Premier Division

Premier Division league leaders Shrewton United saw their game away at Park United postponed due to a waterlogged pitch but come five o’clock on Saturday night they would have been content to see that their lead at the top of the table was substantially intact, as both of their two nearest rivals dropped points.

Both Swindon Supermarine Development, who sat second in the table at the start of the day, and third placed Larkhall Athletic Development, had tough looking fixtures against Melksham Town Reserves and Pewsey Vale respectively, who were both in the chasing pack just below the top three. Swindon Supermarine Development had edged a tight game against Melksham Town Reserves at the beginning of August by the odd goal in a 3-2 win, one of only three league games that Melksham had lost ahead of Saturday’s second meeting of the season in Swindon and were looking to complete a league double. However, Justin Flower’s young side were to avenge that earlier defeat with an impressive 3-1 win in Swindon on a wet and wild afternoon in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. The two sides turned around at the break all square at 0-0 but Melksham upped their game after the break scoring three times through Baillie Nicholls, Tom Dowell and Oscar Hall to open up a 3-0 lead. There was to be a late consolation goal for Swindon Supermarine though, the goal coming from the penalty spot, Regan Lach putting the spot kick away to complete the afternoons scoring. That is now three games without a win for Matt Roberts side who have now slipped to third place in the table and having played two more games than the two sides above them.

The other big game at the top end of the table was the game at Pewsey Vale Recreation Ground between Pewsey Vale and Larkhall Athletic Development in what was the first meeting of the season between the two sides. Larkhall went into the game missing several key players, including their normal strike force, and it was Pewsey Vale who started the brighter. However, it was to be Larkhall who created the first real opening, Angus Williamson shooting straight at the keeper when well placed. Larkhall’s new signing Billy Turl, playing only his second game of the season, probably should then have scored from a header from six yards out, before the Pewsey Vale keeper Henry Owen made two good stops from Arlo Stone to keep the score at 0-0. With half time close Pewsey Vale finally broke the deadlock, a long free kick into the box caused enough confusion for Andy Rossiter to head home to give the home side a 1-0 lead. As the weather deteriorated after the break chances became fewer and fewer as the second half wore on, but on 70 minutes Arlo Stone hit a deserved equaliser after a through ball from Turl. That was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring in what had been a tough, physical but fair encounter between two good sides with the two teams having to settle for a point apiece. Seeing two points dropped by two of their closest rivals no doubt pleased the Shrewton contingent who had come along to watch the game. The point for Larkhall was enough to see them move above Swindon Supermarine Development into second spot on goal difference but with Larkhall having those two games in hand, with Larkhall four points adrift of Shrewton with both having played 16 games.

It has been a good week for Letcombe with two away wins to extend their unbeaten run to 13 games in all competitions. In midweek they had secured a narrow 1-0 away win at near neighbours Faringdon Town. The only goal of the game came from the penalty spot, five minutes before half time, Oscar Griffiths putting the spot kick away for his tenth goal of the season. As is often the way in these local derby games, where local pride as well as the points are at stake, neither side were at their fluent best and Letcombe did just enough to return home with the three points. On Saturday they made the long journey south to take on Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves in Salisbury and once again it was a tight affair decided by the narrowest of margins. A first half penalty from James Webster had put Letcombe ahead but parity had been restored by half time, Kian Timms equalising for Bemerton with his third goal of the season. It remained level at 1-1 until right at the death when Callum Pryce bagged a late winner to give Letcombe all three points. Letcombe remain in fifth spot just one point behind Melksham Town Reserves and will hope to take their current good form into next week’s county cup encounter with Westwood Wanderers.

Bottom of the table Calne Town Reserves went into their game against Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development buoyed by a midweek win over Trowbridge Town in the Fountain Trophies Cup, two goals from Jack Smith giving them the win that sees them through to the Second Round where they will meet Division One side Shrivenham Town Development. When Calne had played Royal Wootton Bassett at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground back in August the two sides had shared the points following an entertaining 3-3 draw. It was to prove to be yet another close game decided by the narrowest of margins. With Ben Spackman having scored for the visitors and Smith with his third of the week for Calne Town Reserves, it was the award of a penalty for visitors Royal Wootton Bassett that was to prove the difference between the two sides, Charlie King putting the spot kick away for his third goal of the campaign to secure three points. The win for Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development sees them remain in seventh spot but they have a six-point lead over Shrivenham and Purton Kingsdown the sides just below them in the table.

Shrivenham lost ground when they were held to a 3-3 draw by a resurgent Devizes Town Reserves side who continued their recent good form that has seen them lose just one of their last four games to climb out of the bottom four. It was a good afternoon for Devizes Town’s Jordan Anning who helped himself to a hat-trick, with two goals from Bradley Hirst and one from Kieran Sutton in reply for Shrivenham.

Biggest winners of the afternoon were Purton Kingsdown as they inflicted more misery on near neighbours Cricklade Town who are now without a win in seven games after a heavy 9-0 defeat at the hands of a rampant Purton Kingsdown side. Dan Jones and Tom Rejek led the way both scoring twice with further goals from Finn Merchant, Tyler Wilkinson, Liam Wilkinson, Josh Atwell and Ollie Rejek in Purton Kingsdown’s biggest win of the season which also saw them complete a league double over Cricklade.  

Trowbridge Town bounced back from that midweek Fountain Trophies Cup defeat at the hands of Calne Town Reserves with an impressive 4-0 home victory over Down Ampney. There were two goals for George Bendle, one for Daniel Price and a converted penalty from Tyler Sibbick. The win saw Trowbridge Town climb above Wroughton in the table and to within three points of Devizes Town Reserves who are the side that sit just above the potential relegation zone. Alwyn Bodman was at the game with his camera and more pictures from the game can be found on the League Facebook Group page.

As well as the Park United v Shrewton United game falling victim to the weather the match between Faringdon Town and Wroughton would also suffer a similar fate although this one did start but was unfortunately abandoned after a storm in the second half left the pitch waterlogged, with the referee being forced to abandon the game with the score 2-2 at the time the game was brought to a premature halt.   

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