Premier Division

Unfortunately, three of the scheduled seven games in the Premier Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League were postponed this weekend. The games between Purton Kingsdown and Wroughton, and Down Ampney  against Calne Town Reserves were both postponed due to waterlogged pitches, whilst Park United’s home game against Letcombe at Corsham Town’s Ground was postponed due to a loss of electric power at the Southbank Ground.

Park United had at least been able to play their rescheduled Wiltshire Senior Cup Quarter Final tie against Hellenic League side Malmesbury Victoria in midweek but there was to be no cup upset as they fell to a 3-0 defeat against their Step 6 opponents. This means that the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League’s sole representative in the semi-finals are Pewsey Vale who join Malmesbury, and Western League sides Warminster Town and holders Devizes Town in the last four. The Wiltshire FA have already made the draw and Pewsey Vale will be away to Warminster Town, whilst the other semi final sees Devizes Town host Malmesbury Victoria.

The four games that did go ahead were all tight affairs. The top game of the day was the meeting of league leaders Shrewton United and County Cup semifinalists  Pewsey Vale. When the two sides had met at Pewsey in midweek at the start of the season it had been a close affair with neither side able to find the back of the net and having to settle for a point apiece. It was another close encounter in the return match but there were to be goals this time round, although the spectators had to wait until the second half for the deadlock to be broken, as the teams reached half time without any goals. The deadlock was finally broken on 65 minutes, and the goal when it came was to come from a set piece. Awarded a free kick on the left-hand side just outside the box, Shrewton’s Tom Plank curled an exquisite free kick over the wall and into the top corner of the net at the near post giving the Pewsey keeper no chance to make it 1-0 to the league leaders. It remained just the one goal in it until a minute from time when Sanjay Samuda fired in a second for Shrewton to make sure of the three points. So Shrewton go into the Christmas break sat seven points clear at the top of the table with a massively superior goal difference over their nearest rivals which must feel like an additional point lead, having scored an impressive 77 goals in the league games that remain in the record books so far this season. They look well set to break the 100 goal barrier come the end of the season, something the club has done on eight previous occasions across the various divisions of the league over the years. Next up for Shrewton United is a big game to open the New Year when they travel North to take on the division’s form team Shrivenham to open 2026.

Shrivenham ended 2025 on a high extending their unbeaten league run to 13 games, 11 of which have been won. Their latest victory was a hard fought 2-1 home success over near neighbours Faringdon Town avenging a 1-0 defeat earlier in the season in another close encounter with plenty of chances at both ends. It was visitors Faringdon who started the brighter and had two early chances. The first went the way of Daniel Loyden but he shot straight at the Shrivenham keeper Lewis Fox when in on goal and the keeper dealt comfortably with his effort. Next up the pacy Kyle Bowyer got behind the Shrivenham defence but saw his effort go just wide of the post when clean through on goal. Despite that early pressure it would be the home side who got themselves in front on 20 minutes. No surprise that it was leading scorer Brad Hirst who got the goal firing home after a strong run down the right-hand side the power of his shot beating Jack Gibson in the Faringdon goal.   Hirst then nearly set up a second for Shrivenham, his ball into the box finding Kieran Sutton whose sliding shot at goal came back off the post and when the ball was recycled the resulting shot was straight at keeper Gibson. At the other end Bowyer again went close for Faringdon, again his shot across goal going just wide of the post as the two teams turned around at the break with Shrivenham holding a slender lead.

There continued to be chances at both ends after the break as the two teams carried on where they had left off in that entertaining first half. An excellent save from Gibson prevented Shrivenham extending their lead and Hirst then went close with a shot across goal. At the other end Bowyer continued to cause the Shrivenham defence problems, and he again fired just wide of the post with another effort. Faringdon were starting to have the better of things, and they got themselves back on level terms ten minutes into the half, Liam Hares heading powerfully home from a Mitchell Coombes corner to level matters up at 1-1. It remained all square until 15 minutes from time when a defence splitting pass put Hirst in the clear and his powerful low shot across goal from a tight angle nestled in the far corner of the net to put Shrivenham back in front. In a typical local derby game, both sides were giving it everything and the referee had to show a few yellow cards towards the end as the game to calm things down. There was to be one last chance for Faringdon, Shrivenham keeper Fox seeing his attempted clearance come back off Jack Moss and with the goal at his mercy, albeit from a difficult angle, Moss put his effort wide of the far post as it finished 2-1 to the home side to maintain that fantastic unbeaten run of league games. Your Sport Swindon’s Harrison Burridge was at the game with his camera and subscribers can view highlights from the game and interviews with the two managers by clicking on the Your Sport Swindon logo below.

Melksham Town Reserves made the short journey across to Devizes Town Reserves looking to haul themselves back into the top five having, like opponents Devizes Town Reserves, seen six points erased from their total tally for the season following the withdrawal of Cricklade Town. Come the end of the Saturday they had done enough to get themselves back into the top five,  after the two sides shared four goals and the points as it finished 2-2. Melksham Town Reserves manager Justin Flowers would have been hoping to have gone home with all three points having defeated Devizes 3-1 at the start of the season, however, Devizes are a much tougher proposition these days having climbed out of the relegation zone in recent weeks. On target for the home side were Liam Moffat and Fin Palmer, with the Melksham reply coming through Freddie Wyatt, on his return to Devizes having started the season at Nursteed Road, and Elliot Haffenden, both Melksham scorers getting their goals on their seasonal debut for the Melksham reserve side. David Giles was at the game with his camera and more of his pictures can be found on the League Facebook Group page.

It was a similar 2-2 score line in the game between Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves and Trowbridge Town at the bottom end of the table, but Bemerton went mightily close to securing three vital points in their battle to avoid the drop. The two sides turned round at the break all square, Alfie Burke putting Bemerton ahead before Josh Ferguson equalised for Trowbridge Town. However, a goal from Sam O’Hagan a minute from time looked to have won the game for the home side only for Bemerton to suffer the heartbreak of an equaliser deep into injury time, with the ball going in off a Bemerton player from a Jack Sterling effort to level matters up at 2-2. Alwyn Bodman was at the game with his camera and more of his pictures can be found on the League Facebook Group page.

Finally, as this is the last roundup before Christmas, on behalf of the Committee of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League, a happy Christmas to all involved in the league in whatever capacity.

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