Kit Bond to make 2-1. At the other end Down Ampney keeper Jack Wallis then pulled off a stunning save from a Horrocks free kick to deny the Larkhall striker his hat trick. Down Ampney pushed hard for an equaliser but were unable to find that elusive second goal whilst Larkhall had excellent chances themselves to make sure of the points but both Stone and Horrocks failed to find the target as it finished 2-1 to Larkhall who maintained the one-point gap to the leaders.

Shrewton United kept their quest for honours on track, following up the emphatic midweek win at Bemerton with a hard fought 2-0 away win at Faringdon Town with a goal in each half. Tom Plank fired them ahead on 23 minutes from the penalty spot after Lewis Cross had been brought down in the box. It remained just the one goal in it until 20 minutes from time, Sanjay Samuda setting up Kian Tydeman for a tap in for his 12^th goal of the season to put him joint top of the Premier Division leading goal scorer chart. That was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring as Shrewton United kept a clean sheet for the second consecutive game.

After three away draws ahead of Saturday’s trip to Cricklade, Pewsey Vale  remain unbeaten on the road so far this season in four games after they picked up their first away win of the season, beating Cricklade Town 2-0 thanks to goals from Finn Kiddle and Andy Rossiter. The win for Pewsey saw them move up to sixth place in the table. They will look to maintain that unbeaten away record in midweek when they travel into Salisbury to play Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves. 

Letcombe sit level on points with Pewsey in seventh spot after they were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Devizes Town Reserves. Jordan Davies had given Letcombe the lead with his seventh goal of the season, but Devizes replied with goals from Craig Sheppard and Jordan Anning to lead 2-1. They had chances to extend their lead but were unable to add to their tally and the award of a penalty gave the home side the chance to level matters up and Oscar Griffiths duly put the spot kick away as it finished 2-2. An impressive point for Devizes on the road which saw them draw level on points with Bemerton and open up a three-point lead over Calne Town Reserves.

Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves  bounced back from that heavy defeat at the hands of Shrewton in midweek to keep a clean sheet in their home game with Purton Kingsdown.  With Purton Kingsdown’s defence matching that feat the two sides had to settle for a point apiece, the second time Bemerton have drawn 0-0 at home this season.

Trowbridge Town’s difficult start to the season continued as they fell to a 5-0 defeat away at Shrivenham. An early injury to Zac Skinner gave Shrivenham’s Oliver Matthews the chance to shine and he took the opportunity in style, scoring a hat trick in a man of the match performance. The other two Shrivenham goals were scored by Marshall Thompson and Kieran Sutton, with the win seeing Shrivenham move above both Down Ampney and Park United in the table. For Trowbridge that is now four straight defeats, and it does not get any easier as they next face a midweek trip to take on league leaders Swindon Supermarine on Wednesday night, with the league leaders yet to drop a point this season. 

Wroughton had Jonathan Peachey-Score back in their side following his transfer from Royal Wootton Bassett Town and he was to make an immediate impact scoring a hat trick on his return in a 3-1 win away at Calne Town Reserves, Jamie Ballinger with the Calne Town reserves goal.  The win for Wroughton saw them also move above both Down Ampney and Park United in the table, whilst Calne remain second from bottom with just one win in their opening eleven games.

Unfortunately, the game between Park United and Melksham Town Reserves was abandoned with Melksham leading 2-0 at the time the game was brought to a premature end by the referee. The two Melksham goals were scored by Ollie Farrell and Liam Brooks. The abandonment will now need to be investigated by the Wiltshire FA before the League Discipline Committee will then get to review the matter.

Division One

With the Wiltshire based sides all involved in the Wiltshire Junior Cup this weekend, there were just two league games played in Division One of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. One involved league leaders Fairford Town Reserves who entertained Shrivenham Development  at the Acorn Property Development Stadium. A win for Shrivenham would have seen them move up into second place behind Fairford in the table. However, it was not to be for the visitors, although they did push the leaders all the way, going down 2-1 in the end to goals from Mikes Arnold and Patrick Otoo-Mensah, Matt Slevin with the Shrivenham goal.

