Despite heavy downpours on Thursday across the area, surprisingly all 12 games went ahead on Saturday in the two men’s divisions of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League and the Fountain Trophies Cup. The league games included games impacting the title race and bottom end of the table in both divisions.

Premier Division

In the Premier Division league leaders Shrewton United were home to Trowbridge Town with both league points and the Stuart Withers Memorial Trophy, which will be contested for each time the two sides play each other, up for grabs. On a difficult heavy pitch following the rain in the week, the two sides served up something of a scrappy game, but the game was to be decided by one moment of brilliance from Shrewton’s Tom Plank with a stunning strike from outside the box. What would prove to be the only goal of the game came eight minutes before half time, the ball being played into Plank just outside the Trowbridge box and he hit a first time shot that sailed into the top right-hand corner of the net giving Jordan Gullis in the Trowbridge goal no chance. Whilst both sides created chances after the break, with Trowbridge pushing the leaders all the way, that was to be the end of the afternoon’s scoring despite Shrewton going down to ten men. So, three more points for Shrewton in the quest for the title which saw them maintain their seven-point lead at the top of the table with ten games to go, as well as retaining the Stuart Withers Memorial Trophy on its second staging.

Tom Plank, seen on the ball here, whose stunning strike gave Trowbridge keeper Jordan Gullis no chance to give Shrewton all three points in a 1-0 win to maintain their quest for the league title (pictures courtesy of Roger Hare)

The big game of the day in the division saw second placed Larkhall Athletic Development travel into Swindon to take on the side just below them in the table, Swindon Supermarine Development. When the two sides had met for the first time towards the end of September, Larkhall Athletic Development ended Swindon Supermarine’s perfect record that had seen them win all of their opening ten games, Larkhall winning 4-0 that day. With Larkhall looking to complete a league double over one of their rivals for honours, things did not get off to the best of starts for the visitors as they well behind with just two minutes on the clock, Evan Black firing home with a powerful left foot drive as the ball fell to him on the edge of the six yard box beating Kit Bond in the Larkhall goal. Ben Riccio then went close to an equaliser for Larkhall, Ben Wickens cutting the ball back to him from the goal line but seeing his low shot go agonisingly the wrong side of the far post. At the other end Black went close to his second of the game but saw his effort deflected to safety for a corner. Larkhall came more and more into the game as they went in search of an equaliser, a tantalising cross from the left-hand side of the box from Wickens to the far post unfortunately for the visitors failed to find a Larkhall player and was cleared to safety. Larkhall then had shouts for a penalty after a player went down in the box, but the appeals were waved away by the referee who was close to the incident. As the half drew to a close, Swindon Supermarine had the opportunity to double their lead just before the break from a free kick just outside the box on the right-hand side. However, Rowan Doyle saw his attempt at goal go just over the bar although Bond in the Larkhall goal looked to have it covered had it found the target.

Swindon Supermarine Dev and Larkhall Athletic Dev before their big encounter

The second half continued in a similar vein to the first with neither side shirking the tackles as to be expected in a top end of the table clash, with both sides matching each other stride for stride in a contest between two very good and evenly matched sides. Swindon Supermarine went close to getting a second when the influential Tom Phillips saw his header nearly turned into his own net by a Larkhall defender, but the visitors escaped, as it remained just the one goal in it. A second penalty shout in the game, this time from Supermarine, after Black went down in the box, was once again turned away by the referee but a second goal looked to be coming as Swindon Supermarine started to get on top. When the goal came it was no surprise that Phillips was involved, Supermarine’s leading scorer being denied by a good save from Bond, but Chelden Valere was following up to head home to make it 2-0 to the home side. The introduction of Arlo Stone saw Larkhall start to create more chances as they pushed for a goal to try and get themselves back in the game, but there was to be no reply from the visitors. Whilst they had worked hard all game, they were not at their incisive best in terms of an attacking threat, with the Swindon Supermarine defence doing a good job in keeping the lively Ben Wickens quiet for most of the afternoon. The three points for Swindon Supermarine saw them move back into second place in the table ahead of next Saturday’s top of the table clash with Shrewton United. Pictures from this game can be found on the League Facebook Group page where you can also access Mike Wrays match highlights on Swindon Supermarine TV.

