Veterans' County Cup

Last week the Wiltshire County FA Veterans’ County Cup reached the semi-final stage and by the end of the week we know that the final will now be an all-North Wiltshire Division affair between Penhill United and Cricklade Town, this despite Cricklade’s semi-final tie against Purton Kingsdown at New College being abandoned by the referee with Cricklade leading 3-0 at the time of the abandonment. The Wiltshire FA have been quick to deliberate on the matter and have confirmed that Purton Kingsdown were deemed to be the cause of the abandonment and Cricklade Town awarded the tie. The three Cricklade goals prior to the game being abandoned were scored by Nick Craft, Phil Corcoran and Sam Collier, the latter coming from the penalty spot.

The one semi-final game that did go the full duration was the inter-divisional affair between Penhill United and Melksham Town at Moredon on Wednesday night. Melksham had twice won this specific cup, their first victory in Season 2020-21 coming against Corsham Town in the very first Veterans’ County Cup competition and their second in Season 2022-23 when they defeated Royal Wootton Bassett Town. However, they will have to wait at least another season for that third victory in this competition as they fell to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Swindon based side. Harry Etheridge scored twice for Penhill and further goals from Matthew Horsell and Peter Myall saw Penhill through to their first Veterans’ cup final. The final between Penhill United and Cricklade Town is scheduled for Tuesday 17^th February at the Wiltshire FA headquarters at Green Lane with an 8pm kick-off.

Full details of the Veterans' County Cup rounds this season is shown below:

North Wiltshire Veterans' Division

In addition to the cup games there were also four games played in the North Wiltshire Veterans’ Division. The action got underway on Monday night at Moredon and the game between Stratton and Swindon Rovers saw Swindon Rovers pick up their second league win of the season, second half goals from Taiwo Abolarin and Oliver Moore securing a narrow 2-1 victory, Damian Smolinksi with the Stratton goal.

The following night Redhouse temporarily moved up to third spot in the table with a 5-1 win over Chiseldon at Moredon. The goals were shared around with Mike Jones, Jason Milhench, Kieran Jennings, Daniel Wilson and Rob Dean all getting on the score sheet, Daryl Herring with the solitary Chiseldon goal.  

Redhouse were dislodged from that third spot the following night by Royal Wootton Bassett Town who secured a comfortable 5-0 home win at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground over ExIntel. Both Martin Ohrland and Chris Head scored twice for Royal Wootton Bassett with Sam Lawro getting the other goal for the home side.  

The final game of the week in the North Wiltshire Division was on Thursday night at Moredon and it saw Nationwide take over at the top of the table with a 4-0 win over FS Stratton. Two goals from Richie Miles and one apiece from Simon Olding and Neil Snow did the damage for Nationwide.

Mid Wiltshire Division

There was just one game played in the Mid-Wiltshire Veterans’ Division with the two games scheduled to take place on grass at Radstock Town and Warminster Town both postponed due to pitch conditions. The one game that did take place was on the 3G at Green Lane on Friday night and it was the clash at the bottom end of the table between Bishops Cannings and Barford Hornets. Two first half goals, one at the start of the match from Adam Bewley and a second on the stroke of half time from Mike Booth were enough to give Bishops Cannings their second win of the season, the 2-0 win seeing Bishops Cannings complete a league double over their opponents and open up a six-point gap over the Hornets.