Action from Shrewton United's 3-2 win over RWBT Dev (picture courtesy of Roger Hare)
Premier Division
It has been a bad week for Swindon Supermarine Development. Prior to last Saturday’s encounter with Larkhall Athletic Development they had won all of their fixtures but a 4-0 defeat at their closest rivals saw them lose for the first time. They were then involved in the only league fixture that took place in midweek when they entertained Purton Kingsdown under the lights on their first team pitch. The Swindon derby fixture saw Lewis Hutchinson put Swindon Supermarine ahead midway through the first half with a shot from outside the box after Purton Kingsdown failed to properly clear a corner and it remained just the one goal in it at the break. Purton Kingsdown pulled one back around the hour mark and then took the lead for the first time in the game ten minutes from time. Swindon Supermarine then pulled themselves back level six minutes from time with a headed goal from Jed Phillips, Phillips heading home from a free kick. However, there was to be a winner on the night that winning goal coming in the final minute of the game and it went the way of the visitors as Purton Kingsdown inflicted another defeat on Swindon Supermarine. On target for the visitors were Aiden Miller, Billy Little and Ollie While.
Purton Kingsdown who in midweek became the second side to defeat Swindon Supermarine Dev this season
Saturday saw leaders Swindon Supermarine Development travel the short distance to Shrivenham with the host side looking like they were finally on their annual climb up the table having made another poor start to the season. Shrivenham went into the game on the back of two straight wins and with the visitors having hit something of a blip after their fantastic start to the season, Swindon Supermarine were likely to be severely tested again, and it proved to be the case. Shrivenham went in front on 19 minutes thanks to a Rob Henry goal, but Supermarine had turned things around by the break as goals from Sam Sanger and a ninth of the season from Tom Phillips saw them go into the interval with a 2-1 lead. However, it didn’t take long for the home side to level matters up in the second half, Marshall Thompson firing them level within a minute of the restart. It remained that way until just after the hour mark when Nathan Marland restored Shrivenham’s lead and then a fourth from Brad Hirst four minutes later put Shrivenham 4-2 ahead. That was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring as Swindon Supermarine Dev fell to a third straight defeat in the space of eight days. Manager Matt Roberts will be hoping that his side can return to winning ways this coming Saturday when they take on a Park United who themselves are on a poor run of results.
The defeat for Swindon Supermarine Development meant they lost leadership of the division as Larkhall Athletic Development took over at the top following a home victory in the top match of the day against third placed Melksham Town Reserves. In this top of the table clash Larkhall took the game to the visitors right from the off and were in front with just eight minutes on the clock, a neat one-two between James Okell and Ben Wickens setting up Wickens to curl a well-placed shot into the top corner of the net. Larkhall doubled their lead on 15 minutes, a high press forcing the Melksham defence into an error and Arlo Stone scored from the edge of the box. Melksham then began to settle and put the home side under pressure with a series of long throws. They were rewarded for their efforts on 34mins when a long throw was headed home neatly by Aron Byfield. Larkhall regained their two-goal advantage on the stroke of half time when Okell shot was only parried for Stone to volley home for his second of the game. The second half was quite a volatile affair; Larkhall's James Payton was sin binned on 50 minutes and Melksham took full advantage. A long free kick was misjudged by the Larkhall defence which allowed the Ollie Farrell to take a neat touch and fire home for his seventh goal of the season to make it 3-2. Melksham pushed hard for an equaliser but were unable to find that elusive third goal. At the other end their keeper made a stunning save from Wickens five minutes from time, but he was unable to anything to prevent a fourth from Larkhall two minutes from time to make sure of the points, Reuben Whitson playing in Stone who squared for Angus Williamson to fire into an empty net to make the final score 4-2 to Larkhall. Due to results elsewhere the defeat for Melksham saw them drop to fourth place.