The other game played in the league saw Faringdon Town Development  continue their recent good form with a 4-1 away win at Lambourn Sports thanks to a hat trick from Gergo Komjati and one from Jamie Arlott. That is now just one defeat in their last five games for Faringdon who remain in eleventh place but are now just three points behind second placed Bradford Town Reserves in what is turning out to be a very tight Division One this season.

Wiltshire Junior Cup

There were eight ties in the First Round of the Wiltshire Junior Cup on Saturday involving sides from Division One of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League including an all-Wiltshire Senior League tie between Pewsey Vale Development and Purton Kingsdown Reserves. It would prove to be a good afternoon for the sides from the league. That all Wiltshire League game produced a close encounter at Pewsey Recreation Ground that visitors Purton Kingsdown edged by the odd goal in a five-goal game. On target for the visitors were Roberto Cinquegrani, Tyler Preedy and Connor Taylor-Harrison, Auden Pollock and Warren MacDonald with the Pewsey goals.

Biggest winners of the day were Malmesbury Vics Development who were up against near neighbours Cricklade Town Development from the Swindon & District League. Malmesbury have been in good form in recent league games, winning their last two, and they carried that good form into the cup scoring nine times without reply although they had a bit of a helping hand from the home side as there were three own goals. Sam Jenner scored twice for the Wiltshire Senior League side and there were further goals from Will Goodey, Sam Parker, Joe Liddington and Lewis King.

Another side to register a big win were Bishops Cannings who ran out 6-0 winners against Trowbridge & District League side Calne Athletic. There was a hat trick for Szymon Raczek, Harry Drewitt scored twice with Ben Woods getting the other goal.

Great Western also scored six goals in their game against Swindon & District League Division One side Lower Stratton. On target for Great Western in the 6-1 win were Ethan Miller with a hat trick, Sean Masango with two and Kray Dunn.

Redhouse were actually allowed back on Moredon Hub for Saturday’s County Cup encounter against Cricklade Town Reserves from the Swindon & District League, and it was to be a happy return as a hat trick from Cameron Shrubb plus further strikes from Charlie Chambers and Taylor Edwards saw Redhouse progress to the Second Round courtesy of a 5-3 win.

It was a much tighter affair in the game involving Bradford Town Reserves who were away to Trowbridge & District League Division One side Holt. A solitary second half goal from Ewan Balkwill was enough to see Bradford Town Reserves progress to the next round.

Marlborough Town are through to the Second Round after a narrow 3-2 win over Swindon and District League side Old Town Athletic.

The final tie involving a Wiltshire Senior League side, Stratton’s game against Swindon & District League side Ramsbury, was the closest game of the eight played with penalties requited to settle matters. Heavy overnight rain had put the tie at St Lukes in serious doubt but extensive work on the pitch on Saturday morning allowed the tie to go ahead with the two sides producing an entertaining encounter that saw it finish 4-4 at the end of 90 minutes. Stratton held their nerve to win 4-3 on penalties to progress to Round 2 as they were rewarded for their efforts in getting the game on. On target for Stratton in the match itself were Kieren Dunne with two, Jayden Wilson and David Gessey.

Westbury United’s tie against Trowbridge & District League side Warminster Town Reserves is set to take place this coming Tuesday as on Saturday Westbury first team were involved in the FA Cup, pulling off a giant killing by knocking out National League North side Oxford City. Well done to all at Westbury on that impressive result against higher league opponents.

The Wiltshire FA have already made the draw for the Second Round. Purton KIngsdown Res will once again be involved in an all-Wiltshire Senior League tie having been drawn at home to Stratton. Bishops Cannings have a tough looking home tie against Highworth Town Res from the Helelnic League Alliance whilst Bradford Town Res are home to Trowbridge & District League side FC Devizes United. Both Redhouse and Marlborough Town will be away to opponents form the Swindon & District League, Redhouse are at Coleview and Marlborough Town have a tough looking tie against last season's Premier Division winners Shield & Dagger. Great Western also have a tough looking tie having drawn Mere Town from the Dorset Senior League who traditionally go deep in the competition. Malmesbury Vics Dev's reward for their big First Round win is another local derby away to Sherston Town. Finally, if Westbury United Reserves defeat Warminster Town Reserves they will be at home to Trowbridge Town Reserves. Full details of the First Round results and Second Round draw are shown below:

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