Premier Division

The League was shocked and disappointed to receive notice from Cricklade Town  on Wednesday that they would be withdrawing from the League with immediate effect. This follows the resignation at the start of the week of joint managers Ian Rosewell and Troy Prentice after the side had been on a torrid run that had seen them go 13 games in all competitions without a win after having made a good start to the season. The Cricklade management team again failed to complete the season, being previously in charge at Blunsdon whose Committee had pulled them out of the League last season after playing 22 league games. The decision by Cricklade on this occasion to withdraw from the League was made by the club following the managerial resignations, despite having two other sides playing in the Swindon & District League, with managers who could have temporarily stepped in whilst the club tried to find replacement first team management. As with Blunsdon, the club made the conscious decision to carry on with their District League sides and withdraw from what is a National Feeder League.  In making that decision Cricklade Town were aware that, under the League rules, they will not be allowed to renter the League next season, in fact following Blunsdon’s withdrawal last season the League had agreed with the clubs at the AGM that the period of debarring, should it ever happen again, would be extended to three years, in line with other National Feeder Leagues in the region. 

As Cricklade had played less than 75% of their scheduled league fixtures, in accordance with FA rules, their record has had to be expunged with Devizes Town Reserves, Purton Kingsdown and Melksham Town Reserves in particular suffering from the decision with all three sides having done the double over Cricklade and now having six points removed from their points tally. In addition, 63 goals for players from the opponents of Cricklade Town have been struck from the record books. There were also at least 21 players who picked up yellow cards in the league games against Cricklade and at least three players who received red cards in these games, resulted in personal fines, and for the sending’s-off a suspension from a game that officially never took place. The Wilts FA do not refund these fines nor deduct the discipline points incurred by the clubs from a game that are now deemed to have never taken place. Furthermore, nine clubs paid for match officials and possible pitch hire fees for home games that are now deemed to have never taken place. 

As a consequence of Cricklade Town’s withdrawal leaders Shrewton Utd, who were scheduled to be Cricklade’s opponents on Saturday, were without a game giving the two sides immediately below them in the table, Swindon Supermarine Development and Larkhall Athletic Development the opportunity to reduce the gap at the top of the table. Both took full advantage recording wins against sides at the bottom end of the table, although both were made to work hard by their respective opponents for the three points, particularly in the first half.  

Swindon Supermarine Dev  were away at Down Ampney and fell behind to a Harry Coster goal just after the half hour mark. The lead did not last long through as the visitors were awarded a penalty three minutes later which Regan Lach duly despatched to level matters up at 1-1. Just as it looked like the sides would turn around all square, Swindon Supermarine got an important second goal from Tom Pitt a minute before the break. As is often the way at Down Ampney there was a strong wind blowing from one end of the pitch to the other and having played against the wind first half that second goal gave Supermarine a big advantage with them set to play the second half with the wind in their favour. It didn’t take them long to extend their lead, Thomas Phillips firing home for his 16^th of the season to give his side a 3-1 lead within three minutes of the restart. The award of a second penalty five minutes later which Lach put away for his second penalty goal of the game ended any hopes of Down Ampney getting back into the game. That was to be the end of the afternoons scoring as it finished 4-1 to the visitors who moved to within four points of leaders Shrewton United in the adjusted table following Cricklade’s withdrawal having played one game more. Down Ampney now find themselves in the potential relegation positions after the table has been adjusted for the withdrawal of Cricklade Town and results elsewhere on Saturday.

More pictures from this game can be accessed from the link on the League Facebook Group Page and match highlights can be viewed by clicking on this Link.

