Wiltshire FA Women's County Cup

There was a break from league action last Sunday with the Second Round of the Wiltshire FA Women’s County Cup and the First Round of the Plate competition for sides who played their game in Round One of the County Cup and were defeated.

Four teams had been drawn against higher league opposition in the main County Cup with Salisbury having been given the toughest tie of the round with the Division One side up against cup holders Swindon Town, who are also the highest placed side in the competition playing at Tier 4, four levels higher than Salisbury. Swindon Town currently top Division One South West of the FA Women’s National League and remain unbeaten in the league although they fielded their development side who play in the Reserve South West Division of the National League in this round of the competition. Swindon proved too strong for Salisbury winning 14-0 but credit to Salisbury for fulfilling the fixture. Both Alana Couling and Antoinette Salaveria scored hat-tricks for Swindon in the big win.

Melksham Town were another side up against higher league opponents in the shape of last season’s champions of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, Bemerton Heath Harlequins  who now play in Division One North of the South West Regional Women’s League having been promoted at the end of last season. Once again there was to be no cup upset as Bemerton scored six without reply to progress to the last eight of the competition, two goals for both Hollie Keating and Caitlin Lower with further goals from Kyra Ward and Charlotte Eastman. Barbara and Alan Swan were at the game with their cameras and more of their excellent pictures can be found on the League Facebook Group page.

Calne Town were also up against opponents from the South West Regional Women’s League Division One North as they made the short journey along the A3102 to take on Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Again, the game very much went the way of the higher-level side. Calne did well in the first half to restrict their opponents to just four goals and scoring one of their own through Isobel Satchell. However, with tiring legs and playing against a strong wind in the second half, the home side scored seven more without reply to run out 11-1 winners. Maddy Elliott scored five of the Royal Wootton Bassett Town goals with further strikes from Hannah Gulliver, Laura Jefferies, Honor Faser, Amber Egerton, Kat Bach and Alice Telling.

Unfortunately, Division One side Malmesbury Victoria did not fulfill their fixture against Corsham Town, another side from the South West Regional Women’s League Division One North and picked up the standard £100 fine for withdrawing from the County Cup competition. So no cup upsets by teams from the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League but credit to Calne Town, Melksham Town and Salisbury for going head-to-head with their higher league opponents in this multi-league competition.

There were three all Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division ties. FC Abbey Meads  were home to Westbury Ladies  on the 3G at Moredon and safely made it through to the next round thanks to a 4-1 win. Both Amelia Fowles and Claire Moreton scored twice for FC Abbey Meads, with Rebecca Guy getting the Westbury reply. FC Abbey Meads will now be home to Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the quarter final with the game set to take place on Sunday 16^th November.

Purton Kingsdown were up against Premier Division leaders Marlborough Town who they had lost 2-0 in the league in the second week of the season. Purton Kingsdown put in their best performance of the season to date to avenge that earlier defeat as goals from Steph Quince, Ellis Dyke and Charlotte Robinson secured a 3-1 victory, Daisy Cox with the Marlborough Town reply.

Purton Kingsdown will be up against Highworth Town U18 Girls  in the quarter final. Highworth Town U18 Girls play in the Oxfordshire Girls League, where they are currently unbeaten, and made it through to the last eight with a 9-2 win over Division One side Bishops Cannings thanks to four goals from Isabella Cox, two from both Alicia Roberts and Leah Holder, with Ellie-Rose Perry getting the other Highworth U18 goal. The two goals for Bishops Cannings were both scored by Elsie Brewer.

Highworth Town U18 Girls will be joined by their adult side in the last eight after Highworth Town  secured an 11-1 win over near neighbours and rivals Swindon Supermarine who continue to have something of an injury crisis and were only able to field nine players. There were hat-tricks for both Molly Joyce and Elsiana Wraight with further goals coming through Keely Corcoran, Abbie Blackmore, Stacey Radbourne, Kirsty Williams and Lucy March, Chantelle Bayliss with the consolation goal for Swindon Supermarine. Highworth Town will now be away to Royal Wootton Bassett Town in the quarter final. The final quarter final tie sees Corsham Town entertain Swindon Town.

Wiltshire FA Plate Competition

There were plenty of goals in the four ties played in the Plate County Cup competition for teams who had played and lost in the First Round of the main County Cup. Blunsdon edged a close game against Trowbridge Wanderers 4-3, Lyndsey Plant scoring all four Blunsdon goals with Jamie Lee Curtis, Jenna Sawyer and Tilly Dunnery all on target for Trowbridge Wanderers.

FC Chippenham from Division One are having a much better season this time around after last season's relegation and scored nine times against Premier Division side Barford Hornets, eventually winning 9-1. Lily Ayhan led the way scoring four times, Mary Murphy hit a hat-trick and there were two goals from Amy Totterdell, Kaelani Hayes with the consolation goal for Barford Hornets.

Division One side Stratton also scored nine against Ashton Keynes, winning 9-2 to make the last four of the competition. On target for Stratton were Katrina Reynolds with a hat-trick, Chloe Brown bagged a brace, with one apiece from Hayley Lawrence, Georgia Donley and Sophie Smyth, with an own goal completing the scoring for Stratton.   

The final tie saw Staverton Rangers win 5-0 against Ferndale Rodbourne with Phoebe Vick scoring a hat-trick, with Bella Cousins and Hannah Higgs also getting on the score sheet. In the semi-final FC Chippenham will be home to Blunsdon and Stratton will host Staverton Rangers, with the games set to take place in the New Year.

There is a limited fixture schedule this coming Sunday with the commencement of the School half-term holiday with just a couple of games postponed earlier in the season being re-scheduled.