The cold weather once again decimated the fixtures in the two men’s divisions of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League with just five games being played, three of which were on 3G surfaces showing the benefit of such pitches this time of the year. However, special credit must go to both Faringdon Town and Trowbridge Town who were able to stage games on grass surfaces when all over the country other games on grass fell to frozen pitches. In the end there were two games played in both the Premier Division and Division One of the league, with one game also getting played in the Fountain Trophies Cup leaving just two more games now to complete the Second Round.

Premier Division

With their main rivals for promotion all inactive due to the weather, Larkhall Athletic Development were looking to take full advantage from having a 3G pitch when they entertained Devizes Town Reserves at the Plain Ham ground in front of a large crowd. The two sides served up an entertaining encounter on an extremely cold afternoon. Larkhall started the brighter and Ben Wickens was twice denied by Devizes goalkeeper Harry Cross. Devizes settled into the game and had a great chance to take the lead on 25 minutes when they were awarded a penalty for a push in the box. However, Liam Moffat saw his penalty saved by Larkhall keeper Kit Bond. This let off spurred Larkhall on and two minutes later an excellent break from their own penalty box resulted in Ben Wickens crossing for James Okell to head home for 1-0. It remained just the one goal in it at the break.

The second half started in a cagey manner with very few chances at either end as play was concentrated in the midfield areas. As the game wore on, Larkhall began to get on top again and Cross was again called into action to deny Wickens as he bore down on goal. With fifteen minutes to go Larkhall thought they had made sure of the points when Wickens rounded Cross to fire home after being put through by Mason Nolan-Kemp. However, three mins later Luke Reed hit a stunning 25-yard strike to reduce the deficit and give the visitors hope of getting something out of the game still. Having seen their lead reduced Larkhall immediately went back on the front foot, Ben Riccio won the ball high, before releasing Arlo Stone who beat his man and then fired in from 18 yards for 3-1. Two minutes from time Larkhall scored a fourth to give the final score something of a flattering look when a ten-pass move was finished in style by Angus Williamson, Williamson curling a delightful shot into the top corner of the net to make the final score 4-1 to the home side. The win for Larkhall saw them move above Swindon Supermarine Development on goal difference ahead of next week’s scheduled meeting between the two sides in Swindon, weather permitting.

Larkhall Athletic Development goalscorer James Okell

Larkhall Athletic Development goalscorer Ben Wickens

Larkhall Athletic Development goalscorer Arlo Stone

Larkhall Athletic Development goalscorer Angus Williamson

Despite the cold weather the game at Trowbridge Town passed an early morning pitch inspection but there were still a couple of issues by the two dugouts and Trowbridge liaised with scheduled visitors to delay them travelling, whilst they sought to resolve the issues in conjunction with the match officials. By the time the green light to travel was given it meant that not all of the players from visitors Purton Kingsdown arrived with sufficient time to warm-up and kick-off at the scheduled time of 3pm. The kick-off was delayed until 3.15 but the game was eventually able to go ahead.  The first goal of the game came on 20 minutes, Lenny Gale putting Trowbridge ahead with his second goal for the club since his transfer from Devizes Town Reserves. The lead did not last long though as Finley Merchant had Purton Kingsdown back level five minutes later and it remained all square at the break. As the sun went down in the second half conditions started to get trickier but credit to both sides and the match officials the game was played to completion. The decisive moment in the game came ten minutes into the second half, another recent transfer, this time from Melksham Town Reserves, Nick Taylor firing home for his first goal on his return to the club he has played regularly for since Season 2019-20. That was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring as Trowbridge held on to secure three points which saw them climb up to ninth spot in the table.

Division One

In Division One Malmesbury Victoria Development were finally able to play their first game for six weeks when the grass pitch at Tucker Park was declared fit for their visit to Faringdon Town Development. Malmesbury started well and went close to getting the opener just five minutes into the game, striking the Faringdon post. Faringdon Development then thought they had gone in front on 23 minutes, Joe Waller putting the ball in the back of the net only to see his effort disallowed. There was to be a first half goal though, and it went the way of visitors Malmesbury Vics, Josh Hughes heading home eight minutes before the break to give Malmesbury a slender half time lead. It remained just that one goal in it until the final minute of the game when Malmesbury were awarded a penalty. Hughes took responsibility for the spot kick and fired in for his second of the game to make sure of the three points for Malmesbury. The win for Malmesbury saw them climb two places in the table to third spot, one point behind Marlborough Town in one game in hand and ten points adrift of leaders Fairford Town Reserves but with two games in hand over the leaders. Faringdon remain bottom of the league but having pushed one of the promotion chasing sides all the way will be confident of picking up that second win of the season soon.

The other game played in Division One was another game never in doubt with Great Western entertaining Redhouse  on the 3G pitch at New College. In an entertaining encounter at New College visitors Redhouse started well and were on top for most of the opening 20 minutes but without creating any clear-cut chances. Despite having a lot of possession, the best chances in that opening period fell to the home side and Josh Ukoha in particular. Ukoha was put through on three occasions, seeing his first saved by the Redhouse keeper and then putting two efforts just the wrong side of the post having been put through behind the Redhouse defence. The deadlock was finally broken on 23 minutes, and the goal went the way of the visitors, Taylor Edwards putting Redhouse ahead with a shot into the top corner of the net after an initial shot from Nick Mason was saved by the Great Western keeper. Five minutes later Mason doubled the lead, heading home unmarked at the far post after a corner had been recycled back into the box. Despite several chances at both ends of the pitch it remained 2-0 at the break.

Hosts Great Western hit back early in the second half though and were level within five minutes of the restart. Firstly, Josh Ukoha outpaced Mason and ended his strong run into the box with a well-placed shot cross goal into the net. Then Ethan Miller got on the end of a free kick into the box to send a powerful header into the goal for 2-2. The game then swung back the other way as substitute Jack Duffy restored Redhouse’s lead heading home from a corner on the hour mark. It remained just the one goal in it until the final minute of the game when Ricardo Teixeira made sure of the points for Redhouse with a fourth Redhouse goal, getting on the end of a perfectly placed ball into the box from Daniel Axford who had outmuscled his defender before looking up and finding Teixeira to make the final score 4-2. The three points were Redhouse’s first since October 11th and moved them up into ninth spot in the table, two places and five points behind Great Western but with a game in hand. Your Sport Swindon were at the game and subscribers can view highlights of the game by clicking on the Your Sport Swindon logo below.

Fountain Trophies Cup

In the Fountain Trophies Cup, Shrivenham from the Premier Division made the short trip to Kingsdown School to play Division One side Purton Kingsdown Reserves. Shrivenham came into the game on a fantastic unbeaten run, having not lost in their previous ten games and were firm favourites to progress to the quarter final stage. In the end it would be the Premier Division side who did indeed progress to the last eight of the competition, but the Division One side gave a good account of themselves and whilst Shrivenham deserved the win it would be just by a one goal margin. Leading scorer Brad Hirst put Shrivenham ahead, but Taylor Burt pulled Purton Kingsdown back level from the penalty spot. Shrivenham restored their lead before the break, Hirst grabbing his second of the game to give his side a slender 2-1 lead at half time. Kieran Sutton extended the Shrivenham lead after the break but a second from Burt gave Purton Kingsdown hope of getting back on level terms. However, that was to be the end of the afternoon’s goal scoring as Shrivenham saw out the remaining minutes without conceding again to safely make it through to the next round. Shrivenham will now be home to fellow Premier Division side Calne Town Reserves in the quarter final.

Full details of the results so far in the Fountain Trophies Cup and the quarter final games as they currently stand is shown below:

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