Larkhall Athletic Development meanwhile were home to bottom of the table Calne Town Reserves who once again put in a resilient performance against one of the top sides in the league. An impressive first half showing from the visitors saw the two sides turn around at the break with the game still looking for its first goal. Larkhall upped the tempo in the second half after being frustrated by the hardworking Calne Town Reserves side in that first half. The pressure eventually told just after the hour mark when an initial Angus Williamson shot was blocked but James Okell was following up, and he fired home to put Larkhall 1-0 up. Larkhall thought they had doubled their lead shortly after when substitute Billy Turl had the ball in the back of the net but unfortunately for the home side the goal was disallowed, and it remained just the one goal in it. The decisive moment came on 75 minutes; debutant Tobi Little drew his marking defender before slipping in Ben Wickens and the front man finished neatly for what is now his tenth goal of the campaign, having seen a hat-trick against Cricklade struck from the record books. Larkhall then made sure of all three points five minutes from time when Mason Nolan - Kemp fired home with a third for Larkhall following a goal mouth scramble. The win for Larkhall sees them three points behind Swindon Supermarine Development in the adjusted league table with two games in hand and seven points behind leaders Shrewton with one game in hand over the league leaders.

Shrivenham continue to be the form team in the division, as they made it eleven games unbeaten in the league, nine of which have been won, with a 2-0 home win over Melksham Town Reserves, both goals being scored by Brad Hirst who took his adjusted total for the season to 13. This latest win for Shrivenham saw them move up to their highest position of the season overtaking their beaten opponents to takeover fourth spot in the table, with Melksham slipping down to eighth spot in the adjusted league table.

The last two meetings between Letcombe and Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development had both ended in 0-0 draws and with just one place separating the two sides at the start of the weekend another close encounter was anticipated, and it proved to be just that. There was to be a winner though as a solitary first half headed goal from Letcombe’s Oscar Griffiths was enough to give his side all three points. The win for Letcombe saw them move up to fifth place in the table two points ahead of their beaten opponents and with three games in hand, Letcombe being one of the sides to inadvertently benefit from Cricklade’s withdrawal having dropped two points against them back in August.

Despite having six points struck from their total, Devizes Town Reserves made sure they did not drop back into the relegation zone come the end of the weekend with a comfortable 6-1 home win over Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves, their best result of the season so far. That is now three straight wins for Devizes although one of those games unfortunately no longer counts.  Finley Palmer led the way for Devizes scoring twice with further goals from Jack Baker, Liam Moffat, Toby Baker and Joe Beaven, William Hall with the consolation goal for Bemerton.  Trowbridge Town were another one of the sides who inadvertently gained from Cricklade’s demise, the expunging of Cricklade’s record seeing them move out of the relegation zone ahead of the weekend’s round of matches. With Devizes recording that big win over Bemerton they made sure they did not drop back into the potential relegation positions with a hard fought 1-0 win over Faringdon Town, a first half goal from George Bendle giving the home side all three points, their third straight win in the league. Trowbridge Town now sit in 13^th place in the table, two points ahead of Down Ampney who sit top of the now three potential relegation positions. Alwyn Bodman was at the game with his camera and more of his pictures can be found on the Trowbridge Town Facebook Group Page.

The final game in the Premier Division on Saturday was another close encounter between Park United and Purton Kingsdown at Corsham Town, with the two sides sharing five goals, and with Purton Kingsdown taking all three points courtesy of a 3-2 win. On target for Purton Kingsdown were Josh Atwell, Finn Merchant and Toby Tew, Max Wyatt with both goals for Park United who had won their previous two games ahead of Saturday’s encounter and will look to bounce back in midweek when they entertain Hellenic League side Malmesbury Victoria in the quarter final of the Wiltshire Senior Cup.

Pewsey Vale progressed to the semi-final stage of that prestigious competition after Wroughton conceded their tie due to being unable to raise a side. The other three quarter final ties are scheduled to take place this coming week in midweek, with Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development hosting Western league side Warminster Town and that game for Park United gainst Malmesbury Victoria.

Max Scholefield, seen here playing for Wroughton, who scored two of Fairford Town Reserves goals in their 3-2 win over Purton Kingsdown Res

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