North Wiltshire Veterans' Division

This week saw the clash of the top two in the North Wiltshire Veterans’ Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire League as Cricklade Town hosted Nationwide on Wednesday night at Cirencester. It was to prove to be Cricklade's night, a goal from Nick Craft gave them a 1-0 half time lead and a second from Adam Smith after the break made sure of the three points. The win for Cricklade saw them move level on points with their beaten opponents at the top of the table, with both teams having played 12 games. 

The action in the division had got underway on Tuesday night with two games. At New College there was a close encounter between two of the sides at the bottom end of the table as Chiseldon entertained AFC Swindon. An early Phil Tearle goal put AFC Swindon ahead, but Chiseldon were back on level terms before the break, Scott Boden with the equaliser seven minutes before half time. There was to be a winner though, and it went the way of Chiseldon, substitute Barry Winslow getting the goal which saw Chiseldon win for only the second time this season in the league.  

The same night Redhouse moved up to third spot, albeit for just 24 hours, after a 3-1 win over a much-improved FS Stratton side at Moredon thanks to goals from Leigh Brown, Michael Jones and an 11^th goal of the season from David Pratt, a fourth of the season from Richard Franklin with the FS Stratton goal.

The following night Penhill United moved back to within a point of Redhouse following a 4-1 win over Stratton, scoring twice in each half. On target in the opening period were Daniel Hiscocks and Peter Myall with his 17th of the season, Aaron Welland with both of the Penhill goals in the second half, Matthew Barnes getting the solitary reply for Stratton.

The final game of the week in the North Wiltshire Veterans’ Division of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League was on Thursday night when Swindon Rovers played host to Royal Wootton Bassett Town at Moredon. When the two sides had met at the start of the season Royal Wootton Bassett had won 2-0 and were looking to complete a league double that would see the climb up into third spot. However, despite winning just two league games ahead of the fixture, Swindon Rovers came into the game unbeaten in their previous two games which included an excellent draw against one of the leading sides Redhouse. Furthermore, the games they have lost this season have also tended to be close affairs as recognised by their goal difference relative to the other sides at the bottom end of the table and another close game was anticipated. With both sides without their leading goalscorers, Royal Wootton Bassett Town’s Chris Head and Swindon Rovers Taiwo Abolarin both missing the game, it was always possible that it would be a low scoring game, and it proved to be just that even though there was to be a very early goal. That goal went the way of visitors Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Nick Mason won the ball just inside the opponent’s half and then proceeded to go on a powerful run that saw him reach the edge of the 18-yard box unopposed, where he then turned two Swindon Rovers defenders before placing a shot across goal that just eluded the Rovers keeper and ended up in the back of the net for 1-0. Swindon Rovers nearly got back on level terms almost straight away hitting the post with an effort. At the other end Mason then had a good chance to get his second of the game when Royal Wootton Bassett were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the box, but his free kick was deflected to safety off the Swindon Rovers wall, and it remained 1-0 at the break.

Swindon Rovers & RWBT before their close encounter at Moredon on Thursday

The second half continued to be a cagey affair with few if any clear-cut chances being created by either side. Royal Wootton Bassett Town had claims for a penalty midway through the half when an arm across his face saw Sam Lawro go down in the box, but the claims were waved away by the young referee. Swindon Rovers continued to look to get back in the game and went close to an equaliser when a shot from distance was turned onto his crossbar by Royal Wootton Bassett Town keeper Chris Stevens, with the ball then being cleared to safety before a Rovers player could react. At the other end the visitors went close to getting a second of the game when they dispossessed Rovers in their own half, the ball finding its way to Lawro who laid a square pass to Martin Ohrland whose powerful shot from distance came back off the crossbar and was cleared to safety. Swindon Rovers then went close to getting that elusive equaliser but another fine save by Stevens kept them out and helped ensure that it would be the visitors who returned home with all three points following a narrow 1-0 win in a sporting contest well officiated by the young referee. The second win of the season over Swindon Rovers saw Royal Wootton Bassett Town move up to third spot in the table, one point behind both Cricklade Town and Nationwide but having played one game more. Your Sport Swindon were at Moredon on Thursday night and subscribers can view highlights from the game by clicking on the Your Sport Swindon logo below.

It remains tight at the top of the table in the North Wiltshire Veterans' Division with just four points separating the top five sides, with Royal Wootton Bassett Town having played one more game than the other four sides.

Mid Wiltshire Division

Once again there was limited action in the Mid Wiltshire Veterans’ Division with two games on Monday night, one in the league and one in the league cup, and then another league game on Friday night to complete the week’s schedule. On Monday night in the league Melksham Town were home to Trowbridge Town Tigers. The Tigers started well and went in front thanks to a Phil Lewis goal after eight minutes. However, goals from Ryan Tyrell and then Gary Higdon turned things round for Melksham and saw them go into the break with a narrow 2-1 lead. The second half saw Gary Higdon then extend the Melksham lead to make it 3-1, but Trowbridge battled away and were rewarded with a  second through Marek Miszta. However, there was to be no equaliser as Melksham saw out the closing stages to secure three more points which saw them move second in the table, six points behind leaders Devizes Town with a game in hand.

The final league game of the week involving sides from the Mid Wiltshire Division was on Friday night at Green Lane and it saw Bishops Cannings produce their best performance of the season to defeat fourth placed Durrington 5-1. It was 0-0 at half time but with Durrington having had a player dismissed at the end of the first half they would be at a numerical disadvantage in the second period. Bishops Cannings took full advantage after the break, two goals from Adam Bewley early in the half putting them in command. Paul Herman then added a third ten minutes into the half to make it 3-0. Durrington pulled one back thanks to an own goal, but Mike Booth quickly restored their three-goal advantage. A fifth from Sorin Soreanu four minutes from time rounded off a good night for Bishops Cannings.

Veterans' League Cup

On Monday night the final game in the Second Round of the League Cup between Radstock Town and Calne Town went ahead at the second attempt. Just two points separate the two sides in the league table and as expected the two sides served up a close encounter that in the end would require penalties to settle matters, after it finished 2-2 at the end of normal time. Jack Broadway with two late goals for Radstock with Ian McDermid and Chris Robinson finding the back of the net for Calne Town. Even in the penalty shoot out it took a while to separate the two teams, with Calne Town eventually winning 8-7 on penalties to progress to the Quarter Final where they will be away to Nationwide from the North Wiltshire Division.

Full details of the Veterans' League Cup rounds played so far this season and the quarter final draw is shown below: