Premier Division

The weather finally relented this weekend and only two fixtures were lost in each of the two men’s Divisions in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League. In the Premier Division one of the two games that was lost was the big top of the table clash between league leaders Shrewton United and second placed Larkhall Athletic Development, which has now been rearranged for the penultimate Saturday of the season. The other game postponed was Trowbridge Town at home to Wroughton.

With the top two inactive third placed Swindon Supermarine Development  had the chance to gain ground on them when they travelled to bottom of the table Calne Town Reserves. Despite their lowly position Calne gave Swindon Supermarine Development a tough afternoon, but in the end Supermarine came away with all three points thanks to a solitary goal from Evan Black on 68 minutes, his 11^th goal of the season. The win for Swindon Supermarine Dev saw them move to within three points of second placed Larkhall Athletic Development with two games in hand. Calne Town Reserves meanwhile remain eight points adrift at the bottom of the table but their next three league games are against sides at the bottom end of the table, and they will be hoping that they can finally secure that second victory of the season after running some of the top sides close in recent weeks.

Fourth placed Shrivenham were also involved in a close encounter away at Park United. When the two sides had met at Shrivenham back in October Shrivenham had edged it by the odd goal in five and they were to repeat that 3-2 win in the return fixture at Corsham Town’s ground. Two more goals for Kieran Sutton saw him take his adjusted total for the season to 12, Oliver Matthews with the other Shrivenham goal. In reply, both the goals for Park United were score by Jamie Cunning. The win for Shrivenham sees they remain six points behind Swindon Supermarine Dev but having played two more games than the third placed side. Park United remain in 13^th place, three points above the relegation zone with just three of their remaining nine league fixtures set to be at home and they very much remain in a battle to avoid the drop.

Melksham Town Reserves and Letcombe started the day separated by one place and one point in the table ahead of their first meeting of the season. It was the home side Letcombe who got themselves in front early on, a stunning strike from Kieran Kerby giving them a 1-0 lead. However, Melksham turned things around scoring three times to lead 3-1 including one from the penalty spot. Oscar Griffiths then pulled one back for Letcombe before Archie Brew brought Letcombe back level heading in from a corner to make it 3-3. The game then swung back Melksham’s way as they scored two more of their own to lead 5-3. Letcombe then had Jack Heggie sent off for a second yellow card and there was to be no way back for the home side. On target for Melksham in this impressive 5-3 away win were Matt Purdy, Liam Brooks, Freddie Wyatt with two and Jack Smith. The win for Melksham saw them swap places with their beaten opponents as they went into sixth spot, one point behind Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development with four games in hand.

Pewsey Vale had not played since January 17^th and were keen to see action ahead of their big Wiltshire Senior Cup semi-final against Warminster Town, postponed last Tuesday but now set to take place this coming Tuesday. Their game at home to Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves got the go ahead and Pewsey were rewarded for their endeavours in getting the game on as they secured a 2-0 home win thanks to goals from Kyle Bird and Josh Fowler, the latter scoring goal number 24 of the season to claim sole leadership of the division’s goals scoring chart. Pewsey remain in eighth place for now, three points behind Letcombe. Meanwhile Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves remain one point above the relegation zone for now but have played two more games than Down Ampney and seven more games than Wroughton, the two sides immediately below them in the table and occupying two of the three potential relegation positions.

Down Ampney remain in the drop zone after they fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat away at Purton Kingsdown, the Red House based side avenging the defeat by the same score they had suffered at the hands of Down Ampney back in October. On target for Purton Kingsdown were Antonio Gerrish and Oli While with Dylan Jones getting the Down Ampney goal.

Antonio Gerrish and Oli While who scored for Purton KIngsdown in their 2-1 win over Down Ampney

Moving up a place in the table are Devizes Town Reserves following a 1-1 home draw with Faringdon Town, Jordan Anning scoring for Devizes and James Taylor getting the Faringdon goal. David Giles was at the game with his camera and more of his excellent pictures can be found on the League Facebook Group Page.

More action from Devizes Town Res 1-1 draw with Faringdon Town

(pictures courtesy of David Giles)

Division One

The top two in Division One, Fairford Town Reserves and Marlborough Town, who have both already played 19 of their 24 league games, the most in the division, were both without a game giving the chasing pack the chance to catch up with their fixtures and also close the gap at the top.

Third placed Bishops Cannings were away at Great Western and in a battle between two of the sides in the division who play on 3G it was Bishops Cannings who very much came out on top thanks to a powerful first half showing at New College. An own goal put them 1-0 up before two goals from Szymon Raczek put them well and truly in command of the game. When Ethan Howard adding a fourth within a minute of Raczek’s second it looked like it was game over. However, Ethan Miller pulled one back for Great Western two minutes before the break to give Great Western hope. However, it remained 4-1 until eight minutes from time when Raczek completed his hat-trick to end any hope of a comeback from Great Western. The win saw Bishops Cannings draw level on points with Marlborough Town with Bishops Cannings displacing Marlborough from second spot by reason of their superior goal difference, with Bishops Cannings also having a game in hand. Bishops Cannings also have a game in hand over leaders Fairford Town Reserves but trail the leaders by ten points and Fairford remain very much in the driving seat as the division moves into its closing stages.

Biggest winners of the day were Bradford Town Reserves who moved up to fifth spot following an impressive 6-1 win over Stratton and they are very much involved still in the race for honours with games in hand over all of the top four. Whilst they trail leaders Fairford by 17 points they have five games in hand over the leaders, although they still have Marlborough Town to play twice and also games against both Bishops Cannings and Malmesbury Vics in their final ten fixtures to complete the season. Star of the show in their 6-1 win over Stratton was Josiah McKayle who scored four of the Bradford Town goals, with leading scorer Kieran Balchin and Lewis Bridgman getting the other two goals, Shane Dodson with the Stratton goal early in the second half. 

The final game of the day in Division One was at Tucker Park where Faringdon Town Development  entertained Redhouse. It was to prove to be a good afternoon for the visitors, as Redhouse made it back-to-back wins for only the second time this season, the last occasion being their opening two games of the season. A 27^th of the season from the division’s leading scorer Cameron Shrubb saw Redhouse level at the break, Taylor Hall with the Faringdon goal. What would prove to be the winning goal came nine minutes from time, Steven Nicholls firing home for Redhouse to give them all three points which saw them move up to seventh place in the table.

The games at both Kintbury Rangers and Shrivenham Development were postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

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