More action from the Swindon Supermarine Dev v Larkhall Dev game

Shrivenham went into their game away at Devizes Town Reserves on the back of a fantastic run that had seen them unbeaten in 13 league games, 11 of which had been won. Unfortunately for them the Devizes first team game against Bradford Town in the Western League’s Les Phillips Cup was postponed on Saturday morning and Devizes proceeded to play eight of the first team squad that had featured in their last first team game on Boxing Day, when they had defeated Calne Town 4-1, in this Devizes Town Reserve team fixture with Shrivenham. Shrivenham were more than holding their own at half time with the two sides level at 1-1. However, three second half goals with just the one for Shrivenham saw Devizes bring that fantastic Shrivenham run to an end. Jacob Reader scored twice for Devizes in his second appearance of the season for the reserves in this 4-2 win with both Daniel Demkiv and Josh Parsons scoring on their reserve team debuts.  The two Shrivenham goals were scored by Josh McGory and Marshall Thompson. To be clear no rules were broken and with Devizes first team having not played since Boxing Day you can understand to some extent why they needed to give so many first team players a run out, it was just unfortunate for Shrivenham that they were the scheduled opponents on Saturday. The Shrivenham side can take consolation that they gave a lot of players who are currently leading the Jewson Western League Division One a good run for their money, demonstrating that there is not that much of a difference between the top of the Western League and the top end of the Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division.

There was a close encounter at Pewsey Recreation Ground where the home side Pewsey Vale entertained Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development who sat just above them in the table. Pewsey raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Kyle Bird and Josh Fowler, but the visitors pulled one back before the break from the penalty spot after Harvey Fox was fouled in the box. Whilst Pewsey keeper Henry Owen got a hand to Charlie King’s penalty, he was unable to prevent it finding the back of the net. The visitors then also struck the post, but they were unable to find a second before half time and the two teams turned around with the score at 2-1 to Pewsey. The second half continued to be a close affair but the away side got themselves back on level terms, the goal again coming from the penalty spot after Prince Nyongolo was fouled in the box. Once again King took responsibility for the spot kick and once again found the back of the net. Despite chances at both ends that was to be the end of the afternoons scoring as the divisions two draw specialists had to once again settle for a point apiece, that is now nine draws for Pewsey this season and eight for Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

Calne Town Reserves looked to be on course for only their second league win of the season when they led Letcombe 2-1 as the game moved into its final minute. However, an equaliser right at the death meant that much needed second win of the season still eludes Dan Carey's side. Dan Timbrell had fired visitors Letcombe ahead following a Kieran Kerby free kick and remained just that one goal in it until ten minutes into the second half when Calne were awarded a penalty which Kierron Kiff put away to level matters up at 1-1. It got even better for Calne when they got themselves in front 22 minutes before end, Darcy Garner firing in from distance to give the home side a 2-1 lead. It remained that way until that final minute when Jack Daley headed home an equaliser for Letcombe to give them a share of the points, with the point being enough to see them climb one place in the table to fifth spot. Results elsewhere meant that Calne are now eight points adrift at the bottom of the table having played more games than the two sides immediately above them in the table.

Just three points and two places separated Faringdon Town and Purton Kingsdown at the start of the weekend. Come five o’clock on Saturday night the two sides found themselves level on points as Purton Kingsdown secured a hard fought 3-2 away win to move up a place in the table, with Faringdon Town now just above them on goal difference only. Faringdon went close to opening the scoring on 19 minutes from a Liam Hares header, but they were not to be denied for long. A minute later, they were in front, Daniel Hoskin giving the Purton Kingsdown keeper no chance with a shot from 20 yards. Purton Kingsdown got themselves back on level terms just before the half hour mark through Josh Atwell, finishing off a well worked team goal. A minute later Purton Kingsdown were in front for the first time in the game a drive across the box from 20 yards out from Antonio Gerrish finding the back of the net for 2-1 to the visitors. Purton Kingsdown then pushed for a third before the break, hitting the crossbar and then being denied by a full length save from Jack Gibson in the Faringdon goal to keep the score at 2-1 going into the half time break. It was to remain that way until injury time right at the end of the match where there was to be late drama. Firstly, Faringdon bagged an equaliser, Matthew Pill finding Liam Hares for the leveller. Just as it looked like the points would be shared Purton Kingsdown scored the winner, Antonio Gerrish firing in from a free kick for his second of the game with what was just about the final kick of the game to give the visitors the three points, as the final whistle went shortly after.  The win for Purton Kingsdown saw them move level on points with their beaten opponents but Faringdon remained above them on goal difference only now.