Ben Wickens and Angus Williamson who were both on target for Larkhall Athletic Development in their 4-2 win over Melksham Town Reserves
The other big match impacting the top of the table was at Shrewton Recreation Ground where Shrewton United who started the day in fourth place in the table were up against the side just below them in the table Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. Shrewton came into the game as one of the form teams in the division, unbeaten in eight games, six of which had been won, three of which had also seen them score six times to become the divisions leading scorers. It didn’t start too well for George Plank’s side though, as they fell behind to a goal within the first two minutes of the match, George Cook breaking down the left putting in a cross to the far post which found Matt Capel who headed home for 1-0 and an early lead for Royal Wootton Bassett. Shrewton then took the game to the visitors, dominating possession and putting the visitors under sustained pressure but the teams turned around at the break with the visitors still holding that narrow lead. The lead was not to last long after the break though, as early in the second half Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s Sam Case had to go off for treatment due to a hand injury and whilst the visitors were temporarily down to ten men Shrewton took full advantage. Charlie Utterson headed the home side level five minutes after the restart when he got on the end of a Tom Plank corner. Shrewton then went ahead for the first time in the game within a minute of the equaliser, leading scorer Kian Tydeman with a great run which finished with a powerful strike into the bottom corner of the net to make it 2-1 to Shrewton, two goals in the space of a minute. The visitors fought hard to get back into the game taking the game to Shrewton and had their best spell of the game. They were given the chance to level matters up 13 minutes from time when a shot from Cook was adjudged to have struck an arm in the penalty area and a spot kick was awarded. With normal penalty taker Case now off the pitch Charlie King took responsibility for the penalty and fired home to level matters up at 2-2. Just as it looked as though the two sides would have to settle for a point apiece there was to be a winner, and it came a minute from time. A long Shrewton free kick into the box was headed back across goal by Aiden Compton finding Tydeman to tap in at the far post for his 18th of the season and seal the three points for his side. With Melksham falling to that defeat at Larkhall, Shrewton moved above them into third place four points behind Swindon Supermarine Dev but with two games in hand.
Charlie Utterson heading Shrewton level & Kian Tydeman getting one of his two goals in Shrewton's 3-2 win over RWBT Dev (pictures courtesy of Roger Hare)
Letcombe are another of the form teams in the division and they went into their first ever visit to Down Ampney on the back of a six-game unbeaten run that had also seen them keep four clean sheets in those six games. Their defence was once again in a mean mood registering their fifth clean sheet in six games and with their own strikers finding the back of the net three times continued their excellent run of results. Oscar Griffiths fired the visitors ahead with a powerful shot from just outside the box into the bottom corner of the net. A second from Griffiths from the penalty spot, his seventh of the campaign, plus a second of the season from Kyle Cross completed the scoring and saw Letcombe record their fourth win away from home to move up to fifth place in the table.
Pewsey Vale climbed up to sixth place in the table with their second away win of the season, returning from Corsham with all three points after a 3-1 away win over Park United who are having a tough time of it of late. In midweek they had become the first team to exit this season’s Fountain Trophies Cup when they were beaten by Trowbridge Town following a penalty shootout. Trowbridge had gone in front in that cup tie thanks to a James Rustell goal and led as the game moved deep into injury time. Just as it looked like Trowbridge would record a confidence boosting win, former Trowbridge striker Adam Mitchell scored an equaliser in the 97th minute meaning penalties would be needed to settle matters. In the shootout Trowbridge scored all five of their penalties and with keeper Jordan Gullis saving one of the Park spot kicks they did in the end get that confidence boosting win. They will now be way to Calne Town Reserves in the next round. For Park that then meant five defeats in a row in all competitions, and they were hoping to get their season back on track when they entertained Pewsey Vale on Saturday. However, unfortunately for them their difficult run continued as two goals from Josh Fowler plus one from Finn Kiddle saw Pewsey claim the three points, player-manager Darrin Moss with the Park United reply. The defeat for Park United plus results elsewhere meant they dropped a place in the table and remain in the bottom four for now.
Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves player Archie Ingram had made his first appearance of the season last week after being out with a long-term injury, coming on as a substitute in Bemerton’s 3-0 defeat away at Royal Wootton Bassett Town. On Saturday he was to have an enjoyable afternoon in his first home appearance of the season, scoring all three goals in his sides 3-0 win over Calne Town Reserves. The win for Bemerton saw them move above Wroughton in the table and open up a three-point gap to the bottom four sides.
Devizes Town Reserves climbed one place in the table above Park United with an impressive 2-1 away win at Purton Kingsdown. After their midweek heroics against the league leaders Swindon Supermarine Dev, Purton Kingsdown were unable to make it two wins on the bounce as two goals from Harvey Swain saw Devizes pick up their third win of the season, Jamie Broadbank with the Purton Kingsdown goal. For now the young Devizes side remain in the bottom four but are showing signs that they should be capable of retaining their Premeir Division status after last season's promotion.
