Premier Division

There were just six games scheduled to be played in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League due to cup fixtures in the Second Round of the Fountain Trophies Cup but, for a second consecutive week, despite the wet weather during the week, all scheduled games in the division were played. It was to prove to be a good Saturday for the leading sides in the division with all of the top four winning for it to remain as you were at the top end of the table.

League leaders Shrewton United, however, were made to work hard for all three points in their away  game against Wroughton and manager George Plank knew his side had been given a thorough test by the home side who are struggling at the wrong end of the table. In the end two goals from Tom Plank were enough to give Shrewton the three points, Ryan Major getting the Wroughton goal. It was an important win for Shrewton given all of their nearest rivals were also winning and maintained their four point lead at the top of the table.

Second placed Swindon Supermarine Development  were away at Trowbridge Town and were looking to complete a league double over Trowbridge having won 6-0 in Swindon when the two sides had met earlier in the season. The game was a tight affair in the opening half hour with neither side finding the back of the net. The deadlock was finally broken on 35 minutes and, as has often been the case this season, it was Tom Phillips who got the goal, his 17th of the season although one of those was against Cricklade so the official adjusted total is now 16. Having made the breakthrough, the second came shortly afterwards, Evan Black doubling Supermarine’s lead with his ninth goal of the campaign five minutes before the break. A third from Cheldon Valere eight minutes into the second half put Supermarine well and truly in command and a fourth from Jed Phillips two minutes from time rounded off another good afternoon for Matt Robert’s side. The win sees them remain those fourth points behind Shrewton having played one more game.

Third placed Larkhall Athletic Development  were away at Faringdon Town, not quite their longest journey of the season, but certainly one of their longer ones and travelled North without a couple of key players due to suspensions. The journey home would have been a pleasurable one though, as they returned with all three points in the bag to maintain their title challenge. The opening 15 minutes saw the home side Faringdon Town put the visitors under heavy pressure and they went close to opening the scoring but were denied by a Mason Nolan-Kemp header off the line. Larkhall grew into the game as the half wore on and Ben Wickens went close to breaking the deadlock on a couple of occasions. Despite Faringdon having been on top for the opening 25 minutes they fell behind after a mix up in midfield put Wickens away, as he went to shoot, the ball bobbled and his mishit shot was saved but Angus Williamson was on hand for a simple tap into an empty net as the Faringdon Town defence were slow to react. That was to be the only goal of the first half as the teams turned round with Larkhall holding a slender advantage. Larkhall started the second half strongly and went close to doubling their lead through Tobias Little but the Faringdon keeper saved well to keep his side in the game. Larkhall went close again when Wickens got on the end of a Rueben Whitson cross only to see his header come back off the inside of the post. The decisive second eventually did come 17 minutes from time. A long throw into the Faringdon box was headed on by Wickens and found Mason Nolan-Kemp who fired home for this third goal in three games to make it 2-0 to Larkhall. That was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring as Larkhall made sure they did not concede at the other end to secure three more vital points in their quest to challenge Shrewton United and Swindon Supermarine for the title.

The form side in the division Shrivenham continued their impressive run of late but were also made to work hard for the points in their home game against Purton Kingsdown. In the end a solitary strike from Nathan Marland was enough to give Shrivenham all three points and extend their unbeaten run in the league to twelve games, ten of which have been won. If it hadn’t been for that poor start to the season, they would be very much in the title race but have probably lost too many points to still be considered contenders although they will certainly still have a big say in the title race with both Shrewton United and Swindon Supermarine to play in their final 12 games.

Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development missed out on the opportunity to move back into the top five when they were held to a 1-1 draw away at Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves, Toby Parker scoring for the visitors and Tom Feest getting the Bemerton goal. Bemerton had to overcome the loss of both their goalkeeper and centre half at the end of the first half and will be pleased with the point in the circumstances, although it left them just two points above the relegation zone having played more games than all of their rivals in the bottom half of the table. For Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development,  whilst missing out on moving back into the top five, they at least did end a run of three straight defeats in all competitions having also exited the Wiltshire Senior Cup in midweek at the hands of Western League side Warminster Town. They went down 3-1 in that cup game with Warminster scoring all four of the goals, with Royal Wootton Bassett’s late consolation goal coming courtesy of an own goal. As had been the case in their recent defeat at the hands of league leaders Shrewton United, Royal Wootton Bassett Town had not helped themselves in that cup game conceding possession in dangerous positions which Warminster took full advantage of to build up a 3-0 lead before that late consolation goal.

Staying with the Wiltshire Senior Cup, Park United’s scheduled game against Malmesbury Victoria was postponed in midweek due to a waterlogged pitch and the two sides will try again this coming Monday night.

Having suffered two league defeats in a row and seen six points removed from their total following the demise of Cricklade Town, Melksham Town Reserves returned to winning ways and started their climb back up the table with a hard fought 3-2 win at home against Down Ampney  thanks to goals from Liam Brooks, with his tenth of the season, Olly Clarke and Tom Dowell. Goals from Harry Sealey and Lewis Baston in reply for Down Ampney who remain in the relegation zone for now but are just two points behind the three sides immediately above them in the table.

There were two games played in the Fountain Trophies Cup Second Round, and one of the two saw Calne Town Reserves put their league troubles behind them for a week at least to achieve a confidence boosting win over Shrivenham Development from Division One. Jamie Heaton put Calne Town Reserves 1-0 up at the break, but Brad Ellis brought Shrivenham Development back level after the restart. However, two goals from Kieran Kiff, taking him into double figures for the season, saw Calne secure a 3-1 win, one of the two goals coming from the penalty spot. It was not a good afternoon for Shrivenham Development who ended the game with just nine players after two were dismissed.

The other game played in the Fountain Trophies Cup Second Round was at Pewsey and it was an all-Premier Division affair between Pewsey Vale and Devizes Town Reserves. When the two sides had met in the league at the start of the season Pewsey had run out 5-0 winners and Devizes were again to draw a blank on a visit to the Recreation Ground, as two goals from Josh Fowler and one from Oliver Morris seeing Pewsey through to the last eight of the competition courtesy of a 3-0 win. With Pewsey also still in the Wiltshire Senior Cup they continue to battle on three fronts going into the New Year. As well as Calne Town Reserves, Pewsey Vale join Letcombe and Melksham Town Reserves having made it through to the last eight with four Second Round ties still to be played. One of those four ties had been scheduled to take place in midweek, but a waterlogged pitch saw the game between Swindon Supermarine and Marlborough Town postponed for a second time which means that under cup rules Marlborough Town will be the home side for the next re-staging. Details of the Fountain Trophies Cup to date are shown below:

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