Wroughton have strengthened over the Christmas period, including bringing in both Nick Craft and Harrison Ellis from Cricklade Town and both were to make major contributions to a vital 2-0 win at the bottom end of the table for Wroughton over Park United. Both teams have good chances early on with Park United going close with an overhead kick from Zac Hillier and then Max Wyatt being denied by Ellis with a save when clean through on goal. At the other end Park keeper Luke Roberts tipped an effort from distance over the bar. When the deadlock was finally broken it came from a set piece. An in-swinging corner from the right was met by the head of Luigi Hernandez and went into the net off Roberts for 1-0 to Wroughton. Wroughton went close to a second shortly after from another similar corner from the right-hand side but this time there was a defender on the line to prevent his side going further behind. Wroughton were to double their lead before the break though, and both their two recent recruits from Cricklade were involved in the goal. A long clearance from keeper Ellis was flicked on by Jonathan Peachey-Score into the path of Craft who ran on and shot from just inside the 18-yard box with his shot just eluding Roberts and ending up in the back of the net for 2-0. The second half saw Park United push hard to get themselves back in the game, with a couple of shots from Lewis McCarron and Rhys Talmash hitting the bar, and then McCarron hitting the post when clean through on goal. Whilst Park had most of the better chances in that second half they nearly fell further behind when Roberts spilled the ball when under pressure but an excellent recovering intervention from Alex Hillier prevented the ball from reaching Peachey-Score who would have had an open goal if the ball had made its way to him. Wroughton then had a player sent off late on for two yellow cards in the space of 30 seconds for dissent, but despite the one-man advantage in the closing stages Park were unable to find that elusive goal as it finished 2-0. Your Sport Swindon were at the game and subscribers can view highlights by clicking on the Your Sport logo below.

Division One

Due to a lack of availability of grounds caused by first team fixtures and a Fountain Trophies Cup game there were just four league games scheduled in Division One of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League but the good news was that all four games went ahead, including the two games involving the top two sides Fairford Town Reserves and Marlborough Town and both secured wins to increase their lead over the chasing pack.

League leaders Fairford Town Reserves had a comfortable afternoon away at Redhouse, scoring seven unanswered goals through Ashton Wallace (2), Tom Starr, Israel Onibudo, Liam Wood, Jasper Woodfield and a second of the season from Steve Hall. Fairford Town Reserves are now 13 points clear of third placed Malmesbury Victoria, although Malmesbury have played three games less, and Fairford look well on track for promotion to the Premier Division come the end of the season.

Second in the table Marlborough Town were at home to Great Western and goals from Harry Womersley and Josh De Souza secured a 2-0 win for Clive McDaid’s side which saw them move four points clear of Malmesbury having played two games more. With games against both Fairford Town Reserves and Malmesbury Victoria, as well as their re-arranged Fountain Trophies Cup game against Swindon Supermarine coming up, the next four weeks could well define Marlborough’s season.  

Shrivenham Development  climbed up to eighth spot in the table with an excellent 4-1 home win over fifth placed Purton Kingsdown Reserves thanks to goals from James Hirst, Kai Richardson, Bradley Ellis and Ruben Lewis, Elijah Dadey with the Purton Kingsdown goal.

At the bottom end of the table Pewsey Vale Development avenged their 5-2 home defeat at the hands of Stratton at the end of October with a 4-0 away win that saw them move level on points with their beaten opponents. Two goals from Lewis Hancox plus one apiece for Oscar Wall and Kendonn John, both taking their totals for the season to three, did the damage for Pewsey. Despite the defeat Stratton remain above Pewsey in the table by reason of a superior goal difference but have played two more games than Pewsey.

Fountain Trophies Cup

Last season the Division One sides had done well in the Fountain Trophies Cup with a Division One side, Cricklade Town, eventually winning it and another two in Down Ampney and Lambourn Sports reaching the semi-finals.  The penultimate Second Round tie of this season’s Fountain Trophies Cup saw last season’s semi-finalists Down Ampney, who are now a Premier Division side, entertain Division One side Malmesbury Victoria Development. Down Ampney certainly like this particular competition and, despite having not played for over a month, they proved to be too strong for the Division One visitors on Saturday, becoming the seventh Premier Division side to reach the last eight of this season’s competition. A hat-trick from Paddy Cripps plus further goals from Harvey Coster, George Bailey and Connor Hibbs saw them safely through to the next round courtesy of a 6-1 win, Tommy Bloomfield credited with the consolation goal for Malmesbury although it went in off a Down Ampney defender. Down Ampney will now be home to the winner of the one remaining Second Round tie between Swindon Supermarine and Marlborough Town, with Marlborough being the last remaining representative from Division One this season.

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