The other two games in the Premier Division on Saturday both ended in draws. At the Weir Field Trowbridge Town were looking to build on that morale boosting midweek win over Park United in the Fountain Trophies Cup but found themselves trailing 2-0 to Wroughton at the break. It got worse for Trowbridge early in the second half when they fell further behind, Jono Peachey-Score with two of the three Wroughton goals with veteran Shane Hibbert also getting on the score sheet. However, Trowbridge then staged a remarkable comeback scoring three goals of their own through Jamie Hiscocks, Lewis Harford and Sam Packer to ensure a share of the points. The two sides will meet again this coming Saturday when they play each other in the First Round of the Wiltshire County FA Senior Cup. The two sides met last season in the same competition at the Quarter Final stage, Wroughton winning 3-1 on their way to the final.
Action from the 3-3 draw between Wroughton & Trowbridge Town
(pictures courtesy of Alwyn Bodman)
The final game in the Premier Division on Saturday saw Cricklade Town and Faringdon Town share the points following a 1-1 draw at Cricklade Leisure Centre. Cricklade went in front with just six minutes on the clock, Faringdon keeper Jack Gibson pulling off a save to deny a goal bound header only for the ball to fall to Nick Craft who fired home for 1-0 to Cricklade. Parity was restored three minutes before the break, Adam Sly firing in from close range for 1-1. That was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring as the two sides had to settle for a point apiece. Both teams remained where they were in the table at the start of the day, Faringdon Town in eighth place and Cricklade Town three places further back in eleventh spot..
Division One
In Division One there were just six games played on Saturday with Westbury United Reserves being unable to raise a side for their game away to Lambourn Sports with their first team playing a high-profile televised FA Cup Third Qualifying Round tie against Farnborough from the National League South. With second placed Marlborough Town the side without a game, league leaders Fairford Town took full advantage to increase their lead at the top of the table to eight points with an away win at Faringdon Town Development. They were made to work hard for the three points though, but two goals from Miles Arnold were enough to give them the three points in a 2-0 victory, Arnold taking his tally for the season to six with his two goals.
Kintbury Rangers Reserves moved above Marlborough Town into second place in the table with a narrow 2-1 away win over Redhouse on the 3G at Moredon thanks to goals from Muzi Mpofu and Charlie Allsop, Taylor Edwards with the Redhouse reply.
Malmesbury Vics Development sit third in the table, level on points with Kintbury, after picking up their second win of the week. On Wednesday night they had a comfortable 7-1 victory over Westbury United Reserves in a game that had been switched to Malmesbury with just 24-hours’ notice due to the preparations at Westbury for that aforementioned FA Cup tie. Malmesbury were rewarded for their efforts in staging the game at the last minute with that big win. Joe Liddington was the star of the show scoring four of the Malmesbury goals, Reuben Allaway, Will Goodey and Jack Timberlake getting the other Malmesbury goals and veteran Dale Rowland with the reply for Westbury. It was a much closer affair for Malmesbury on Saturday away at Stratton with a solitary goal from Sam Parker being all that separated the two sides as Malmesbury recorded their sixth win in nine games. They have a game in hand over the two sides above them in the table with that eight-point gap to leaders Fairford Town Reserves but could well mount a challenge to get immediately promoted back to the Premier Division after last season’s relegation.
Bradford Town Reserves maintained their own challenge for honours with an impressive 5-2 away win over Bishops Cannings to sit one point below both Kintbury and Malmesbury in fourth place in the table. Two goals from Kye Teague plus further goals from Luke Wilmott, Joe Rendle and a penalty from Harry Ledbury giving Bradford Town the win, Tom Sharples and an own goal in reply for Bishops Cannings.
It was a tight affair in the Swindon derby between Great Western and Purton Kingsdown Reserves on the 3G at New College. In the end it was visitors Purton Kingsdown Reserves who edged it by the odd goal in a five-goal game. On target for Purton Kingsdown were Reece Ricks, Seb Walker and Taylor Burt, all three Purton Kingsdown goals coming in the second half after Great Western had led 1-0 at the break. The two Great Western goals were scored by Joseph Harrison-Butcher and Joshua Ukoha.
The final game of the weekend in Division One between Pewsey Vale Development and Shrivenham Development was another close encounter with the two sides sharing the points following a 1-1 draw, Kendonn John scoring for Pewsey and Ashley Andrews getting the Shrivenham goal.
Next weekend sees the main focus being on cup competitions with matches in the Wiltshire Senior Cup, Wiltshire Junior Cup, Somerset County Cup and also the First Round of the Fountain Trophies Cup.
27 September 2025
