Premier Division

There are new leaders in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League as Shrewton United took over at the top following on from their midweek win at Trowbridge with a hard fought 2-1 victory over Melksham Town Reserves whilst their two nearest rivals at the top, Swindon Supermarine Development and Larkhall Athletic Development, were both dropping points. With Melksham also going well at the top end of the table the encounter at Shrewton Recreation Ground was expected to be a tight affair and it proved to be just that. The two teams turned around at the break with neither of the two normally free scoring sides having found the back of the net. The deadlock was finally broken six minutes into the second half, Charlie Utterson heading home from a ball into the box from Lewis Cross. Shrewton then went further in front on 65 minutes, Sanjay Samuda firing into the bottom corner of the net with a curling effort from outside the box. Melksham pushed to get themselves back in the game and were finally rewarded seven minutes from time when Liam Brooks reduced the deficit with his eighth goal of the season. There was to be no equaliser though as Shrewton held out in the closing minutes for three vital points which, given results elsewhere, meant they went top of the table.

Previous leaders Swindon Supermarine Development  were involved in an entertaining affair against Cricklade Town. Cricklade went into the game on the back of a difficult run of results which had seen them fail to win in seven games in all competitions, with six of those games having been lost. If Swindon Supermarine thought they would be in for a comfortable afternoon on home turf, where they had won six of their home games before Saturday’s encounter, they are quickly realising there are no easy games in this division this season. Jordan Cobb fired visitors Cricklade ahead just before the half hour mark. The lead did not last long though as Swindon Supermarine were back on level terms within three minutes of the opener, Regan Lach putting away a penalty to level matters up at 1-1 and it remained that way at the break. Nick Craft then fired Cricklade Town back in front within four minutes of the restart with his eighth goal of the campaign. Once again there was to be a quick reply from the home side, leading scorer Tom Phillips bagging his 13^th goal of the season to restore parity. It remained 2-2 until 20 minutes from time when Sam Sanger put Swindon Supermarine in front for the first time in the game. Just as it looked as though Swindon Supermarine would record win number 13 of the season, Cricklade Town’s Jack Byrne grabbed an equaliser a minute from time to give his side a share of the points and knock Supermarine off top spot given Shrewton’s win over Melksham Town Reserves. Whilst Cricklade’s run of games without a win now extends to eight games they will take confidence from taking points off the previous leaders going into a run of four games against sides either just above them or below them in the table. Mike Wray was at the game with his camera and more pictures from the game and also match highlights can be accessed from the League Facebook Group Page.

Third placed Larkhall Athletic Development  also dropped points when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Purton Kingsdown  at the Red House. The point for Larkhall leaves them five points behind leaders Shrewton United with a game in hand and four points behind Swindon Supermarine Development with two games in hand.

Pewsey Vale made it five games unbeaten in all competitions with a 3-0 home win over Wroughton at the Recreation Ground. The influential James Guthrie had missed last week’s 0-0 draw with Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development but scored on his return to the side, with Brandon Vincent and Josh Fowler getting the other two Pewsey goals. The win saw Pewsey remain in fifth place in the table but move to within four points of Melksham Town Reserves with both sides having played the same number of games.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development climbed one place in the table following a 2-0 home win over Faringdon Town with both goals coming after the break, Prince Nyongolo getting both goals to give his side their seventh win of the season.

Shrivenham climbed two places into the top half of the table with a 3-2 victory over Park United at the Ian Richardson Fooball Ground, Kieran Sutton, Brad Hirst and Zac Skinner with the Shrivenham goals, Ben Pring getting both the Park United goals.

After falling to the bottom of the table after their heavy midweek defeat at the hands of Shrewton United, Trowbridge Town quickly moved off the bottom with their best performance of the season so far, as they registered their second league win of the campaign, a 3-0 home win over Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves. Two first half goals from Tyler Sibbick saw Trowbridge 2-0 up at the break and a third from Olly Sterling in the second half made sure of the points as Trowbridge climbed back above Calne Town Reserves. Alwyn Bodman was at the game with his camera and more photos can be found on the League Facebook Group Page.

Fountain Trophies Cup and Gloucestershire County Cup

Two sides from the Premier Division were involved in cup action this weekend and both ended the afternoon on a winning note. In the Fountain Trophies Cup First Round Letcombe  had a comfortable afternoon at home against Division One side Redhouse, as the Premier Division sides continued to have the better of things in this season’s competition. Callum Pryce put Letcombe ahead early on with Oscar Griffiths credited with the assist. Kieran Strange then doubled Letcombe’s lead following a corner and a header back across goal from player-manager Luke Stone. Having set up the opening goal Griffiths then scored two of his own to put Letcombe 4-0 up and in an unassailable position. Further goals from Pryce, with his second of the game, and Andrew Barton rounded off a productive afternoon for the Premier Division side who are now unbeaten in nine games.

The other Premier Division side who were in cup action were Down Ampney and it was a much tighter affair in their Gloucestershire County Cup game against Stonehouse Reserves with penalties in the end being needed to settle matters after it had finished 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes. Connor Hibbs scored the Down Ampney goal in normal time and also had the honour of scoring the final penalty which gave Down Ampney the victory in the shootout, 5-4 the final score in that shootout. Down Ampney will be home to English Bicknor from Division 1 of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League in the next round.

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